Letters to the Editor for 1/19/09

Yes, Jesus judged — and so can I

There are two subjects I’d like to address.

Responding to Patrick Butler’s Jan. 12 letter, is my Bible the only one that contains Matthew 21: 12-13 and Mark 11: 15-17, where Jesus went on a rampage and drove all the money changers out of the Temple?

Is my Bible the only one that contains Matthew 12:34 and 23:33 where Jesus vehemently calls the Pharisees snakes?

Aren’t those cases of Jesus judging others? In that case, we Christians are indeed lining ourselves up with Him when we judge others. I have a constitutional right to say “Merry Christmas” and no one will stop me!

Some complained that Dec. 25 wasn’t the day Jesus was born. It wasn’t. So what?

We don’t celebrate Easter on the correct day, either. In 2008, Easter was celebrated on March 23, but Passover, when Jesus historically was crucified, wasn’t until April 20!

It matters not WHEN we celebrate but that we DO celebrate. Bravo to the lady who said, “You’re in MY house now.”

Long before the Europeans invaded this continent, Native Americans worshipped the exact same Trinity that the Europeans did. That’s a historical fact. The documentation is out there for anyone willing to research it. This continent has been Christian for over two millennia.

And in responding to readers’ criticism of Appalachian Power, apparently it’s escaped everyone’s notice that December has the shortest daylight hours of the year and that most of December 2008 was dark and dreary, requiring lights (which drastically impact electric bills) all day, not to mention Christmas lighting, which are additional factors to consider regarding the significantly higher bills.

If you think Appalachian Power’s billing is high, please move to Florida. You’ll find electric bills there three to four times higher than here, even with Appalachian's recent increase.

True, these are trying economic times and everyone is hurting, but it seems to me that Americans have forgotten how to count their blessings.

Remember, it could always be worse. Let’s all learn to count our blessings again instead of complaining about everything!

Lynn Merrell

Elk Creek

Unregistered kids upset holiday party

I am writing in response to the Readers’ Hotline comment of Dec. 22 regarding the Galax Elks Christmas Party for underprivileged children.

The person the caller was referring to was an Elks member in street clothes with a Santa hat. I can’t believe any child would have mistaken him for Santa.

The problem he was speaking about was the fact that forms were taken to the Social Services for Carroll/Grayson/Galax and the Head Start Programs for these areas.

This year, more than 600 children were signed up prior to the party but approximately 165 children came to the party that were not signed up.

Forms were distributed approximately a month prior to the party. It is difficult to plan for an event of this magnitude without having an idea of how many will be attending.

Each child and the parents were treated to lunch and each child received a $15 Santa bag of toys/games, stuffed toys, clothes, and a bag of candy/fruit. Each child had the opportunity to speak to Santa (and he never left the building).

I hope this will help to clear up the misunderstanding.

Montie L. Largin

Galax Elks Lodge

Shedding light on 'Flash from Past'

I believe the “Flash from the Past” in The Gazette of Dec. 24 misidentified the school that the students attended.

It was not called Iron Mountain School but rather Mountain View School. This school served a small farming community on Iron Mountain in the first half of the 20th century.

A 1930 topographic map of the area included two families of Halls, two families of Porters and the Igo family. These family names cover seven out of eight of the children in the photo.

Of possible historic interest, the map that this was copied from was the property of Myron H. Avery of Maine. Avery was an early enthusiast and leader for the Appalachian Trail. He personally scouted and identified the route for the trail in Southwest Virginia. The original of this map as well as all of the other Avery maps are in the archives of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

Fred Saal

Fries

Editor’s note: Information published with the Flash from the Past photo was provided by the reader who submitted it for publication.

Donations needed, not criticism

In the Jan. 5 edition, a Readers’ Hotline comment was published regarding Dalton Hill Cemetery.

In general, I disagree with The Gazette’s practice of accepting comments from unidentified persons in the Hotline. If someone feels strongly enough about a given topic, then that person should be able to identify themselves.

However, the individual does bring up a good topic of conversation and, that is the continuing care and needed financial support of cemeteries in our community.

Dalton Hill, like many others in our community, relies solely upon the continuing financial donations of persons who have loved ones buried there.

A one-time donation made at the time of burial is not enough for ongoing needs of the cemetery such as mowing, fencing, signage, steps and other improvements and upkeep.

I suspect the person who made the comment knows exactly who to contact with their concerns but chose a different path. I welcome their input when they identify themselves. I also welcome their financial support.

Pointing out problems is fine as long as you are willing to be part of the solution.

As a side note, every person serving as a trustee for Dalton Hill Cemetery has loved ones buried there and, in many cases, multiple generations of loved ones.

I urge each reader to remember your community cemeteries where your loved ones are buried with a donation each year.

For anyone wishing more information on Dalton Hill Cemetery, please contact Karen Horton Jones, trustees chairperson, at (434) 665-8761.

Donations can be mailed to Glenna Joyce, treasurer, 143 Robinson Dr., Woodlawn, Va. 24381.

Karen Jones

Forest