Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008 10:00 pm
Theft had a good outcome
In regard to an article on July 18, "Trust takes a hit," it occurred to me that some people put more energy and time in trying to disrupt other people's lives and taking the joy out of those people's day by destroying, stealing and name-calling.
When these same small people are caught or confronted, they get defensive and get more vile. Little do they realize that if they put the same energy into doing something nice for someone, instead of criticism, they would instead be complimented and praised for their good deeds.
I would like to thank those thieves that stole the sign from Mike at the Pepper Tree Sausage House, simply because it opened up the opportunity for me to meet Mike.
On Saturday I made Mike a new sign and delivered it to him, just to be nice, and to put the "smiles" back on people's faces when they visit this little establishment.
Meeting Mike was great. He was in fact the nice guy that you made him out to be. Mike treated me and my helper Jason to lunch on Tuesday, and it too was great.
Although I would have rather met Mike under other circumstances, these petty thieves made it possible for Mike and myself to meet and for me to learn of another great little lunch spot in Albany.
This petty theft did not ruin my day. It in fact enlightened my life.
Bob Ramsey, Lebanon
Making few words count
Words are a powerful, unlimited resource, with the potential to inspire, demoralize, or spark and ignite the imagination.
Earnest Hemingway won a short story contest that was limited to just six words. His brief, but poignant entry: "Baby shoes for sale. Never worn."
Larry A. Smith, Shedd
Rio Grande almost dry
Mr. Hering wrote on July 16 that it was so terrible to build a fence on the Mexican border, saying that people used the river for recreation and boating.
It is obvious that he has never been to the lower Rio Grande. If he had been in the late summer he would have seen that there is not enough water flowing to sail a child's little sailboat, as it is almost dry by the time it gets to the ocean.
He went on to say that walls were what dictators build. Well I guess Bush is a dictator because he had several walls built in Iraq.
I think the idea of a wall was to stop the illegals from coming into our country so we wouldn't have to support them and have so-called bilingual education for their children at a great expense to the taxpayers.
He also wrote the other day that people should read more and become better informed. I would suggest that to him as well. Perhaps he could read the New York Times and get out of the Republican mode he is in.
Bill Porter, Sweet Home
If there's no water, the editor wonders how the locals there are going to hold the boating events they have scheduled.
Peace begins in a bottle
My husband, Bruce Sr., and I believe that peace begins at home. Our teenage son, Bruce Jr., 16, has recently been writing articles for our church newsletter on issues of judgment and war. Even our 7-year-old, Michael, prays for love and peace at the dinner table. So, recently, as a family, we have decided to institute the Peace Bottle Project.
Every year on Sept. 21, International Peace Day, we would like to encourage people to write a message of peace with their name and address and put it in a bottle and send it off to sea.
The receiver is encouraged to write back and therefore start a personal dialogue the world over about what they experience personally, in their country and what peace means to them.
We believe that peace can happen one person at a time. People should use bottles that are strong and not easily broken.
This is not litter or environmental debris. The bottle is envisioned to find a recipient, thereby causing neither litter nor waste. Once people find out about this project, they will be on the look out for the message.
Thank you for helping us spread the word.
Rev. Patricia Roller, Aumsville
Let the truth be known
Mr. Bush has failed to uphold his oath to support the Constitution. Instead he has taken away our rights and lied to get us into an unauthorized war so his oil buddies can steel our taxes and deplete the treasury. He is guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors." Now it is time for Congress to uphold their oath and impeach the president so that the truth can be known!
Steven Baumann, Albany