Eating well, exercising important

This is not about politics, the environment, or religion. “Why read it?” you may ask.

Ever heard about diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney or liver failure? All of those things, among others, can be directly associated to two things —being overweight/being obese and not exercising as much as you might. 

How to lose weight as far as calorie intake is concerned? Easy. Eat everything you want, and drink everything you want — just don’t eat and drink as much as you did before.And don’t get involved in all of the fad diet books, etc. It’s even OK to snack — just not as often and don’t consume as much.

It’s pretty simple: If it tastes good, it must be high in calories.

How to lose weight and improve your health with exercise: Again, easy. Think about exercise like you think about retirement — pay yourself first. Carve out five, 10 or 15 minutes at a time (up to 30 to 60 minutes a day; 250 to 300 minutes a week would be super!). You will find that if you do that allocation, just like you allocate time to brush your teeth, wash your face, do other things in the bathroom, etc., you will still finding time to get everything else done.

Seven months ago, I was warned about all of the bad things listed. I took my doctor’s words seriously. I have lost 40 pounds and have embarked on a regular exercise program. All of my “numbers” have improved!

The bottom line:

• It’s up to you, not your doctor or others, and

• There are only two players in this game.You win, or your condition wins.

As my grandpa said, ’nuff said.

Rick Nelson
Burlington


Church killing: Grieving yet grateful

On Sunday, July 27, a man entered the sanctuary of the Westside Unitarian Church in Knoxville, Tenn., pulled out a shotgun, killed two people and wounded seven more before he was disarmed by church members.  The shooter told police that he believed all liberals should die. 

This tragedy happened far from the Skagit Valley, but for those of us who share the same religious beliefs, it has been a source of sorrow and gratitude. We grieve for the dead and wounded and their families, and we are grateful that no more were killed. We are especially grateful for the courage shown by the victim who died as he shielded others and for the mother who blocked the door to the nursery to protect her child and others.

We are comforted by the grace shown by both the wounded and others present who have responded to the tragedy not with anger or vengeance but with words of pity for anyone who harbors such hate and with an attempt not to excuse but to make sense of such a tragedy. 

This is a church that for 50 years has worked for the rights of African-Americans, women, the homeless and poor, and lately, homosexuals by providing a welcoming community of faith for all people. The shooter, by all accounts, is a sociopath who took his anger at being hurt by current economic problems out on a church known for its involvement in social justice issues.

UU minister Dr. Forrest Church has said that the opposite of love is not hate, it is fear. We have faith that the Knoxville church and others of all religious beliefs who work for justice for all will be galvanized not by fear, but by a determination to not let hate win.  

Pat Young
President, Board of Trustees
Skagit Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship
Mount Vernon


Bless you, anonymous letter writer

The other day, I received a letter that was not signed and had no return address. This letter contained quotes from several men from the past with obvious disdain for faith and religion. I got the impression that the sender was of the same belief. He or she made fun of Christians who believe in the coming of Christ to take his church back to heaven with him. 

Whoever this person is, I’m of the opinion that he or she must have felt his or her action was not right, so took the cowardly path to stay anonymous.

There was a post-it note that reminded me that I must not have a properly developed mind because of my belief in God. That may be so, but I would rather have that problem and live my life to please God, than face what he or she will face some day when God will judge him or her for rejecting Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

My prayer is that some day this person will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and find out what it is like to have a personal relationship with his or her savior.

I can honestly say that no matter what a person’s shortcomings may be, knowing the Lord gives you a wonderful peace of mind and a love for others, no matter how much they ridicule and hate you. God bless you, anonymous! 

David H. Bates
Sedro-Woolley


The ‘good wall’ of America

Much thought has been spent to figure out how to finance and construct a fence along the Mexican/American border. Finally, we are hearing something of substance come from our government.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Immigration Security has formulated a plan by taking a page from different points in American and world history. A fence along the entire Mexican/American border would seem like a near impossible task. Thinking back in our great American history, we took up a big challenge to build a railway from coast to coast.

With the hard work done by Chinese immigrants, we accomplished the task. With the Chinese workers being the key to its success, it gave thought about the “Great Wall of China.” A wall across the Mexican/American border, in comparison, looks like a Home Depot backyard project.

The wall could be called the “Good Wall,” so as to not insult the Chinese government and people. It would be modeled after the Chinese one, made from stone and have a road down the middle for armed border control vehicles, tourist hikers and bicyclists. The rocks and mortar should be abundant in the U.S.

But there is a problem: American labor could not be used, due to high union labor scales and the lack of interest of general Americans to partake in physical labor, i.e. “hard work.” Further research showed that hardworking Mexican seasonal workers would be more than willing to harvest stones after all the fruit has been picked.

The availability of assembly workers along the border was a no-brainer — Mexicans. These people will do “hard work” all day long and not complain. Of course, our government would send them back to Mexico as soon as the “Good Wall” project was completed.

Matt Rossmeissl
Lake McMurray


Democracy can be quite a hoot

I was kind of late reading Saturday’s Skagit Valley Herald but glad I did. I wish to thank Lee Jensen for the grand laughter I had this morning when I read his Letter to the Editor. It was short and sweet and full of giggles. You see, Jensen wants everyone to stop bashing the politicos for whom he favors and start bashing the politicians who oppose his favorites. What a democracy. You have to love it.

I mean, why would anyone want to elect the Democrats into power after experiencing the horror of Democrat-led government of robust freedoms, unbridled growth, happiness, laughter and the Camelot years where we were near debt free and the world loved, feared and respected America? Why would anyone want that again?

No sir, Jensen wants all Americans to be afraid, be so very afraid. Afraid of terror, afraid to disagree with your leaders, afraid of your own shadow. George and company, and oh yes, Lee Jensen, will remind you of what to be afraid. Because you see if you are afraid you will blindly follow and not offer any opposition, just curl up and stay home — if you still have one — and eventually start shouting, “Long Live Big Brother!”

Does anyone think that it is a total coincidence that our leader and his friends are making their money in oil and near the end of term oil prices are as they have become? Perhaps, we should ask the president’s extended family, the Saudi royal family, maybe they know.

Naw, not for me, Mr. Jensen. I would have preferred Hillary but alas — I cannot abide another four years even resembling the past eight.

Jerry Chastain
Mount Vernon


Reid one of the so-called ‘elites’?

“Elites” refers to groups that are distinguished or powerful, but it is now most often used pejoratively by the right to describe political opponents, particularly those “liberal elites in Washington,” shorthand for the present Democratic leadership. One such elite is Harry Reid, a pro-life, pro-gun Mormon father of five children, who has nominal control of a Senate evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

In his book, “The Good Fight,” Reid tells of growing up in Searchlight, Nev., a small town with no doctor or dentist, phones or churches — but with thirteen brothels, which constituted its main industry. His family lived in a small four-room house constructed of creosoted logs, with an outhouse behind it. He shared a tiny bedroom with his younger brother. His father mined a small claim for gold, drank too much and often fought physically with Harry’s mother. His father shot himself at age 57.  

After eight years in Searchlight’s one-room schoolhouse, Harry transferred to a neighboring town’s high school. He boarded with relatives during the week, and on weekends, he hitchhiked the 45 miles home. From weekend jobs, Harry saved enough money to buy his mother her first set of false teeth. With the encouragement of a high school counselor and a scholarship fund raised by another teacher, Harry enrolled at the College of Southern Utah and worked his way through college and then law school.   

Contrast this hard-scrabble life of Harry Reid to Pat Robertson, son of a powerful senator, educated in prestigious prep schools, private colleges and universities, who is now a media mogul. Or consider John McCain, an admiral’s son awarded an appointment to the Annapolis naval academy, who is now the owner of eight homes, thanks to his second wife, a millionaire heiress.

Now just who are the “elites”?

Larry Edwards
Burlington