According to Sharon Bursell’s letter in your Aug. 30 Editor’s Mailbag, all the recall petitioners have been rude. I am the lady from the post office, and I assure you I was not a petitioner. The petitioner never said anything to her refusal to sign except “Thank you.”

This woman’s answer to a very civil “Are you registered to vote in Lebanon?” was to voice her opinion loudly all the way to her car! I just voiced mine back. So it looks like we both were the rude ones, not the petitioner. Could that have been the story with the other petitioners she mentioned? Maybe it would help all of us to find out what is really going on instead of “how it looks” before we smear others.

It also helps if we all spend a little time attending school board meetings, reading the paper, and listening to other opinions before making judgments about our “friends.” I have lots of friends who I would not vote onto a school board if I had a choice. Having a good heart and wanting to do a good job doesn’t make you capable of getting it done. I said to this woman at the post office: “I have been at all the school board meetings. I have not seen you there. How do you know they are the only two good ones?”

I would like to ask all Lebanon voters and non-voters not to form opinions on this subject by hearsay and innuendo. Do the research! And please remember; all your signature on the petition will do is bring the issue to a vote. Then the people have a chance to have their collective voice heard. What is so wrong about that?

Catherine Watts

Lebanon

Missing: Two carved bears

In the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 16 someone boldly decided to take my two beloved chainsaw carved bears from my porch in the Riverview school area in Lebanon.

I don’t know if this was a dastardly deed or they thought they needed them more than I did. I truly miss them because they were given to me by a beloved departed family member.

Please bring them home. They are special and unique and I miss them dearly. No questions asked.

Bev Gros

Lebanon

What would Jesus say?

In response to Ted Gay (Mailbag, Aug. 27):

If I am not mistaken, your God also states that one is not to judge another based on their whole being, physically and mentally.

Did Jesus not go out to the lepers and befriend them, did he not stop the stones from being cast unto a prostitute? How dare you, Mr. Gay, make such false presumptions in regards to those who are homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and everyone different from you?

I can only pity those such as yourself, for your naivete and utter ignorance in regards to the human race. My only suggestion for you is to take a good long look into your soul and reflect before you decide to go out and play god.

I’m sure knowledge lurks somewhere in your head, and I hope you take into account that you have also offended all religious backgrounds that differ from yours.

I wish you karuna, prajna and, ultimately, peace.

Lastly, it is sorrowful that the

Democrat-Herald would print such a prejudiced letter. Hate crimes can come in all forms.

Megan Marie Kuntz

Albany

So full of wrath, no mercy

In reply to Ted Gay’s letter, Aug. 27: Mr. Gay, you seem to be full of wrath. Your knowledge is so limited it amounts to no more than a curse against a large segment of the human race. How ironic that your own name is the same as the name we’ve come to attach to those you are railing against.

The Bible, in which you seem to believe, lists these gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear for the Lord. From your letter, I don’t see any indication that you’ve received any of these gifts, or any of the fruits of charity: joy, peace and mercy.

Strange how we often see these qualities in the people you excoriate.

Dena Gregg

Lebanon

The candidates for mayor

Mayor candidate Dan Bedore says (D-H, July 29) “We are poised to grow to be a major player in the region, and that’s part of what we are supposed to do.” Dan Bedore is happy to work with out-of-town developers to achieve that goal, and the quality of life in Albany will continue to decline under his administration. Mayor candidate Sharon Konopa thinks that her job is to make Albany a better place to live.

Please vote for Sharon Konopa.

Mitch Scheele

Albany