Stubby, meet Maddie
Charlie Powell’s Tooth & Nail column (Daily News, Jan. 20) about Stubby, the decorated war dog, touched my heart. As I write, our own “war dog” lies sleeping beside me.
Maddie grew up on a military base overseas where she befriended several of the soldiers there. She, like the dogs Mr. Powell wrote about, was one of many who looked to the soldiers for food and provided companionship to them. Because of her sweet nature, one of these soldiers reached out to an organization called Puppy Rescue Mission (puppyrescuemission.org).
Puppy Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to bring to the U.S. any soldier’s “battle buddy” — dog or cat — for adoption either by the soldier themself or a civilian. Their motto is “Soldiers Saving Puppies, Puppies Saving Soldiers.” The soldier’s mom showed me a photo of Maddie and my husband and I decided we wanted her to be part of our family.
Maddie has been in our family for three years. She has gone from a frightened feral dog to an amazing companion with lots of love in her heart. Maddie is now a registered therapy dog with Palouse Paws, thanks to the high-quality training she received from the trainers at Tail Waggin’ Adventures in Pullman. Thank you, Mr. Powell, for your story. It’s wonderful to read about how the animals in our lives, in war zones or at home, can bring comfort, protection and healing.
Peg Kingery
Moscow
This evangelical for Trump
The Daily News editorial cartoon of Jan. 20 seems to imply that evangelical support of former President Trump is irrational. I suspect that the cartoonist, as well as several Daily News columnists, have Trump Derangement Syndrome, which appears to have influenced their view of what is in the best interest of the United States.
While incessantly harping against Trump, not one has made a negative peep about the policies of President Biden which are setting the United States on a path to early destruction. He is rapidly adding unsustainable debt for very poor policies. His open border policy is not only costing huge amounts but is allowing entry to those who hate the U.S. and would like to pull off another 9/11. His foreign policy is the laughing stock of our enemies. His social policies are taking a huge toll while weakening the U.S. military and dividing the country.
His very expensive “green” policy is based on political power rather than sound science and is damaging the U.S. economy. He has shut down almost all new oil drilling and mining, making the U.S. more dependent on foreign entities. In his last two holiday speeches he did not mention God and he is attacking Christians and Christian charities.
President Biden has now turned against Israel which puts us under a Biblical curse, Genesis 12:3. Yes, Trump has his faults but he put the U.S. first to our benefit. Trump had much of the federal bureaucracy, the mainstream media and the Democratic party virulently against him through his term in office, yet achieved more positively than Biden will. We the people desperately need someone who will fight for our best interests against the swamp, the United Nations, World Health Organization and World Economic Forum. As a Christian, the choice between the two likely candidates is a no-brainer.
Larry Kirkland
Moscow
Trump crude, DeSantis a coward
Florida governor Ron DeSantis withdrew from the presidential race this week after the successful political crucifixion Donald Trump employed to emasculate and demean him before thousands at Trump’s Third Reich-like political rallies. Among other mean-spirited absurdities, Trump suggested DeSantis wears high heels, might be gay and perhaps is a pedophile. Of course Trump’s reliably crude aspersions ring hollow to Republicans, other than Trump’s deranged base. DeSantis, however, does provide evidence he is a coward. He inexplicably endorsed Trump as he withdrew from the race. There are no limits to what kind of a vicious and mean spirited campaign we will endure from Trump if he is the 2024 Republican candidate.
Richard Shafer
Pullman
Haug’s columns will be missed
Pete Haug’s excellent Daily News columns will be missed by many, including me. I often agreed with him, but always respected his well-researched and erudite opinions.
I’ve also enjoyed and benefited from Pete’s occasional sharing of his Baha’i faith.
I, too, face a future of dealing with age-related macular degeneration. It has been diagnosed, but fortunately, it isn’t yet symptomatic. Sadly there is no treatment for it, except for vitamins that don’t heal, but are important to keep eyes healthy.
Like Pete, I’ve sung the swan song (twice), but I can’t carry a tune in a bucket with a lid on it, so it didn’t work.
Terence L. Day
Pullman
Moral and religious drift
My heart aches for our country and our city. We often discuss incivility in our public discourse yet we regularly see on these pages the input of people who compete to see who can throw the most insults into a single sentence at their favorite targets. This is not good and, if anything is going to change for the better, it must begin with us, you and me. How do we do that?
Scripture suggests that the sincere prayers of a righteous man or woman, those who have felt the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sins, have confessed, repented of them and sought God’s forgiveness, are powerful.
For what should we ask? Jesus suggested something to the effect of “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your Name, thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on earth, including in my country, in my city, in my life, in my family, and in my home, just exactly as your Will is done in Heaven. Give us this day … .” That should compel even the least civilized among us to ask, “What could be better for everyone, including me, than that? Why am I not asking God for these things in my country, city and life?”
One of our founding fathers, John Adams, said “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” One does not have to be overly observant to realize that he hit that nail squarely on its head. God will not and cannot bless national or individual rebellion or immorality. We are presently and will continue to be paying a heavy price for our moral and religious drift.
God, have mercy on us and bring us to our senses.
Bill Tozer
Moscow
