There are many gifts for which thanks are due

Even though I may grumble when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I may keep my eyes closed against the brilliant morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. There are many who are blind.

Even though I may put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though my days seem hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and children are noisy, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though it may cost $200,000 to raise a child from birth through college, thank you, Lord, for the miraculous gift of life. There are many who have never been blessed with your gift of children.

Even though some breakfast tables never look like the pictures in magazines and the menu at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for your provisions of food. There are many who are hungry.

Even though my teaching job was often monotonous and some students seemed bent on refusing to learn, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to teach. There are many who have no job.

Even though I am miles away this Thanksgiving week from some people that I love most, thank you, Lord, for memories of love and friends and family and Thanksgivings long ago. There are many who have been robbed of their memories by age and disease.

And even though I have reached 70 and four years and face the challenges of whatever the years ahead may hold, thank you, Lord, for being at my side now and for the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Duane Block

Lake Shore

Moral standards are under attack

The things we learn in the Brainerd Dispatch. Until I read the letter explaining that the barrage of disparaging letters written about the majority's choice for President was democracy in action I, also, thought that it was whining. I went back to study their comments and found that the gist of their complaints run in the direction of - I know that our government is making the world a safer place by helping out other people in other lands but what have they done for me lately? I kept asking myself how, when we all have been exposed to the same information, they feel that so few are so right and so many are so wrong? Then I realized that these same people had heard the truth about John Kerry and voted for him anyway. It seems like some voters are more comfortable with a sleaze ball in office than an honorable person. If this be true then they should take heart for I believe that Broom Hilda, the carpetbagging Senator out of Arkansas currently representing New York, is going to launch an attack on the White House in 4 years. If by some horrible fluke she should get in then, judging by her and Willie boy's Whitewater escapades and others to numerous to mention, she should fill your expectations beyond your wildest dreams. Thank you.

Clyde DeBolt

Backus

Congress should stop TV extortion

As new parents, we are troubled by programming on some of the so-called basic cable networks, such as MTV, FX, Comedy Central, and others. A Special Report by the Parents Television Council shows how decadent and licentious programming on basic cable is. I urge you to read the report, which can be found at www.ParentsTV.org. The PTC reports that basic cable is rife with obscene themes and content, including pornography,masturbation, oral and anal sex, threesomes, statutory rape, incest, and bestiality. Why should we be required to subsidize this in order to watch the Food Network or the Disney channel? This isn't about parental supervision. We carefully watch our children and control their viewing habits. By requiring subscribers to pay for content that is offensive, consumers involuntarily support the incremental shift toward content on basic channels that traditional families do not support and will never watch. Individuals may say, "if you don't like it, don't watch it." The point is, even though we do not view it, we are forced to subsidize it and that is wrong.

Traditional moral standards are under attack in America today, and I implore Congress to consider time-honored family values when debate becomes law, regarding 'ala carte' cable choice. By offering the ability to choose the channels consumers want, and to pay only for those channels, power is returned to the customers and forces the producers of lewd or violent programming to fund their own indecent programming. Those who want adult programming can pay for it. These raunchy cable networks have been carried by American consumers long enough. It is time for this extortion to end, and Congress has the power to stop it.

Doug and Heather Juenemann

Baxter

Wisconsin hunting tragedy

The fact that six people where killed is appalling enough, but think deeper. Where does the mentality come from that makes any one person that vicious to shoot a man over a deer stand dispute and then shoot everyone who comes to his aid? What is wrong with this country?

Mike Holst

Crosslake

Downtown is in the holiday swing

I would like to commend the downtown businesses for putting forth a tremendous effort, enthusiastically putting together something special for the upcoming holiday season. Not only were they able to make it possible for the trees in Brainerd's downtown area to be lit up this winter, but they are also getting the audio system back in working condition so that we may have holiday music while shopping and enjoying ourselves downtown. To go even further, coming up on Saturday, Dec. 4, downtown is coming to life with holiday festivities. Woody's Photography will be having 'Pictures with Santa', participating shops will have cider and cookies available, and there will be Christmas carolers out and about. Thank you to these businesses for all of your hard work! I, for one, am excited for the holiday season, and hope to see everyone downtown, shopping, dining and recreating. Especially on Dec. 4!

Elizabeth Kelm

Brainerd