Speak Out ... Teach basic bicycle safety
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Christmas is on its way and bicycles are always a popular gift for children. The Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club would like to remind parents of the importance of teaching their children the basics of bicycle safety. A few of those are listed here: • Ride with traffic on the right side of the road. • Wear a helmet. In Alabama, state law requires any bicyclist under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet. This includes riding on our own Chief Ladiga Trail, and is recommended for bicyclists of any age. While parents are picking out that Christmas bike, they also should pick out a helmet to match. Better yet, they should allow their child to choose the color and style of his/her CPSC-approved helmet. • If riding on the road, it is important for cyclists to wear white or reflective clothing that increases visibility. • Signal when turning and obey the rules of the road, including stopping for all stop signs. • Ride in the daytime on low-traffic roads. No riding at night. For more information and a free bicycle-safety pamphlet, send a request to NEABC, P.O. Box 2414, Anniston, AL 36202, or e-mail drbarrynicholls@amcvets.com. Ride safely. Barry Nicholls Prayer and lifestyle Re “A Disease of Normalcy” (Editorial, Nov. 14): The Star’s editorial performed a great public service, but it should cause great consternation among theologians. According to the editorial, more than 400,000 Alabamians suffer from diabetes, Alabama’s growth rate of new diabetics is 30 percent higher than the national average, and Alabama is “among the nation’s unhealthiest states.” Alabama is one of the most conservatively Christian states in the nation. The Bible promises that God “healeth all thy diseases” (Psalm 103:3, see also Deuteronomy 7:15, John 14:13-14, 15:7 and 15:16). If these Bible promises are true, shouldn’t a state with such a high percentage of born-again Christians have a correspondingly lower prevalence of chronic disease? Psalm 55:23 and Proverbs 9:11 promise longer lives for God’s followers. Mark 16:18 promises, “if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them,” which should protect against pancreas-killing, sugary soft drinks. Alas, bad personal habits harm Bible believers just as much as anyone else. Some are even lulled into false complacency because they only pray for their health instead of changing their lifestyle. It is a scientific fact that insulin without prayer works better than prayer without insulin. So do hypoglycemic medications, exercise and a healthy diet. Robert Collins
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