Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 104, Number 35, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 28 January 1981 — Page 4

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Nappanee Advance-News Wednesday. January 28. 1981

Comment and opinion

Our viewpoint:

Hostage return answered prayers

“I doubt if at any time in our history i?ore prayers have reached heaven for any American than have been giyen to God in the last 14 months.” j Those were the words of former president Carter who left office denied of the opportunity to announce the release of the Americans held in Iran. His statement bears witness to two ptoints: that Americans believe in the imique powers of prayer, and that God does indeed answer prayers. JOver a year ago in this space we stated our belief that prayer was the bpst hope for the safe return of the hbstages. Today, as the former captives enter their second week of blessed freedom, we submit that those prayers were in fact answered; perhaps not as soon as we would hve preferred, but answered nonetheless. For we firmly believe that it was nothing less than divine providence that protected our people, despite abuses only now being revealed, and delivered them safely back to their loved ones. While diplomats and

Your viewpoint

TO THE ADVANCE-NEWS: It is easy for all of us to criticize when things don't go to suit us, but often we fail to thank those who help us when we need it. Last Friday evening we had a nasty sewer problem which needed attention

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American dream was never so as in the 1950’5. It was a unique era in history for Americans. This era his even been captured by a television series entitled “Happy Days." The fifties was an era of progess, prosperity, and positive thinking. Bigger is better was, the slogan of American industry as cats grew and grpw and grew. !A popular song summarizes the mpod tljat was prevalent during this era of prbspertiy “The class of ’57 had its drfcams." (Then suddenly things went sour The babble burst. The sixties brought “Kent State,” and a host of other prpblems. The seventies brought us a nfcjw phrase - “energy crisis.” And the eighties are being described by e<2>nomists as the “awful eighties.” Most of the writers today are predicting gloom. for a spell there it was believed at lepst proclaimed, that the federal government could handle most any

Last week ....

; Hostages home - Iran finally freed the 52 - American hostages last Tuesday after 444 days in captivity in exchange for $8 billion of Tehran’s frozen assets. The former captives were 1 flown to a U.S. military hospital in Wiesbaden, West Germany after a stop in Algeria where they were officially handed over : to the U.S. government. The freed Americans returned '• to the U.S. on Sunday as their airplane “Freedom One” touched down on American soil at 2:54 p.m. They were greeted by a jubilant crowd of 200,000 after being embraced by family members at the airstrip. Crowds waited outside Stewart Airport in Newburgh, N Y. and £ lined the 17-mile route to West ' Point singing “God Bless America’’ and holding signs ? welcoming the former captives £ home. Yellow ribbons were in £ sight everywhere. “This is true America. It made . us all feel great,” former f r hostage Moorhead Kennedy said r The former hostasges and p. their families had a private

statesmen are receiving just appreciation for their efforts, there are many who realize that they were mere instruments of One Whose justice and power reigns supreme. Throughout the Iranian ordeal it was heartening to observe the faith of the American people, not so much in their government leaders, but in their true sovereign: the Lord God to whom Americans instinctively appelaled for a speedy, safe release of the hostages. Perhaps it was only a “fire engine” type of faith, exhibited only in time of crisis, but we would like to think that it was indicative of a deeper faith, perhaps not as openly displayed as it should be, but no less real and abiding. It was that faith that sustained and succored the American people for 444 days. And as Jan. 20, 1981 became “Day One" of freedom for the former hostages, Americans testified to that faith having been justified by filling churches throughout the land with voices giving praise for prayers they

Thanks to Street Dept.

We felt it really would not do any good to report it because the street department has Saturdays off. We did, however, report our problem and would you believe that early Saturday morning Bill and Denny were on the job getting the sewer open. YES—Saturday is their day off and they could have

Letters must bear the writer s handwritten signature and address. Letters should be brief.

'AI Shifflett: The Salt Shaker

problem. Provide most any need. If possible give “free lunches” and create a utopia. As things got bigger, so did the government’ The federal government (yes, our Uncle Sam), owns76o billion acres —one the nation's total land. Uncle Sam alxa-Holds title to 405 buildings, and rents an additional 54,000 office buildings. The U S. government occupies enoygh space necessary to fill 96 Sears Toweffc! But how much does Uncle Sam cost me’ In the “Happy Days” of the 50'j the government cost $1,600 per family. Now the cost s $9,000 per working family. Notice I said per working family In the dark ages serfs spent three months working for their masters. Americans (those of us who work) spend 5 to 7 months per year working for Uncle Sam! The U S. government is so big, and the waste so great that the national debt (which is our debt), is ap-

reunion at West Point beginning Sunday. Some participated in a news conference Tuesday and were received at the White House by President Reagan. Reagan sworn in In the midst of the return of the American hostages from Iran, Ronald Wilson Reagan became the 40th president of the United States last Tuesday. In his inaugural address, the new president spoke of “an era of national renewal.” He termed the American people “heroes" saying that their hopes and dreams would be the goals of his administration “So with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our-faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams,” Reagan said Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, Reagan said that he did not take the oath as president “with the intention of presiding

knew had been answered. We may not always see concrete evidence of answered prayers in our own lives and it is well to remember that not all prayers are, or should be, answered in the manner in which we desire. But as millions of Americans last week saw their fellow citizens set foot on free soil for the first time in over a year, those freed captives appeared to be living truth of the words of the apostle James, “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” Thus it is more than simple freedom for 52 people that Americans are celebrating. Americans are also celebrating the revealed power of the prayers of those made righteous through faith in a God Who can, and did, deliver human souls from the very depths of what one captive termed “hell." And that is something truly worthy to be celebrated, both now and forever. —Tony Barker

waited until Monday to do that job. We feel Nappanee is fortunate to have city employees who care. Thanks again, we appreciate your concern and willingness to do a job when it needs to be done. Blondine Strauss

proaching $1 trillion and annual spending is SSOO billion. To get a picture of this, if you started out at the birth of Christ spending $690,000. a day you would have just now succeeded in getting rid of SSOO billion. In order to get rid of SSOO billion dollars this year (Carter’s budget is SSOO billion), the government must spend an average of $951,000 a minute, or $57 million an hour every day including holidays, and Sundays, and Uncle Sam’s birthday on July 4th! Now you see the trouble we re in. And why the economy is going down the tube. Sure,- I know things cost more, and Congress knows this too, because Congress authorized $375,000 for a study of the flight of the Frisbee They also authorized $125,000 to find out why people say “ain’t,” and for a study of the mating calls of the Central American Toad. As if we need to know the private, intimate words of a toad. But whatever they found it was a bargain, compared to the other studies! „

over the dissolution of the world’s strongest economy. Hiler on committees Congressman John Hiler has been selected to serve on' the Small Business and Government Operations Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives. Hiler was selected the highest ranking Republican freshman to the Small Business Committee and third-ranking freshman to the Government Operations Committee. “I'm very pleased to serve on these two very important committees.” Hiler said "The Small Business Committee has jurisdiction over assistance to and protection of small businesses - and has special oversight responsibilities with small business problems ” The Government Operations Committee has jurisdiction over the overall economy and efficiency of federal government operations, reorganizations in the executive branch of government, and intergovernmental relations between the federal government

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State Sen. Richard Shank:

Weekly Wrap-up

’Over 1.300 bills have been filed by both houses of the Indiana General Assembly, the final tally reaching over 500 for the Senate and 800 for the House. Under Senate rules, the last day to file a bill is the 12th day of the session, which fell this year on Jan. 22. The Judiciary Committee endorsed and sent to the Senate floor a bill that would require a 10-day mandatory jail sentence for second and subsequent convictions for drunken driving. This bill isan attempt to stem the rising tide of accidents involving intoxicated drivers, apd has the full Support of the state police and other law enforcement agencies. Many in this field have complained that existing laws are too lenient, difficult to enforce, and an insufficient deterrent. The new driving bill is the result of months of testimony heard by the Interim Study C’om-

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mittee on Alcohol-Drug Abuse Problems. An important bill to aid industry received committee approval last week. The bill, SB 157, would set up a Hazardous Waste Approval Site Authority composed of state and county officials, which would have the power to override county decisions and allow the constmx.'tion of dump .sites. Currently, there is no in this area, and counties have the final say 'about whether dump sites are located in their county. Asa result, maqy Hoosier industries are forced to. ship toxic wastes out of state at great expense This bill has the support of many business organizations, including the State Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Manufacturers Association, League of Wbmen Voters and the State's Solid Waste Management Study

NAPPANEE ADVANCE NEWS 158 W.‘ Market Sf., Noppanee, IN. 46550 Ph. 773-3127 A PARK NEWSPAPER Published Wednesday Entered at the Post Office at Napponee Indiana as Second Clos£ Matter under the Act of Moreh 3 1079 Publication Number 370960 Dai. a Tobioi - • 8.00 per year-lndianq. Manager ‘12.00 per year-Outside Indiana Pictures lor publication are welcome but no picture will be returned by mod unless a sell stomped envelope is sent with it No chorge lor publishing pictures news stones or onnounie NOTICE menu \ Letters (d.tor ore olwoys appreciated Letters must be signed (handwritten) and di4*d LETTERS— Letters may be mailed to Advance N***s 1 58 Was! Morkat Si Noppon## Indiana 4*550 Classified odvarUsing daodlmat are Friday ot noon DEADLINES— Too lates ore due on Monday at five o dock • Display odvertismg deodlmes are Friday at noon NEWS COPY MONDAY AT FIVE O CLOCK

Ceremony for hostages A ceremony was held Monday afternoon at Central School in celebration of the return of the former American captives to the I'nited States. Students recited the Pledge of Allegiance and heard Mayor Robert Callander comment that the nation's motto of “In God We Trust" was proved true as Americans trusted in God for the safe return of the hostages. Students also lit candles spelling out “U.S.A.” and 52 students held lighted candles as the assembled students and teachers sang “God Bless America.” The special assembly capped off a full day of activities at Central School in recognition of the freed Americans' homecoming. (AN photos)

Commission. „ Both houses of the legislature convened in a joint session last week to hear a speech on the state of the judiciary by Chief Justice Richard Givan, and a budget address by Governor Robert Orr. On another matter, the History of the Indiana General Assembly project needs biographical information for all members who served in the Indiana legislature during the twentieth century. Anyone wanting more information about this project, or who wants to send biographical data should write to: The Indiana Historical Bureau, 140 North Senate Ave., Indianapolis. Indiana 46204. If you have questions or suggestions about matters before the legislature, l urge you to call Senate’s toll free number which is 1-800-382-9467.