Growing up in the South Bottoms of Lincoln, Zion Congregational Church was an important part of that community. It was with much sadness that I stood on Ninth Street last Sunday morning and looked at what was left of such a grand church.

My grandparents were part of the first congregation. As a child I attended church at Zion and was baptized there, as were most of my aunts, uncles and cousins. Mom taught Sunday School and continued on the board until her health caused her to resign.

The fondest memory of Zion for me would have to be the Christmas Eve program. Each child had a piece to recite and the church was filled to the top. If you have ever been in the church you would know that it is no small sanctuary.

People from the neighborhood gathered there that night, many of whom were not members. All children left with a brown lunch sack containing hard candies, peanuts and usually a piece of fruit. It was a spectacular night.

The church reached out to all. My grandparents attended the service that was spoken in German. Afterward there was a service in English.

I have heard that Zion Presbyterian continued that outreach by providing many activities for members as well as the surrounding neighbors. I always see a group of young people playing basketball whenever I drive down Ninth Street.

As I watch it come down, my heart is heavy, but the memories of Zion continue. Lincoln has lost a historical site that was the pulse of the Germans from Russia community.

Sally Rebensdorf Guenzel, Lincoln

A salute to the troops

I agree wholeheartedly with Mary Riedl (letter, June 12). Stop bad-mouthing our troops.

I am the daughter of a man who served his country proudly in the U.S. Army for nearly 30 years, seeing combat in World War II and Korea.

I was also the wife of a man who served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force. They are both gone now.

And, I am the mother of one son who served proudly in the U.S. Navy and two remaining sons who served proudly in the U.S. Marine Corps.

And my mother was no slouch either, packing four little girls from post to post from the Panama Canal Zone to Alaska. She served her country too, by standing behind all the men in her life.

She’s every much a veteran as they are. Volunteers all.

So, Happy Father’s Day to all the veterans out there who lay their lives on the line every day for this country, be you someone’s father, husband, son or brother; and, also all the families at home who believe in what they’re doing.

That also goes for all the ladies out there who have our men’s backs going into battle.

Sharon K. Phillips, Lincoln

Bruning’s audacity

Watching Jon Bruning’s announcement to run for U.S. Senate would have been laughable if it hadn’t been so shameful that he is presuming to speak for Nebraska.

Here is a man who has the audacity to attack a dedicated public servant such as Chuck Hagel for not supporting the troops and not supporting the president. Bruning should have another look at the record.

Hagel has been one of the champions of veterans and military issues in the Senate. He has one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate. 

Bruning, on the other hand, has been a captive to his own ambition. As a law student, with political winds blowing left, Bruning spoke out for pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-affirmative action, and spend, spend, spend governance. Out of sheer political convenience, he had a change of heart and embraced a new set of principles.

And now Bruning wants to be a U.S. senator. A little advice for Jon: This is not a legislative or unopposed attorney general race. If you are going to say something, you’d better check the facts. Nebraskans see right through your ambition.

John P. Kennedy, Kearney

Adios, Arturo’s

I was saddened to read that one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Arturo’s, is no longer a dining option for the city of Lincoln. Arturo’s has such a history in Lincoln, as the article indicated.

I recently paid for a take-out order and commented to Rene’s grandmother how much I loved the restaurant and their food. I remembered her and her husband serving everyone when they opened their “little” place on the corner.

I can’t believe I won’t be able to order their rice (the best in the city) or a tacha or their wonderful chips, salsa, or one of their famous burritos … and the list goes on.

I remember when I worked downtown a group of us decided we would eat at Arturo’s once a week ordering something different each week so we could say we tried everything on the menu.

Sounds good in theory, but once each of us happened upon something we fell in love with we came back each week and ordered that item again. It took me a long time to move off their chilaquiles and the original tacha.

Thanks for so many wonderful years of excellent Mexican food, and I hate to see you close. (Have you considered a take-out place somewhere? Just tell your faithful patrons and we will be there.)

Terrie Reeves, Lincoln

Prosecute all rapes

A recent Lincoln Journal Star article, “Report: Rape risk high for Natives” by Darryl Fears and Kari Lydersen of The Washington Post, states that one in three Native women will be raped at some point in their lifetime. With that being said, that is more than double that of non-Native women. This is all from a new report done by Amnesty International.

My personal opinion on this situation is that I don’t see where it should matter if a woman is Native or not. To me this raises a red flag. Why is it that Native women are more likely to get raped? Why is this act of discrimination happening in America?

Well, Native women have been dealing with this situation for quite some time now. According to the article, “In 1978, the Supreme Court ruled … that tribal governments have no criminal jurisdiction over non-Natives.”

I don’t think that there is any way that this could be fair to anyone. When a Native woman gets raped, they really don’t have much of a choice on whom to run for help. If they tell police, then often their cases get overlooked and nothing ever comes of it.

I think that this is an act of discrimination toward Native women. The unequal treatment that the Native women have against them is ridiculous.

Anyone who gets raped should be able to report it to authorities without anyone getting overlooked, no matter what. This not only looks bad for authorities but bad for America in general. We cannot go on like this knowing that out there are thousands of women getting raped and nothing is being done to the rapist because he is non-Native.

Lindsay Kuss, Crete 

Let ’em smoke

The June 6 Journal Star reported on the smoking ban on the campuses of Lincoln hospitals.

I think that a few people have issued a mandate that is very unfair to those employees that smoke. I do not feel that forcing your opinion of providing “healthy lifestyle choices” per Craig Ames of BryanLGH is an employer’s option.

Will we see large signs in our hospital corridors saying “Your choice, quit smoking or quit your job.” In a “business” where trained health care professionals are in great demand such a sign will be a great morale booster. Will the next “healthy lifestyle choice” mandate be to eat only fish or chicken and drink only skim milk?

If the need to smoke is so strong that a smoker will go outside when the temperature is below zero, then I say, “Let ’em smoke outside,” and the great outdoors should overcome the effects of secondhand smoke.

I smoked from the age of 15 until 12 years ago when I was 65. I quit because I wanted to. Then and only then does it work.

You cannot legislate a “healthy lifestyle choice” unless the freedoms we enjoy in this great country no longer exist.

Marilyn J. Schneberger, Shelby