Thanksgiving's passing, sadly reflective, pro-life evolution, old values gone, impressive gains marred

Thanksgiving��app�s end mourned by many

Thanksgiving met its demise the last week of October 2024 after a long battle with commercialism. Thanksgiving had been ailing over the past few years as retailers decided to skip over Thanksgiving and concentrate on Christmas sales, even turning Thanksgiving into a shopping frenzy.

Thanksgiving will always be remembered as a day when family and friends gathered to renew friendships and make new ones. A day for celebrating all that was accomplished in the past year and to remember that the holidays are not about material goods but what you can do for those who are less fortunate.

Memorials for Thanksgiving may be given to your local food bank.

D.R. Murphy

Fort Wayne

Ad sadly reflective of city, nation

I can appreciate the sacrifices military veterans made as part of the horrors of war to protect freedom of this once-great country, the United States of America.

But, come on, what was the most prominent advertisement on a full page honoring veterans in the Nov. 11 edition of ��app?

In case anyone missed it, an ad for the ZX Glock gun with the disgusting statement, ��app�Faster than 911.��app�

Is anyone paying attention? There are people roaming the streets of Fort Wayne with loaded firearms. There was still another incident of police shooting an armed suspect as reported in the Nov. 12 newspaper. The shooting was the sixth such incident by police this year in Allen County.

Oh, yes, but the Fort Wayne area is such a great place to raise a family, as some people claim.

But America is no longer a great nation and will continue a downward spiral. Who was elected president?

Jerry Hertenstein

Fort Wayne

Pro-life evolution 60 years in making

Here I am at age 79, finally coming out ��app� as pro-life. Pro-life is where I��app�ve landed after a slow and uneven transition from my pro-choice stance of some 60��app�years ago. Three factors have propelled me.

First, my general distaste for the taking of others��app� lives has been reinforced by my growing alignment with Christianity. There is that rule that reads, ��app�Thou shalt not kill��app��app� and my inclination is to apply it broadly.

The second major influence has been my own life story. For the longest time, I assumed that Mother��app�s pregnancy with me had been unintentional. After all, it commenced while the world was engulfed in its most destructive war ever, with no clear outcome in sight. As it turned out, Mother experienced a condition in which the placenta forms ahead of the growing fetus, and the woman is typically advised to remain flat on her back through most of the pregnancy. Final outcomes often are not good.

In my case, a premature Caesarian delivery was needed, followed by my placement into an incubator. A few birth defects were recorded, and my later need for surgeries was noted. My early years were marked by frequent illnesses and physical limitations. Yet, I began to thrive. Ultimately, I can only describe my life as one of joyful experiences and unimaginable opportunities. My mother also survived and succeeded, reaching the age of 93.

My third impetus is my granddaughter, Persephone. She was born exactly a month early, also because of complications in her mother��app�s pregnancy. When my wife and I first saw her, she was about one week old, and we pronounced her a baby human. I believe it is nonsense to think that a growing fetus is anything other than a baby human being.

Going back those 60 years, we were not told the whole story. All the emphasis was on having a dangerous and illegal back-alley abortion vs. a safe and legal one. The demise of the infant was, in fact, the point of either, though that fact was conveniently ignored. Today, once again, we are only being given a partial view of what is at stake. The expression ��app�women��app�s health��app� is now supposed to be at the center of our focus. But I just can��app�t help also noticing that tiny baby, the one who ought to have a right to experience life. That child may also have 79 or more years of joyful living on the horizon, which no other human should have the right to take away.

Richard B. Hatch

Fort Wayne

Old values no longer apply in politics

Does anybody remember a political party we once had that stood for these things?

1) Family values

2) Law and order

3) Free trade

4) Resistance to Russian aggression

5) Close ties with Europe

6) Minimal interference from Washington

James Cox

Van Wert, Ohio

Gun violence mars impressive gains

Recently, after more than 30��app�years, I moved back home to Fort Wayne.

I am greatly impressed by the beautiful downtown improvements and the cultural and recreational activities Fort Wayne has to offer.

I am also impressed by our new mayor and am looking forward to an opportunity to personally meet.

I also want to commend City Councilman Geoff Paddock for his tireless constituent work. To see hard-working public servants is refreshing in a time when government often seems indifferent and nonresponsive.

There are some concerning trends I see, namely the amount of gun violence, especially among the young. I am sure the police chief and the administration are exploring ways to reduce this plague. Community policing and dialogue should be in their quiver of solutions.

Perhaps interaction with faith leaders could be a start. We must do better.

Rev. Terry Hursh

Fort Wayne

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