Letters to | the editor

Dear Editor,

Two years after stuffing my letter in the drawer, I bring it out…due to utter frustration with the man who occupies the White House.

Our new President may want to read late at night rather than waste time on Twitter. He may even wish to refer to a fairly important predecessor, Abraham Lincoln. The following quotes from Lincoln are a start:

‘Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.’

‘You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.’

One more thought, the very least this man could do is release his income tax returns. If he truly expects to lead, let him lead by example just once, and show us that good citizenship means honesty regarding the tax code, no matter how obtuse it may be. What sort of a social compact does he live by, if not the same that the rest of us are to use? Or does he truly consider himself exempt from conflicts of interest, as he says?

His continuing defiance of democratic norms is a travesty. That his Republican Party and our two Iowa Senators are so loyal to him is even more disturbing.

Josiah C. Wearin

Hastings

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express gratitude to Red Oak residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Because of the generosity of donors in Red Oak and across the United States, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collected more than 8.8 million shoeboxes in 2018. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2018, the ministry is now sending more than 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children suffering from poverty, natural disasters, war, disease and famine.

These simple gifts bring smiles to the faces of children around the world. Packed with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items, these gifts bring joy and are a tangible expression of God’s love. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

It’s not too late for people to make a difference. Though drop-off locations serving Red Oak shoebox packers are closed until November 2019, anyone can still pack a personalized shoebox gift online at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline. Information about year-round volunteer opportunities can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/volunteerwithOCC.

We are overly appreciative to everyone who participated in this global project—many who do so year after year. These simple gifts send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.

Dana Williams

Red Oak