Encouraged by report on faith

Monday's report (June 23) about the percentage of Americans who believe in God was encouraging and comforting. Comforting because it implies that they are willing to live by God's moral law, stating that "three-fourths of Americans believe in heaven as a place where people who have led good lives will be eternally rewarded."

And this is encouraging because if we are trying to live good lives we won't be engaging in criminal behavior, which wreaks havoc in an otherwise orderly and safe society.

However, I wish the authors of the poll had gone a step further and asked the question, "How many believe we are eternally rewarded by what we do for God?" and "How many believe that we are eternally rewarded through faith in what God has done for us?"

In fact it is possible to divide all religions of the world into two groups based on the two questions, "Do we attain righteousness before God by our works?" or "Do we attain righteousness by what God has done for us?" Because, according to most Christian faiths, based on what the Bible says, God provided a way for us to be "saved" by sending a savior, Jesus Christ. And we have the choice of either trying to do it ourselves or doing it God's way by putting through faith in his provision of a savior. For atheists this is a moot point, but for those who believe in God, this is an important point to consider.

Patrick Burkett, Lebanon

Memorials omit many vets

On July 4, 2008, the United States will celebrate its 225th year of independence. In September 1783, the Treaty of Paris recognized the United States' independence. During the American Revolution 250,000 troops served in the military; 4,435 died and 6,188 were wounded to give us independence from Great Britain. Since then, 41,587,451 American veterans have served in 11 wars to keep this country as free and independent as we live in it today. Of those veterans who fought, 2,877,518 were killed or wounded fighting to defend our freedom.

On July 4, 2008, two newly rebuilt veterans memorials will appear in Linn County to be dedicated, one in Albany supposedly honoring all Linn County veterans and one in Scio supposedly honoring all veterans from Scio. At both sites, if you have paid for a brick, your name will be on the brick in the memorials. If not, oh well! You weren't a veteran anyway.

I am an atomic veteran and have served in two wars. I have also lived all 72 years of my life in Scio, Linn County, Oregon. I was not asked by Scio or by Linn County to buy a brick. In my opinion, Scio and Albany representing Linn County have neglected to honor all the totality of these 41,587,451 veterans who so gallantly defended our great nation. We veterans have been disgraced, insulted and omitted by these actions.

Any veterans memorial should include all veterans by name or be a memorial to all veterans with no names. These two memorials are replacing memorials that did honor all veterans and not just those and their families who purchased bricks.

James Parker, Scio

Restore country's balance

"You know them by what they do, not by what they say," the Bible reminds us. People make choices every day. We have the free will to decide what we will do with our time, money and thoughts. What we do with this freedom determines our future.

Our national future will be determined by the election in November. Our country is out of balance. We can all see the consequences of our past actions. As citizens we must decide what future we want.

Equilibrium is essential for a healthy society and equilibrium is essential within our democratic form of government. For all too long the scales of balance have been weighted with ill will not goodwill, injustice not justice, lies not honesty, fear not courage, brutality not humanity, creating enemies not friends, greed not sharing, taking not giving, hopelessness not hope, death not life and war not peace.

In November we will all know who we are as a people. We will know if we are the light bringer that we thought or just a cloud of continued darkness, pain and suffering. From now until November we can use our free will to help create equilibrium. Each grain on a scale makes a difference. On what side of the scale will you decide to give your weight?

David Anderer, Albany

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