Recently the Faith section of The Anniston Star contained a feature about the growth of local area churches and the traffic jams when churchgoers departed the parking lots after services.Some of the church parking lots required almost a half-hour to empty. An alarming thought came to mind: How would this town evacuate “in the unlikely event” of an accident at the chemical weapons incinerator? (Personally I do not think this is so “unlikely” as there have been accidents of some kind at all the other sites.)
Folks, get busy. Call your elected officials and let them know Anniston and Calhoun County are not ready for the incinerator to burn. We need maximum protection and we need to know all the facts regarding what is to happen to everyone involved if there is an accident. And, when I say everyone, I mean everyone, including those who do not have the means to evacuate or the physical capabilities to seal a room, visiting out-of-towners who will not have a clue as to why the out-bound lane of Quintard is clogged with frazzled motorists, parents with children in schools which to this date are not over-pressurized, farmers with livestock to care for, families with children and/or beloved pets in their back yards.
It is time for all of us to tell our leaders that Calhoun County is not an experiment on which the Army tries out its “third generation” incinerator, but our home and our community. While we want all the weapons removed, we do not want to be removed with them.
Sherry Blanton
Jacksonville
Ten Commandments
This is in response to “Mooreover” in Heflin. I would like to express my thoughts and beliefs on this particular issue.
First of all, I do not see anything wrong in displaying the Ten Commandments in the judicial building, or any other building for that matter. The Ten Commandments and the teachings of the Bible have been a guideline for millions of people for many, many generations, for Jews and Gentiles alike.
When we try to interpret Scripture, we need to keep it in context of what is being said. In reference to Matthew 22:15-22 ... “pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (which means taxes); and ... “Give to God the things that are God’s” (refers to tithes and offerings).
Taxes belong to the government for its purposes and tithes; offerings belong to the church for its purposes. Scripture can be self-explanatory when kept in context.
Our faith and moral convictions make up the fiber of who we are — as is taught in the Bible.
Just imagine what this nation would be like if we didn’t have the Bible to guide us. If believing in God, Jesus or Scripture is being a “brainwashed Christian fanatic,” then I am thankful to be one.
Deborah H. Brown
Anniston
Big donors
It was enlightening to see that Alabama Power, Alfa and BellSouth were among the biggest donors ($50,000) to Bob Riley’s inaugural committee. So much makes sense now. It is now clear why our electricity, insurance and telephone rates are so high.In a time when our state is languishing in the bad economy, I maintain the contention that such extravagance was highly inappropriate.
The mega-bucks that were tossed about could certainly have been put to much better use.
Riley’s hollow promises for a so-called “new day in Alabama” are no more than utter rhetoric. He’ll quickly be in the hip pocket of all the high-dollar contributors; incidentally, most of whom are our state’s biggest lobbyists.
And, by the way, is everyone just afraid to openly admit that this man has not provided us with even one detail on his plan? It was obviously a good campaigning ploy, but now that he is governor, doesn’t anyone agree that we are due some information?
Time will tell. Our governor will prove to be no different from any other politician. Why else would he spend $12 million to get the job?
Pamela Mays Decker
Springville
