In the lethargy of a beautifully lazy Monday morning, I listened to my iPod, feeling the beats pulse in my ears as my father drove me to school. Every day we take this route through the small town of Terre Haute and we immediately notice any differences in the landscape. In the dull monotony of the regular drive, something struck me as we passed a nearby church. The common sign was emblazoned with a message: “Jesus died and rose. And He lives for you. What did Allah do?”
At first, I was hit with a wave of shock. I was horrified; who did this? I reminisced about the signs that, at one point, were so common in our small town that read: “Terre Haute. United for Diversity and Tolerance.” In the short span of my life, I had never seen such direct, vicious hatred.
I thought about our many generous and kind-hearted Muslim friends and how they would feel had they seen this sign. Young and inexperienced as I am, this immediately struck me as wrong. If I, a 13-year-old, had noticed this, how could the adult who had written these prejudiced words not seen the blatant injustice? Who are we, as mere humans, to question the workings of God or even to try to convince other people that only our way is correct? Would Jesus have wanted that statement posted? Did He not teach us to love our brothers and sisters?
I feel sad that such people still exist in our society, we still battle the same prejudices that people battled in the early ages. Along with our technological advances, we should have made advances of mind to see beyond such petty rubbish.
For the people that posted such a base statement, we should feel only pity. They suffer from a malady of the mind. I wish that there were a vaccine for racism, just as our school was vaccinated for the H1N1 virus. Get well soon!
If you feel solidarity and wish to make a more peaceful, united Terre Haute, be sure to call the church and voice your feelings. We ought not allow such wrongs to take place. Call the Bible Baptist Church at (812) 238-2541.
— Saagarika Coleman
Terre Haute
Bill may be flawed, but time has come
HMOs have been around since the ‘70s. At first, they were adequate; however, the original level of care has continually decreased, while price has risen.
Rep. B. Ellsworth voted correctly on the House bill [HR3962]. Now the bill goes to the Senate to be passed.
Let’s all see if our Congress will cut their own luxury health plan or do what we all need: health care.
The bill may not be perfect, but, it is far past time for reform.
— Tom Evans
Greencastle
Fort Hood suspect should’ve been watched
I will admit that I know very little about the subject I am writing about. So, here goes.
The Muslim who took it on his own to “shoot up” Fort Hood recently, did so after he was studied by authorities prior to his action. The name “Husan” would have been enough for me to turn my head and give him a second look. Why was he left unguarded to carry out this massacre?
Remember the activity on the West Coast following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor? I will refresh your memory. President Roosevelt ordered all U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry to be moved and watched to be sure that a follow-up wasn’t planned by the Japanese war machine. That move was frowned upon then and it is still criticized today.
Later, much later, it has been learned and proven that these U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry were honest, good people. I guess Roosevelt was relying on that old proverb “Better safe than sorry!”
— Bud McCammon
Terre Haute
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