Credibility Counts

Dear Editor:

Regarding the guest speaker at the recent North Harris County Criminal Justice Association breakfast [Tribune, Nov. 4], Mike Anderson, judge of the 262nd district court doesn’t get it even after voters replaced 7 out of 8 district judges on the ballet last election, including his ex-district attorney wife.  An ex-district attorney himself, he acts like all the judges who were voted out.  The public is sick of Harris County justice.  It has been rotten to the core for too long and it starts on the street with law breaking cops and continues with the hand picked rubber stamp grand juries.  Anderson cites the fact that one new judge has granted 12 of 13 motions to suppress.  I guess he thinks that if he goes years without granting a single motion to suppress (prior to the last election), that is the right thing to do.  He says “they are CALLING police officers not credible” as if this were the problem.  The problem that even the blind can see is that the officers have NOT been credible for a long time and they are finally being exposed by new, fair judges (but unfortunately not prosecuted like regular citizens would be).

Joe Gonzalez 

via e-mail

Is this justice?

Dear Editor,

I’m looking for a good lawyer to sue the ACLU for the whiplash I received when they didn’t insist that Maj. Hasan be tried in the US judicial system. The ACLU along with our liberal administration did everything in their power to overrule the Constitution and move the trials of enemies captured on battlefields and foreign soils away from military jurisdiction to US civilian courts while there is a Congressional approved war ongoing.  Now we have an American on US soil that kills fellow Americans and they are silent about taking his trial out of the military’s hands and putting it into the US Judicial system.  Am I the only one shocked by the change of position on this case?  Trying to analyze the reasons the ACLU and our liberal administration is not protesting this case, I came up with the following: The military hasn’t executed anyone since 1961 so they feel very safe that Maj. Hasan won’t be put to death.  They didn’t want to add to the anger of the US citizens who are already upset over the terrorist trials being moved to the US courts.

With Gitmo terrorist now scheduled for trial in the US, the trial lawyers and our civilian courts will be tied up for the next ten years at the cost of millions of dollars and with the great risk that they will be found not guilty due to some technicality or procedure. These trials will inflame the terrorists around the World and will be used as a recruiting tool to expand their ranks and global terror.

Our Military Justice System has been trying their own cases since the Civil War so this has to be seen as one more step in tearing down our Constitutional structure. 

Sid B. Nice

Humble

Our Congressman’s Vote 

 Dear Editor:

I have always liked the way Congressman Ted Poe ends all his written communications, “God and Texas”…   short, simple, powerful.  It tells the reader he is proud of his state and is a man of faith.  That makes me wonder if our congressman is aware of the view that many in the faith community have of his “no” vote on the recently passed health care reform bill.   

I recently participated in conferences sponsored by two different faith-based organizations in which the issue of health care reform was examined. One was at Covenant Lutheran Church sponsored by Texas Impact, a faith based organization that advocates for social justice (see texasimpact.org).  The other was at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston where we heard from clergy including Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza and others  representing every major world religion.  Each member of the clergy spoke of health care reform as a moral imperative with our government playing a major role.  Because of limited space, I would invite the reader to go to faithfulreform.org and read how House bill H.R. 3962 measures up to a faith-inspired vision of healthcare.  At that site you can also read how most  of the major Christian denominations, such as the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ, the Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church, and many others support health care reform with single-payer or public option included.  Indeed, as stated in a letter to Congress last July from the head of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), “ … (we)  endorse in principle the provision of single-payer universal health care reform in which health care services are privately provided and publicly financed … as the program that best responds to the moral imperative of the gospel”. 

I would think that the next time we hear the hateful rhetoric of “socialized medicine” or “Obamacare”  we might pause and reflect, like so many in the faith community, on the scriptures that call us to care for one another and seek social justice. If you do read the “Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care”, you will see that the vision embraces a system that is “inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable”.  By evaluating the bill through faith values,  these organizations have determined that the bill that our Congressman Poe voted against should be supported.  

I wonder just how much research Mr. Poe did in preparation for his vote?  He likes to say he read the entire 1,900 page bill.  But perhaps there’s another book he should have referred to as well. 

Deborah Mowrey

via e-mail

The Worst Kind of Death? 

Dear Editor:

Just yesterday, one of my students asked me, “Mr. Lister… what do you think is the worst kind of death?”  Wow!  What another great opportunity to share Jesus with this bazaar death-intrigued generation of youth.  I quickly stated, “a death without ever having known the truth.”  The student chuckled and wanted to correct me as if I didn’t know what he really meant.  You see, he was expecting something like death by burning, death by being eaten by a hungry shark (sharks need to eat too), or something like that.  But what he got was an unexpected response…  

Unfortunately, most folks will go through life never knowing the truth.  I’m not talking about a philosophy or set of guidelines, but Truth.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:6)  Not only is Jesus truth (truth in a person), but apart from Him no one will enter into the Father’s rest.  That is, no one can go to heaven (come to the Father) but by Him.  For there is no salvation in any other (Acts 4:12).  Whoever has the Son has life.  Whoever doesn’t have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:11-12). 

The alternative is rather bleak.  Eternal separation from God… in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14-15)… sheer horror!  So there you have it… the worst possible death anyone could ever experience: death without ever having known the Lord Jesus Christ.  How can someone come to know the Savior and know truth before they die?  Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47)  That’s how! 

John C. Lister

Humble

Thanksgiving Day again in Texas

Dear Editor:

It is Thanksgiving Day again, and I still have not learned how to cook turkey, or have even attempted to cook one over the years. I just do not seem to care that much. Ok I admit, I am prejudice against turkey, I like honey baked ham, they taste better and  I personally think pigs are cuter than turkey, so sue me!

Anyway, don’t get me wrong, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the gatherings of people full of love, big appetites, and weird conversations.  It’s also the only day where  the words “thankful for” are used excessively at  the dinner table and sometimes almost sounds  poetic when it’s coming from the mouth of ungrateful relatives, friends,  and acquaintances (Ooops..?).Yes, I often question their sincerity, but heck, that is none of my beeswax.  As Mother Theresa said, “it’s between them and the big boss up there!” I guess, I can only suggest.

Over the years, I have wondered during Thanksgiving, why do we normally use the words “thankful for” rather than “grateful” instead? Grateful means appreciation, while thankful means pleased or relieved. Is it not better to use grateful over thankful when we are addressing our appreciation to someone we care for? Isn’t unconditional love better than just love? I do not mean to make a big deal out of it, but I strongly believe that in order for someone to be kind for the rest of their lives, one must choose one word and keep it forever in their heart, mind, and soul no matter what, and that word to me, is GRATEFUL.

It is hard to complain and be unkind if you are always grateful. Please do not correct me if I am wrong, for that is only my own opinion. Do not educate me about the history of Thanksgiving either,  for I already know it and I will be thankful.

Since we are talking about words, others bother me as well. It has been four years now since we moved to Texas, and I am still having trouble understanding some of the unique slang, idioms, and intonation patterns of words whenever I receive invites during Thanksgiving. The sweet southern hospitality they are talking about? Factual, especially if you address them with the usual sir/ma’am politeness, big smile, a firm handshake, and if you can make them laugh as well, they will treat you as if you were their kin or a long lost friend instantly, yes, just like that! So, if you want to be invited again and you live in Texas, might as well learn their local lingo and not get lost in translation. Here is what I learned, while I listened to a conversation between two people during Thanksgiving dinner last year:

“Howdy!  (How do you do) Well, in spite of the gully washer (heavy downpour) and my wife’s  hissy fit (aggravated tantrums) over me staring at a looker (pretty girl), I fessed up (admit) and we almost didn’t go to the house ( go in for dinner) to sample your larrupin (tasty dish) and drink the friendly creative (whisky).”  “I suppose will be walkin in tall cotton (doing alright) after my crusty woman (bad tempered woman) had Arbuckle (coffee) or coke (any soda) to calm her down.” “So, who wants to watch the ball?” (Football) and party with this gallot (old cowboy)?”  I’ll swan (swear) UT will kick the ass of your Texas A&M  in a heartbeat.” “Oh, wait the minute, what do you mean you’re leavin?, You don’t  need to have a conniptions, (get upset) I am just kidding dadgummit (cuss) , can’t take a joke can’t you? Oh come hell (show determination to proceed) so long  then squaddies! (cowboys),

Y’all comeback you hear!”

Betty Quirk

Kingwood

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Dear Editor:

Good writing has several things in common with good science. One commonality is a quest for simplicity. Einstein said of science:

1.“The real goal of my research has always been the simplification and unification of the system of theoretical physics.”

2.“Our experience hitherto justifies us in believing that nature is the realization of the simplest conceivable mathematical ideas.”

3.“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

Lincoln’s Gettysburg address exemplifies the value of a quest for simplicity in writing. Abe’s address was one of two delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA on Thursday afternoon, 11-19-1863. Harvard University’s president, E. Everett (former Senator, Secretary of State, and Massachusetts Governor), was the day’s keynote speaker. He was so chosen because he widely was regarded as the nation’s greatest orator.

Everett spoke for two hours (13,607 words). Lincoln’s 272-word Gettysburg address spanned two to three minutes. Whereas Everett’s long oration is virtually forgotten, Lincoln’s brief Gettysburg address is regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American history. Lincoln began by deciding what he wanted to say; then he sought simplicity of expression. Those two elements (content and simplicity of expression) combined to produce a masterpiece.

Teaching students to seek simplicity in writing is efficient, for they learn a mode of thought that also will help them in science. Nearly everyone writes verbosely, thereby wasting resources, including the reader’s time, and as Edison said, “Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the one thing that he can’t afford to lose.” For multiple reasons, writers should seek simplicity of expression. Toward that end, they might visit www.echomountainpress.com.

Bill Bailey

Kingwood

Energy Abound and Ready to be “Found”

Dear Editor:

The View From the Lake is energetic. The birds fight the strong winds. Where do they get all their energy? Where do we get ours? Let’s not forget, (“in these difficult economic times”) that a major part of our budget still involves the cost of our energy. A major part of our war effort still involves importing oil.

1. Endless Energy From the Sun.  It’s out there for us to use. Naysayers declare backup fossil fuel is needed when the sun doesn’t shine and major new investment is required? I say two things. Use solar power by day and conventional power by night. Existing fossil energy facilities can meet our growing demand if all effective sources of energy are used. In most cases, existing power grids could avoid major new electric transmission costs.

2. Endless Energy From the Wind. It’s out there for us to use. Naysayers declare backup fossil fuel is needed when the wind doesn’t blow, and major new investment is required? I say two things. Use wind power when windy and conventional power when calm. Existing fossil energy facilities can meet our growing demand if all effective sources of energy are used. In most cases, existing power grids could avoid major new electric transmission costs.

 3. Endless Energy From the Sea…from tides and waves. Naysayers declare these are unproven and not cost effective. I say do research and engineering using the historic micro chip development, as inspiration for what can be accomplished. Times have changed. New technologies are available. For example, Frenchmen in Mauritius are testing tidal power. Vanes that move by wave action generate electricity.

4. Europe Leads the Energy Way. We can learn a lot from Europeans if we can put our arrogance and fear behind us. In the 1973 oil crisis, most of France’s electricity came from foreign oil. Today 90% of Frances power production comes from nuclear plants…no deaths. They even recycle nuclear waste. In 1973, they had an energy plan: we didn’t and still don’t. They are not dependent on foreign oil: we are. They don’t go to war over oil: we do. They even export 18% of their production from 58 nuclear plants. It’s the lowest cost of electricity around. C’est la Vie, but does it have to be?

5. Energy From the Grave. Oh this one is interesting. They are doing it in Spain. Best this is left for another time. It may be morbid.

L.M.D.B. (Big Lou) Georgiades

Kingwood