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| Commissioner to express concerns
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Dave Robertson
Candidate for
County Commission
262-0671 |
To
the Editor:
I have challenged fellow County
Commission candidate Keith Honeycutt to debate the issues with me
because I believe all voters have the right to know prior to the
election where we stand on the future of our schools, recreation
facilities, support for fire fighters and rescue personnel, affordable
housing, and the scenic byway, amonq other issues.
Unfortunately, Mr. Honeycutt has declined my challenge for just
the two of us to meet and debate freely and frankly our views.
Nevertheless, I will be at the Agricultural Conference
Center off Poplar Grove Road in Boone Thursday, Oct. l7 at 5:30
p.m. making myself available to answer questions regarding my position
on each of these and other issues of concern to Watauga Countians.
It is my hope that Mr. Honeycutt might change his mind and join
me there.
If you are unable to join me on Oct. 17, please visit my Web site
at www.wataugadems.com/robertson.html and read the speech I gave
Sept. 16 “Watauga County at the Crossroads.” You have
a right to know what I believe and what I intend to do as I serve
you.
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| How new is the war with Iraq anyway? |
Ben Lassiter
Senior
ASU Box 13583
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To
the Editor:
Keeping in mind that it is the right and responsibility
of those living in a democracy to discuss the actions of their government
involving issues of life and death, I will respond to Mr. Kellenberger’s
commentary (“Is a war with Iraq the real issue at present?”
Oct. 8).
Perhaps the “bleeding heart liberals”
you speak of are the ones that care about the 5000 Iraqi children
who die each month due to economic sanctions; or they could be the
people who know/care about the Gulf War Syndrome that US servicepersons
contracted, likely the result of depleted uranium in US weapons
which the military failed to tell our own troops about; or they
could know that the C.I.A. supported Saddam in the 1960s; or they
might know that the U.S. sold Saddam weapons while he was gassing
the Kurds.
Perhaps the chalker whom you support who thinks
that ‘those who don’t want to serve in the military are
cowards’ is willing to serve/die in a political war for increased
US economic hegemony in the Middle East (Big Oil is already squabbling
over the contracts after a ‘more friendly’ - read: puppet
- Iraqi regime is installed): I’m not.
If you want to understand what is going on in
the world you cannot rely solely on American mainstream media. How
many people know that 350,000 people marched in London against the
war last week; 150,000 in Rome; 3000 in San Francisco?
And how can we ‘go to war’ with a country
we have been bombing every week since ’92? |
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| Respect for the beliefs of others |
Andrea Bartolotti
Junior
AB43808@appstate.edu |
To the Editor:
I am writing
in response to the column about misconceptions of Christianity [“Clearing
up misconceptions of Christianity,” April Klaasen, Opinion,
Oct. 1].
I am an Atheist and I feel there are many misconceptions everyone
holds [about Atheism].
When people ask me what faith I am, my answer is followed by a frown
and a squint of an eye. Then I am asked if I believe in the devil.
But, correct me if I am wrong, an Atheist does not believe in any
sort of higher being, heaven or hell. Then people start to think
that I might be depressed or come from a dysfunctional family.
Why do people only conceive life-with-happiness to be one with faith?
My parents have been married for 29 years and are still in love
with each other. I love my family and I know that they love me.
Sure, we have had our share of problems, but everyone does.
I was not raised an Atheist; I discovered it on my own. My father
and brother are both Catholic, and my mother is Baptist. My parents
raised us as Christians, but with openness to decide on our own.
My parents know that I am Atheist, and like many of you, they think
it’s a phase.
I ask you, would it be fair for me to tell you that one day you
will realize there is no god? Then do not tell me one day I will
discover [the God of Christianity].
I respect your beliefs and do not wish to engage in an argument
of what exactly I think of yours.
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