Letters to the Editor: Bring rational arguments, not name calling, on gun debate
What ever became of considering sin, evil in the heart?
Retired Holland pastor Henry Idema's Friday piece on evil hopefully prompted a lot of reflection in a dimension that a lot of people are ambivalent about. My thoughts went back to an important book that also prompted discussion back in 1973 when Dr. Karl Menninger published "Whatever Became of Sin?" Sin?! After the 1960s, American society was not much interested in that topic.
More: My Take: Are our religious institutions teaching about the existence of evil?
May I suggest that our reading public will find it helpful to still get a copy of that book, or at least read a few of the reviews available online. One reviewer wrote: "The author utters an anguished lament over the morality of his America, and ends with an appeal to the human race to curb its self-destructive traits."
The echoes of those laments continue with us, and we do well to link the appeal to look at the link of evil and sin as underlying causes of what is wrong in our world. And it isn't "good guys/bad guys" — those things "lurk in every human heart," as Idema writes. Will we look inward?
Lou Wagenveld
Holland
Elect Nancy DeBoer to state House seat
Please consider Nancy DeBoer's candidacy to become our 86th District representative in Lansing.
As a two-term former mayor of Holland and 10-year city council member-at-large, Nancy has proved to be a pragmatic leader that got things done by bringing people and resources together. Her deep sense of ethics, friendly demeanor and ability to listen got the attention of people from a broad spectrum of our community.
Under Nancy's leadership, Holland converted its power plant from coal to clean natural gas and expanded the snowmelt sidewalks throughout downtown. Other accomplishments include a major upgrade of the city's civic center with a majority of private funds and a minimum of public money, as well as an architectural design of the west part of Eight Street containing new residential units, as well as business and entertainment ventures.
As a former public school teacher, Nancy DeBoer values the importance of quality and safety in our schools and welcomes parental involvement and responsibility in their children's educational system.
Nancy advocates very strongly for the preservation of our Great Lakes and, more specifically, Lake Michigan. She has publicly supported numerous proposals at the state and federal levels towards this goal.
Nancy DeBoer's strong Christian faith, great sense of work ethics, a belief in the family unit as the bedrock of our society, the protection of all human life, and a deep sense of unity and inclusiveness, equips her with a solid foundation necessary for candidates that represent their communities in the government.
Mihai Craioveanu
Holland
Great turnout for LAUP community event
I was pleased that LAUP had a great turnout at the summer community event Sunday. Also, I thank the nonprofits and companies that had booths at the event. I saw families with children having a good time, food and music. There were games for children, information about the nonprofits and companies. Holland should be proud to have nonprofits and companies that keep in contact with the community.
Celestino Reyes
Holland
Bring rational arguments, not name calling, on gun debate
As a conservative/Republican in most elections, I take great umbrage with the negative and derogatory labeling given me — and all Republicans — regarding gun violence.
The Democratic Party has held the majority during multiple sessions in both houses of Congress during the Obama and current Biden administration. I respectfully ask: "What have Democrats accomplished with their congressional majorities to eliminate/reduce mass shootings/gun violence”?
Imagine for a moment our state/federal office buildings and airports containing signage reading “GUN FREE ZONES” as most (all?) schools do. Consider that since 9/11 U.S. Air Marshalls have been flying on domestic flights. What responsible house-of-worship today doesn’t have visible law enforcement, uniformed security personnel or some anti-shooter-procedure in place? Colleges and universities have campus safety/police departments ... why not K-12 schools?
Each shooting consists of four elements: the shooter; the weapon; the victim(s) and the environment. Banning guns addresses only one quarter of the equation.
Why are we reluctant to “harden” K-12 school security? Are there no retired law enforcement, TSA or ex-military personnel who would be willing, able and interested in physically protecting our schools?
So to those of you content with name calling and condescending remarks, please consider offering reasonable/rational ideas on the remaining three-quarters of the mass-shooting equation I outlined.
Darryl Lokers
Holland
We support DeBoer for 86th state seat
As a couple who are concerned with compassionate and reasonable government, we support Nancy DeBoer for state representative of the new 86th District.
Nancy was an English teacher concerned for the lives of the middle school and high school children she taught. Nancy went into politics using her leadership skills she learned serving on the city council and then for four years as the first female mayor in the City of Holland in its 155-year history. Nancy was concerned for the quality of the lives of the people she governed, decommissioning the coal-fired power plant and helping to protect the Macatawa Watershed.
Nancy is concerned for the lives of all people, whether for those waiting to be born or for those who are in their final days. Those who are challenged by physical, mental or emotional obstacles can rely on Nancy’s support. And young couples looking to buy their first home can count on her support of better housing options.
Nancy has a proven record of accomplishment in government, from the renewed Civic Center, to the entirely renovated block with the new movie theater, to the expanded snowmelt due to the natural gas power plant. She has voted for thousands of additional housing units that are being built or have recently been built across the city. Actions speak louder than words — and this is what we want from those who will govern us and is why we will vote for Nancy DeBoer for state representative of the 86th District on Aug. 2.
Mike and Donna Short
Holland
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: Bring rational arguments, not name calling, on gun debate
