January 07, 2009 09:59 am
—
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.
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