Published: May 05, 2009 05:57 pm      

LETTERS: May 6, 2009

Reader: Harbeson’s ROCK column ‘says nothing’



We celebrated Earth Day on April 22 and, in one of the more clever protests, Debbie Harbeson frittered away paper, pen and ink as she shook her fist at Mother Earth.

How, you ask?

She did it by spilling voluminous amounts of ink to say to the world ... what? Who knows?

Still, with a stroke of her pen, she exponentially increased her carbon footprint by condemning 3,123 letters to meaninglessness. Debbie Harbeson’s column, “Are you ready to talk ROCK?” says nothing and means even less.

Some of her more outrageous claims concerning ROCK’s efforts to ask Clarksville to enforce its laws include, the shocking revelations “I’ve never received a slick, four-color postcard from Theatair X ...” Oh, the humanity!

“I’ve been in plenty of family theaters where the floors were sticky and the bathrooms were gross.” Do tell!

And, “Politicians constantly add ordinances to pander to special interests ...” Egad, say it isn’t so.

As enlightening as these disclosures are, they hold nothing in comparison to this shocking revelation: “Try as I might, I just can’t picture Jesus as a moralistic lawyer hiring some so-called professional to be with the sinners instead of doing it himself.”

Uh, well, not to be Danny Downer, but Ms. Harbeson may want to consider some fellas mentioned in the Bible; guys like Peter, James, John and Paul. Crazy stuff, but these guys actually went out for Jesus to be with sinners. I know, I know, who am I and what could I possibly know? If Debbie Harbeson says God is confined to a box and can’t use a lawyer for his good works, then that should be good enough for me, right?

Finally, for the pièce de résistance, she comes out slugging with “I don’t understand how enforcing ridiculous laws ... will accomplish much.” Um, well, that’s not really the issue is it? See, it’s the law. It’s the same law Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and every other business in Clarksville has to follow. Shouldn’t Theatair X have to follow it, too? I’m just saying, you know, it’s the law.

Here’s my public service announcement for the day. Instead of defiling Mother Earth with 3,123 more useless letters, I’d suggest Debbie Harbeson call ROCK or, better yet, call the town of Clarksville and ask them why they won’t enforce their laws.

— Steve Langdon, Jeffersonville



Thank God for people like Barbara Anderson



Mrs. Barbara Anderson stands for humanitarianism.

In a society that has become uncaring, materialistic, self-absorbed and crass, thank God we still have people like her around.

We are in a depression that requires funds from the public and private sectors to support homeless shelters like Haven House. Uncaring attitudes, casting blame on the less fortunate and trying to silence caring people is not the answer.

Perhaps you will become the next homeless person. Perhaps I will. You never know what twists and turns our lives may take. Job loss, health problems, and accidents can happen to anyone of us at anytime.

If I found myself homeless, I’d sure want to meet up with Mrs. Anderson, as I know she’d do the best job she could to help me.

Rather than oppose Mrs. Anderson, we all need to become more like her. She stands out as unusual and perhaps misunderstood because she is one of the few people in the United States today who makes decisions from the heart. Most of society cares about financial gain and has little concern for truly helping others.

— Judy Powlen, Batesville