Wednesday, June 25, 1997
Not all from NEA
It is easy for those of us involved with the arts to agree
with the ideas behind your editorial June 22 acknowledging the
contribution the National Endowment for the Arts has made to our
community.
However, in the event the editorial may have left the impression
that the NEA's role has been greater than that of our local citizens,
I would like once again to express gratitude to all those who
have been donors for everything that is good about our city. The
Grace, for instance, was funded with gifts ranging from pennies
to millions, most of it from our own area.
Through sub-grant challenges, the Endowment has participated
in expansion grants that have helped many struggling arts organizations
get going. But that money had to be matched by our own local resources,
two to one. Make no mistake, the Endowment challenge helped create
the environment for much of that to happen, and I, too, am grateful
for their confidence in our cultural program.
As you so carefully pointed out, the few "Mapplethorpe"
bad things have been far outweighed by the thousands of worthwhile
programs across the country - including the good done here in
our community.
But all of that is also downsized by the huge financial support
generously given to the cultural community by the most generous
donors on the face of God's good Earth, our own friends and neighbors.
Thanks to all who have contributed and continue to contribute
so much to our quality of life.
DICK SPALDING
Abilene
Knockers takes hit
We see that a breast-promoting restaurant has moved into Abilene
under everyone's noses. Knockers is the name. Is it a cousin to
Hooters? Whatever, we as Christians won't take our families to
a restaurant named after body parts.
The owner, Roy Sanders, thinks people's minds are in the gutter
concerning this place. He says the uniforms show no skin. We saw
the girls on the corner with their cheek shorts and T-shirts tied
in the back to make them tighter. These sure weren't modest.
Oh, and we know the expected clientele of 65 to 70 percent
male is going to go there to see how smart the waitresses are.
We know some people are going to say we're being ridiculous,
but God's word tells us lasciviousness (lust) is evil. God tells
Christians to abstain from the appearance of evil. He also says
to be holy as He is holy. So, no, Christ wouldn't go there for
entertainment.
Abilene is conservative, but Sodom and Gomorrah probably were
at one time, too. What we're trying to say is we better watch
what we let in our city. As for those of you who will say the
usual "they're being judgmental," read your Bible.
Who else will stand up for what's right and godly? Let's send
Knockers knocking on another city's door.
RUTH ANN UNDERWOOD
ALLISON SIMS
Abilene
Reducing our taxes
"We must not let our leaders load us with perpetual debt,"
lest we be taxed "in our meat and in our drink" until
we must live on "oatmeal and potatoes; have no time to think,
no means of calling the mismanagers to account; but be glad to
obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on
the necks of our fellow sufferers." These insightful words
were written by Thomas Jefferson in 1816 and should serve to guide
us today.
Speaker Newt Gingrich recently proposed a reduction of all
state, federal and local taxes to no more than 25 percent of an
individual's income. Such a reduction would not only benefit the
economy, but also society, its children, its families and our
government.
I, for one, support legislation that returns freedom and personal
responsibility to the citizens.
DEBRA MONDE
Abilene
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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