The age of "hunters" in Alabama

Would someone explain to me the reasoning in allowing a child, at age 5, to deer hunt with "an adult," yet not be allowed to drive without an adult present until a child is 16? You put a child as young as five-years-old in the woods with a bunch of hunters and a loaded gun, but expel them as young as nine if they bring an unloaded gun to school, and don't let them get a driver's license until the age of 16. Surely, I am not the only person in the state of Alabama that finds this beyond irresponsible!

TO CONGRESSMAN JOE WILSON

How could you? Forget the fact that you are a U.S. Congressman. You were in the presence of YOUR Commander in Chief. How dare you show such disrespect? What example are YOU showing your children?

The most despicable part of all this is your "riding your 15 minutes of infamy" to the satisfaction of blowhards and nonpatriots such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Anne Coulter and others. You disgust me and I regret that "Southerner" is attached to your name. I am a white Southern Christian and you and people like you astound and embarrass me. May God forgive you for losing your sense and sensibility.

Other nations are watching us and YOU represent your state and act like this? After the apology to the President, you should have apologized to Congress and shown some remorse. Instead, you act like a bully whose pals have given you a pat on the back for being a bully. And you're proud of that?

And you have the nerve to talk about values? You obviously don't have any, so why would YOU be the one to talk about them?

Senator Ted Kennedy

For all his failings, he is a testimony to the old saying, "God isn't through with me yet," and another from the Bible, "...for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God." For his personal failings, he sought forgiveness and was forgiven by the One who counts--our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless of what your opinion of him and regardless of your judgment of him, Google his name and you will see the worthwhile accomplishments of him and the Kennedy family. He deserves our respect for what he accomplished, for his work ethic, and for being a champion of the downtrodden. At least he did something for the country he loved and he could fight for a cause on the Senate floor and remain friends with his adversaries. The fact that there were well-known Republicans among his circle of friends is a testimony to him as a person, I think, more than as a senator.

As for me, I recognized his failings a long time ago and was one of many who thought he should have served time for not reporting the death of Mary Jo Kopechne until hours later. But, in spite of that scourge and others on his reputation, I have seen him claw his way back and he was always a patriot. For that I wish eternal peace for him and peace for the members of his family.

Philip Cameron Ministries and the Girls from Moldova

On August 26, 2009, I attended a worship service at Frazer United Methodist Church featuring the "Girls from Moldova." What a blessing and inspiration for those of us fortunate enough to attend!

Philip Cameron Ministries sponsored these girls and they have traveled throughout the United States telling their stories of how they ended up in orphanages and how the Camerons have given them a better life. Until the Camerons came on the scene, they had no hope and had never been told about Christ. We learned that once the girls have "aged out" of the orphanages, they run the risk of being sold for sex.

In Moldolva orphaned girls are considered the dregs of society. One of the girls sang a most beautiful song, entitled "Orphans of God." Some of the lyrics are, "There are no strangers, there are no outcasts, there are no orphans of God." What a powerful message!

Also on the program were the Wesley Pritchard Singers from Fayetteville, North Carolina. If you have ever watched a Gaithers Gospel program, you have probably seen Wesley Pritchard's name listed on the credits. He arranges the harmony and produces many of the Gaithers' programs.

Homes called "Stella Houses" have been built to house these girls. While they were in Fayetteville, NC, an attorney generously made up the $100,000 difference needed to establish the fourth Stella House. Many Montgomery dentists and ophthalmologists provided free care and treatment for the girls while they were here.

The Camerons have a retreat near Ramer called "Brigadoon," (in honor of their native Scotland, I'm sure) and a link to their ministry can be found online under philipcameronministries.com.

The GOP, Limbaugh and Palin

How dare anyone compare our President--or any President of the United States--to Adolph Hitler! Rush Limbaugh, a pompous pill-popping loudmouth who has nothing better to do than incite the American public with his lies and innuendos, makes me want to heave. And Sarah Palin, a woman who 'gee, golly, I can see Russia from my back door"? As soon as she and her husband are being investigated, she bales out as Governor of "Alas-KA." Just imagine if she had been elected VP--and she quit and left McCain high and dry when things got tough. Death panel? Where does she get this stuff? What is so disturbing is the fact that there are people out there who actually believe these people!

What is being proposed is no bloody different than an Advance Directive or Living Will as we know it. Is anyone so ignorant that they would believe this President and this Congress would tell people how to die? Where did McCain find this dingbat?

I know one thing: I have voted for Republicans in my day; never voted for one party. But the GOP has done it for me. In 2004 when there was no clear choice for President, I didn't pull the lever for either. If the only models the GOP can claim are the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Glenn Beck, they are in a world of hurt and they have gotten my last vote.

And, yes, I voted for President Obama and Vice President Biden and have never regretted it.

Fox News

Thank you Joey King for your letter to the editor on April 22nd.

I have not listened to Fox News in over three years because of their racist, self-righteous tone. I just don't equate "Christian" with "self-righteous," nor do I believe that Christians should promote hate, prejudice and violence. And I don't want tabloid journalism--give me the TRUTH and the FACTS, with no grandstanding, thank you. I have the Bible and my innate sense of responsibility to guide my thinking. I READ, LISTEN and RESEARCH and try always to base my opinions on fact--not emotion and hyperbole.

The Buzz about the President's Appearance on the Jay Leno Show

People, give me a break! Lord, above, at least he used the time to explain things to the American people and didn't fly to Arizona for the 75th birthday party of Senator McCain when a Category 5 hurricane was bearing down on the Gulf Coast! If the Republicans are going to let the Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannitys and Bill O'Reilleys speak for them, then I am forever thankful that I did vote for President Obama. And trust me, I have voted for Republicans; I have voted for Democrats. I do not vote for a PARTY but for a person and I KNOW I made the right choice.

As for his remark about the Special Olympics, it was unfortunate but there is not a one of us on God's green earth who hasn't said things we should not have. How many of us--myself included--have used the phrase, "I'm as busy as a one-armed paperhanger"? Now, never once have I said that as "making fun" of anyone handicapped. You will have to look long and hard to find someone more compassionate than I, so I just wish all these finger pointers would remember the old saying, "Every time you point a finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you."

Our President and his cabinet have a multitude of problems dumped on them--BIG problems that require more than 60 days to solve. At least he is trying. He is engaging; he looks you in the eye when he speaks; he is extremely smart and eloquent; and he is sincere in trying to make changes in Washington. We all know that the status quo does not like changes and people are prejudiced in their views when they are afraid. Relax; take a deep breath; ask God for guidance for OUR President and his cabinet, and please TRY to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.

And the flak about his making predictions for the Final Four? Come on. Some presidents played golf; some sailed; some went to horse races, to ballgames. He has been working LONGER and HARDER than anyone in that office since forever, and he began working the day after election. He doesn't pass the buck. So, sit down and make yourself a list. WATCH HIM; LISTEN TO HIM. Don't read what he said or what the pundits said he said. WATCH AND LISTEN YOURSELF. Then write down the positive and negative points. And BE HONEST whether you are Republican or Democrat. And thank God every day that this awesome responsibility isn't dumped in YOUR lap. What would YOU do? It is always so easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, isn't it, but could you play the game? Do you have the physical and mental strengths to quarterback? Do you have the qualities and temperament to lead this country? Because if you do, throw your hat in the ring in four years. In the meantime, give this administration time to work through this plethora of problems and please don't label those of us who believe in this man and this administration as "liberal Democrats." I, for one, am a Christian who believes in law and order and freedom for all. I have always sympathized with the downtrodden. I want swift justice for child molestors and murderers, and I have a real problem with hypocracy. I am turned off by the self-righteous and "holier than thou." I have never understood why we can send money to the "poor little orphans in Africa," but not go to worship with a black person in the community, who also pays taxes and many of whom have also bled and/or died for this country. That is the one thing that as a Christian I can never accept from other Christians and if that makes me a liberal, then thank you, Jesus, for touching my heart.