Newspaper Popular Among Amish Will Run No More Trump Ads

photo courtesy of the Budget home page

The national edition of a weekly newspaper called the Budget, published in the little village of Sugarcreek, Ohio, recently ran a Trump ad aimed at potential Amish voters.

The Budget, a paper read faithfully by thousands of Amish and conservative Mennonites all over the nation, consists largely of newsy letters from hundreds of unpaid "scribes" in scattered communities across the US.

The political ad published in the July 13, 2016, edition begins with, "Did you know the 2016 presidential election will be on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016?" then offers a list of "what you need to know about him (Trump)". Among these are that he "never held public office" and that he "owns a family-run business". It also states that Trump doesn't use alcohol and that he will "appoint pro-life judges who protect religious liberty".

There is no mention, of course, that many of Trump's family-run businesses are luxury hotels, expansive golf courses and large gambling casinos, all anathema to the Amish. Nor does it state that Trump has frequently filed for bankruptcy, has often forced contractors to accept less than what was owed them and threatened them with law suits alleging unsatisfactory work, all business practices the Amish would never approve.

Associate publisher Milo Miller, not an Amish, told me in a phone conversation that the ad got responses from a lot his readers, many of them unfavorable, and that the paper decided not to publish future ads of this kind. He also said he's not sure many of his Amish readers would be persuaded by such ads anyway, especially since the Amish generally do not vote or take part in local or national politics.

Perhaps Miller is following the lead of former Budget associate editor A. A. Middaugh, who over a century ago wrote a piece in the February 5, 1913, edition, called "Some Reasons Why the Budget is Safe Literature for Christian Homes". In it he says, "Many ads are rejected because of conscientious scruples, involving quite a loss to the Budget Company." (1)

Sounds like a wise policy.

(1) from "The Budget of Sugarcreek, Ohio, 1890-1920", senior history thesis by Harvey Yoder published in the June 1966 issue of the Mennonite Quarterly Review.

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Here's a link to an article in the Mennonite World Review about the Trump ad.

"What More Can I Do To Prove I'm A Good Candidate For Parole Release?"

Sic Semper Captivas?

This is a copy of one of many letters of its kind I've received from deeply discouraged parole eligible inmates, this one addressed to members of the Virginia Parole Board. Mr. Forbes represents the kind of ex-offender who could make the case that Virginia's Department of Corrections can actually "correct" those it incarcerates and not just forever punish them.
Dear Sir/Madam,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Roger E. Forbes #1163934. I am a first time offender. I am serving a life sentence plus thirty-eight (38) years, for armed robbery, malicious wounding as well as an additional robbery offense. I was twenty-two (22) years of age when I committed these offenses, I am currently forty-nine (49) years of age now and this is my twenty-sixth (26th) year of confinement.

I am writing you to ask what more can I do to be taken as a serious candidate for parole release? I know that the Parole Board has been appointed by the Governor to deal with matters of parole, but each year I am denied parole release and told to continue my hard work but, unfortunately, my hard work has gone unacknowledged. So can you please tell me, if you can, what more can I do to prove that I am truly a changed human being and good candidate for parole release?

I have been going up for parole review since 2003. It has become quite apparent to me that my sincere, genuine pleas to the Parole Board for a second chance to begin a new life beyond the confines of the prison gates have unfortunately fallen on deaf ears..While I am not happy with the Parole Board's recent (January 19, 2016) decision to not grant me parole at this time. I respect their decision, and understand that public safety is the Parole Board's primary concern in determining who and when an individual is chosen for parole release.

I cannot honestly say that I thoroughly understand what kind of process that the Parole Board goes through in assessing and evaluating those of us that are deemed good candidates for parole release.. I honestly, wholeheartedly believe and know that I am an excellent candidate.

After being turned down for parole release for over a decade thus far. it truly leaves me with a strong feeling of uncertainty about the potential prospect of my future. The message that I am beginning to sense from the Parole Board is that all of my sincere, hard work and efforts committed towards being a better human being is simply in vain. Nevertheless, still I choose to work towards being a better human being.

It is apparent to me that the Parole Board has chosen to only see me through eyes of the past, a part of me that no longer exists. This is reflected in their rationale for not.granting me parole release thus far. While it is not an easy task learning to become a better human being in a negative and abnormal setting, I can honestly say that I have achieved that goal.

For the past fourteen (14) years I have worked very hard toward improving my personal growth and development. Which I have proven by my actions and not just in words. I have taken and completed several treatment programs over years past as well as present; Breaking Barriers, Anger Management, Problem solving skills, Thinking For A Change, as well as P.R.E.P.'s. Each of these programs has been instrumental in helping me to become the person that I am today. Programs in prison really do work, if the individual is receptive to them, and I have been.

Out of the twenty-six (26) years that I have been confined thus far, I can honestly say that I have successfully maintained employment for at least twenty-two (22) of those years. Where I have learned marketable job skills and gained work experience, which I am still continuing to do.

I am currently working for Virginia Correctional Enterprise, sheet metal/wood shop. I am employed as an edge-band operator. I operate a very sensitive and dangerous piece of machinery. It is the most expensive machine in the shop, at a cost of over $700,000. I have also been employed with Virginia Correctional Enterprise at Nottoway Correctional Center in 2006 in their wood shop and at Augusta Correctional Center in 2007 in their tailor shop.

You can see that I have been very busy and productive during the course of my incarceration thus far. I have also worked for Food Service at four (4) different institutions: Greensville Correctional Center in 1991, Red Onion State Prison in 2000-2001, Nottoway Correctional Center in 2005-2006, and Pocahontas Correctional Center in 2012-2013, where I managed to pick up valuable work skills.

I have even held down a supervisory position of employment (Building Assistant) at Green Rock Correctional Center from 2013-2015. Where I was responsible for thirty-two (32) inmate workers, ensuring that they completed their assigned duties as pod workers.

I have also successfully completed a number of vocational courses that I have earned certificates for: C.A.D.D. (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, 2013-2014); Custodial Maintenance, 2000-2001; Basic Computer Concepts, 2014-2015. While I am not currently licensed, I am a skilled Barber as well. As you can see, I am equipped with employable job skills and training.

I love and adore and miss my family immensely, as they do me. My mother is now sixty-six (66) years of age, a devout Christian and law abiding citizen. I haven't seen her in thirty (30) years. She has been very supportive throughout my incarceration thus far. My sister is forty (40) years of age now. I haven't seen her in twenty-four (24) years, and she too, is a good Christian and law abiding citizen, and has been supportive as well. My brother is forty-five (45) years of age; I haven't seen him since 1978. He is currently incarcerated in Massachusetts. We are close and have been in contact throughout my incarceration thus far. I don't have any children, but I still have aspirations of.someday having a family of my own.

My family has suffered a great deal in my absence in their lives during the course of my incarceration, and I have felt terrible for putting them through this and not being able to support them in some capacity at times when they may have needed it.

With all due respect, I would like to believe that all of the Parole Board members, have the intelligible ability to recognize and believe that there is a good chance that after an individual has served over twenty-five (25) years of prison time, that he or she has had to have made positive adjustments in their overall behavior.

What I would like for you as well as the Parole Board Members to know and understand is that, the individual that I once was no longer exists and hasn't for a long time now. The person that committed those offenses twenty-six (26) years ago deserved the punishment that he received; the man that they're continuing to punish today, with their decision each year to not grant parole release is truly a better human being. This human being is undoubtedly on the right track and plans to stay there. All of the tools (Coping Skills, Job Skills, and Problem Solving Skills) that I absolutely lacked prior to my incarceration; I have them tenfold now. I love the person that I am today, there's no way that I could have said that in the past.

If the Parole Board members would just take a look at who I am today, and not continue to judge me solely on my past, just maybe they will see more parts of the whole of me beyond my past errors.

I made some very bad choices twenty-six (26) years ago, and I am sincerely sorry for them and everyone that was affected by them. The victims as well as my family, neither of them deserved to suffer due to my actions. For that I am absolutely, wholeheartedly sorry to
all of them.

In any event I felt compelled to share my heartfelt concerns with you, because I don't ever get the opportunity to see or speak with any of the Parole Board Members. I understand that it is the Parole Reviewer's position to interpret and convey to Parole Board Members, my sentiments upon his review of my hearing. However, However, with all due respective, I don't believe that the reviewer can truly convey to the members of the Parole Board my true feelings and emotions and overall concerns. The honest reality is that the Parole Reviewer doesn't represent me, and I don't expect him, or her to emote my feelings and concerns to the Parole Board Members the way that I would if I were before them myself.

So again I ask, can you please tell me what more can I do to prove that after twenty-six (26) years of confinement thus far, that I am truly a good candidate for parole release?

In closing, please allow me to add, I hope that you don't in any way misconstrue the content in my letter as being anything other than an individual who has arguably learned through trial and error, and is simply interested in moving forward with his life beyond the past and these prison gates. 

Thank you for your time and patience.

Roger E. Forbes

Here's a link to more posts on parole reform and how to contact the Governor's office, the Parole Board and the Secretary of Public Safety: http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/search?q=parole+reform

'Lame Stream Media' Less Biased Than Its Users

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Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again:

The eternal years of God are hers;

But Error, wounded, writhes in pain,

And dies among its worshippers.

- William Cullen Bryant

I've been around a long time, and I've never heard so much whining about media bias. Not surprisingly, people at both ends of the political spectrum keep complaining that their candidates and their causes aren't being given fair coverage.

I get that, and human nature being what it is, we can pretty much take for granted there is enough bending of the truth to go around. Let's just assume that no reporters, editors or news organizations are ever totally free of bias.

But are there really just two kinds of news publishers, liberal and conservative? And do even likeminded media outlets regularly conspire together to present a common slant to their stories and interviews? Or in a society blessed with a free (though flawed) press, is it more reasonable to believe that news outlets, on a given day, will represent a whole range of perspectives, from one end of a continuum to another? 

I agree that large corporations have gained control of too many once locally owned and operated broadcast stations and newspapers. But that doesn't mean there aren't many professional journalists still employed by them, people who are careful to check their sources and get somewhere close to getting it right most of the time.

Even the most biased of outlets will, in their own best interests, want to avoid being too reckless with facts, especially when they have plenty of rivals all too willing to take them to task when they get it wrong. At some level they must still appeal to as many media consumers as possible, even if their motivation is to sell as much advertising as they can.

Bottom line, they know there is risk involved in spreading outright untruths. There are still plenty of competitors in the business who know that uncovering media lies and cover-ups can produce great headlines and gain tons of viewers and readers, to say nothing of the possibility of a Pulitzer prize for journalism. 

Yes, there are lots of biased reporters, editors and pundits around. We need to just get used to that, learn to draw from various news sources, and to take everything we hear or see with at least a grain of salt.

But let's not waste time blaming media bias for all the ignorance being circulated everywhere. For if truth be told, our media may be no more, or less, biased than we are.

Here's a link to six fact checking websites.

And here's one that rates three major network news outlets.

Jesus: "My Followers Recognize My Voice"

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This is a Test

See if you can recognize the voices of the following by matching the names below with their statements on the use of violence: 

a. Jesus (in his inaugural sermon)

b. The apostle Paul (in a letter to Christians in the capitol city of Rome)

c. The apostle Peter (in a letter to scattered churches in the Roman empire)

d. St. John Chrysostom (Homily XXXIII on Matthew's gospel)

e. Hillary Clinton (foreign policy speech)

f. Donald Trump (campaign speech)

g. Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

g. Barak Obama (foreign policy speech)

___ 1. "ISIS is making a tremendous amount of money because of the oil that they took away, they have some in Syria, they have some in Iraq... I would just bomb those suckers, and that's right, I'd blow up the pipes, I'd blow up the refineries, I'd blow up ever single inch, there would be nothing left."  

___ 2. "At the end of the day, we still must be prepared to go after terrorists wherever they plot, using all the tools at our disposal, that includes targeted strikes by U.S. military aircraft and drones, with proper safeguards when there are any other viable options to deal with continuing imminent threats."

____ 3. “Altering the mentality of foes is far greater and more marvelous than killing them; the apostles were only twelve, while the whole world was filled with wolves. Let us then be ashamed, who do the contrary, who like wolves assault our enemies. For as long as we are sheep, we conquer, and even though ten thousand wolves lurk around us, we overcome and prevail. But if we become wolves we are defeated, for the Shepherd will then deprive us of his help, because he feeds sheep not wolves.”

____ 4. "As I outlined in my speech to the nation last weekend, our strategy is moving forward with a great sense of urgency on four fronts -- hunting down and taking out these terrorists; training and equipping Iraqi and Syrian forces to fight ISIL on the ground; stopping ISIL's operations by disrupting their recruiting, financing and propaganda; and, finally, persistent diplomacy to end the Syrian civil war so that everyone can focus on destroying ISIL."  

____ 5. “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."

____ 6. "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."

____ 7. "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back,'  says the Lord. Instead, 'If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.' Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."

____ 8.  “When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate. When we oppress others, we end up oppressing ourselves. All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others."

“Forgiving and being reconciled to our enemies or our loved ones are not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not about patting one another on the back and turning a blind eye to the wrong. True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the hurt, the truth.” 

Answers: 1. Donald Trump, 2: Hillary Clinton, 3. St. John Chrystosom, 4. Barak Obama, 5. Jesus (Matthew 5:43-46), 6. the apostle Peter (I Peter2:23-25), 7. the apostle Paul (Romans12:19-21), 8. Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Guest Post: "Virginia's Prisons - No Place For Those 65 And Older"

Mr. Charles, Zellers, Sr., is on the front and left

Here's a thoughtful piece by Mr. Charles, Zellers, Sr., a Virginia inmate and a tireless advocate for those deserving geriatric release:

I've been incarcerated over 23 years and I've met some amazing elderly men. I'm 48 years old and I have two sons and one grandson, but many of my elderly friends here are greatgrandfathers or even great-greatgrandparents.

When an individual commits crimes, the first thing society wants to do is lock them up and throw away the key. Even those who once were their friend, neighbor or someone everyone in the community liked. 

Shouldn't citizens and professionals be looking at factors contributing to people's crimes? I agree for some individuals their offense is a sickness or pure evil, but not for all. Some were overly stressed by family or work issues or were on drugs or alcohol. This is not to excuse their behavior, but the criminal justice system should not classify all criminals as the same even though the law that was broken was the same. Each case and sentence should be looked at on an individual basis.

I personally know 38 older men here and many others I've met throughout the past 23 years who are deserving of release and are at minimal or no risk of reoffending.. The only thing I ask of society is to give them their freedom, and to help them obtain clothing, employment, food, medical services, medication, and shelter after their release. 

I know prisoners who refuse parole because they have lost all of their family support systems and do not choose to be a burden on their children, etc. They say they will be in debt as soon as they step out of prison and they have little or no money saved up for their future. Many have not paid in the required amount to receive social security because they were denied parole past age 65. Some are still ready and able to work and would be dedicated to work hard and show up for work every day.

Currently inmates who are ordered by medical to have ambulatory devices (such as canes, walkers, etc.) or who are legally blind are being transferred from here. We are unsure what they will face in the prisons to which they are being transferred.

Are second chances out of the question for geriatric prisoners? Are they being discriminated against solely because their age, or for crimes that are on their record from their distant past? Why are model prisoners repeatedly denied parole release even though they are eligible according to Virginia law and have met every requirement possible?

By Charles Zellers, Buckingham Correctional Center, Dilwyn, VA

Hordes Of Ants Happily Head For Their Graves

Photo from Texas A& M article

Every summer we seem to have an infestation of illegal immigrants taking over in our kitchen and elsewhere.

But after doing some internet research we think we have finally found a way to rid ourselves of these unwelcome guests.

First we mix together one part borax (a product we sometimes add to our laundry detergent) and three parts sugar. Then we add one part water and one part syrup and stir well. We then put dabs of this mixture on pieces of cardboard and set them around where our six-legged guests are most likely to find them.

And find them they will. They love this sweet stuff, not realizing that it contains a poison they will unknowingly carry home to their colony.

Of course no one has warned them that not every instantly gratifying pleasure is actually good for them. And that in fact many such self-indulgences may not only result in their own demise, but cause destruction among their relatives as well.

I don't mean to sound heartless here, but when it comes to these household pests, I experience far more relief than grief at the thought.

Meanwhile, as a preacher, I can't help but think there must be a sermon illustration in here somewhere.

Amid Death And Devastation, A Tree Still Grows

Just six months ago, this was the site of dreams and memories burned to the ground. 

Last Saturday Alma Jean and I went on a drive to nearby Greene County in memory of my deceased sister Mary Beth. At the age of 69, she and her husband of 51 years perished in a tragic fire in their mobile home in scenic Shifflett's Hollow on the night of December 12, 2015.

Some of the possessions they had kept in several storage sheds were being sold in the yard sale at the Dyke Fire Hall on Saturday. From there we stopped by the site of their former home and then the Evergreen Church of the Brethren Cemetery where they were buried near a beautiful stretch of their beloved Blue Ridge mountains.

It was a pilgrimage that made the heart hurt. Not only did we experience flashbacks of our family's loss but we also relived memories of how our lives were forever impacted by Mary Beth's arrival in my parents' home as a foster child at four months of age. She was a devoted member of her adoptive family, and she and her husband Harven graciously hosted us many times in their double wide mobile home.

Most of the the ashes and debris from their fire had been buried in a large crater dug for that purpose nearby, much as one would bury a loved one's last remains. But grief doesn't bury easily. It still sticks to the pit of the stomach, demanding renewed attention from time to time as we recall the unimaginable and savor our never-to-be-forgotten blessings.

What struck me most upon visiting the site was the large silver maple standing stalwart and upright next to where the trailer once was, a tree I had never paid much attention to before. But now it stood out as if to guard the place, providing shade and speaking to some of what will long endure after we are all gone.

Come fall, it will drop bushels of silver and yellow leaves, but by spring it will again be fully dressed for yet another season of hope.

And so life goes on.

Here's a link to a photo and post about what happened last December 
http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2015/12/a-christmas-of-sorrow-and-grief.html

And here's another amazing part of my sister's story 
http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2016/02/how-my-adopted-sister-found-her.html