• 

  BREAKING: Arrest made in Archer homicide

  A Terre Haute man has been arrested and charged with felony murder and altering the scene of a death in the homicide of his wife, Kayla Herchelroath Archer.

• 

  10 things to know for Monday

  Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about across the nation today:

   
• 

  GUEST COLUMN: One Million Bones exhibit meant to raise awareness, inspire action to end genocide

  The National Mall: A grassy corridor in Washington, D.C., lined with America’s greatest museums and monuments.

  Ending at the U.S. Capitol building, it is a symbol of our belief in the power and greatness of America. Last weekend, we turned it into a mass grave.

Opinion

Search Results

Close Previous Now showing: of Next

Previous Next Close

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

December 24, 2012

EDITORIAL: Celebrating the children this Christmas

Making glad the heart of childhood

Anonymous The Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Mon Dec 24, 2012, 08:00 AM EST

Lest we forget amid the hustle and bustle of a frantic holiday season, children are an integral part of this religious holiday. It is, after all, the birth of a child we celebrate.

As we watch the children each Christmas season, we are always reminded of that ages-old question that troubles so many girls and boys this time of year: Is there a Santa Claus?

It is a tradition on the Tribune-Star Opinion page each Christmas Eve to revisit the issue by reprinting the famous letter to the editor of the New York Sun in 1897.

Its author, little Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote:

“I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. My papa says, ‘If you see it in the Sun, it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?”

In a New York Sun editorial, Francis E. Church wrote the response to Virginia that day. His message has endured for more than a century.

For all who ask, “Is Santa Claus real?” we reprint Church’s words today:

* * *

Yes, indeed!

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehended by their little minds.

All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a

Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to our life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childish faith then, no poetry, no romance, to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!

You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest men, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory behind. Is it all real?

Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

• MAX JONES: For loyal readers, a bit of news from the T-S newsroom

  As journalists toiling to create a content-rich, relevant and compelling community newspaper each day, we feel a special bond with our legions of readers across the Wabash Valley and beyond.

  June 17, 2013  

• GUEST COLUMN: One Million Bones exhibit meant to raise awareness, inspire action to end genocide

  The National Mall: A grassy corridor in Washington, D.C., lined with America’s greatest museums and monuments.

  Ending at the U.S. Capitol building, it is a symbol of our belief in the power and greatness of America. Last weekend, we turned it into a mass grave.

  June 16, 2013 5 Photos  

• EDITORIAL: Insisting on ISTEP quality lawmakers’ primary duty

  Now that everyone, on both sides of the aisle, seems backslappingly happy to agree that this spring’s ISTEP school testing debacle was unacceptable, that at least some of the results lack credibility and that the issue carries high-stakes significance, what next?

  June 16, 2013  

• The Obama Debate: Is he a liar or incompetent?

  I read the letters on the opinion page daily and I find an unusual silence from your liberal progressive contributors lately. Could it be because they don’t have anything to expound upon? Well, maybe I can give them some material.

  June 16, 2013  

• A Fathers Day Tribute: Transition — from child to father

  Transition seems like a big word to use as his story unfolds. Transition was probably never used in conjunction with speech, his speech, but it demonstrates his life, as it does in many lives lived in his generation.

  June 16, 2013  

• READERS' FORUM: June 16, 2013

  Horrible crime cries out for stern justice

  Confused about groups’ merger

  Global warming fraud exposed

  June 16, 2013  

• The Obama Debate: President has served us well

  I have not heard a positive thing by those in this area about this president since his 2008 election and 2009 inauguration. Why this manifestation, I just can’t understand.

  June 16, 2013  

• RONN MOTT: Not hurried a bit by 21st century tech

  Unlike so many of you, I do not get up in the morning and run to turn on my computer. In fact, if you need to reach me in a hurry, I would say that 19th century invention of Alexander Bell’s would be the best way. If you do email me or use some other electronic convenience, better give it a couple of days because I am not in that big of a hurry.

  June 15, 2013  

• READERS' FORUM: June 15, 2013

  America needs another hero

   

  June 15, 2013  

• EDITORIAL: And now we wait for justice

  It is a word we would rather never have on our front page — homicide. That we had to use it twice on Wednesday’s front page is sad, but unavoidable.

  June 14, 2013 2 Stories  

• READERS' FORUM: June 14, 2013

  Mott statements contradict history

  Display the flag

  June 14, 2013  

• RONN MOTT: Kill the Umpire!

  I don’t know who appointed Major League Baseball’s umpires “Gods,” but if they have been appointed “Gods,” they have appointed people who cannot see or think very well.

  June 13, 2013 1 Photo  

• READERS' FORUM: June 13, 2013

  Bad odor from gas prices

  Build personal library

  Morning after? No worries

  June 13, 2013  

• EDITORIAL: Remembering Sister Jeanne

  Terre Haute is mourning the loss this week of an accomplished and beloved community activist and leader whose life’s work is an inspiration to all who strive to serve.

  June 13, 2013  

• EDITORIAL: Embrace the value of traffic planning

  Never underestimate the value of a good plan to deal with a crisis, large or small, even if the final analysis of the management of a specific crisis is, “It could have been worse.”

  June 12, 2013  

• READERS' FORUM: June 12, 2013

  Like it or not, change coming

  June 12, 2013  

• RONN MOTT: What’s happening?

  I know I may have looked at these situations differently when I was in my twenties.  The world, my life, my career, and the growth of my family all lay ahead of me.  So perhaps now, many years later, I see it differently.

  June 11, 2013 1 Photo  

• READERS’ FORUM: June 11, 2013

  • Great support for local cause

  • Another idea on housing issue

  June 11, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Withdrawn society not very social any more

  My Best Friend and I went out for lunch the other day. It was a sit-down place with our own “server” (in my day I was called “a waitress”) and everything offering personal attention. The manager even came over to ask if everything was all right.

  June 11, 2013  

• READERS’ FORUM: June 10, 2013

  • What is the cost of our austerity?

  • Vintage campers to gather at rally

  • Seek a healthy food alternative

  June 10, 2013  

• EDITORIAL: It’s time to assess ISTEP

  Later this month, the company behind this spring’s abysmal online administration of ISTEP testing for 27,000 Hoosier schoolchildren is being called to the principal’s office.

  June 9, 2013  

• Readers’ Forum: June 9, 2013

  • Taking time to help the world

  • Reform by politics will not improve education

  • Questions from a wondering mind

  June 9, 2013  

• FLASHPOINT: Storm chasers must heed warnings, remember why we chase storms

  The tragic death of noted weather researcher and former Discovery Channel storm chaser Tim Samaras has shaken all of us in the meteorological community.

  June 9, 2013  

• Will you be happy if you win the lottery?

  A Psychology Today article titled “What Will You Do if You Win the $550 Million Powerball Lottery?” caught my attention. Helping lottery winners with their money is my long-time gig.

  June 9, 2013  

• RONN MOTT: The ‘wilds’ of Collett Park

  June 8, 2013 1 Photo  

• EDITORIAL: Fix fraud, don’t punish needy

  Waste and fraud in government programs should be rooted out vigilantly. Legislation should fix a problem with a fitting solution, not punish the needy.

  June 7, 2013  

• READERS' FORUM: June 7, 2013

  Thanks to those who helped VYFL

  June 7, 2013  

• RONN MOTT: Continuous War

  The President spoke to the nation the other day about being at a continuous war, and he didn’t feel it is a good thing for the country. He is absolutely correct. So what do we do with the Muslim terrorists?

  June 6, 2013 1 Photo  

• EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: An anniversary to honor

  The anniversary we observe today is one that will forever live in the soul of America.

  June 6, 2013  

• READERS' FORUM: June 6, 2013

  Unions need to educate public

  Can it really happen here?

  June 6, 2013  

• More Opinion Headlines

© 2013 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. · CNHI Classified Advertising Network · CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2013. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope. Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
Privacy Policy | AP News Registry privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
Advertiser Index

Events by eviesays.com

News From Terre Haute, Indiana 222 S 7th St Terre Haute, IN 47807