Letters to the editor
Ministerial alliance takes a stand
To the Editor:
The Marion Ministerial Alliance is united in our position on the possibility of a casino being brought to Marion County.
We are strongly opposed to the idea. We already are seeing more people than ever come to us with needs. They are asking for help with electric bill payments, gasoline for their vehicles, and an abundance of food requests. This doesn't even begin to include what will happen this winter with higher natural gas prices. What will happen when a casino is brought into the equation? Could it be that the needs will decrease or will we see more requests for help than ever? We can barely meet the needs now.
It has been reported by the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation in a study on the possibility of a casino in downtown Wichita that some interesting things happen when a casino is brought into a community.
They found that more than 75 percent of the entire revenue is provided by local citizens within a 50-mile radius. This means a drain on the economy of Marion County. If they are correct in their estimation that 10 percent of all first-time gamblers become addicted, imagine how many of our citizens will be coming for help. This corporation estimates that each addicted gambler costs the community $13,586 per year. Our county will be inundated with those who spend every spare dime on gambling.
Marion Ministerial Alliance does not want to see any more people in this community struggling to make ends meet. There are far too many hurting people in this community, and the $9,166 our county commissioners are willing to spend on a referendum would meet the needs of more people than we as a ministerial alliance can possibly help.
Marion Ministerial Alliance
Let the voters decide
To the Editor:
I am amazed at all the uproar about the possibility of bringing a casino to our county. I guess the ones making the most noise do not pay taxes or have any long-term interests here, or they would realize that a facility this large could bring down our taxes to where we all could afford to pay them.
It might even increase business and home buyers here.
The innuendo that it will make addictions and losses of homes is just someone's opinion or fear.
It is simple: if you have a problem with addictions DON'T go to where you will have a problem.
There already are additive products for sale in this county, like beer, cigarettes, alcohol, and yes, even sugar, chocolate, and fatty foods.
Does that mean that because they are there, we all will become addicted?
Most adults I know have the brains to make adult decisions, and if they know there is a problem they have the right to choose to stop and get help.
We taxpayers, and yes there are more than 23 of us, would like to have our vote counted on this. We need more jobs and more money here, and the right to be heard comes by VOTE.
Why are the opposed so afraid of a vote? The vote is non-binding, but I bet if the majority wins, at least Marion County will have let it be known that we are open to bringing more business here, and are not afraid to try.
Connie Smith
Ramona
Vote no
To The Editor:
Would Bob Knight have given our county commissioners an audience had Marion County not expanded liquor sales? Can two wrongs make a right? Please vote against the casino.
Pat Enos
Marion
Groups offer Parents' Night Out
To The Editor:
Parents' Night Out. What is Parents' Night Out, you ask? If you are a parent and dream of a night out without the kids, then this is for you.
Junior Girl Scout Troop #58, combined with Eastmoor Mission Team and Eastmoor Senior High Youth are providing a community service Dec. 3. They want to help parents have an afternoon, evening, or a combination of that time off to Christmas shop, go out to eat, watch a movie, or just have some time without the kids.
We are providing service from 1 to 10 p.m. Parents can pick their times and space is limited to the first 50 kids.
Call Eastmoor United Methodist Church by Nov. 28 to make reservations.
These groups are providing this service free of charge. However, they are collecting money for children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Parents' Night Out is a free will donation. All proceeds will go to children hurt by the hurricane in Mississippi.
Kathy Meierhoff
Scout leader
Letter home is reminder to all
To The Editor:
I'm writing this so you will know why I volunteered to go to war.
You already know what happened on Sept. 11, 2001. Four thousand Americans were murdered. Families were ripped apart as mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers were murdered in the name of Jihad.
Why did they do this? The terrorists claim it is the sacred duty of all Muslims to kill the Infidel and purify their lands. They are worshipping a false God and using false religion to control the uneducated, unemployed masses in an attempt to rebuild an Islamic Empire.
Why did I choose to go off to a foreign land to fight my countries' enemies? In 1775, the original 13 colonies were faced with a similar dilemma. A tyrant, King George III, controlled his "subjects in the colonies" from the other side of the world. They lived in fear and were denied basic freedoms. Their choices were tyranny or freedom. They chose freedom.
The young and old, farmers and lawyers, blacksmiths and bankers, rich and poor, men from all walks of life stood up against oppression to make this a free land. They suffered great physical hardships; bitter cold, sweltering heat, starvation, and lack of clothing. Some were wounded in battle, some were invalids from disease, some died. They all suffered. However, they did not give up. It took seven long years, but in the end they won their freedom.
They threw off the yoke of a despotic Monarch to establish a Republic in 1787. A Republic based on written law, the Constitution, the supreme law of the land.
There have been many threats to our nation in the last 218 years — 1812, 1846, the War of Northern Aggression, 1917, and 1941. Each time our nation was attacked, men would step away from hearth and home, family and friends, to defend our hard won freedoms against foreign aggression.
Once again, our nation has come under attack. However, this threat is not from a nation state or foreign government. We face an army of terrorists ideologically opposed to the freedoms we have as Americans. Freedoms our forefathers fought and bled for. Their ideaology is based on hatred and they hide amongst free people. They use our freedoms to attack the innocent. Their aim is to create terror and use that fear to force us to change our form of government.
Most Americans are lazy. If an event does not directly affect them they are content to go about their daily lives. They don't wish to be bothered. They will allow their freedoms to slip away one by one. Trading liberty for safety. This is the breeding ground of despotism where tyrants are born.
The enemies of our country have the ability and have shown the willingness to attack us here on our own shores. However, it's easier for them to fight us in Iraq.
Freedom is not free. Those who will not fight for it do not deserve it. I will not throw away the sacrifices of my forefathers. I will defend you. I will defend my country to protect you. I volunteered to go to Iraq to fight my countries' enemies there so I would not have to fight them here at home.
From the Greek city states and Roman Republic, history has shown that a people not willing to fight for their way of life becomes slaves to one state or another.
CPT. John Smalley
HHC, 2-137th IN
EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter was written by Capt. Smalley to his parents, Jim and Frances Smalley of Marion. He has been in the Kansas National Guard for 19.5 years. This is his third activation and first deployment. Smalley lives in Hutchinson, is married, and has two children.
