Find us on Facebook
Follow us on TwitterLetters to the Editor for Monday, Nov. 2, 2009
Published: November 2, 2009
Note to students: Voting is serious
I think Daniel Thompson’s Oct. 23 letter to the editor is an excellent example of why so many people are wary of non-resident college students voting in local elections, not just Liberty University, but any college.
Mr. Thompson’s letter screamed “me, me, me” without any reference to personal responsibility and civic obligation. I doubt he learned that at home or LU. Voting is a right, but not one without responsibilities. Going out to buy something and paying sales or meals tax in the process is on the lowest rung of the responsibility ladder; it’s unfortunate he believes otherwise.
With that standard, any say 2-year-old child able to hand a clerk money is an informed voter. LU has been good economicaly for Lynchburg, no doubt, but not without financial cost and unwanted controversy for many local citizens. LU’s needs have in no way been ignored. The fact that LU or any local institution for that matter is not embraced by 100 percent of the community is, in fact, a good thing. We call it freedom of thought and expression!
“Fair and balanced,” you might say.
In 1971, 18-year-olds were given the right to vote by an almost unanimous vote in Congress and signed by President Nixon, sending the 26th Amendment to the states for ratification.
The age change was in response to 18-year-olds being eligible for the draft in the Vietnam war but not able to vote. Fifty thousand military personnel died in the Vietnam war many under the age of 21. Unfortunately, the voting age change seems to be one of the few positive things that came from that national tragedy; don’t diminish it.
Politics is a game; voting is not. Vote responsibly.
WALTER DANIELS
Lynchburg
Comrade Joe
The D-Day memorial is certainly not the place to erect a bust of Josef Stalin, a dictator! To those who say he is part of it, baloney.
The D-Day memorial is to honor those living and dead who participated in the Normandy invasion. No Russians were there.
Germany was defeated and close to surrender when the Russians and American met at the Yalta River.
Then the politicians decided to hold the allies back and let Russia take Berlin.
Bad mistake! Yes, it saved allied lives but then Berlin was divided, Berlin blockaded and the Cold War started.
If the bust of Stalin is erected at the D-Day memorial they will probably see fewer visitors.
We fought for freedom and to protect our country. We didn’t fight for a dictator!
JOHN A. HUDSON Jr.
Lynchburg
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN STAR WARS?! That’s freakin’ un-American!!! There - I said it! I mean, it’s like saying you don’t like apple pie!
Confession time, I have never seen a Star Wars movie so you lost me. But I hear you on the struggle part. There is a part of me that envies the certitude some people have, either way.
Oh, Va Dem, I could go for hours on my exploration of faith and some of the struggles I’ve encountered. I’m sure there will be more to come and I’ll probably see God in many different ways over the course of my life.
Every so often, I feel overwhelmed by it all and resort to the wisdom of Star Wars. Yoda and Obi-Wan may just have had it right.
I am with you Clare. I think that to consider the Bible inerrant is to discount the nature and motives of men to meddle, change and trash what they cannot understand or agree with. Frankly, an argument with an intelligent atheist will often send you into some interesting questions and research over this very issue. Having to prove the reason for your faith without quoting scripture or any Holy book is no small feat but using the Bible and scripture is often a double edged sword in such an argument. There are many uncomfortable questions that are not answered, are contradicted and have been proven false. It is comforting to take the whole but the individual is a harder task and certainly beyond my ability.
Thank you. My guess is that problems come from men and not the scripture.
Well I’ve read several of them, although I couldn’t tell you which ones. I know that I’ve read “Lost Christianities” (which was kinda scary - some of those sects were nuts) and “Misquoting Jesus” - I would almost start with “Misquoting Jesus” because he details a bit of his personal struggle with faith. I think it also details the Council of Nicea and related Councils, describing who called them and why they were held.
I think I’ve also read “God’s Problem” and “Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene”.
I am certainly not a Bible scholar. In fact, I think I ought to have a better understanding of Scripture because we hear it quoted (and misquoted) so frequently. I do believe that there’s a lot of goodness and greatness in it, but I can’t seem to see it as inerrant. To each his own, I suppose.
scorpious, you commented after the article about LU voter turnout the other day and criticized “Jonathan” for being too political and not sticking to the WORD. I tried to comment there but the time has elapsed to post after that story. If you were referring to Jonathan Falwell, I have never heard him even allude to anything political. He does stick to the word 100% as the pastor of Thomas Road Baptist and plays only a very limited role at LU. Just for the record.
Clare: Ehrman has written over twenty books. Where would you start?
John
Fred - and he came back! Dear Lord, he was like a boomerang child returning to the household as an adult!
John - I found Bart Ehrman’s books to be very thought-provoking. Just thought I would share. They are available at the Lynchburg Public Library.
Clare,
It’s truly even worse than you thought.
My Jefferson Bible has only 90 pages! That guy was so un-American. No wonder he never amounted to much. They even sent him to France to get rid of him!
Advertisement