Extremists are threat to the future of Thanksgiving Day

Extremists are threat to the future of Thanksgiving Day

This year I will be celebrat- ing my diamond year of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanks will be given for still having a wife, children and grandchildren all healthy and successful with their goals.

We can celebrate with the rest of America the climb up the cultural ladder that was started on a foundation based on Judeao-Christian morals of loving one another in spite of flaws, differences of opinion and religious beliefs.

We have been successful, but are at a fork in the road. The extremes are called a PC (political correctness) path and a path with tolerance and adherence to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” We need to practice this in our daily lives.

Our future Thanksgivings are at risk unless we turn back the pages to what is really in our Constitution, laying out the rules for a good and tolerant society that is a shining example for the rest of the world. A perfect example of our Founding Fathers’ goals is coming up. Christmas is a dual holiday with roots in its religious aspect — the birth of Jesus — and it secular aspect — Santa. Both are compatible and good in their own way. Christmas is celebrated both ways because it can be, through our Founding Fathers’ foundation.

Following Christmas is our New Year’s celebration for a new start for correcting our mistakes and working at renewing our entire world. Some of our problems are out of our hands, and in the hands of radicals who practice “my way or the highway” instead of tolerance of others, both religious and secular.

It is appropriate for those who celebrate these holidays for their religious aspects to pray to their God to influence the world of extremists to learn tolerance of other religions.

For those on the other side it is time to learn to live with each other, for a peaceful world is a happier and healthier world.

War, both verbal and physical, is expensive both in wasted lives and wasted funds. Think what good could be done for the poor and powerless within any country. The world should be led — not ruled.

Remember we are all mortal. Hopefully through prayer other efforts, we can change the path of this wonderful world and planet and mankind can celebrate the 2014 holidays happier and on a path to brotherhood and live and let live.

Happy holidays to all in PC talk, and happy Thanksgiving, merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year to all, in real terms.

Daniel Victor Bienko, Canfield

Library staff thanks leaders in Hubbard for ALICE training

Hubbard Public Library staff members last month considered the ugly prospect of being faced with a violent intruder. Hubbard Safety Director Lou Carsone and Patrol Sgt. Chris Moffitt presented the library staff with an overview of the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Escape) program that teaches individuals enough skills to respond thoughtfully and proactively to a violent event rather than to huddle in a corner waiting for the worst to happen.

Retired Police Sgt. Carsone emphasized “situational awareness” — paying attention to what is happening around us and being prepared to act.

An experienced instructor in handgun safety and in basic self-defense, Sgt. Moffitt gave the library staff a basic understanding of the skill of shooting. Both instructors explained that one way to survive a violent attack is to interrupt the thought processes of the attackers as they observe, orient, decide and act.

The training provided was designed to remind individuals that they can survive an attack and that being prepared and thinking about a plan ahead of time increases one’s odds of survival.

Through live demonstrations and short video clips, Carsone and Moffitt brought home their points and empowered the library staff to act effectively in the event of a hostile attack.

As library director, I am especially grateful for the generous amount of time spent with the library staff and that the training was provided at no charge to the library as one more community service delivered by these two outstanding community servants.

Sherry L. Ault, Hubbard

The writer is director of the Hubbard Public Library.

Warren city school levy chairmen say thank-you to many supporters

Our thanks to every citizen who voted in the election this month and an added thanks to those who were able to vote to support the Warren City Schools levy renewal.

By a 2:1 vote margin, the community made clear its support for a school district which keeps children safe, supports families in trying times and provides an education needed for good citizenship, self improvement and lifelong success.

Especially thanks to the many employees of the district who have $1 deducted from every pay and donate $26 per year to the levy committee. Thanks to many local businesses for their generous financial support. Thanks to Warren City Council and the city administration for their commitment to the Warren City Schools. Thanks to every family who asked for a sign for their yard and, particularly, thanks to all those who worked to make this campaign succeed. You are fabulous and too numerous to list.

Thank you all.

Don Emerson and John Fowler, Warren

The writers were chairmen of the Citizens’ Committee for Warren City Schools that promoted passage of the school district’s renewal levy on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Campbell commission thanks residents for keeping testing

The Campbell Civil Service Commission would like to thank the citizens of the city of Campbell for showing their good judgment in voting down the charter amendments that were on the ballot earlier this month.

The amendments would have allowed the mayor with approval of city council to appoint the police and fire chiefs.

We feel that by testing for those positions, we get the best and brightest people to fill them.

Anthony Matash, Campbell

The writer is chairman of the Campbell Civil Service Commission.

Just say no to goose liver

Celebrity chef Charlie Trotter may be best remembered for his exacting standards, but animal defenders will never forget his outspoken condemnation of foie gras cruelty.

Chef Trotter visited foie gras (duck or goose liver) farms in the U.S., France, and Canada and saw for himself how birds are confined to cramped cages or pens where workers ram pipes down their throats, violently force-feeding the birds until their livers swell up to 10 times their normal size. Many birds die when their organs rupture before they can be slaughtered for their diseased livers.

Dropping foie gras from his menu paved the way for Wolfgang Puck, Albert Roux and other chefs to speak out against foie gras.

Trotter was a trailblazer who boasted of being the first to offer a vegetable tasting menu, saying, “I’ve always thought that vegetables are the most interesting element of food and gastronomy.”

PETA urges chefs around the world to honor Trotter’s memory by speaking out against foie gras and refusing to serve it in their restaurants.

Christina Matthies, Norfolk, Va.

The writer is a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.