Too many have turned from God

I would like to give my opinion of why "too many ignore laws," by Carol Green.

First, there is a lack of respect and consideration for law and people in general. Dysfunctional families with anger, frustration, alcohol and drugs are a big problem. This is a selfish, permissive generation. There is little consideration for other people’s rights, lives, pets or wildlife.

On the road, we see inappropriate hand signals when we are in people’s way or for no obvious reason. Actually, it shows their immaturity and ignorance. Plus, there is little law enforcement out there on rural roads. So, they get away with it.

I believe these lost, confused people need to get themselves right with our Lord, Jesus Christ. And learn how to have peace, love and respect in our lives.

The Bible says the spirit gives victory over sin in Galatians 5. Read it for yourself.

Due to limited space, I will name only a few works of the flesh: "(19) Adultery, fornication, (for those who do not know what fornication is, it is sex outside of marriage), (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath, strife, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, and such like: in which I tell you in time past, that which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: Against such, there is no law."

My answer to why too many ignore laws is: We either follow the Lord’s ways or the devil’s worldly ways. It is a choice. We are born into sin and unfortunately some always remain there. The Bible also tells us in John 10:10: "The thief (devil) comes to steal, kill and destroy."

Hilda Holbrook

Otego

Parents, read

to your children

"The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them."

_ Mark Twain

I’m not surprised that most American adults don’t read books. Our culture promotes the idea that our wants and needs must be met immediately and with little effort. Reading takes both time and effort, but the payoffs are innumerable.

To the parents who don’t like to read, don’t have time to read, or fall asleep reading; PLEASE take the time to read aloud to your children. Reading aloud models fluent reading and encourages an interest in reading. Children who are read aloud to from an early age learn to read earlier in life and are more successful in school.

Although playing in the backyard pool or going to the park are wonderful activities to share with your family, neither replaces the closeness parent and child feel while sharing a good book. Most children’s books, either the entire book or by chapter, take about 15 to 20 minutes to read (the same amount of time it takes to watch that TV sitcom) and it’s difficult to fall asleep while reading aloud to your child. My son read well above grade level and continues to be an avid reader as an adult. We read aloud together until he went into high school.

It is a tragedy that more parents don’t read aloud to their children; and no, I don’t think the word "tragedy" is overstating it. I work with children who read at least two years behind grade level and most of them come from homes in which the parents are nonreaders (can read, but don’t).

Please make a positive choice for your children and put me out of business.

Glenda Pierce-Hoffmann

West Oneonta

Muslims must show love of U.S.

As a veteran of World War II, I well recall the propaganda movies that pictured Germans and Japanese as "Krauts" and "Japs" and the confinement of the Japanese citizens behind barbed wire. German restaurants changed their names.

Now, after the horrors of 9/11 have faded, we are accused of profiling Middle-Easterners.

Our way of life changed after that day; our faces don’t blend any more.

To the Arab-Muslim population, I say, "You worry me." I try not to be consumed by the same hatred that moves your fellow countrymen to butcher and maim. In an unsafe and irrational world I must be able to tell the difference between you and a terrorist.

I want to know, I have a right to know, if you love America, and pledge allegiance to its flag. I want you to wave the flag, serve in the armed forces, denounce terrorism. I want to know where every Arab-Muslim in this country stands on this demand. I earned this right by going in harm’s way to preserve the freedom they enjoy now.

I want you here as my neighbor and fellow American, but until you show me where you stand: "You worry me!"

John M. Fisher

St. Augustine, Fla., and Morris

Wrong to make judgment

This in response to the letter "Should of seen it coming."

No, Cheryl Harris, what I should have seen coming was how someone like you is what is wrong with the world today.

You are like those who make judgments before they even know the whole truth or what they are even talking about before opening up their mouths.

All I can hope for is that you never have to go through what I had to, the loss of a child.

A special thanks to everyone who responded on behalf of Josh to the Aug. 7 letter to the editor by Cheryl Harris. Thank you.

Regina Richheimer

South New Berlin

Regina Richheimer is the mother of Joshua Richheimer, who was shot and killed last month.

Child now in

a better place

The Daily Star is to be commended on the In Our Opinion in the Aug. 22 paper regarding Corbin Douglas.

That poor child would have grown up with drug use for sure and what kind of life would he have had? God spared that child a life of sorrow. Maybe that sounds a little dramatic, but he is in a much better place for sure.

Again two thumbs up.

Eric Kopf

Oneonta