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So there is to be an anti-tax Tea Party tonight in Gainesville. I received calls and e-mail invitations to attend, some implying that I was pro-tax and anti-American if I didn't attend. Was I supposed to dress in American Indian attire as they did in Boston?
By the time the party is over, the thousands (?) who attended will feel as though they accomplished something.
My question to all is very simple: Where were you on the special election day that committed Hall County to $240 million in additional SPLOST taxes? Were you among the 9 percent who voted? If not, you had a chance to make a real anti-tax statement and didn't bother to vote.
Bruce Hallowell
Clarkesville
Faith cannot be abandoned when conflicting with science
In response to recent columns: Ideology, according to Webster, is an overall view of or attitude toward life. Dogma is a principle accepted as valid and authoritative.
These words were used by Jim Scharnagel in an attempt to castigate President George W. Bush in his letter Saturday.
However, the meaning can mean different things to different people. It seems Mr. Scharnagel's ideology is in direct conflict with that of my friend Trevor Thomas, as is his "dogma."
I, along with Trevor, am first and foremost a Bible-believing Christian. I believe The Holy Bible to be the inspired word of Almighty God and is profitable for rebuke, instruction and correction. When science is in conflict with God's word, a deeper study of the subject in debate is needed and if looked at with an open mind, many times a reasonable consensus can be reached.
However, if that cannot be the case, then we'll have to agree to disagree because I come down on the side of God's word. We have to remember that many "scientific conclusions" have been proved wrong.
From their letters to the editor, one could well conclude that Jim Scharnagel and W. Lorraine Watkins are not Christians, which is truly sad. Mr. Scharnagel refers to "supernaturalism" which could refer to the creation of man and the birth and resurrection of Christ, which account of all three I consider to be factual. I do not believe in the "science" of evolution because the complexity of the creation itself screams loudly that there had to be a divine plan and a Creator. If we "evolved" from monkeys, why are there still monkeys? Why didn't they all "evolve?"
Atheists believe there is no God, no Jesus, no heaven and no hell. I believe there is. If it were to turn out that I'm wrong, I'm still all right because I truly enjoy worship with my church family and my relationship with God in my daily life. But if the atheists are wrong they are in a world of trouble.
Bethel Midgett
Gainesville