Insults lead only to alienation and division

On most occasions, the Vox Pop opinion letters will pass without a second glance.
But when one appears like a letter that deliberately calls Pope Benedict XVI a "Nazi," and grievously insults not only me, but any member of the Catholic Church -- it's hard to ignore.
Not only should Catholics be insulted, so should any person of faith who seeks a more harmonious life with others.  In such a time of religious uncertainty, it's a mystery why some few choose to seek even more division by name-calling and rhetoric.

Many members and leaders of the Catholic Church have made mistakes, including the recent sex abuse scandal.  But I have faith that it will be dealt with properly, and those involved will be punished.  For example, look at the Pope's recent visit to the United States, where he met with a number of the abuse victims.  The Pope did not sweep this issue under the rug -- he mentioned that it needed to be dealt with properly on many occasions.
Knowing this, what is greater?  The ability to place blame, or to recognize the good that the Church has done, and the faith that it has inspired in hundreds of millions?
I recognize that Vox Populari means "Voice of the People," and if you wish to speak your mind, then you have the right to do so. 
But this doesn't mean that we can't be civil. 
I thank God we have the ability to speak our minds, but name-calling that is only meant to insult will always serve to further divide and alienate people of differing opinions.
— Patrick Johnson, Medford

Says celebrate region’s hunting heritage

Scout, hunt, harvest and celebrate your success in the woods and fields with stories and most definitely pictures. You can find many of these stories and pictures in all sorts of magazines, books, videos and, hopefully for a long time to come, in The Star News. While you, Mr. Riegert, may not enjoy this section, many do, especially the young hunters. So if you don't like it, skip those pages. If you see it on TV, turn the channel, shut it off, whatever, but don't try to ruin it for others.
— Ricky Leonhard, Rib Lake

The Word of God is the source of life

I often hear the comment: “People wrote the Bible, not God.” This statement is true.
When I was in Israel, I visited a Roman and Orthodox Catholic church, the place where Jesus was supposedly buried after He died on the cross. There are two possible tombs where Jesus was buried. Outside of the entrance of the Church - Holy Sepulchral is a cement stone where it is theorized that Jesus was laid after He died.
I saw pilgrims from all over the world come to the tomb and many kissed the stone. I did not like it at all, since I am not religious. God does not want us to worship material things and He labeled it as idolatry.
If God would write the book (The Bible), then people would worship the book and not the living God. It is easy for humans to make an item an idol.
God trusted people, who became believers in Him, to write the book. It is His in His character to trust and believe.  He wanted to stir in us faith, which is essential for salvation and all the ways that God operates.
Faith (not necessary works) is the basic principle that God expects us to operate in, along with love. If our faith is correct, based on the Word of God, then that faith becomes an active faith (or faith in action).  Then all believers come under one common umbrella—faith.
Because of those two: faith and love (both of which produce goodness), I do not have any reason not to trust the Bible, even when it was people who wrote it. Not only that, but it is the best-selling book in the world; because of this there is something good in the Bible and I believe there is.
If America is as bad as some claim, why then are the Mexicans and others risking their lives to get in?  The same is with the Bible.  There are people in other countries that risk their lives because they read the Bible.
I am not a religious man (rather believer), but the Word of God is my daily spiritual and soul food, because it is source of life.
— Vladimir Uhri, Medford

American freedoms come from God and not from man

While we are demonstrating for nonviolence we often hear people shout, "You could not hold up your signs  had it not been for the brave soldiers who died protecting your freedom!"  
Our response is that this is not true.  Our freedom comes from God, not man.  God gave us a free will, and no one can take this away from us.  
Our freedom however is lessened each time violence is used to defend the same.  Christ told us that true freedom is found in love, and if you love you will not use violence to another.  Christ frees us from fear of others. 
Christ teaches that to bind ourselves to the world, the state, government limits our freedom. Christ used His freedom and refused to be part of the Roman Empire. He told us that His Kingdom is not external, but internal.  
A soldier has less freedom for joining the military than anyone else.  He or she must do only what he or she is told.  He or she must not talk politics in public, not oppose any war, not refuse to kill another.  We who have chosen to follow Christ are free to love all people since we are not beholden to any state or government.  We serve all people by doing good to all whether they are Americans, Iranians, Iraqis  or members of any other state.  As a result we are free.
We have the freedom to do what we want no matter where we live.  However, there are consequences to be suffered if we use our freedom.  We may end up in jail for doing something that the state forbids.  For example, the US has more prisoners behind bars than any other country in the world.  The number hovers around 2.2 million. 
As a result of our choice to live below the poverty line in order to avoid paying for war we suffer the consequence of being deep in debt.  God alone gives us that free will to choose.  No man gives us free will to choose.  One who kills "to defend us" does not increase our freedom but rather diminishes it.
— Rev. Don Timmerman, Park Falls

Congress is really the group to blame for high oil prices

I recently received Dave Obey’s latest political missive, and let me tell you, it really got my dander up!
Dave mentions Jimmy Carter and his warning about energy independence. President Carter set aside a portion of the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge specifically for oil exploration!
Congress has kept us out since that day, and if it weren’t for Congress, ANWR could be producing as much oil as we import from Saudi Arabia.
´  Congress has blocked the construction of new nuclear power plants which by now could have reduced our dependence on coal and natural gas.
´ Congress has blocked access to off-shore oil that would have reduced our dependence on foreign oil sources. And Congress has blocked access to our shale-oil reserves which are an excellent source for jet fuel.
´ Congress has blocked the construction of new refineries through passage of onerous environmental regulations that make it economically unfeasible to build them.
´ Congress has helped to raise the price at the pump with high taxes and fees on every step of the process of finding, extracting, transporting, refining, and transporting (again) the fuel that runs our economy.
´ And Congress has added to the soaring cost of all dairy products by foolishly forcing corn out of the food market and into ethanol!
When Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats took over Congress in 2006 they promised they would lower gas prices…back then it was around $2.00 per gallon.
Makes one wonder, doesn’t it?
— Jeff Tyberg, Wisconsin Rapids

Libraries return more than $4 on every tax dollar spent

Taylor County libraries contribute significantly to economy. Return on investment of public libraries is more than $4 per taxpayer dollar.
Wisconsin public libraries contribute more than $4 for every dollar taxpayers invest, according to an economic impact research report produced by NorthStar Economics Inc. of Madison.
Estimates of local public library impact are similar, according to area library directors because the study estimated library value conservatively and did not factor in periodical subscriptions, electronic databases, or meeting room space provided to the community.
The research showed the total economic contribution of Wisconsin public libraries is more that $750 million every year. The return on investment in library services is $4.06 for each dollar of taxpayer investment. Wisconsin public libraries serve a total state population of 5.6 million and use of public libraries by citizens of the state is growing.
In the past 10 years, library visits have grown by 28 percent. Other key measures, such as circulation of library materials, attendance at children's programs, computer access, and electronic access to library catalogs, also have shown healthy growth.
"This study clearly tells us that public libraries are a valuable tax-supported institution," said state superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. "Quantifying the economic impact of libraries on the local, regional, and state economy adds another important piece of information regarding the value of public libraries. Our public libraries nurture young readers, support K-12 students, and provide access to information and technology necessary for lifelong learning. Public libraries are centers of their communities and daily make invaluable contributions to local and regional economic development."
The Department of Public Instruction contracted with NorthStar to conduct a study to determine the economic impact of public libraries and library systems in Wisconsin and the taxpayer return on investment. Results showed that public libraries create more than 3,200 jobs directly and more than 3,000 indirectly through economic activity, provide $427.9 million in total economic value through services provided to Wisconsin residents, and make a direct economic contribution to Wisconsin's economy of more than $326 million.
— Anne Harris, director Frances L. Simek Memorial Library

Peterson warns of global plots to destroy America

It looks as though Linda Osolkowski wants to talk about religious extremism and silly beliefs. In her latest vox pops she ridiculed Dr. Uhri for having what she considers a ridiculous belief system. She goes as far as to sarcastically suggest Dr. Uhri believes gravity to be only a theory.  
It is not uncommon for Osolkowski to publicly mock Christians as in past posts she has ridiculed doctrines such as the rapture while touting her “goddess” worship as being firmly based in reason. So it is time to further examine her new age mindset and the theology which surrounds the goddess.
The goddess identifiable by many names was known to the Egyptians as Isis, the Greeks as Demeter-Persephone, to the Romans Diana and, at present, is commonly known as Sophia-Gaia. Gaia is most recognizable to people as “Mother Earth.” Although the goddess’ theology varies amongst Sophiologists the core belief system remains common. Hence I will present the goddess from the perspectives of her story tellers, those credited with heralding in the new age and popularizing her in the west, namely H.P. Blavatsky and Rudolph Steiner.
In the beginning God existed as one in the form of a polarity: the divine masculine and the divine feminine (Sophia). Together they co-created the universe. Each entity was a conjoined triune deity, the male being the Father, Logos and Holy Spirit and the female being the Mother, Daughter and World Soul. In the goddess’ zeal to create, she formed the cosmos independently of her male counterpart resulting in a mistake which caused the divine feminine to separate from the divine masculine. Upon her descent Ialdabaoth, the God of Israel, taunted her so she gave her light to the sun and became the earth where she remains in the depths of the under world longing to reunite to the divine masculine. The universal prayer to the goddess opens as “our Mother, who art in the depths of the under world.” Her only hope to reconnect to the divine masculine has been to facilitate humanity’s evolution to its final stage by emitting evolutionary impulse streams through her spiral vortexes.
It is only when humanity becomes attuned to her impulses and by adopting a global consciousness—the World Soul—that the goddess will become redeemed and able to reunite to the divine masculine. The final earthly stage of human development is considered to be the most painful period in earth’s evolutionary process because not everyone is attuned to the goddess’ impulse streams. Those individuals, primarily monotheists and political dissenters, are considered to be the World Soul’s karmic opposites which inhibit the goddess’ redemption. Shirley McClain, among many, explains that their karmic opposites soon await their fate in “karmageddon.” Once the “World Soul” eliminates its karmic opposites, it will have become divine and transcend thereby bringing an end to time and death. This transcended humanity will move forward to become co-creators with the rejoined godhead culminating its journey partaking in the Vulcan stage of cosmic evolution wherein they will realign the cosmos by transforming the earth into a new sun.
It would be remiss of me not to mention Mother Earth’s (Gaia’s) keeper—the Pleiadians—as they too emit impulses through her vortexes. The Pleiadians, from the planetary star Alcyone, are hosting in honor of Gaia’s redemption a cosmic party to commence on December 21, 2012. They have chosen to communicate their agenda by channeling their writings through Barbara Hand Clow’s Pleiadian Agenda. They do so as they recognize some goddess worshippers have been lazy and not adequately expanded their levels of consciousnesses by focusing their meditative energies into the reptilian forces.
According to the Pleiadians, not everyone has an invitation to the cosmic party—only those who recognize that Lucifer lives within them and are willing to undergo a Luciferic initiation. This is a common theme in new age literature and one which is problematic for the world’s monotheists as they recognize Lucifer to be none other than Satan. As clearly presented throughout their writings, Blavatsky and Steiner agree that Satan and Lucifer are the same. They however exhibit great admiration for him. Per Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine, “In this case it is but natural…to view Satan, the Serpent of Genesis, as the real creator and benefactor, the Father of Spiritual mankind…” Blavatsky also identifies the goddess Sophia and Lucifer to be one and the same—Lucifer’s female persona.
Maybe the devil really does wear Prada. The Pleiadians tell us how to recognize the start of the cosmic party—it will commence when their mother ship enters earth’s atmosphere. As one can see, “goddess” theology is based upon solid scientific inquiry.
Although I disagree with theologies such as the goddess, I would defend anyone’s right to believe it. It is when governments—such as the new global order and its governmental structures—demand that individuals shift their religious beliefs to one centered around earth-worship and the acceptance of their political-spiritual cosmic Christ that they have crossed the line into dictatorship and have themselves adopted an ideology of religious extremism. Global governmental organizations such as the Alliance of Civilizations, Gorbachev’s Earth Charter, the World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality, etc., etc. openly portray such a system. They have formulated a strategy to rid themselves of dissenters by identifying those individuals as religious extremists who are prone to violent radicalization. Osolkowski attempted to do the same in her latest vox pops.
The Alliance of Civilizations has said that it is a sovereign United States which presently stands in its way of globally deploying its new spirituality. It has further called for the abolition of national parliaments worldwide. At least in the United States, despite our flaws, we can voice our opinions without the threat of death. There are visible signs that this too is shifting as leadership in both the Republican and Democratic parties rush towards handing over our national sovereignty in the interest of global governance. So if Linda wishes to further discuss religious extremism and silly religious beliefs we too are willing to participate in that discussion.
— Richard Peterson, Medford