Published: September 17, 2007 12:05 pm         

Letters to the Editor

Column in line with many, reader writes
Dear Editor,

Your editorial in the March 23 Sunday Index was very much appreciated. It was right on target as far the attitude of most of Middle America, I believe.

Thanks for keeping us up on the latest happenings in Mineral Wells and the county.

Carole Newman
Santo, Texas

Vigil or protest?
Dear Editor,

Anti-war rally or peaceful awareness? Can we stir the pot with more fervor?

It is obvious you were never in the military. It is also apparent you have never witnessed an anti-war rally or been part of one (I have never been part of any but have witnessed plenty)!

The following is a little background to qualify my response and enhance your understanding of what transpired Friday night.

My father was on board the USS Maryland (a battleship) in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed! She took two 500-pounders in the forecastle, which left her in a 60-degree, bow down angle when they were done. Dad was a 30-year Naval officer and a friend of Ninnuitz. He was presented a sword of surrender on the Battleship Missouri for having survived Pearl.

His twin brothers were in the Sea-Bees on Alaska’s islands during World War II and two other uncles served with Patton. Myself, I did a stint as an air traffic controller (the tower being the prime objective in any airfield attack) in Southeast Asia 1966-67.

When I came home, I as spit on and had a beer can thrown at me on my way off McChord USAF base. I then lived through a number of years with real civil unrest protest all the way through the civil rights era.

I believe I have established some credentials with the aforementioned personal history to be able to say your Sunday article was twisted and all as Bullocks’ letters to your paper, people who were not even at the vigil!

You must have been thinking what you were going to write instead of hearing what was being said. No one was advocating surrender.

In fact the main thrust of those assembled peacefully (constitutional right) was to bring our service people home safely, help those already maimed, and stop throwing away billions of dollars a week, while our own country is in financial jeopardy.

If you will recall, 18 letters to or from our military personnel were read aloud that outlined the dire and critical circumstances our people are in because of having been ordered to Iraq or having been maimed there. Not one of them was whining, unlike Seaton and Bullock.

Bullock rants and raves about our Second Amendment rights while he himself tramples all over several other equally important amendments. In addition, that which he rants about (to keep and bear arms) was not ever mentioned by the any of people in attendance that night, if you recall. In fact I am personally rated A-plus by the NRA, and would certainly have said something if the right was infringed upon.

Seaton should have someone proof his rant before he hits the send button. He says before 9-11 “not many people knew what the terror alert colors were. Well, “duh,” Bush didn’t create the alert colors until after 9-11 and they mean even less now! I am sure Don Marcos will appreciate not having to serve him. He would much rather serve the 65 percent of true Americans who sympathize with the plight of the veterans.

You can have Ronald Reagan, who lived most of his life pretending to be other people on the silver screen, like Custer (who was experienced, too); and later on did as he was told.

I’ll take FDR, who brought us out of a horrible depression (which Bush is getting us into), created jobs through WPA, CCC, NRA, etc. and won World War II with the enthusiastic support of all America and the world.

By the way read, your history – Germany attacked us repeatedly in the North Atlantic. The Germans killed my grandmothers’ neighbor when they sank her ship on a trans-Atlantic crossing.

David E. Shupp
Mineral Wells

Editor’s note: David Shupp is the Democratic candidate for the District 60 State House of Representatives seat, opposing incumbent Republican Jim Keffer.

Walking in the footsteps of faith
Dear Editor,

This by no means is written with anger in my heart. My name is J.R. and I’m not the sharpest crayon in the box or one of the beautiful colors. Don’t feel sorry for me for what follows. But with hope, you will understand better the point I’m trying to convey.

In May of last year my little wife was paralyzed from the neck down and that was rough on us. A short time later I lost a fantastic job as a ranch foreman that I assumed I would retire from. This man and his family were the greatest I’ve had the pleasure of ever knowing and I pray God blesses them for all time in all ways.

Well, with loss of job went home and truck as well as a lifestyle. Without a vehicle it is a little tough to make it. To get to the point, I walk most all directions I go. I’d like to thank the few who walk the path we are to walk, who helped me arrive where I was headed.

My point here is after much thought on the matter, I am compelled to let you all hear. God put the “Word” for us in print. It says we are to help each other and I’ve tried to help others and pray most days for all. I see your faces as you pass me by “on the side of the road” and it does hurt when I see all the faces I recognize as you pass me by in rainy, freezing weather. I’m not asking you to pick me up but this gave rise to a question. You all fear what you can’t control. But if your faith is strong, so less is our fear. If you believe in God and you seek, you will find!

In other words, when you pass me by do you fear me or is faith weak in you? I fear no man (oh yes, I fear my little woman) as I strive to let my yes be yes and no mean no, as I try to walk the narrow path and not divide right or left. Don’t misunderstand – I’m no angel. Just a man who will always fall short of the Glory of God. I am not mad at the ones who pass me by but worry about each of you as the end of time approaches. I figure as we each are tested and are schooled in the ways of our Lord it just touches my heart and I have to ask you all just how strong is each of our faiths?

I don’t expect a ride with you but I bless any opportunity to share with anyone that which our Lord has imprinted on my heart and in my mind. Please understand I am a lesser being than all of you, as is observed by my perception of truth. I pray that as you pass me by you please use the site of that old cowboy in the black hat as a reality check and ask yourself, “How strong is my faith? Do I wear the armor of God?”

Just please remember as you reach for and grab that elusive handle we seek, be aware that the devil has done his best and got there ahead of us and greased that durned handle!

But never give up! Faith, love and hope, of which love is the strongest and never fails!

Love you all. From the side of the road.

J.R Goodrum
Mineral Wells

Thankful for verdict
Dear Editor,

Praise God.

I would like this opportunity to personally thank everyone who said prayers for our family during the last 14 months. The allegations in January 2007 against Michael Floyd have taken both myself and my husband away from our teaching careers. We may never understand why such a thing happened to our family, but we thank God for the 12 jurors who sat in the Palo Pinto County Courthouse for six days and objectively made a decision of “not guilty.”

It is a great feeling to know that our family can continue on with our lives after suffering for 14 months. I can only imagine what Jesus must have felt as he was crucified as an innocent man. Someday we may understand, but at this point in our lives we thank those who prayed for us and we pray for those who persecuted us. And most of all we will be forever grateful for the 12 jurors and most importantly our God in heaven.

Sincerely,

Kristal Floyd
Plainfield, Indiana