Thursday, October 8, 1998

A voice of authority

I have known the Stenholm family since Charles was 6. I was his first-grade teacher. Even then, he was an exceptional young man. His mother and I saw that he got off to a good start.

When Charles and Cindy lived in Stamford, she and I belonged to the same study club. When Cindy is in Abilene, she goes to the Bible study fellowship on Monday night.

I agree with Don Wright's letter in the Thursday Abilene Reporter-News. We want a strong moral example in Washington. We in the 17th District still need the advantage of Charlie's experience and seniority. He is an honest man who has served us well.

Charlie has voted like he thinks is best, and I have confidence in his judgment.

I urge everyone who reads this letter to vote for Charlie Stenholm in November. Thank you.

WYNONA DICKENSON

Abilene

Strike up the band

I had the fortunate opportunity to witness the Big Country Marching Band Festival held Saturday at the Wylie Stadium. It was great to see so many marching bands show what they could do.

All the bands have been working since the first of August, and it showed with how well they marched and how well they played their music.

My purpose in writing this letter is to say that I was in disagreement with the judges of the II ranking they gave to the Abilene High Band. They had a fast-paced show, and it has taken a lot of practice to do what they did on the field. I think everyone at the stadium would agree with me that their marching program was worth a I.

I think Paul Walker has done a great job this year with the Abilene High Band.

For those of you who are wondering, I don't have a child in either the Abilene High or Cooper Band. My daughter is in the Wylie Band, of which I was equally proud.

I thought all the bands did a good job in the heat and the wind, which played havoc with all the flag corps drill routines.

Let's support all the bands in everything they do.

JIM CREEL

Abilene

Via e-mail

An easy choice

Replace U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm with an unknown Republican wannabe? Never.

Throw away 20 years' experience as a U.S. congressman for an ex-San Angelo city councilman? Never.

The choice is easy, Abilenians. Keep the man from our area - Stenholm.

JOHN FLETCHER

Abilene

Asking God to lie

To lie under oath is asking God to lie for us. Now, if God tells a lie, He can no longer be God. He who is All Truth becomes a liar.

Now, do we really want to enthrone the lie as the foundation of our government and our society? Satan is a liar. Do we want him to be our god? If lying is acceptable, then why should anyone take an oath in court to tell the truth? Why teach children not to lie?

AUSTIN HERRMANN

Coleman

Raise for teachers

This is in reference to the feature on the Cooper High teacher pictured with his newborn triplets. Does anyone else think it is inexcusable for a man with a professional degree to be forced to obtain a second job as a newspaper carrier to support his family?

Wake up, Texas, or we will lose the few male teachers we have. Teachers deserve a raise.

MARILYN GALLAWAY

Abilene

A vote for Baird

It was nice to read Dirk Fillpot's article on Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Charlie Baird.

Two things struck me about the article. First, Judge Baird is running a positive campaign, stressing his qualifications and experience. How refreshing in these times of negative campaigning.

Second, I am glad to know that Judge Baird is a thoughtful, honest judge willing to weigh both sides of a case before making a judgment. I intend to vote for Judge Baird and personally urge everyone else to do the same.

ED PAYNTER

Abilene

A fresh voice

Change is needed. We need a senator who has an open door policy, right? Someone who is trustworthy, honest, open minded, fair and nonbiased with high moral standards. Someone we can go to who will listen and help to the best of his ability to solve problems and concerns of working class voters like you and me, retirees who need representatives to voice their concerns to Washington.

We need changes. We need political support for Texans, a voice for all Americans no matter what our origins.

Let's work to put a fresh face in the Senate, a fresh voice - Billy Enriquez.

RAY SELF

Rising Star

We need experience

Thanks for your Sept. 21 editorial.

Quote: "The House Republican leadership has scaled down its grandiose plans for a tax cut for $600 billion to $700 billion over 10 years to a more modest $70 to $80 billion over five. It's still a bad idea."

Quote: "The surplus is only surplus if Social Security revenues are counted. Take away that money, and this year's $63 billion surplus becomes a $41 billion deficit, and that recession-free $1.6 trillion surplus over 10 years shrinks to $169 billion."

These quotations are in line with U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm's thoughts on the matter.

Stenholm helped secure the B-1B 13th Squadron for Dyess. Many times prior, he worked to keep Dyess AFB in operation.

He recently co-sponsored two bills to help the oil industry in this area. Our slow economy of the late '80s and early '90s showed how important the oil industry is to us.

Farming, business, industry and our quality of life are other areas in which Stenholm's influence has been felt.

Many letters to the editor have supported another fellow, but do they (or we) really need another dentist in Washington? Or do we need an experienced congressman with clout to represent us?

I'll vote for Charlie Stenholm.

WILLIAM FAIRBETTER

Abilene

A dangerous man

I am often astounded by the lack of insight of my fellow American women. I am tired of hearing about Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, but I think it is a message that needs to be sent, a message that shows just what kind of sleaze we are dealing with.

I am also tired of hearing that everyone makes mistakes and we should just forgive and move on. This is a flawed argument. Clinton did not just cheat on his wife and take advantage of his powerful situation. He lied under oath, which is criminal. No one else would get away with that, and neither should our president.

Everyone does make mistakes, but that does not mean there are not consequences for misdeeds. Many criminals ask for forgiveness and come to know God in prison, but we do not say, "OK, since you're sorry, we'll let you back on the street now." All actions have consequences regardless of whether they are forgiven.

We should hold our leaders to higher standards than we hold the general public because leaders are elected to be pillars of the community in both word and deed.

Clinton is a dangerous man with strong delusions of grandeur, and he should be feared. There is no predicting whom he may bomb next time a scandal arises. I certainly wouldn't feel safe being alone with him, and I definitely don't feel safe about his being our president.

REBECCA CANNON

Abilene

Via e-mail

Stenholm's value

Charles Stenholm's leadership in Congress has brought together a forum of conservative members of both parties to stay atop the social questions and political issues of this day.

Charlie's honesty and straightforward approach to these current problems has qualified him to serve well the legislative needs of the 32-county 17th Congressional District.

His hands-on experience in agriculture has served him well to find the best answers to the many tough problems facing farmers and ranchers in his district. Teaching and business management has seasoned him.

Some say, "Time for a change." Are they saying experience is worthless? I say the kind of experience Charlie Stenholm has enhances any performance.

All signs point to trying times ahead for small business, farming and ranching. I believe we need Stenholm's experience, know-how and ability to continue the best representation available for this district.

I endorse and recommend this candidate and solicit your support and vote for him in the November general election.

JOHN SCARBOROUGH

Hamlin

Just get it done

With complete frustration I watched the proceedings on CNN of the impeachment hearings. What in heaven's name does it take?

Is the question here, is lying to the grand jury an impeachable offense? Is imploring others to lie to the grand jury an impeachable offense? If they are impeachable offenses, then impeach William Jefferson Clinton. If they are not impeachable offenses, then leave the man (the word man used loosely) alone to continue to try and turn this country into a genderless population that has no regard for God whatsoever.

William Jefferson Clinton evidently has been under the impression since the day of his birth that he is above all laws of this nation and God.

Do our esteemed U.S. Reps. John Conyers and Maxine Waters have more authority over the chairman to have statements stricken from the record because they don't agree? Is lying to the IRS worse than lying to a grand jury? My Bible says don't lie period!

In support of U.S. Rep. Hyde, he seems to be the only politician who can answer a yes-or-no question with yes or no. Thanks, Rep. Hyde.

I was so in hopes that when everyone got out and voted the Republicans into a majority Congress and Senate, including Mr. Gingrich, they would keep their word. How naive of me. I wonder how many personal files Clinton has of all our Congress and Senate people?

EVELYN SMITHSON

Abilene

Via e-mail

Just don't do it

I am writing after seeing the latest in the Nike Sporting Goods advertising campaign. I have always considered Nike to be a fine, upstanding American company. I no longer hold this opinion because of the message their ads are sending to the young people of America.

Their latest television spot on ESPN shows a professional athlete walking through a town knocking groceries out of a person's arms, smashing a cantaloupe to the ground, hitting a marquee letter out of a worker's hand, knocking glasses off a person's face and, lastly, trying to slap a lollipop out of a little girl's hand. The ad ends with the slogan, "Nike - what are you getting ready for?"

It looks to me as though vandalism and violation of others is the big event for which this man is in training.

How does this message come across to the children of our society? As a mother and a woman who has worked with sixth graders for three years and teen-agers for six years, I believe many kids will get the wrong idea. We need kids to know that athletic training does not include demeaning or violating others. We have enough problems with athletes who fail to be good role models. Let's not add to the mix with bad advertising.

CAREN CHRISTIAN

Abilene