Friday, October 2, 1998

Rewarding visit

My husband and I came to Abilene Aug. 10 from Wichita Falls to attend an insurance seminar the next day. It was getting about dusk, and when we stopped at the first stoplight, our car died and would not start.

We got out of the car and had barely pushed it off the road when two young men stopped to help us, Eric Wray and his friend, Bubba. Eric was on his way to pick up his girlfriend from work. He sent Bubba on to get her and stayed with us.

My husband and Eric saw it was the timing belt and would have to be towed to a shop. You can imagine how we felt, strangers in town, car broken down and leaving our car to strangers to tow.

Bubba returned with Eric’s girlfriend, Jessica. Eric had us get into his pickup with Jessica and Bubba, and Jessica dropped Eric at his apartment to call Floyd’s Garage to tow our car and make the repairs. Jessica drove us to the Hampton Inn and saw that everything was OK. Floyd’s Garage said they would tow it and could make the repairs, hopefully the next day.

When we got out of our meeting at 4:30 and some fellow insurance agents drove us to the garage, there sat our car — ready to go! And they only charged us $155 to fix it and for towing. We thought being from out of town it would probably run $300-$400.

Your town should be proud of a young man probably 20 years of age, Eric Wray, and an honest garage. I’m still amazed at how it all happened and how lucky we were that night.

BARBARA MANNEN

Wichita Falls

Un-American treaty

Coming soon will be the greatest un-American treaty ever conceived by the United Nations. It calls for the U.S. to approve a treaty with the U.N. so that the International Criminal Court will have jurisdiction over citizens of any country in the world.

This will result in the next step toward one-world control, which the U.N. wants.

The ICC would be made up of a kangaroo court with its members being appointed by the U.N. The ICC judges and prosecutors might be from Cuba, Russia or Red China.

They would not be accountable to anyone, and they would have unlimited power. Therefore, the mock court would not necessarily have a representative from the U.S.

The ICC would also have final sentencing without allowing the accused to defend himself. This would completely take away our freedom of trial by jury, as guaranteed by our Constitution.

American servicemen serving in the U.N. “peace-keeping ventures” would be at risk to be arrested and tried under laws not our own.

Citizens of any country in the world could be arrested and then moved to any other country, tried and sentenced, and then imprisoned in a secret place so that friends, relatives and attorneys would not know their locations.

There is only one solution: Get us out of the United Nations and get the U.N. out of the United States!

Please contact your senators to oppose the ICC Treaty.

JIM HICKS

Clyde

Any precedent?

I read the editorial in Sept. 30’s paper and notice that you people think the legal system is a scarier jumble than its harshest critics have perhaps suspected.

In light of this, how do you classify the showing of the tapes made by the president for the federal grand jury? Is there any precedent for deliberately releasing secret grand jury testimony?

I am not a lawyer, but have always heard that any disclosure of grand jury testimony is illegal. Guess that does not apply when it comes to Bill Clinton.

CHARLES WHITEFIELD

Eastland

Via e-mail

Live and then give

I am a senior nursing student at Texas Christian University. This spring I attended a seminar in Fort Worth on organ donation sponsored by the Organ Donation Center, Lifegift. This was only an assignment, but by the end of the seminar, I was so moved that I decided to become an advocate for organ donation.

Hundreds of Texans die each year from a lack of organ and tissue donation, including many from this area. A single individual donor can provide organs, bones and tissue for up to 50 people. So why are people not becoming donors? Many are misinformed on the facts.

Here are some facts I hope might clear up misunderstandings that keep people from becoming donors.

-- Donation does not cost anything for the donor’s family.

-- Most transplant recipients return to a normal, healthy lifestyle.

-- Donation is not considered until all efforts to save the patient’s life have failed.

-- Donation does not prevent an open-casket funeral.

In our society, heroism is often correlated with fame, athletics and notoriety. It is time to recognize and emulate our modern heroes who have chosen to save lives by donation. In this sad world, tragedy strikes unexpectedly every day. What better way to commemorate the gift of life than by giving others a chance to live?

Please consider this request and share your decision to become a donor with your family. As the Texas Medical Association says, “Live, and then give.”

HEATHER PARSONS

Albany

Scriptural view

Some state that adultery is a private matter; however, scriptures do not support this view. I believe God used Kenneth Starr to confront President Clinton, just as John the Baptist confronted King Herod with his sin of adultery.

Hillary responded, as did Herodias, by demanding the head of Kenneth Starr.

Many believe the president’s sin has no relation to his job performance. Unexposed sin is similar to a virus. Although not seen, you do see the damage it causes.

The president’s stand on abortion is a natural response for someone with his view on adultery, and the perverse nature of his relation with Monica explains his stand on issues dealing with sodomy.

Some have said that the president has repented and should be forgiven. How do you know if someone has repented? Jesus tells us we shall know by their fruit. If the President has truly repented, then should we not see a change in his stand on issues such as abortion and sodomy?

The president is not alone in this sin. He reflects the sinful condition of a nation that needs to repent.

If we are to remain one nation under God, then we must pray as though it is our sin, and not just theirs.

CHARLES LaSALLE

Abilene

Via e-mai

Who’s been sleeping

Why are the good ole boys in D.C. so anxious to go along with Ken Starr to impeach Bill Clinton?

Is it because they are afraid he will investigate them and find out who they have been sleeping with?

BOBBIE BOWMAN

Aspermont

Failed presidency

It is a sad state of affairs when the media and the propaganda arm of the White House endeavor to sully the reputations of the Founding Fathers of our nation in an effort to save the failed presidency of a draft-dodging, dope-smoking, womanizing liar.

G. KEITH GARNER

Abilene

Successful search

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the search for Wesley Paul on Sept. 18-19.

ECCA, the Buffalo Gap, Mulberry Canyon and View volunteer fire departments, Buffalo Gap Church of Christ, Taylor County Sheriff’s Department, Abilene Police Department Canine Unit and the Department of Public Safety helicopter were all vital in the search.

It is amazing that so many people responded.

The ladies from Buffalo Gap VFD set up the tables for coffee, water and snacks and maintained it the entire time. The American Red Cross sent food for breakfast. Jodi Owens, manager of the Buffalo Gap Store, sent bottled water, ice, doughnuts and soft drinks. Elm Valley Community Church sent coffee. The ladies from Buffalo Gap Church of Christ prepared lunch. There were people we didn’t even know.

I would like to give a special thank you to Sheriff Jack Dieken. He was on the scene Friday night and stayed until the end. Also, two of his deputies, Harold Sumrall and Troy Henderson. Lee Reed and the canine unit from the Abilene Police Department also did a super job.

I cannot even describe the feeling when I saw Gene Leeper come out of the woods with Wesley on his shoulders. Both of them had big grins on their faces. Thank you.

I would also like to thank all the people who were saying prayers for us. The power of prayer works!

The search was well organized and carried out perfectly. Everybody did a tremendous job, and we thank all of you.

KATHY SWAIM

Tuscola

Smaller government

I was astonished to read Pete Lollar’s recent letter to the editor, in which he essentially advocated a larger and more intrusive government.

Lollar condemns the logic of lawmakers who supported a bill that called for a 5 percent across the board cut in state agencies, but I write today to praise it. Some people think we have a budget surplus because our government is responsible and well-intentioned; I say we have that surplus because the citizens are overtaxed!

If the state of Texas has received a mammoth budget surplus, then it is obvious that it is taking more money than it should from the pockets of hard-working citizens.

I find it difficult to believe that in 1998 people like Mr. Lollar find limiting the size and scope of government “misguided.” He says cuts threaten education, but anyone who has seen Gov. Bush’s campaign commercials knows we will have the money to address those needs.

I applaud the courage of public officials like Sen. Tom Haywood who stood up to the bureaucrats and cut some fat out of the state budget.

It’s about time our elected representatives made government smaller and more efficient.

DONNA COSBY

Abilene

Via e-mail