Freedom

I don't usually write a response to the letters that are printed in the paper, however, when the letters went against my belief as a Christian I had to respond. Please, Christians out there, let's not let these Danville atheists take away our freedom. If we don't defend our freedom to pray, it will be taken away by decisions of the courts and who knows where next. Stand up Christians. Speak out for Jesus. Mazie Patterson Danville

Is freedom free? I think not. It was not free for the Minute Men who gave their lives during the birth of our country at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill. It was not free for those Marines who faced the “Halls of Montezuma” on that distant African shore. It was not free for those “Rag Tag Fighters” who followed Stonewall Jackson and gave their lives in what is now the Louisiana swamp during the War of 1812. It was not free for those “Rough Riders” who died following Teddy Roosevelt on the way up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War. It was not free for those men who fought for their side and beliefs during the American Civil War that pitted brother against brother.

In less than a week, our nation will observe, in one way or another, Veterans Day. In some communities, the day may go by with little note; but in others, there will be special programs and, maybe, parades to honor veterans and focus attention upon the service they have rendered to our nation. As men return from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, this observance is both timely and fitting. This special day is one of the more significant national holidays observed in this beloved land of ours.

Whether a genuine misunderstanding, or collusion and conspiracy, the mainstream media continues its false portrayal of the grassroots movement known as the Taxed Enough Already party as a bunch of angry, racist rednecks. In Kentucky, the mischaracterizations seem limited to large media relics — primarily the largest newspapers. A Lexington Herald-Leader columnist’s infomercial-column (published free of charge, I’m certain) about the upcoming Coffee Party convention in Louisville confirmed this.

Too many Americans have the mistaken notion that everyone else but them should take responsibility to defend freedom and advance policies that would make a better nation. Based on the dismal 10-percent turnout for the primary election, the “them not me” syndrome appears alive and well in Kentucky. I run into plenty of folks who excel at griping about what’s happening in Frankfort or down at city hall but who go AWOL on Election Day, disappearing under a cloak of excuses, rather than practicing good citizenship.

Dear Editor, Everyone agrees that along with freedom comes responsibility. This includes the freedom to smoke. However, along with that freedom comes the responsibility for the health of those around you. Please support the smoking ban in public places. Arlen and Rita FinkeDanville

I had mixed emotions when I first heard that Fred Phelps and others from the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kan., were going to protest at funeral services for Army Cpl. William McMillan III last week. As a member of the media, I'm a staunch supporter of the First Amendment which allows me to do my job. That same amendment gives groups such as Phelps and his supporters the right to "freedom of speech and to peacefully assemble," and I respect that right. But as someone who has family members who have served and died in the military, it also makes me mad that groups like his would choose to protest at any funeral, especially one of a service man who died protecting the very right that they are so freely exercising.

Whether flying on an aircraft carrier, hanging in one of our embassies or worn as a patch on a soldier's uniform, the American flag stands for freedom. The vast majority of Americans honor the flag, and rightly so. Some would go so far as to amend the Constitution to protect the flag against those who would burn it. While I share and admire their patriotism, altering our First Amendment, even for the worthy purpose of protecting the flag, is not a position I can support. Make no mistake - I treasure the Stars and Stripes as much as any American.

I am writing today about prayer and Christians defending their freedom. I have read that they have the right to defend their freedom of prayer. Let me be clear. I am not anti-Christian. It seems that everyone wants to say they should have their right to have prayer at a meeting? What about the rights and the freedoms of the atheists? Since they choose not believe what you believe, does that somehow make you more special than they? You can't have it both ways. You can't expect to be able to say you have the right to pray at a public meeting and then trample the rights of those who do not live the way you live.

I don't usually write a response to the letters that are printed in the paper, however, when the letters went against my belief as a Christian I had to respond. Please, Christians out there, let's not let these Danville atheists take away our freedom. If we don't defend our freedom to pray, it will be taken away by decisions of the courts and who knows where next. Stand up Christians. Speak out for Jesus. Mazie Patterson Danville

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I realized that I must get up and start campaigning for the 2016 election. What has happened in the Conservative Party is a bump in the road, albeit a big one.  Conservatives must be stronger than ever, we must fight harder than others, and we must send a message to Washington - that we will be back, bigger and better than ever. I do not intend to embrace the Socialist Party plank in my country. That has become the new Democratic Party.

We are losing the America I grew  up in. We need to look at what we have done and should be doing differently.  Responsibility, knowing right from wrong, and hard work used to be the way to attain the “American Dream”.  My, how  times have changed! Now  we want to “have it all”, without “earning it all”. We now  put Greed before God, criticism before civility, “free” before “freedom”, materialism before morals. We accept lies and corruption because “that's how  Washington does it”.

Members of Mount Freedom Baptist Church in Wilmore took a trip back in history after they unearthed a time capsule that had been buried in front of their church on in 1959. The church had been undergoing serveral interior and exterior improvements when one of its members, Tim Morris, came upon the cornerstone. “Several members (of the church) were part of the church when the time capsule was placed in the cornerstone 52 years ago,” pastor Nathan Elliott said. Elliott said when church members removed several overgrown shrubs from the front, they discovered some damaged bricks on the front of the corner of the building near the cornerstone.

Last Wednesday, I stood in a shoulder-to-shoulder filled line in Louisville, in support of Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, for more than an hour waiting to pick up lunch. I have witnessed a five minute wait lead to confrontation. Not last Wednesday. In fact, everyone was patient, polite and courteous. There were no hateful or disparaging comments, just casual and supportive conversation.  Cathy did not call a press conference to announce his attempt to force his Christian beliefs on the world, rather he openly and honestly responded to a question relating to his company's support of the biblical definition of the traditional family unit.

After 400 years of bondage and slavery in Egypt, Moses, a child saved from execution by the then Pharaoh's command to kill all the Hebrew babies and after being chosen by God to lead the embittered Israelites to His promised land, led them out as free people. These former slaves watched as the estimated 600 chariots, horses and soldiers were drowned in an effort to recapture them.  Having seen the destruction of an army, they were, no doubt, celebrating their release from those who had beaten them, forced them to toil long hours in making bricks without straw, ridiculed them, insulted them and devalued them as human beings while treating them like animals.

The Obama administration claims the state health exchanges christened under its Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will ensure access to affordable health care for all.  But such exchanges are little more than a glorified Web site listing health-insurance plans that acquiesce to the multitude of costly mandates in President Obama's health care law.  The reality is that these health exchanges merely serve to subsidize the irresponsible habits...

Fredom Festival 5K Run/Walk At Millennium Park Wedesday Place, Name, Age    Time 1. Alex Beckerson, 17    17:28. 2. Chase Berry, 17    17:44. 3. Ryan New, 30    17:52. 4. David Anderson, 47    18:53. 5. Dan Graber, 28    19:29. 6. Bill Rayens, 55    19:48. 7. Meagan Smith, 16    20:06. 8. Chase Gander, 29    20:21. 9. Odira Jarman, 16    20:43. 10. Nick Beckerson, 16    22:22. 11. Nick Bastin, 32    22:44.

Is freedom free? I think not. It was not free for the Minute Men who gave their lives during the birth of our country at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill. It was not free for those Marines who faced the “Halls of Montezuma” on that distant African shore. It was not free for those “Rag Tag Fighters” who followed Stonewall Jackson and gave their lives in what is now the Louisiana swamp during the War of 1812. It was not free for those “Rough Riders” who died following Teddy Roosevelt on the way up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War. It was not free for those men who fought for their side and beliefs during the American Civil War that pitted brother against brother.