Aug. 29, 2011: Our readers write

Skeptical and proud
With the 10th anniversary of the terrible tragedy in New York City approaching, let us remember all the lives that were lost that day and weeks and years following. Pray for the people who are sick and injured from it and for families and friends of people who perished.
I heard a CNN report that the first responders to 9/11 are not invited to attend (the anniversary ceremonies). I don’t fully understand that, but keep those men and women in your prayers also.
You will hear talk of all kinds pertaining to different ideas of what happened that day, and why. Don’t be harsh on anyone just because they have different views than you. Those people are not unpatriotic because they question the government. Our founding fathers warned us to be vigilant of political abuses and corruption. No one can say that we aren’t moving away from the principles outlined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, etc. It seems the political system, huge corporate mega giants, the Fed and others need skeptical citizens always.
There always have been radical people and groups in all countries, and there always will be skeptics. 
We must be careful and not let the government take our liberties away from us because of it. I still love my republic, but I do not like much of what’s going on. Pray for our country and all countries on Earth. I hope that someday we can be respected again, like when I was a kid. You don’t hear it much these days: Proud to be an American.
J. Schaffrick
Elizabethtown