Letters
Letters to the editor
Highlands Today
Published: October 15, 2012
Candidates should have respect for one anotherPublished: October 15, 2012
As the election time draws to a close, the mud slinging continues and continually gets worse. It is amazing what is advertised and repeated in the political forums.
That is why it is such a pleasure to listen to Wally Cox, candidate for the superintendent of our school system. He does not waste time continually criticizing the other candidate. He simply talks about the issues facing our school system.
Even with a strong economy, running a school system is not an easy job. Our current economy is making it even more difficult.
Mr. Cox has been dedicated to the employees and students of the Highlands County school system for many years. The job puts him on call 24/7.
At the recent Sun 'n Lake political debate, Mr. Cox was criticized by his opponent for not being a classroom teacher.
We were allowed to talk to the candidates and I pointed out to Mr. Cox that I have worked for many superintendents during my 36 years in the school system and not all of them have been classroom teachers. Several, in fact, had degrees in business and finance.
I also told Mr. Cox that in my opinion, he is a teacher. He may not be teaching math or history, but he is continually teaching everyone in the school system integrity, honesty, work ethics and manners. He is a proven example of good character and leadership.
The degree does not make a person successful in any job; it is the character and, most of all, the heart. Mr. Cox, you have the heart!
I would also like to thank Mr. Pigman and Crystal Drake who also spoke at the Sun 'n Lake forum. They treated each other with courtesy and respect. It was a pleasure to listen to them both.
Patsy Martinez
Sebring
When you go to vote, don't leave principles at home
Remember when President Obama said the United States was not a Christian country? He has spent the last four years working to make that a reality.
Christians believe what the Bible says. What does it say about same-sex marriage or abortion? Both are things that Mr. Obama and the Democratic Party promote. Abortion is much like the Aztecs throwing their babies into the pool to drown them and satisfy their pagan gods. We kill our unborn to satisfy our gods of pleasure, lust and greed.
The Democratic Party platform not only includes the right to redefine marriage and abort our unborn babies or to use them for scientific experimentation, but the convention had to force the admittance of God in their platform amid the loud cries of "boo" and "no" from the members. Can we, in good conscience, ignore that?
Mr. Obama can't work with his legislators to pass laws, so he rides rough shod over the Constitution and does what he wants by executive order. Is this government by the people, for the people? Or is it dictatorship?
Is your church, school, hospital, charity programs or evangelical groups protected from the HHS mandate? Mr. Obama has declared that only church groups that serve their own and hire their own can be exempt from this mandate.
According to Mr. Obama, religious freedom only applies to what goes on in church. Next time you work a soup kitchen or "feed the hungry" program, be sure to ask the recipients if they belong to your church. The First Amendment of our Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting free exercise thereof."
When you go to the polls to cast your vote, please don't leave your principles at home.
Margaret Lindsey
Sebring