Grateful to those who’ve helped

Dear Editor,

My house on Hungry Hollow Road burned down on Oct. 31 and I would like to thank the many people who have offered and given help and assistance.

First, thanks to the Molson-Chesaw Fire Department. The house went quickly and was a total loss before the fire department could respond but they did a great job of containing the fire and keeping it from spreading to the outbuildings. My shop, Knob Hill Forge, is still standing and I’m grateful for that.

After the fire many people showed up with coffee and sandwiches, shovels and wheelbarrows even a backhoe and a tractor to help clean up. It was very appreciated, thank you.

And thanks to Lisa Witt, Susie Nelson, Dave Mackay and everyone else who helped with the spaghetti benefit dinner. There were lots of people involved, more than I know. Please accept my thanks to all.

And special thanks to Jerry Asmussen, Jim DeTro and crew for officiating at the auction.

I am a lucky man to have to such wonderful friends and neighbors. I am grateful to all of you.

Gary Eagle

Chesaw

Embrace compassion

Dear Editor,

By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will have past and Christmas has yet to come. But – not really. The day of Thanksgiving has past and the day of Christmas has yet to come; however, in my opinion, EVERY day ought to be a celebration of both.

For what are you thankful? Nothing? Some would say that by mumbling “What have I got to be thankful for?” But, in order to be able to even think “nothing,” you have been reading this, so you do have the gift of sight. You are having some kind of reaction, so you can think and feel and have emotion. You are probably sitting down, so you can sit and you probably walked in order to get to where you can sit, so you can walk. A friend of mine used to be able to walk, now he has extremely strong arms to navigate his wheelchair; and, to him, that is a real blessing.

You see, we have so much for which to be thankful. If we would approach life with the attitude of being thankful for what one does have and not grumpy because one doesn’t have what another has, life would take on a brighter perspective. In this “Old Coffee Drinkers” mind these are gifts God have given us in which to live the life we have. In my opinion, God never said that if you believes in Him you would have no tragedy; but, God did say that He will be with and guide us through whatever tragedy you might experience.

If each person would take time to recount all they do have, they really wouldn’t have time to think about what they are missing. I have a saying that guides me and makes more sense, each day, to me. It goes like this: Each day is a good day, there are just some days that are better than others.

Now, how about Christmas? There are all kinds of gifts. But, here is a gift anyone can give to others. Compassion! A group of men, at our church, were talking about compassion and we discovered that word actually is a combination – two words ‘com’ and ‘passion’. We come with passion.

So – let your life ‘com’ with ‘passion’ for others and yourself. Make it a point, during the Christmas season to tell others how much they have meant to you this past year. Tell your spouse, children, fiance that you love them and why. Thank the store clerk for their kindness, or the waitress or the person who opened the door for you. Look around, be thankful, be appreciative and be compassionate. I believe God gave you those abilities, give back to Him by giving to others. Have a great Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.

The Old Coffee Drinker,

Randy Middleton

Tonasket

What Europe and America have in common

Dear Editor,

Europe and the U.S.A. have many things in common, one of which noted currently is the massive debt crisis both are experiencing because of politicians who fail to learn from history. George Santayana noted that those who fail to learn from the mistakes of the past re doomed to repeat them.

In both Europe and the United States, power-hungry politicians have been trying to buy votes with money we don’t have, taxing not only this generation but every generation in the future, guaranteeing a lower standard of living for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. These short-sighted politicos, thinking only of the present, seem to think they can go on forever, steadily increasing the public debt, by just printing more and more money without an equal increase in goods and services, hoping to find someone to buy our consequently less and less valuable bonds.

As history has repeatedly shown us, this does not work. Every society that has tried this has collapsed. A prime example is the Soviet Union. If socialism were a better system, we would all be speaking Russian. Previously democratic civilizations and nations that have tried this have collapsed into dictatorship. Some noteworthy examples are the Greeks, the Romans and the post World War I Weimar Republic of Germany, the latter painting so much money that its currency became virtually worthless, bankrupting the country, and resulting in the establishment of Hitler’s Nazi (National Socialist) party dictatorship that brought on the horrors of World War II.

It is time to rid ourselves of such history-ignoring, out-of-touch-with-reality, power-mad politicians, ousting them from power and never let them in office again.

Harold ‘Bob’ Jones

Blair, Oklahoma

Courage is needed

Dear Editor,

In today’s environment, striving to become a better person on a daily, monthly and yearly basis is enough, especially when we can see the fruits of our effort by experiencing better relationships with the people we have contact with any by recognizing various improvements in our communities and culture nationwide.

However, when a society has been in a steep decline socially, politically, and economically for some time, becoming a better person isn’t enough. What then? We are then called upon to become the best person that we can be.

To be the best though requires an in-depth look at the influences of formal education, parental upbringing, convictions, opinions, and emotions that have developed within us since birth. This may sound easy to some, but in actuality a lot of courage is needed, perhaps more courage and self-discipline than some of us may have at this moment.

Courage to analyze beliefs and convictions that have guided us for years or even decades. Courage to ask questions, is this the best that we can be? Is this the best that our society can be?

Are there any behavioral alternatives that would be considered better than what we see today? If there are, do we feel fear from not being able to see the end from a new beginning, or will each of us allow a healthy dose of courage to become a permanent part of our personality?

Will we use this courage and ask our relatives, co-workers, friends and other we have contact with: Do you care about the future? What happens next is up to you.

Ray Gattavara

Auburn, Wash.