Letters to the editor, Huntsville Times, Friday Jan. 7

on January 07, 2011 at 7:34 AM, updated January 07, 2011 at 7:36 AM

Measuring sticks

Uncle Buddy Robinson, evangelist of past century, spoke with wisdom when he said. "The only way of ever convincing an old crooked stick of its condition is to lay a fresh straight one down beside it." There has been some consternation over the old crooked stick of the"Atheist's billboard" on Memorial Parkway stating that "You KNOW they're all SCAMS. It was designed to cause consternation..

It might be more helpful if we pondered the following "good stick" questions:

What faith experiences do you hope for your children and grandchildren?

How do you want your children and grandchildren to pray for you?

How will you explain the moments of deep prayer in your life?

How will you explain the power of scripture from your own experience?

When have you encountered Jesus in the "least of these," ie, the poor?"

Do you have a list of people that have shared the love of Jesus with you?

Some say that the real life experiences behind these questions will prove more fruitful..

W.G. Henry

Madison, 35756

Long letters

As I travel around the USA I always check the local paper's "Letters to the Editor". It is usually the most interesting section of the paper.

In my two years in Huntsville I have noticed that there are fewer letters, because most of them are too long. Sometimes two letters take up all the space. They are more like "Guest Columnist".

The editorial page editor must take blame.

Bob Stover

Huntsville 35083

Spelling mistakes

Thomas Gale and Patricia Rosen need to invest in a dictionary. Per Webster's and Random House dictionaries, both canceled and cancelled are correct. When changing the tense of numerous verbs, the only correct way to spell is to double the ending consonant before adding "ed." Examples: include excel/excelled, bug/bugged, impel/impelled and ban/banned. So why would one find canceled so outré?

I agree with Rosen that she was not being snarky, rather merely inane.

Wanda C. Ferguson

Madison, 35757

Remember Gen. Lee

Our state will observe a holiday on Jan. 17 for Confederate General Robert E. Lee, whose actual birthday is Jan. 19. If the Protestant South had a patron saint, it would be Lee.

More papers, articles, and books have been written about Lee than most other Americans and nothing has been documented that can besmirch his character.

Lee's character and leadership were still evident, even at Appomattox. Many Confederate soldiers wanted to slip through the lines the night before surrender to continue the struggle as guerillas. Some historians believe our nation might have become embroiled in the violence that has characterized Northern Ireland had Lee not intervened by telling his men to "go home and become good Americans."

On the holiday to honor him, we remember the general's impeccable character and his unmatched leadership.

Ellen Williams

Leroy, Al., 36548