- Natalie Renee Holland

               God, Jesus, Buddha, Emmanuel, Jehovah, Lord, Allah, and as far back as Zeus, religion has been around since people have existed. People have always looked to a supreme being for one reason or another. My question: What are the reasons? Why do we believe in God? That is a whopper of a question. All personal beliefs aside, take a moment to consider the reasons objectively.

               This Earth, this universe, this life is a never-ending mystery. Therefore, when we look around at the complex ecosystems, the babies' bright innocent faces, the sun up in the sky, and even something as simple as a bee pollinating a flower, our mind may only wonder. This beautiful complicated world did not just pop out of nowhere. Hence, a supreme being created it. Believing in God helps explain the unknown. Most people possess a desire to trace their roots and heritage to find out where we came from. Belief in a heavenly father helps us to do just that.

               We all need something to believe in. When life gets us down, hope brings us back up. Have you ever thought, "There has to be more out there?" God brings hope. He gives us something to look forward to. Heaven is a place where one can be his happiest; it is a place where I can drink all the Lime Kool-Aid I want if that is what pleases me. Also, it makes us feel good to know someone exists who cares. For someone to be out there who cares even when every human being convicts us is a strong concept. If God is for us, who can be against us? Yes, the feeling of being cared about unconditionally is definitely a reason to acknowledge a god.

               This world can be very overwhelming to a person, and we get a feeling of relief to know that someone of greater power is overlooking the situation.

               We want salvation. Although people don't admit it, we need someone looking over our shoulders to see we don't do something we regret. Also, we have some control over events with the existence of God because we can ask God for help and to do certain things.

               Good faith, helping each other out, and altruism are ideals that most religions encourage. The desire to help others can be a very good excuse to believe in a god. God tells everyone to help the poor, the meek, and the downtrodden. God gives us advice to be good to each other.

               With all the wonderful things in the world and when life goes well, we are happy. Who can we thank when life goes as planned? Who deserves the credit? A supreme being provides us with someone to thank for what we have. God is someone to thank for a safe family, good friends, and good health. Who else is there?

               A god gives us goals to strive for. He gives us discipline in our daily lives. Conviction is certainly a fair explanation of why people believe in God. A god provides reasons not to do those dishonest things to get ahead. We try and be our best regardless of circumstances because there is more in the afterlife.

               Finally, as the old saying goes, "it is better to be safe than sorry." Most of us would rather try to do right in the eyes of God instead of burning in some sort of hell or purgatory eternally. When looking at the choices: live a human life without any belief in God and take a chance one might actually exist, or try to straighten up and be a decent person and get the best of both worlds, the second choice seems more inviting and a really good reason to believe in the Lord.

               As you have seen, there are many reasons that suggest why people might believe in a god. Also, most of the reasons for these beliefs hold true regardless of what god or what religion it is that one believes. It is really interesting that as much debate that has and is occurring over religion, everyone is in it for the same reason.

DOWNED ANIMALS
A downed animal is one who, while being led from the truck to the slaughterhouse, falls and is unable to get back up. They may fall because they are weak, dehydrated, or suffering from exposure. Often though, they are ill. And the grueling trip just exacerbates their misery. Unfortunately, these animals can be beaten, dragged by chains, or dumped onto a pile filled with other weakened, suffering beasts. After hours in the hot sun, their misery will end by their execution. Unfortunately, these animals will still end up being treated the same way as their healthy counterparts; as part of your meal. And it won't matter much to the slaughterhouse if your meal-on-the-hoof had any diseases or not. If the animal is already dead before the slaughtering process, then their bodies will be used for pet food. AT THE DAIRY Cows suffer, even when they are just used for milk production. To have a cow produce more milk, the larger dairy operations will impregnate cows on what that industry calls "the rape rack"...and it is as unpleasant as that sounds. Within hours of their babies being born, the babies are taken from their mothers so that they won't impede milk production. The babies that are unlucky enough to be born males are put in crates too small for them to even stand up in. They are sold, at less than two months old, and they become veal.

PREMARIN
Premarin is considered a "wonder drug" for menopausal women who take it for an estrogen replacement. This source of estrogen comes from the urine of pregnant mares. These mares are trapped in stalls so tiny that they can't turn around or even lie down with comfort. The foals of these mares are usually sold to slaughterhouses. Some women that are championing the cause of these poor mares are: Dame Judy Dench, Mary Tyler Moore, Bea Arthur, and Sandra Bernhard. There are many accepted and good alternatives to Premarin.

EGG PRODUCTION
The chickens that produce the eggs most people actually enjoy eating, are tortured in many horrible ways. The typical practice of egg producers, to save space, is to crowd about 5 chickens in the space of a folded newspaper. A chicken's wingspan is 32 inches. The chickens tend to go insane and often will peck each other to death. In order to prevent the pecking, it is acceptable to take a hot blade to slice off the chickens' beaks. Unfortunately, the workers often slice off the tongues or faces of these birds. If the chick is unlucky enough to be male, he will be ground up alive or suffocated. Egg producers kill about 280 million male chicks this way every year! If a chicken were permitted to live a normal lifespan, it could live about 15 to 20 years. But, "broilers" are killed at 7 weeks old and "layers" only live 1 to 2 years before being slaughtered. How does this make YOU feel? Write to us today.

               For the past 60 years or so, a big question has been, "Are we alone?" This reporter's answer to you is: "NO!"

               I have a big problem with people who think that with all the thousand upon thousands of planets in the galaxy, that Earth is the only planet with life on it. How can we be so closed minded and arrogant to think like this?

               I have a theory (and doesn't everyone now-a-days?), about the space craft landing in Roswell, NM in the 1940's. This is just a theory and my theory alone, so don't take it as anything but.

               Up until 1940 or so, technology had been very slow. Then, in 1947, the U.S. Air Force told people that an alien space craft had landed in Roswell, New Mexico. The very next day, the Air Force changed their story saying it was just a weather balloon, no taking into account the number of spectators who claimed to have seen alien bodies.

               Then in the 50's, technology started to boom. By the 1960's, we had put a man on the moon. In the 70's, computers were being created, and today, technology is endless. It has been documented that the microchip couldn't have been created by the human mind. My theory is that we "retrieved" this chip from the space craft and scientists have found out its uses.

               Also, many people have said that one of the "aliens" in the spacecraft was still alive, and our government helped it recover. What if this "being from another planet" is helping us? It really gives you something to think about.

               It boggles my mind to think about all the reported sightings that people have seen. Maybe these spacecrafts aren't alien, but are our own? For years, people have been looking to the skies for answers, and maybe someday we will know the truth. Can we handle the truth? I don't know... but do we deserve the truth?

              The answer is yes!

When Teacher's Attack
- Todd Aaron Doyle

               Thank God for the First Amendment. It allows me to tell my story right here - right now!

               I want every parent out there to know something. Teacher's today aren't always as rosy red and peachy as they sometimes seem to be. They may kiss up to you when you call them of if you come to a conference, but the way they treat your child in the classroom is usually entirely different.

               I speak from personal experience. I've had more problems with administrators and teachers than any other person I know. And I've always been a good person trying to make decisions I thought were correct.

               It's not right for a teacher to pick up a student's book, as they're working on an assignment, (the entire class is silent) and say, "Hey... you're not doing what I told you to do. What are you? Stupid or something?"

               It's not right. But it happened at Middletown High School and the teacher is still teaching there today.

               A teacher's first priority is to teach from her lesson plans. No where in her job description is she allowed to degrade student's by calling them names.

               I write about this because it's a serious issue. People's children are being mentally abused each day by teacher's who curse openly or make derogatory remarks. It does happen! IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!

               But let me be the first to say - not every teacher acts this way. But, how many does it take before a good kid ends up feeling like a trouble-maker because he won't tolerate their abuse?

               School's operate under a closed-door policy. Hardly any information gets out about these cases because the school board consistently tries to keep complaints from being filed on a teacher's record.

               Did you know that teachers are immune to being sued unless they are breaking a student's constitutional rights? It's falls under Ohio Law because they are public servants providing a job to the community. What this means is that they can slander your child by calling him or her "stupid" without fear of a lawsuit. Many times, they say things more graphic and derogatory. But name calling is still abuse and should not be tolerated.

               The only recourse parents have is to use "the grievance procedure" which is designed to keep the problem from getting any real attention. The school board always tries to turn things around and make parent's think that their child caused it all. Hardly ever, does a parent's complaint get formally logged into a teacher's record. The school board tries to MAKE the parent's give up.

               It makes me angry that teacher's can get by with treating kids so unfairly. In my case, I was repeatedly harassed by two teachers who tried to infringe upon my civil liberties. They attempted to "rule over" their students, by sending them to the office for violations that weren't actually legitimate. Many times, if a teacher didn't like a kid, it was within their ability to "single" that kid out and send him/her to the office as many times as they want!

               If your child is having repeated problems with a particular teacher, I urge you to do something about it NOW! Demand to file a formal complaint against that teacher and have that complaint put on their record.

               If more parents took a stand and said, "Hey! You're not going to mistreat my kids - my taxes pay your salary!" We'd have less cases like mine, where a good kid was made to look bad.

               If your son or daughter is having a problem and you feel the teacher is "picking on" your child - call the school board today! And if nothing gets done - call the press! Call us. We'll help you draw some attention to the story. We'll shed some much-needed light to your case.

               If no one stands up for the children who can't defend themselves, what rights do they have?