Published: April 28, 2009 09:05 am      

4/19/2009 Letters to the Editor

If it quacks like a duck, it may hide a liberal



I shall never be able to write the quality of letters that Donald Henry, Harry Kennmer Jr., Monte Swatzell or Gina Parker Ford do.

However, I will continue telling liberals/Democrats where they are wrong.

Liberals may attack my methods, but they have not disproved the content of the messages.

And for those who claim to be independents, “If it walks and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck,” and underneath those feathers hides a liberal/Democrat.

During my sabbatical I discovered that Wikipedia’s policy does not require citation for any of its information. And as for my critics, I was shocked to discover that all of them have masticated in public.

Mr. Way’s letter of Oct. 26 claimed I lifted verbatim more than half my article from an article by Mr. Ash.

That is at best a libelous exaggeration and at worst a lie.

A journalist reviewed both articles and agreed with me that I had not done a single sentence verbatim.

Incidentally plagiarism is not copyright infringement and “Generally, although plagiarism is often referred to as theft or stealing, it has not been set as a criminal matter in the courts.” (See faculty.law Isu.edu/stuartgreen/pdf/j-green2.pdf Stuart Green.)

Likewise plagiarism has no standing as a criminal offense in the common law. Instead plagiarism claims are a civil law matter.

As Mr. Ash indicated, unless there is financial gain or loss a lawsuit is usually not feasible.

What if I did plagiarize a portion of Mr. Ash’s article?

Using the liberal’s loose and incorrect definitions, it was not done intentionally for profit or fame, but for the information contained therein.

As I said in the past, my goal is to try to keep people informed because the liberal portions of the media do not give both sides.

I will continue writing and observe the University of Purdue’s standards for citation. (Editor’s note: The Times-Review doesn’t use that standard. Citations will appear in parentheses in the body of the letter.)

I will be more diligent in my citations, where appropriate, to verify my statements — see below — and as to the impact of their content.

Citation for every phrase in the English language would leave no space for a letter.

I knew that I was unpopular in that segment of the population that ignores the sixth commandment but had not realized until now how large a percentage of the public believes as I do.

So to those who would criticize me, unless you can factually disprove my statement, quit wasting time attacking me because in the future I will restrict my answers to correcting your opinions, inaccuracies and delusions with facts and will attempt to avoid asking if you were off your medication.

We are blessed to reside in a country where we can presently express our opinions openly.

Our president’s actions indicate he will pursue many of the same tactics President Carter did, so we can expect sometime in his first term an epidemic of inflation and parallel increases in the taxes of those who are productive.

His proposed “carbon tax” alone is projected to cost the average American family $3,100 annually.

Only one of his cabinet appointees had paid their taxes, and so far his recovery plan copies Japan’s, which caused their Nikkei to drop more than 75 percent and remains there today.

His cabinet appointees thus far are rabid antigun ownership, and most are retreads from Clinton’s reign of attempted Constitutional alterations; so much for his “new players.”

The National Rifle Association is the most capable organization to challenge liberals’ attempts to restrict your right of self defense.

So join the NRA, vote Republican in 2010, and maybe we can get Huckabee/Palin in 2012.



W.V. Bonds

Cleburne



Taking a stand anyway

I’ve been told by several people that taking a stand on the upcoming local option election could be political suicide.

People tell me that no matter which side I take there will be a political cost.

Those of you that know me, however, know I have never been afraid to take a stand on controversial matters that involve our city or our citizens.

Note that what follows are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Cleburne City Council or staff.

This is an issue that is particularly troublesome to me.

All of us probably have some personal experience with unpleasant issues linked to the abuse of alcohol. There is no doubt alcohol abuse is a serious and widespread problem.

The truth of the matter is, however, that all the bad things associated with alcohol are already with us.

Beer and wine are sold in close proximity to our city in all directions.

These beverages are sold in Fort Worth, Burleson , Rio Vista, Granbury and Glen Rose.

On nearly any night, but particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, the highway between here and Rio Vista is choked with traffic going to buy beer and wine.

I’m sure that many of these folks are tempted to pop the top on a beverage on the way home.

I also know that a considerable number of our citizens who work in the Fort Worth area stop at stores on the way home to buy and consume alcohol.

It is common knowledge that many of our restaurants have private club licenses and serve mixed drinks. What is not common knowledge is that these private club licenses are very expensive.

Making the sale of mixed drinks in our restaurants legal would help our local businesses and contribute to our continued economic development.

This proposition would not legalize bars or night clubs. It would help attract popular restaurants that we do not have.

After a lot of study and homework, I have decided that the passage of both of these propositions is in the best interest of our city and our citizens.

I do not think that the passage of these propositions will increase consumption.

I do think that passage will decrease drunk driving simply because drinkers will not have to take to the highway to find their beverages.

Passage of these two propositions will give our local economy a significant boost.

Additional tax base and tax revenues will help us to hold the line on local sales and property taxes.

Let’s not continue to give our tax money away to other cities. Please join me in voting for propositions 1 and 2.



Ted Reynolds

Mayor of Cleburne



Reasons to build the museums



So much has been said about the Smith Museum and the railroad museum.

The following is a couple of stories that might help decide to start the museum projects. Both of these museums would be great assets to Cleburne.

I used to hear this First State Bank of Rio Vista was a poor man’s bank. Lowell Smith Sr. trusted you. You had a banker for as long as he was there.

The first time I went to him I was young.

He asked if I thought my father-in-law would sign the note. I told him if I could not get it on my name I wouldn’t get it.

I had not established credit for myself. He just leaned back in the chair and started talking to me.

He said that day would make me or break me with Rio Vista bank.

And I didn’t only have a new friend with Mr. Smith, I also found that friend in his son, Lowell Smith Jr.

Of course, I never dealt with any other bank. All the bank employees would speak to you in the café, the grocery store or anywhere.

Oh yes, it was so sad for me when it closed, but I knew I would find another bank.

I know times have changed a lot of things with technology moving forward.

I have to give thanks to a small bank and Lowell Smith Sr. for caring enough to talk with me.

I never will forget him telling me what a good name in credit meant.

And I am sure many folks have stories just like mine. So I say I would like to see that museum come to Cleburne.

My parents were J.W. and Vera Lester from Johnson County.

Vera was born in Grandview. J.W was born in Rio Vista.

In 1937 I was 3 years old when we went to Arizona. J.W. had got a railroad job that took us to Arizona.

In 1947 J.W. decided to come back to Texas, and we broke down in Sierra Blanca.

We were sitting on the depot porch eating. I had five siblings.

A gentleman asked my dad how he was traveling.

Dad didn’t know how we all were going to make it back to Johnson County.

That gentleman told my dad, “If you think you can keep your kids quite until we get down the track a ways out of town, I let y’all hide in the caboose.”

It was a neat living quarters. That train went to San Antonio. I never will forget that gentleman.

Ever since then I have been interested in trains and especially cabooses. The railroad has a big history in Cleburne.

I would also like to say thank you everyone.

My thanks go out to all my family and friends who helped keep my 75th birthday party a secret, mailed out invitations, decorated the event so elegantly, prepared food and drink, searched through all my old pictures, captured new memories, and to all my friends and family who took time to celebrate with me.

I had a wonderful day!

E.C. and I have been so blessed to have family and friends who love us so much.

All of this would not have been possible if we had not accepted Christ many years ago. We can truly say to God be the glory. Thanks for your attendance, cards, phone calls, gifts and roses.



Reba Lester Stephens

Cleburne



Focusing on the positive



In a time when so many people are down and focused on the negative, I would like to thank those who donated, volunteered and prayed for the Sack Lunch Saturday program.

This community does still consist of people who are concerned about their neighbors and want to show their love and support to those who are lonely, hurting, or need a helping hand.

April was our second month to hand out lunches to anyone in the community who needed one, and we were able to feed 200 people.

Members of First Baptist Church of Cleburne and other volunteers gather at the East Cleburne Community Center on the second Saturday of the month to offer a sandwich, snack, and drink to area families.

These supplies are provided through donations from individuals, other area churches, and local businesses.

My dear friends and I would like to thank the Times-Review, Action Signs, Connie Strange, Ben’s Vending, Christian Heritage Foundation, Bethel Temple, FBC Cleburne, College Heights Baptist Church, Open Door Ministries and countless other community members.

Were it not for you, a child might suffer through a weekend with no food until school on Monday. A grandmother might wait until Meals on Wheels could come by again. A parent might give up what little they have for their small children.

We encourage those who come by to stay and eat. We enjoy getting to know them and their families.

It takes a couple of bucks to make a sack lunch and a few minutes to show you care.

We will be available again at 11 a.m. May 9 to serve until we run out of lunches at the East Cleburne Community Center. Anyone interested in giving back through time or supplies can contact me at sacklunchsaturdays@yahoo.com.



Jennifer VanderLaan

Cleburne