Speak Out

I thank and recognize the great professionals at the Oxford EMS for a job well done. They are a great bunch who were there for me when I needed them.

Early on a recent Saturday morning, after experiencing a panic attack, I called 911. Two gentlemen answered the call. I couldn't have met anyone nicer or kinder than these two men.

Although the horrible ordeal had ended by the time they arrived, they were still very concerned. One gentleman even rode in the back of the ambulance with me and talked to me to help me calm down. This meant a lot to me and it truly made a big difference. I was so shaken and distraught that I thought my life was going to end. Just talking to someone who understood the situation made me feel so much better. They treated me with much importance and respect.

That day, I didn't have to go to the movies to see a hero. That day, God sent two heroes to see about me. So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank them. May God bless you all.

Shanequa Morris
Hobson City

Long-distance opinions

It seems the majority of letters to the editor in The Star are from the same people. Most notorious is writer David Miles from Gulf Shores, a self-proclaimed atheist.

There is no such thing as an atheist. You can give it a fancy name, but that doesn't authenticate it. Miles is an unbeliever, that's it. I still haven't figured out why he opines in a newspaper halfway across the state, or why The Star so frequently prints submissions from people so far outside of our readership area. Maybe Miles has a connection to The Star?

According to his replies, he has been evangelized enough times to have responded by now. While I certainly agree with sharing the gospel to all unbelievers, and that no person is beyond the reach of God, please consider the following: "Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they be trampled under foot." Move on! . . . go find someone who is sincerely responsive to the Gospel.

Miles doesn't deserve to be served the Gospel repeatedly, while millions of our neighbors would gladly be redeemed if offered once. In a previous sales job, if I had a customer who was unreasonable, my boss would tell me to go find a real customer because I didn't have one right now. Miles has been offered, and has declined. Go find another. There's no shortage.

Jeff Daniel
Eastaboga

Magic of Daniel Wallace

Re "The magic of author Daniel Wallace" (Entertainment article, July 24):

At his recent Anniston presentation, author Daniel Wallace applauded Brett Buckner's article on him in The Star. As Buckner predicted, Wallace brought a glass eye from his collection. Wallace's interest in glass eyes began when a sixth-grade classmate required a glass eye following an accident. Wallace discussed including glass eyes in varying contexts in three of his books.

Wallace is inspired by people and believes writing about people is a requirement for writing a good book. He further believes writers must write what they're passionate about or it shows in the writing. Wallace read a lot of fiction to learn how to write. After developing his own writing style, he currently reads nonfiction, which gives him material for his books.

Although Wallace didn't aspire for his novel Big Fish to have a movie version, the movie brought attention to his writing. Wallace thinks it doesn't make sense to compare movies and books, as they are apples and oranges. Whereas movies are completely visual and last less than two hours, books allow readers to make images as they connect with the page and may be read over a long period of time.

Penny J. Nielsen
Weaver