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Here's the 11 Th Commandment: Don't Tamper With the Ten
DEAR ABBY: Your recent printing of the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments has no doubt produced an avalanche of response.
The problem with them is that they are thousands of years out-of-date and functionally incomplete.
To cite just one glaring omission: The world would be a very different place today if the Ten had also included: Honor thy children. -- PHILOSOPHER IN CULVER CITY, CALIF.
DEAR PHILOSOPHER: I did, indeed, receive an avalanche of mail for having printed the King James version of the Ten Commandments, and I was shocked by the number of people who complained. Read on for a sample:
DEAR ABBY: Recently you printed the Ten Commandments. In doing so you referred to the "Old Testament." Jews prefer to refer to it as the Hebrew Bible. By calling it the "Old Testament," it implies that God has made a new covenant with mankind, a concept Jews do not accept. Also, the proper translation of commandment No. 6 is, "Thou shalt not MURDER," not "Thou shalt not kill." They are distinctly different words in Hebrew, as they are in English. -- LANCE LUBIN, GULFPORT, FLA.
DEAR LANCE: Please don't think I'm being defensive, because some of my best friends were Jewish -- my mother and my father -- and I was taught to call it the Old Testament. But thanks for the rest of the input.
DEAR ABBY: There is no reason for anyone to be ignorant of God's word, especially the Ten Commandments. If everyone obeyed these clear and simple rules, all the problems in the world would disappear! As a matter of fact, the Ten Commandments are the transcript of God's character and the pure foundational law of his universal and eternal government.
I noticed that you did not print the entire wording of the Ten Commandments in your column. You left out a portion of the wording in the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Commandments. Why? Have you never read verses 18 and 19 from the 22nd chapter of the Book of Revelation? It says, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the word of the prophesy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
Every "jot and tittle" written in God's word is extremely important. No human has the right to tamper with it in any way. The reason people do not know what the Ten Commandments say is just a matter of priorities. God's word is not important enough for them to spend time searching the Scriptures and applying the instructions to their lives. People are "too busy" these days with the "cares of this life." And one of these days, it will be TOO LATE. Signs of the end of time are fast fulfilling all around us, and people are as blind and unbelieving as they were in the days of Noah.
Abby, I challenge you to print this letter in your column, and end it by printing the entire wording of all of the Ten Commandments, and I challenge your readers to read Exodus 20 for themselves. If it makes a difference in only one person's life for eternity, it will be well worth honoring this request. -- HELEN L. SELF, MORGANTON, N.C.
DEAR MS. SELF: I'm printing your letter, but space limitations prevent me from printing the entire wording of the Ten Commandments according to each of the denominations that registered complaints about my having printed the King James version. My apologies to those who were offended.
ISSUE OF CHILDREN IS SORE SPOT IN OTHERWISE HAPPY MARRIAGE
DEAR ABBY: I am 24 years old and happily married to a 35-year-old man who has had a previous marriage and has two children, 14 and 12.
We have been married for two years and are completely happy with each other. However, the problem is I want a child of my own and he does not.
When we were dating, we often discussed it, and he would say that he has two and that's all he needs, although he might consider more in the future.
Well, Abby, it's the future now, and I am ready to take on the responsibility of a child. Now he tells me that he wants to get himself "fixed" because he has decided not to have more children. I don't think it's fair to me, being young and healthy and wanting to have at least one child of my own.
I love him dearly, but this has put a big damper on our marriage, and I am not sure how to handle this. Please help. -- UNSURE IN FLORIDA
DEAR UNSURE: Consider this: A man who says he wants no more children and is considering getting himself "fixed" to ensure that he will have no more is a poor candidate for fatherhood. True, he did promise to consider it, but it is obvious that he wants no more children.
I recommend counseling for both of you. If he refuses to get counseling -- go without him.
DEAR ABBY: I have often wanted to write about the following, but hoped that someone else would write and provide the answer first.
I am a pre-op transsexual and usually dress in women's clothing, complete with wig and makeup.
My question is, which rest room should I use when I go out in public?
Abby, please inform your readers that most of us transsexuals and transvestites are in the ladies rest room to use the facilities or to repair our makeup -- nothing more. -- MISS "X"
DEAR MISS "X": When you are dressed like a woman, you should use the women's rest room.
DEAR ABBY: Excuse me for being an old fuddy-duddy, but what has happened to basic good manners?
In my day one did not indulge in kissing in public places -- unless one was bidding goodbye in an airport, train or bus station.
I find it embarrassing to witness public displays of affection between my nephew and his current girlfriend at family gatherings in nice restaurants. Often they have to stop right in the middle of the restaurant on the way out to engage in a long, soulful kiss. Since the couple have been living together for several months, it would seem that they could hold off the kissing until they were alone. This has gotten to the point that it is downright embarrassing for the rest of the family to go out with them.
Don't get me wrong, Abby. I am all for hugging and kissing one's true love, but not on the way out of a nice restaurant with a room full of strangers to witness the spectacle.
Am I hopelessly outdated on this? -- OLD-FASHIONED
DEAR OLD-FASHIONED: Outdated? No! Jealous? Maybe!
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RESEARCH ON CHILDREN'S CANCER RAISES CURE RATE EVERY DAY
DEAR ABBY: It gave me great encouragement to observe your readers' response to the Rod Carew family's pleas for marrow donors last spring. I was saddened that a match was not found for Michelle, but one never knows how many other lives were saved because of your informative columns.
Cancer is the No. 1 disease killing our children. Some cases -- like that of Michelle Carew -- resist all of our best efforts. However, the National Childhood Cancer Foundation is helping to raise the cure rate every day. Forty years ago, leukemia was an always-fatal disease. Today, 73 percent of children diagnosed with leukemia are alive and well five years later, and hopefully will go on to lead productive lives.
The National Childhood Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization. Our goal is to achieve a world in which there are no children with cancer, and the only way to do that is through medical research. We support research projects at more than 100 of the most prestigious pediatric medical centers in the world. The improvements in the response and cure rates of children with leukemia (and a great variety of tumors) have been the most gratifying in the entire history of cancer therapy.
However, the work is far from finished. Research on the cures of tomorrow must be done today or we will remain where we are. Abby, please let your readers know that a donation made to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation gets right to work on projects that are just waiting to be funded. Those wishing to contribute can call 1-800-458-6223 for donation information, or write to NCCF, P.O. Box 60028, Arcadia, Calif. 91066. -- MEREDITH BRUCKER, NATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION
DEAR MEREDITH: I am pleased to publicize this fine organization. I cannot imagine a more worthwhile commitment than that of the National Childhood Cancer Foundation: a world where no children (or their families) will suffer from the devastation of cancer. I wish you well.
DEAR ABBY: The letter from "Ashamed and Heartbroken," about her mother having fallen in love with a much younger man, caught my eye.
After more than 20 years of marriage, my parents were divorced. A few years later, Mother announced that she was going to marry her much younger boyfriend. (He is young enough to be her son.) All of us siblings were skeptical, but we trusted Mother's judgment and accepted her decision. That was more than 20 years ago. Since that time our young stepfather has in some respects been more of a father to us than Dad was. He has always been kind, respectful, supportive and loving to all of us.
Now with the onslaught of years, Mother has been subject to many illnesses and hospital stays. She requires care almost 24 hours a day and her ability to walk is minimal. My stepfather has always been there for her.
Over the holidays, Mother went into the hospital again. I have never witnessed a man so genuinely concerned and loving. Marrying this younger man was the best thing Mother could have done. He is, and always will be, a part of our family, and we love him. -- NOT ASHAMED OR HEARTBROKEN IN TORONTO
DEAR NOT ASHAMED OR HEARTBROKEN: Thank you for your testimonial, which illustrates that love has no age limits. Your mother is in my prayers.
DEAR READERS: Worth remembering: "The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." -- FATHER THEODORE M. HESBURGH, NOTRE DAME
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