Must question Iran situation
After reading the wonderful articles in the July 14 Time magazine about Mark Twain, I decided to sit down and contemplate, question and perhaps write a letter to the editor of our local paper concerning the recent Iran issue.
Many years ago in college, I selected Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain, for my American author for a literature class. What a funny, intuitive, intelligent, well-traveled, wise man (what a genre of written work!). Mark Twain wrote not only poetry and short stories, he addressed politics, racism, humanitarianism, capitalism and many other issues that faced the ordinary citizen. He "asked" us to question, to question motives, actions, purposes, etc.
The stories about Iran printed by The Daily Star really raised my shackles! I couldn't help but think, "Oh no, not all over again!" We raised our children to question whatever they read or heard. Over the years of teaching, I have told teenagers to not only question, but delve into the words. Seek out what is real.
Well, here again, why are we being confronted with Iran's actions? Are we being fed propaganda, or are we really in danger? Is it Big Oil-Big Corporation's strategy and plan? What is the real truth?
We cannot sacrifice our women and men anymore! What right do we have to "fix things"? We have become the terrorist. Humane help is one thing, military destruction is quite another!
What would Mark Twain write about our nation today? I definitely think he would have appropriate words _ perhaps: "a discriminating irreverence" would enter somewhere. Each one of us needs to question and seek out the truth about what is happening right around us as well as what is happening with our nation. We need to let our representatives know how we feel. Our civic duty? Perhaps.
Joanne M. Westcott
Oneonta
Board working to reduce costs
Arnie Weiss' misleading statements about the Meredith Town Board need correcting (Meredith board must watch taxes, July 10).
As a new member of the board, I can assure Arnie that I have no desire "to stop any kind of residential development of Meridale Farms and other properties." I personally favor some sort of plan to preserve much of this Meredith landmark through a mixture of agricultural and economic development along with residential housing lots. I do not favor any plan that would remove Meridale Farms from the town tax rolls.
Arnie also refers falsely to "the increased tax burden created by this board." This board has not increased taxes; on the contrary, it has worked diligently to reduce costs.
For example, we have passed a law to make sure applicants share the burden of engineering studies and other costs necessitated by large projects. Such actions are saving the taxpayers money.
Moreover, with the banning of industrial wind turbines, real estate sales are picking up again, bringing a substantial increase in the town's share of the mortgage recording tax and thus lessening the property-tax burden.
I invite Arnie to become better informed by attending town board meetings, where all residents can speak and ask questions, or to peruse the town's official website _ townofmeredith.com.
To save taxpayer money, this new website was created and maintained by volunteers with the help of a design grant from the O'Connor Foundation. It details the operations of town government, recounts town history, describes community organizations and lists nearly 100 enterprises in Meredith or operated by Meredith residents.
Ronald H. Bailey
East Meredith
Bailey is a member of the Meredith Town Board.
Nonbelievers hurt America
This is in response to William F. Roberts' letter, "Stop talking about religion," on July 9:
Please! In my opinion it's the nonbelievers who are causing this country to fall apart.
Religion has held this country together for centuries; it stemmed from churches to politics. Millions have died for the freedom of religion. Thousands are still dying for our freedoms.
If you don't believe in God, that is your privilege, but who are you to say that everyone should "shut up," as you put it, about religion?
Prayer has been removed from schools, and in its place we have disrespect, violence, vulgarity and shootings.
I believe things should go back to the way they were in the '60s and '70s.
Families going to church together, put prayer back in our school, put the "In God We Trust" back in the courthouses, go back to placing our hand on the Bible when sworn in, in court, in a political office, whatever.
There isn't anything wrong with showing your pride and love in your God and your country.
If you don't believe, so be it. No one is forcing you to pray, no one is trying to change your mind on your beliefs or your way of thinking.
If you're not proud of God and country, maybe you should relocate to a place where everyone thinks the way you do. That way you'll fit right in and all of you can be miserable together.
Just because you cannot see, hear or touch something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I'll say a prayer for you and maybe God will forgive you for your ignorance.
Jennie Koppman
Cooperstown
Only one branch of government
Recently, I heard that most Americans can't name the three branches of our government: legislative, executive and judicial.
So, I'll make it easy for them by saying that there is actually only one branch of our government: Corporate.
David Ivins
Fleischmanns
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