Letters to the editor, July 15

More local programs needed to help the homeless

Wayne County needs to get more programs together to help the homeless and other lower income people. It's a shame how little assistance there is in this and other smaller area counties for housing for the above mentioned without the waiting list being 1-3 years long.

There are so many empty houses sitting in Wayne County that could be bought by the county and turned into low-income homes. They could do fundraisers for the purchase and the repair costs. Instead people are sleeping under bridges, in their cars, in alleyways, tents, etc.

Too many look down on the homeless, etc. Many who are now homeless were once business men and women, once pastors, once caregivers, etc, yet now and some are now homeless due to no fault of their own they and many have lost hope. I know the economy is better for most, but not for all; what's bad is that there are no programs here with short lists to help people get off the streets.

I have called several programs myself and 99 percent of those I called cannot assist in housing and the one that can the lists are up to three years long. Genesis can give shelter, but only to battered women and their children, Hope House can for men with addictions, but what about those who aren't being battered now or never have been and those who do not have addictions? Come on, Wayne County, let's get something done for our citizens!

Teresa Christian

Richmond

USA is another year older, but is it wiser?

July 4th has come and gone. Happy birthday, USA. However, this year’s celebration had an ominous backdrop. Usually, birthdays indicate the celebrated persons or entities having become a year more mature — progressing beyond their “previous self” in words and deeds, in strength of mind and character.  Depressingly, with DJT occupying the Oval Office, the USA has profoundly regressed, falling far astray from the ideals that birthed our nation.

Consider 18 months of presidential lows: DJT’s epic lies are legion. DJT, awash in narcissism, brags about himself, issues mocking tweets, shows no compassion regarding wrenching children out of their mothers’ arms, no compassion toward Americans seeking affordable health care, no concern for our environment’s health. 

DJT’s actions and words display a sickening prejudice toward an array of groups of people. DJT trashes labor unions. DJT’s trade wars confound the Chamber of Commerce and signal economic malaise. DJT, fooled by North Korea while simultaneously disparaging our allies, has flushed down the toilet America’s world leadership role. DJT’s packing our courts with judges who will restrict all manner of individual freedoms, judges who will protect the corporate wealthy.

We are in desperate straits, but we must have hope. We must take action so that the mid-term elections will produce lawmakers with the integrity to reign in DJT’s incompetence and prejudice. Lawmakers unlike Mike Braun, who, in his own words, has pledged to support everything DJT ordains, no questions asked.

Don’t allow the USA to slouch off into oblivion. Make an informed vote in November.

Les McClain

Richmond

Both sides of debate should seek to decrease abortions

According to a recent news article, Indiana saw an increase in abortions during the past year. Unfortunately, some see this as a cause to rejoice. Instead, no matter which side of the political perspective one may be on, this should not come as good news.

Abortion is a tragedy in which a human life has ended. Both sides should be seeking ways to make abortion a rare and unnecessary procedure. When Jesus wanted to describe the horrors of Hell He used the word “Gehenna," a reference to the Valley of Hinnon where child sacrifice rituals took place. Statues of the god Moloch would be heated white hot and newborn infants would be thrown onto the fiery outstretched arms of the idol to die a gruesome death. Priests sitting in a circle around the sacrificial pit, chanted and beat on drums  to drown out the screams of the tortured, dying children.

Today we do it less dramatically but the end result is the same. A child is sacrificed to the god of convenience. Because we do not hear the screams or graphically see the brutality of the act we feel justified in continuing the practice. When God  condemned the Israelites for “passing their children through the fire”, I’m sure He looked ahead in time and had abortion in mind. May God help us to get together and agree to end this horrid sacrifice of our young. Now.

Harold Bowlby

Richmond