Good decision, mostly ignored

Vinyl windows in historic homes. An article, two editorials, and letters to the editor. Why, then, did the Democrat-Herald devote only one obscure paragraph to the unanimous City Council decision denying Mr. Moline’s appeal of a Landmark Advisory Commission decision?

There were two newsworthy issues in that decision: It was the first time in 10 years that an appeal had been made to City Council to overturn one of the commission’s decisions, and the council unanimously decided to support the commission’s decision.

Two writers to the ADH online dialogue site complained that government needs to stop telling everyone what to do. Mr. Hering concurred: “Way too many rules of all kinds.” Another writer suggested owners of historic homes should be compensated for the added expense of keeping the home historic. Ms. Graham’s letter was confusing, on the one hand bemoaning the city’s desire to have historic homes maintained at a certain level of visual authenticity and appeal, then complaining that the city had not made the owners of a house she considered an eyesore finish repairing its windows.

I testified at the City Council hearing that I served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 27 years to protect individual liberty and had great respect for homeowner rights. I then noted that to serve in the Corps I, and my family, had given up certain rights. Similarly, my wife and I gave up certain rights when we chose to live our retirement years in an historic home with its added un-reimbursed expenses and code restrictions. If we, or any other historic home owners, want vinyl windows we can and should choose to move to a non-historic home rather than ask the community to forsake its irreplaceable treasure of historic homes.

Dan Conway, Albany

A minister’s departure

I am sorry to hear that Pastor Shelton is leaving his ministry at First Assembly Church of God. I am sure he has put in many diligent and prayerful hours to believers and non-believers as well. The people that sat under his tutelage have been blessed many times over.

Pastor Shelton, thank you for your care of the “flock” that was given to you. However, God does know best. And, in light of the immoral things going on in today’s world, it will be only a matter of time before the gay and lesbian people would be suing you for preaching against their beliefs.

You will be missed and, hopefully, God will send another pastor that teaches the Word Of God regardless of what others believe and teach. God bless you.

Donna Wiebe, Albany

Too much on protesters

Saturday, March 17, 2007, a day to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. What did the Democrat-Herald celebrate? Can you spell protesters? Unfortunately the Herald can and did: two articles.

The picture of protester Glenda Cobb and her “modified” American flag turned my stomach.

I don’t know if she thought this clever act would show her intelligence, however in my estimation it showed her ignorance and her hatred for America. I don’t know what she and others are protesting for, obviously not about deaths. If they did, they would be protesting abortions as more deaths are caused by abortions than any war. Obviously they are not protesting over the deaths of Iraqi citizens, or they would have protested the deaths by Saddam. They never did. Apparently they are protesting the deaths of terrorists and want that to stop.

Ms. Cobb, find a real American flag, honor it and stand up for our men and women who are risking their lives for your rights.

The other article, “Christians gather for Iraq war protest,” is just as insane. Again if they are truly Christians, they need to protest against the deaths of unborn children, protest against child molesters, rapists, do something Christian for a change instead of playing politics. They are giving true Christians a bad name.

Larry Crompton, Scio

Bring troops home now

I’m tired of Congress and the Senate pussy-footing around with this war and enabling the “decider.” Stop it now. No more non-binding arrangements or agreements! Stop funding it entirely and bring back our troops this year.

Let the religious war over there play itself out amongst the Sunnis and Shiites. If we can do something politically to help the Iraqis, fine, but our military being there is only cause for further conflict, and certainly is not helping to settle this religious war, which has been going on for over 2,000 years. Not one more military dollar for Iraq.

Don Anderson, Lebanon

Habitat and its message

There was an article in the D-H announcing meetings for families interested in the Habitat for Humanity program. The dates and times were there, along with a note that your child must attend in the Albany school district and that you must have a job to be able to maintain the home. I was very excited as my son has three little girls and I thought it would be the opportunity that they needed.

Well, the person who put the ad in failed to put in that you must have been in the Albany area for a year. That wasn’t the only problem. It should have sent up my alarm signals when I saw that the meetings were held at a church. The woman talking to my son told him that they go by “Christian ethics.” Excuse me, just what is that these days?

The last church we attended, the pastor was caught looking at porn on the church computer. In the same time frame the church my son was attending in the South, right smack in the Bible Belt, his pastor was caught with one of the elders’ daughters. I was not aware that the Habitat for Humanity put on the application that you must live up to this code. If we are to believe that this is ethical behavior, the devil is just having himself one big happy laugh on the side.

I am sure that my family is not the only ones that have encountered this hypocritical attitude. Just what that woman meant I have no idea, but my son is kind to others, tries to raise his family and teach them good values and works hard. Even after going to church and seeing that example! I’ll take his ethics any day.

Carolyn Birman, Foster

Wanda Kinney, executive director of the Albany Area Habitat for Humanity, responded that the group is a nonprofit organization of volunteers who build simple, decent, safe homes for people in need. The organization follows Christian principles by serving people regardless of race, religion, age, gender, disability, familial status or any characteristic protected by law. Informational meetings often are held in churches so habitat does not have to pay a building user fee.

Let Bush follow direction

Before President Bush invaded Iraq, many declared that it was a very bad idea. “If you break it, you own it” was one famous statement.

Mr. Bush has had four years of absolute control to prove to us that his Iraq investment was a good idea for the U.S. He has failed miserably and tragically and squandered tens of thousands of healthy lives and hundreds of billions of our hard-earned dollars.

If he were CEO of the U.S.-Iraq War Corporation he would have been fired long ago and perhaps charged with major crimes against his company by its board of directors or stockholders.

Last November the citizen/shareholders of the U.S. evaluated his progress and made their opinion clear — it is time for the Bush war in Iraq to wind down.

This week Congress has taken action to begin an end to the war and bring our troops home.

It is time for President Bush to follow the direction given him by his shareholders, Congress and the American people, admit his mistaken judgments and end, terminate his Iraq War Project.

Jim Powers, Albany

Death penalty: No delays

Somewhere in my distant past I remember some judge calling the death penalty the “garbage disposal of society.” Years ago, the death penalty was a deterrent to murder because it was used swiftly and often publicly. Today it is rare for anyone to be executed in less than 15 years after the crime. Also today, since the use of DNA checks, it is rare for any innocent person to be terminated.

The death penalty is definitely a deterrent if used promptly, but unfortunately, we have some individuals, mostly religious, who feel sorry for the perpetrator of the crime and prefer to keep him alive indefinitely at considerable cost to society for his incarceration.

Some people have become concerned about pain occurring during execution. What nonsense! The murderer will be dead in less than two minutes and will not remember any pain, even if there was some.

The convicted murderer should be given one opportunity to review his case. Then, if no exculpatory evidence is found, execution should proceed. End of story, and no further costs of incarceration.

Allen Jay Silver, Albany