Published: January 07, 2009 09:59 am      

Letters for January 07, 2009

Biblical politicians

With the elections over, winning candidates have or will be taking the oath of office. Most will be taking the oath with their hand on a Bible, a book that tells people to kill witches. Exodus 22:18 says to stone people to death who work on the sabbath. Numbers 15:35, 36, to kill family members who worship false gods. Deuteronomy 13:6-10.

The Bible tells about parents boiling and eating their son. 11 Kings 6:29, and having men of the city help stone a stubborn son to death. Deuteronomy 21:18-21.

According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, wants people who do not want him to reign over them brought before him and killed. Luke 19:27.

What does that and a whole lot more like it have to do with someone taking an oath of public office? Wouldn’t it make more sense for people to take the oath of public governmental office with their hand on the Constitution of the United States; the law they are to obey and uphold?

Michael Walls
East Meredith

Abandoned cats

I started Project Feeder Watch for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in November. As I was watching the birds feed, I saw a stray cat eating some fallen suet in the snow, because it was starving. This is the second year that someone has dropped off stray cats on our property outside of Laurens. Last year, one tore up the underside of our home to get warm.

I took the cat in as it was below zero and it fought with my two cats and was full of fleas and tapeworms. Fortunately, a friend gave her a good home.

This year, there were two dropped off that I am feeding as I cannot see them starve and eat bird food.

The thing is, why are people so irresponsible to not get their animals fixed with the GOFAR coupons that are available. Or not get any pets at all if they cannot take care of them. My retired neighbor has 10-plus cats he feeds daily because of this situation. I have two animals of my own to take care of and I think it is a shame someone has to leave a poor, helpless animal off in the middle of winter in the freezing cold to starve. Shame on these people and I hope they can live with themselves doing such a heartless thing to these poor creatures.

Taryn Stilson
Laurens

Courage every day

The Jan. 6 Daily Star Article titled “Area Officials Blast Budget” contained a quote taken out of context. The text quoted is accurate. The context reverses my intent and could be received as an affront to many people. According to the article, Wilber Bank President and CEO Douglas Gulotty told lawmakers and the audience at an Otsego Chamber luncheon that he has seen changes in the people served by the bank in the past couple of years as the economic downturn has worsened. “The thing I miss the most is the sense of courage,” Gulotty said. The above comment was framed with a historic reference to the Apollo Moon Mission of 1969, when men were sent to the moon with less computing power than is contained in my cellular telephone. It was intended to remind those in attendance of great courage shown by those leaders, inspired by John F. Kennedy, to do things “not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” These are hard times for New York State.

I witness courage every day. The people I work with evidence courage in doing the hard work of the bank so well. My customers evidence courage by honoring their obligations even as times grow hard and money is tight. My neighbors evidence courage in relearning the math being taught to their children so they can help with homework. All this takes courage.

I was soliciting from our audience the courage to support our elected representatives as they face the arduous tasks of balancing the budget of our state without damaging critical programs. Our state representatives have courage, but I believe they need us beside them in Albany. I called for the courage to do what is hard, courage I see every day in the people I know. I intended no affront.

Douglas Gulotty
Schenevus

Gulotty is president and CEO of Wilber National Bank in Oneonta.