I saw an angel on the front page of The Star recently. Her smile seemed to stretch a mile and the laughter sparkled right through her eyes. She was only 15 when she answered God's cry. I didn't know her personally, but from the look on her face, I can tell she ran a good race. She got me to thinking about how we live from day to day, stopping only to see our shadow. I am talking about myself and many others like me who forget that time does not stop and wait for us to do what we need to do.
I read one of the students saying that Rochelle Ware was energetic, but she did everything with a smile. That lets me know she was God's child. To the family she left behind, she left a ray of sunshine.
I am only 22 years old and I have two daughters of my own. The oldest is six and the youngest is two. At times I feel hopeless, because I am a single parent and it's hard to figure out just what to say and do. I am also a college student, trying to make it through. When I saw Rochelle's picture in the paper, it was as though she was smiling only at me, saying that everything was going to be OK.
She shows us that life is like beautiful white doves caged in an hourglass; waiting, and hoping to be set free. We must live life to the fullest and yet be able to humble ourselves and give God the praise for allowing us to see yet another day. He has prepared a place for all of us and when it is His time to call and our time to answer like Rochelle and many of the others He has called on before us, we must be ready!
To the Ward family, I thank you.
Jennifer Johnson
Jacksonville
Death penalty
I was touched by the article regarding "the grisly and inhumane punishment" of the death penalty in the electric chair, in the Aug. 6 Star.What is truly grisly and inhumane is the way in which these convicted criminals took the lives of their victims. If the electric chair is being extreme, how about a better idea?
My idea is, when faced with the death penalty, these violators will be killed in the same manner as their victims.
How about if a person shoots another, we just shoot that person in the same bodily place?
My guess is that the crime rate would decrease dramatically. I am a Christian, but I am not opposed to the death penalty. This lethal injection stuff is TOO easy. The electric chair, too, is TOO easy, compared to the horror that the murder victim faced.
It is not fair. Why do the criminals have all the rights, and the victims none? I don't get it. I understand it, but it is just not fair! An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth, right? I am appalled by the "humane" treatment of the criminal, whereas they did the most inhumane acts to another human being. Makes me ill.
I could not be the only person who feels this way.
Carol Lynn Gebo Martin
Anniston
Environmental racism
The Star, more pompous and arrogant than ever, now presumes to lecture the Rev. N.Q. Reynolds on the definition of environmental racism. I doubt that the Rev. Reynolds, who has been leading the fight locally for civil rights for over 40 years, cares what you think, but I'm angry as hell.Let me straighten you out on some things. The Rev. Reynolds is a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, currently Recording Secretary of its National Board of Directors. On Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the SCLC National Conference in Montgomery (which The Star did not send a reporter to), Martin Luther King III presented the Rev. Reynolds the SCLC's Chapter of the Year Award for our own Calhoun County Chapter's leadership in "fighting for environmental justice" (which The Star never reported).
The Star obviously doesn't fully understand the meaning of environmental justice (EJ); otherwise it would realize that violations of the principles of EJ in most instances, including Anniston, involve the victimization of minority groups as well as (only sometimes) low-income whites.
At best you're quibbling over a statement of the Rev. Reynolds which is essentially a correct statement. At worst you're attempting once again to bully our community into accepting the incinerator by picking on one of our most respected leaders.
Note also that the SCLC, by unanimous vote, passed a resolution on Wednesday, Aug. 8, in Montgomery, which expressed its official opposition to the chemical weapons incinerator and its support for an alternative technology.
Your unfair criticism of the Rev. Reynolds' view is therefore also a criticism of the SCLC's view as well. Someone recently said in an editorial letter that The Star is out of touch with the community on the incineration issue. That's the understatement of the year.
Rufus Kinney
Jacksonville
TV time
I believe that the only thing worse than the television fare that we are offered is the TV Star that we receive on Friday of each week. That thing is worse than useless. It lulls you into a false sense that you can determine what TV shows are coming up at a particular time.
Maybe your paper can discontinue this less than desirable pamphlet in favor of a fortune teller. That would be about as useful.Jerry W. Brown
Anniston
A reply
The Star appreciates Mr. Brown's comments. We are currently in the process of changing TV Star to include more movie listings. We will be implementing these changes as soon as possible.Ken Warren
Advertising Director
The Anniston Star
More military cuts?
There is only one major obstacle that stands in the way of the "theory" that a small high-tech military is all that the United States needs to police the world.
The world's major powers still have massive militaries with high-tech weapons that could force the U.S. into a long, drawn out world war, a war that the U.S. will be unprepared for if we follow the advice of the "what's in it for me" crowd in our government. These people who come up with insane ways to cut national defense get rewards of money, promotions and feathers in their caps for any ideas, even if the idea makes no sense and will not work.
These ideas are killing the goal of maintaining an adequate national defense for our country. Since 1984 the government has perpetuated this attitude of "what's in it for me" for all department heads at every level of government.
Like everyone else in this sham to "cut the military," our national defense is taking a back seat to the "wants" of this whole "what's in it for me" crowd in our government.
Billy E. Price
Ashville
