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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country
of West Texas
Opinion
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Squarely Pegged
By Peggy McCracken
Pledging allegiance
To God and Country
September 11 came and went without a terrorist attack on the United States,
for which we can thank God and a vigilant defense force.
Terrible as it was, the attacks of 9-11-01 brought America to her knees
and made us keenly aware that we do not control our own destiny. God controls
the universe He created, and He has already won the ultimate victory over
evil.
As our church choir presented a patriotic musical Sunday morning, I noted
that every song gave God the glory for establishing the United States in
the first place, and for protecting us against our enemies through more
than two centuries. How fitting that we commemorate that terrible day of
tragedy with such a tribute.
Later in the day, I went to the cemetery to plant a vase of flowers and
an American flag at the granite headstone provided by our government for
my veteran husband's grave. Having joined the Navy at age 17 to defend
America against Hitler's evil Nazis and the emperor worshipers of Japan,
Leon spoke proudly of his service to God and country. I am thankful that
his country saw fit to honor him for that dedication.
Our troops are still spilling their blood on foreign soil to protect
our interests. Some of the news reports make it sound like it is a futile
effort and far too costly. But a letter I received Sunday - purportedly
from a soldier stationed in Iraq - takes a different view. Aside from the
Saddam Hussein loyalists, the Iraqi people are grateful for the protection
and material support we are providing, the e-mail letter claims.
I questioned the wisdom of this war from the time President George Bush
began rattling sabers, but perhaps it is the best way to protect our own
borders and help to establish some measure of peace in the rest of the world.
Though I doubt that peace will ever come to the Middle East because of the
tension between religious factions.
That same division could come to America, now that we have such a diversity
of religious beliefs. Most claim Jehovah God as their deity, but deny the
Christ who reconciles sinners to Him.
We can take comfort in the constitution's prohibition against a state
religion, even when it conflicts with our stance that God led men to establish
this country on Christian principles. God save the United States of America!
"The God of heaven will give us success..." Neh. 2:20a
EDITOR'S NOTE: Peggy McCracken is Enterprise business manager
and webmaster. Contact her at peg2@pecos.net
Our View
The City Council got it right
Congratulations to our City Council for last week's tough vote not to
raise taxes.
The city is in a rough spot. Revenues have dropped by more than 10 percent
and, as always, expenses have grown.
The council had two choices - raise taxes and try to make up the difference
or take up the city's belt another notch.
Tightening the belt is no easy task in Pecos which as been adding holes
to its belt for two decades.
The alternative is more taxes. As much as cutting budget items may hurt
now, raising taxes will hurt far more later.
There is no place on earth where you can tax yourself to prosperity.
Prosperity is created by private business and business does not move to
new pastures to pay higher taxes.
If the Pecos economy ever turns around it will be because private industry
chose to move here.
The possibility is not a pipe dream. Pecos contains many ingredients
that should be attractive to industry - cheap land, good transportation
routes and an available work force.
Each time we add to the local tax burden we make it that much more less
likely that a business would make such a move.
Last week's vote was a vote for Pecos' future.
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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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