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GOD
and
YOU
By Minor Martin
(This is an open letter to the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam.
The opinions expressed herein are my own, and do not necessarily
reflect the policy of this newspaper which goes to Vietnam
each week.)
Dear Friends,
Early in this year of 1970 I would like to wish all of you in
Vietnam a Happy New Year, though prospects for this may
not at the moment seem so bright. Yet we never know what
even a day may bring forth, much less a year.
Here at home, things could be worse--and of course they
could be better. Though the hippies and the black panthers
and such like are still with us, we are hoping that common
sense and decency shall in the end prevail. But waiting for this
takes a lot of patience, and most of us would like to see an
end to these vicious and dangerous organizations now.
Another thing that's burdensome here at home is taxes,
because the poor are taxed unreasonably high. Even so, most
of us still manage to have a little more than the necessities
of life. But with doctor’s bills and drugs and hospital care going
higher and higher, this may not long be the case. A certain
uneasy feeling now hangs over the heads of low income people
everywhere, for sickness is something which we just cannot
afford. Yet it comes.
Then there's also the problem of our low moral estate in this
country. And the most disgusting thing about it is that we seem
content for it to remain that way. Bad as it is, to fall is not the
worst thing that can happen. It is when the desire to rise again
is gone that one’s true condition is revealed. And this applies
equally to a man or a nation.
Yes, we still have troubles. But these things are not written
to bother nor embarrass you. It’s just that things are about
normal back at home. And I thought you’d like to know.
We want to believe that underneath all this, however, there's
still the beautiful, clean America which we all love, and for
which you’re so bravely fighting. But it may be that America
has already seen her finest hour, and from here on it could be
downhill. I say this with a weeping heart.
However, we must not faint, but hope to the end that peace
and common sense, both of which are so little in evidence today,
shall soon return to this country which had it’s beginning in
honor and in decency.
It is said that an honest confession is good for the soul. So
fellows, I’d like to say that we on the home front have in many
ways failed you miserably. Oh, we keep the guns and tanks
and ammunition rolling your way. But actually, that means
more jobs and greater profits for many in this country. And
frankly, I’m afraid that that may somewhat offset the sadness
of you being away. Sounds harsh, and it is. But you men who
know the ring of steel know also the ring of truth when you hear
it. And I see no reason to be mealy mouthed with you just because
you’re a long way from home and in considerable danger.
Our foremost entertainers also come amongyou to try to cheer
you up. But after the show is over, the shooting and the shelling
and the bombing must go on. And it’s still mighty grim business
to fight and die in a senseless war which you had no part in
making. Really, it could be worse, some of us are saying.
But how, you ask? And that’s a question hard to answer.
Of course we still think of you. Not often enough, maybe.
But we do think of you. And we even pray for you, believe
it or not. But again, not often enough. What Pm trying to say
soldier, is that our efforts in your behalf seem so small
and inadequate against the great job that you’re doing.
The horrors of war, which take so many lives and only
grudgingly spares others to even greater suffering and incap
acities, ought to make us all pray constantly. But unfortunately,
such is not the case. The truth is, to most of us here at home
it’s “that war.” But to you men over there it’s very definitely
“this war.” The personal element of involvment, and therefore
of concern, must somehow be affixed to our national conscience
before we shall earnestly pray for peace.
Now that we have confessed some of our own shortcomings
maybe we’d be in order to take a quick look at a couple or
so of yours, though I approach this subject with the greatest
of humility. But being a minister of the Gospel it is my duty
to God and to you to stand for the truth. This I intend to do in
war and in peace.
Take the matter of your relationship to women, for example,
ft is true that wherever U.S. Servicemen go in the world there’s
qlways a sharp increase of illegitimate births in due process
<jf time. And Vietnam is no exception. Now that’s bad, no matter
how willing the illegitimate mother may be. Remember, neither
She nor you will suffer as will the child. Not in this world,
that is.
; Then there are from time to time those incidents such as
My Lai. Now we don’t know how much of what we hear is
true and how much is false. Even if we did, we still wouldn’t
know to what extent you might be justified in the name of war.
Only God keeps records of that nature.
< But the important thing to remember is this: You can be a
gentleman out there on the field of battle even as you were
hack home—if you want to. It’s harder, to be sure. But then
you may be sure that the rewards are more than enough to
make it worthwhile.
; I n the meantime, may God spare you soldier, every one
Of you, and bring you safely home again. According to news
from Washington, things are looking better for you. And how
l feel in my heart that you deserve something better!
*
TB won't
go away!
Millions of Americans are
still involved with it:
A. 77,000 known with active
disease
B. 238,000 inactive cases
under supervision
C. 225,000 in contact with
new active cases
D. Hundreds of thousands once
had active TB and might relapse
Moreover, about 25 million
Americans have TB germs in
their bodies (tuberculin posi
tive), though not sick.
To fight Tuberculosis and other
Respiratory Diseases it’s a
matter of life and breath
mail your Christmas Seal
contribution.
Forsyth Births
FREELAND-Mr. and Mrs. Danny Freeland of Gainesville,
announce the birth of a son, Steven Daniel, born December
31, 1969 at Forsyth County Hospital. Mrs. Freeland is the
former Mattie McConnell, daughter at Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan
McConnell of Gainesville. Paternal grandparents are Mr. and
Mrs. Hoyt Freeland of Gainesville. The baby joins, Susan,
age 19 months.
JENKINS-Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Frank Jenkins of Cumming
announce the birth of a son, Steven Leslie, born January 1,
1970 at Forsyth County Hospital. Mrs. Jenkins is the former
Alice Louise Peal, daughter of Mr. Roy L. Peal of Marietta.
Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Jenkins of
Cumming. The baby joins Sherry, age 6, Danny, age 16, Ricky,
age 12, Donna, age 13, and Daniel, age 9.
ADAMS—Mr. and Mrs. Earl Adams of Dahlonega, announce
the birth of a son, Leland Leon, born January 2, 1970 at Forsyth
County Hospital. Mrs. Adams is the former Nancy Lee Emory.
Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Homer Adams of
Dahlonega. The baby joins Leo, age 8 and “Sissy”, age 5.
To
The Churches
Of
Forsyth County:
In This Crucial Year 1970 ,
Pray For Peace In Vietnam
and in All The World
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This column is a regular
weekly feature prepared by the
Family Financial Counseling
Service of the Avco Delta Co
rp., P.O. Box 859, Cleveland,
Ohio, 44122. All questions sub
mitted to the above address will
be answered in print or by re
turn mail. Names will not be
used in print. However, all
questions should be accompan
ied by a complete name and
address.
Dear Mr. Martin: As an ele
mentary school teacher (and a
parent) I’ve often wondered wh
at’s the best age to start tea
ching a child the value of money.
Also, what’s the best way to go
about it? Do you have any sug
gestions?
Mrs. A.K.
Many parents still believe
the most effective method is
to have the child earn the mon
ey. They contend that by work-
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Money And Good Sense
ing for a dollar, the child wtll
appreciate the value of that
dollar more.
Other parents provide an all
owance to the child to buy the
items (movies, candy, etc.) dur
ing the week which he or she
desires.
The contention here, of co
use, is that the childwlll spend
his money wisely and thereby
learn the value of the amount
allowed him. In this particular
method, parents must exercise
rather rigid controls over the
child who runs out of money be
fore the end of the week. If
you advance that child next
week’s allowance for whatever
“important” reason they give,
you must be firm the following
week when allowance time
comes up. Incidentally, one ef
fective method is to supplement
the child’s weekly allowance
with “extra money” he can earn
by performing certain house
hold chores.
• Hr ~ v IBr -:
THE FOKSYTH COUNT!’ NKWS-JANUARY 8, 1970
Both of these methods are
good and will work if the par
ents show an interest in the
child and his “income”. I’m
not so sure, however, that the
“earning only” method doesn’t
distort the value of money for
the youngster by placing too
much emphasis on it. But, wh
atever method you employ, don’t
attempt to control the child’s
spending. Rather, try to guide
him towards using his money
wisely. In other words, act as
an advisor.
So far as age is concerned,
I don’t think there is any fixed
rule. It depends, for the most
part, on the child. Some par
ents feel that 5 or 6 is a good
age to start teaching a child
the economic facts of life. I’m
not so sure I agree that a
five-year old can distinguish
the value between a dollar and
a penny. On the other hand,
I certainly don’t think it’s too
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early to remind five-year olds
that a particular toy costs too
much money.
In the long run I think a ch
ild is going to learn more ab
out the value of money from
his parents than from any pa
rticular method. If you have a
sensible, sane attitude about
money and spending--and in
still this confidence in your ch
lld--the chances are that he will
also become a good money
manager.
(don't)
/zvj m- I