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Columns

  • The descent into chaos

        Last week I mentioned that there seems to be a double standard when it comes to religion in the public school classroom. I noted the same left-wingers who defended a teacher who had students copy the Muslim statement of faith as part of a geography assignment, would have been after that teacher’s head if she had had her students copy a Christian text, such as the Lord’s Prayer.

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  • New year, new opportunities

    By Congressman Robert Hurt

    As 2015 comes to a close, so too does the first-session of the 114th Congress, and I believe that we have much to look forward to as we embark upon a new year.

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  • New year, new opportunities

    A new year brings new opportunities for our country. It’s a time to refocus and, with a fresh perspective, look ahead at all that must be accomplished. As we ring in 2016, Congress has much to do to address the priorities of the American people.

     

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  • Christians and guns: An unholy mix?

        Recently, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring decided that our state wouldn’t recognize conceal carry permits from other states. Those states, he said, might be more lenient in what kind of people they let carry firearms.
        Republican Sen. Bill Carrico got so fired up by Herring’s ruling that he said he’d file legislation to take away Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s armed security detail. It was a snarky reaction, to be sure.

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  • The ACLU would have a fit

        It was interesting to see Rick Howell close out the year with a defense of a world geography lesson that included students copying the Muslim statement of faith. This happened last month in River Heads High School in Augusta County. It’s interesting because, if a public school teacher were to have her students copy a passage from the Bible, such as the Lord’s Prayer, Mr. Howell would howl about separation of church and state. The ACLU would have a fit, threaten a lawsuit and probably demand the teacher’s head on a platter.

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  • Fear of Islam is not Christian

        It was a simple lesson in a social studies class in a public high school of Augusta County, Virginia. Yet, a few hysterical parents responded with fear and hatred to get the county schools shut down.
        Ignorance can go a long way when accompanied by two other ingredients: fear and religious fanaticism. All were at work in the recent school closure at River Heads High School, over a lesson that involved the Arabic writing tool of calligraphy.

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  • There’s no yellow brick road

        In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road to Oz to meet the Wizard of Oz. She wants to get back to Kansas, although I’m not sure why anybody would want to go to Kansas, and believes the Wizard can make that happen. It turned out that there was no Wizard of Oz.
        There’s no Wizard of Oz who can make economic development happen in Bedford. There isn’t even a yellow brick road. There’s no magic solution to revitalizing Bedford’s Centertown, or even one clear road to follow.

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  • The promise of Christmas

    Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

    “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

    The Wrong shall fail,

    The Right prevail,

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  • The Muslim must choose

    Rev. Raymond Bell
    Roanoke

        Here is some perspective the press needs to get moving on.

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  • Christmas gifts for all; even Trump!

        I’m not sure what got into me this year. It seems that the “Christmas spirit” descended upon me early, and has manifested itself often.
        I mailed out Christmas cards (first time I’ve done that in decades!) in early December. My Christmas shopping was done well before this week.
        My humble Christmas tree was up just after Thanksgiving, and my cats have left it largely unmolested! I even found a cheap but lovely string of lights to put on it.

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