I only had four children, so Sarah Palin is one up on me there, but when my children were young, I was a devoted working member of PTA, serving honorably and well at every chili-supper and fund raising we had. But regretfully, my qualifications for vice president of the United States of America end there. I was never a runner-up in a beauty contest (I didn't own a bathing suit and I had buck teeth) and never in my wildest dream did I aspire to become governor of any state in this great union. ( However, I would like to visit Alaska.)
In my opinion, Mrs. Sarah Palin has about as much business running for vice president as I have, at age 83, in running in the New York marathon. The vice president is only one last breath, one last heartbeat, from being president. John McCain is 72 and he has had melanoma, a very serious cancer. I question neither John McCain's heroism or love of country, but I do question his lack of judgment in his choice of a vice president.
Mary Lou Brown Byrd, Nicholasville
Concerned about S.A.V.E.
To the editor,
I am quite concerned by the decision to allow the Jessamine County S.A.V.E. to take over the operation of the animal shelter.
First, I take issue with Jenise Smith's sentiment that "everyone should be given the opportunity" to adopt an animal. I can list quite a few reasons why some folks shouldn't be given an animal: if they can't afford it - this means the adoption fees, the annual vaccinations and vet care as well as the food, if they've proven themselves irresponsible toward animal care in the past, if they've been convicted of animal cruelty, and the list goes on.
Not everyone deserves an opportunity to own an animal. Is this an elitist point of view? Not at all, it's because I want every animal to have the best home possible.
While hoping to become a no-kill facility is a lofty goal, I don't believe it's feasible. This means that once the shelter has reached it's capacity, it will no longer accept any animals until some of those are adopted out. Because there is a finite amount of physical space, there is a limited number of animals that can be housed.
If the local shelter will not take the unwanted animals, what happens to them? They get turned out onto the street. Some will be maimed or killed by cars, and some will be captured by animal control.
Having a no-kill shelter seems like a humane answer to the stray pet problem, but it's an impossible solution. There are too many animals and not enough good homes. Many organizations strive to educate people about the benefits of having their pets spayed and neutered, yet thousands of puppies and kittens continue to end up in our local shelter each year.
The people at the Jessamine Humane Society have worked tirelessly day in and day out, 10 hours a day, including holidays and weekends, caring for the strays and unwanted pets of this county. They do not deserve to be vilified.
Marianne Sherman, Nicholasville
Wary of belief based on human experience
To the editor,
I was intrigued in reading a recent letter to the editor in the Lexington newspaper talking about a miracle that resulted from the Flight 5191 tragedy. It seems that because a man's son was not on that flight, he became a believer in God.
While it is admirable that this man has chosen to be a believer, we must be extremely wary of belief based on human experience. The writer rejoices that his father believed, and to the families of dying loved ones he points out the God has a plan, and he calls on them to hope. But what of those who perished on Flight 5191 that perhaps did not believe in God "in time?" What is their fate. Are they in hell, as most Christians would say of the unbeliever?
First, we cannot based our beliefs concerning God upon experience. One man became a believer because his son was not on an ill-fated flight. Did another become an unbeliever because of a loved one that was on the same flight?
Second, we cannot trust the man-made churches of our day to teach correct spiritual truth. If the Bible is the Word of God (which I firmly believe it is), and if you cast aside the erroneous teachings of the organized church, you will see that the Bible very clearly tells us that God is in the process of saving all mankind, not just those that believe in this present lifetime.
Even when the apostle Paul was still living, most had abandoned him and were led astray by a "different gospel" (see Gal-atians). The same is true today. The man-made churches of our day teach a distorted truth.
God is love. He will indeed deal with sin. But He will do it in such a way that all mankind will be reformed and purified, to the end that all mankind will be saved. Study the Bible apart from the erroneous interpretations of "the church." Any who are interested in knowing how a believer such as I can come to these conclusions, please feel free to visit at www. GraceEvangel.org.
Bob Evely, Wilmore
