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Your Views: Celebrate family life this month by giving time
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The most important work any of us will ever do will be within the walls of our own home. That is the work of building families.

Families are the bedrock of society. No society, nation or community will ever be strong without a foundation of strong families. It is essential that children grow up knowing that they are loved and cherished. The family is the best forum for teaching children values.

And when children bring those values into the society in which they live, they will not turn out to be troubled youth who end up in detention centers and are difficult to educate. Our children are a reflection upon us. That is why it is so important to "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Some of the most important values we can teach our children include kindness honesty, gratitude, integrity, work, patience, morality and love. Not only do we teach by our words, but effective teaching is done through our example. Through our actions, we can significantly demonstrate that these values really work. They are God-given and time tested. Happiness is not achieved except through doing what is right.

I encourage all in this great community to teach your children responsibility, to help your children set goals, to make your family history important, to teach your children how to serve, to make the most of family traditions, to guard what comes into your home, to look for teaching moments and to get your children involved in family decisions.

To accomplish these ideals, we must spend more time as families together, to have more meals together, spend less time in front of the television while getting more involved in our children's lives.

Finally, it is essential to constantly express our love for our children through words and actions. Truly, no other success can compensate for failure in the home. The cost of government comes down when families function properly. If we are to save society, we must first save our families. If we cannot fix our families, it is most difficult to fix anything else.

Please join me in honoring the family during National Family Month throughout November in every way possible, especially by honoring and strengthening your own.

George Wangemann
Gainesville City Councilman

Judges were reason for vote against Obama
I am one of those who are dismayed by the election of Sen. Barack Obama, not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character.

He supports the murder of the unborn and has reportedly told the abortion industry that the first bill he would sign would be the "freedom of choice" act, which would eliminate all laws restricting abortion, even the heinous partial birth abortion which was outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court. I simply cannot understand how Christians could vote for him.

I realize many people are still trying to punish President Hoover for the 1930s depression and blindly vote for a Democrat, not knowing nor caring what else they stand for. And many vote for the one who promises benefits from the government, which Obama did by promising redistribution of the wealth.

I try hard to follow my instruction book, The Bible. I believe if we follow its teaching, our nation will prosper, for it says in Proverbs 16: 7 "When a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." I believe He will also take care of the economy.

I cannot believe abortion is pleasing to God because it sheds innocent blood and that issue is addressed in 2 Kings 24: 1-5. It says King Manasseh, "filled Jerusalem with innocent blood which The Lord would not pardon" and neither will the Lord pardon the innocent blood of these unborn children. We will be made to pay for it just like the nation of Judah did.

I could not vote for Jim Martin for the Senate because he will fall in line behind the liberal Democrats and vote to confirm liberal judges who will rewrite the Constitution. And if they can elect a super majority of 60 senators, they can pass anything, and there's nothing the Republicans can do about it.

I don't vote for senators and presidents; I vote for federal judges. A senator can be removed in six years and a president in four years, but the damage a federal judge can do can affect our great-great grandchildren because they serve as long as they live. I will vote for Saxby Chambliss because he will not vote for liberal federal judges. (I hope.)

I am definitely not racist. If Herman Cain had been running for president, he definitely would have received my vote and all the help I could give him.

Bethel Midgett
Gainesville