Yahoo Finance Letters: Minimize Christmas consumerism. Proud of this homecoming. Sad about golf course.
Time, not gifts
A recent survey showed that Americans plan to spend less this holiday season. This is wonderful news. Not only might some Christians have their memories jogged that the holiday was originally religiously based, but we can also hope that the mountain of plastic we are now buried under will be at least a little less, including the post-Christmas purge of past gifts, discarded wrappings, packaging, and decorations which litter our curbs after the holidays; not to mention the effect on global warming of those endless car trips to shop and later to return unwanted, unneeded, useless stuff. Sure, you can have it all delivered, but those vehicles also burn fossil fuels. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have your loved ones show their love all year round rather than on one (usually disappointing) day? Let’s make Christmas a day of celebration of consumer minimalism and quality family time where love is not measured by objects but by actions.
Sally Wasielewski, Lexington
Helpful homecoming
The recent homecoming escapades at Hazard High School have been described, discussed and criticized.
I would like to call attention to another homecoming celebration which took a different turn and focused on a worthy cause. The Lafayette High School homecoming planners chose to focus on the theme of breast cancer awareness. At the homecoming football game, students observed “Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness” with students wearing pink T-shirts and showing other symbols of their theme. Even the homecoming attendants wore pink. It was a simple observance, but it spoke volumes -- young people showing concern for the plight of others.
As a Lafayette grad and grandmother of a current Lafayette student and a recent graduate, I was bursting with pride at the display of concern shown on Homecoming night. To paraphrase Principal Byrne Jacobs’ daily encouragement to the student body: It’s a great time to be a General!
Sarah Tabb Henry, Lexington
Golf course subpar
Meadowbrook Golf Course, the public “golf course” on Wilson Downing Drive, is so disgusting it’s hard to describe it. No real grass tee boxes; just a hard slab of something. No real fairways and “rough” that’s a tangled mess of grass/weeds, with tons of dead leaves all over the whole place in November. The tees are the only thing that’s acceptable. How a “modern” city can produce such a mess is beyond me. And there is no decent driving range in southeast Lexington except way out near the airport.
John Stein, Lexington
Silence, lies
The Coward Caucus, approximately 85% of all GOP U.S. lawmakers, are terrified of the Big Bad Trump. They knew and know that the Big Lie was and is a lie. They also know that the attempted insurrection and violence on Jan.6 was instigated by and on behalf of Donald Trump.
The Clown Caucus, approximately 15% of the GOP members, have one function: to entertain the extreme right of the GOP base. Their statements and conduct, the more outrageous, demeaning, and ignorant they are, keeps the base fired up.They spread the lies and downplay the insurrection, comparing it to a normal tourist day. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and their ilk are the prototype for future GOP elected officials.
The silence of the Coward Caucus and the despicable conduct of the Clown Caucus has undermined faith in the Constitution. Sixty percent of the GOP believe President Joe Biden is an illegitimate president. Thirty percent of the GOP believe that violence may be necessary to save their country.
Their conduct is definitely a violation of their oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
R. Don Goble, Lexington
