Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 28, 2015

13

OPINION 

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 28, 2015 


GREG Welborn

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

Mountain 
Views

News

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CONTRIBUTORS

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Dr. Tina Paul

Rich Johnson

Merri Jill Finstrom

Lori Koop

Rev. James Snyder

Tina Paul

Mary Carney

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Greg Welborn

Renee Quenell

Ben Show

Sean Kayden

Marc Garlett


DESERTIONS AND DECEITS

President Obama would have us believe that his decision to swap 
5 terrorists for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was predicated on the 
highest of moral principles. As the facts now start to spill out, 
the reality is anything but honorable, and it would seem that 
the Commander-in-Chief and the Sergeant share a common 
disloyalty to the respective oaths they took.

 At the time the prisoner swap was announced, President 
Obama told the nation that he acted on his moral obligation to 
do everything possible to bring the sergeant home because “we 
don’t leave our people behind”. That’s a great soundbite, but it’s 
not really our policy, nor is it a particularly good practice. You see, the principle is based 
on the premise that the missing soldier is loyal to his comrades, unit and country, and 
that he is involuntarily missing.

 To make the point clear, nobody believes we should sacrifice blood and treasure to 
bring home traitors or spies out of any moral concern for their well-being, or to reassure 
the troops that we always protect our own. Perhaps we would try to bring them home 
out of a sense of justice because we intend to imprison them for their actions against the 
constitution and the country, but that is a different rationale entirely – one certainly not 
entertained, advanced or pursued by President Obama.

 No, President Obama made it very clear that he intended to give up 5 terrorists for 
1 soldier out of moral concern for the soldier and the overall morale of those serving 
honorably in our armed services. That is why he had his various spokesmen inform 
the nation on at least 6 separate occasions I can count that Sergeant Bergdahl served his 
country with “honor and distinction”. Were that the case, I would be the first to affirm 
the president’s goal, even if I questioned the price (5 able bodied killers who would return 
to the battlefield) of achieving an otherwise moral goal.

 The Army’s announcement this week that they will charge Sergeant Bergdahl with 
desertion is only the tip of the iceberg. The bigger story is that President Obama lied to 
the nation about the betrayal of his oath to protect Americans in his decision to make this 
trade. The army’s announcement only confirms what was absolutely known at the time 
of the deal.

 As soon as the sergeant went missing in 2009, members of his unit suspected he had 
deserted. Their reports and concerns were documented. A 2010 internal investigation 
found “incontrovertible” evidence that the sergeant had deserted. There is also an 
exchange of letters between Bergdahl and his father, uncovered and made public by the 
press, in which Bowe Bergdahl admitted to being ashamed of being American and having 
no desire to waste his future on the country’s lies. I wish I could say that his father had a 
stronger moral compass than his son, but that would not be true. His father encouraged 
his son to “obey” his warped version of morality.

 Every single piece of evidence in this case was known to President Obama at the 
time he entered into, let alone concluded, negotiations with the Taliban. Bergdahl 
violated his moral commitment to serve this country and to stand with his unit, and he 
jeopardized the many who were sent out to search for him. Obama has violated his moral 
commitment to protect and defend this country by knowingly releasing skilled, trained 
terrorists and enemy combatants who will return to the battlefield. They will inevitably 
be responsible for the deaths of American soldiers and more than likely scores more of 
innocent civilians. This wasn’t just miscalculation; too many facts were known at the 
time of the decision. This was moral abdication of the worst order.

 Why would our president do this? Clearly, morality played no part in this decision, 
but political calculation most certainly did. The President made a campaign pledge (one 
that he actually wants to keep) to close Guantanamo Bay. That had been tried with an 
effort to bring the terrorists housed at Gitmo to the U.S. for “trial” as criminals. The 
effort didn’t go over so well with average Americans on both sides of the political aisle. 
But if Gitmo is emptied of the really bad apples, and all that remain are insignificant 
underlings, then perhaps the military prison can be closed with no objections from the 
American public. So, sending the true murderers and terrorists back to the battlefield 
enables the president to eventually make the case that nobody of any significance remains 
at the prison. Closing it at that point will be but an after-thought.

 These are selfish reasons, not moral reasons. Just as Sergeant Bergdahl made a selfish 
decision to dishonor his moral duty because it suited his desires at the time, so too has 
President Obama made a selfish decision to dishonor his moral obligation to protect 
America because it suited his desires at the time. Sergeant Bergdahl and President Obama 
share antipathy for our country and for those who truly sacrifice for its well-being, and 
they share disdain for the moral principles which should guide all of us – most especially 
the President of The United States. At least Bergdahl was honest enough to confess his 
true feelings. Obama continues to deny what is all too obvious.

 About the author: Gregory J. Welborn is a freelance writer and has spoken to several 
civic and religious organizations on cultural and moral issues. He lives in the Los Angeles 
area with his wife and 3 children and is active in the community. He can be reached 
gregwelborn2@gma/5l.com 

IT WAS LIGHTS OUT AT 

THE OLD BALLGAME

Someone yelling, “Let’s play ball,” officially 
announces spring. Springtime and baseball 
seem to go together, as if God created 
springtime just for the national pastime.

 Something about that first baseball game 
seems to shake away all the gloomy aspects 
of the past winter. As soon as Old Man 
Winter strikes out for the last time, good old 
springtime steps up to the plate and a new 
game is afoot.

 Of course, baseball is for the young. One 
downside of growing older is the fact that you 
grow out of certain things. For example, as 
you grow older you grow out of wearing short 
pants.

 You can tell an old man is trying to act 
young when he puts away long pants and dons 
short pants. Somebody needs to tell these men 
that knobby knees are not in fashion this year 
and the less seen the better, I assure you.

 As you grow older, you also grow out of a 
lot of free time. There is nothing like trying to 
make a living to put a crimp in your lifestyle. 
Once a man puts on his hat, grabs a lunchbox 
and walks out the door, he is in for a lifetime 
of work. Free time as he once knew it now has 
a price tag.

 One final thought about growing older — 
as you grow older, you also grow out of extra 
cash jingling in your pocket. No matter how 
much a person makes, there seems to be more 
outgo than income in the average home today.

 I remember getting a raise once and when 
the first paycheck came, my take-home was 
less than before the raise. My raise put me in a 
higher tax bracket and hence a lower income 
each payday.

 Only one thing I know that can put a 
temporary pause in all this nonsense — 
simply an afternoon at the ballpark. Nothing 
like a good old ballgame to take away all the 
anxiety of trying to make a living. When I was 
younger, I was out in the field, playing ball. I 
have outgrown that part of my life and find 
myself sitting in the stands, cheering on my 
favorite team.

 One of the benefits of becoming a 
grandfather is attending your grandchildren’s 
ballgames. Now that my knees creak and my 
pitching elbow don’t work like it used to, I am 
way out of shape to play even one inning of 
a ballgame. Baseball demands younger knees 
and elbows that are more pliable. Fortunately, 
for grandfathers, God has bestowed upon 
them grandchildren who play baseball.

 Several weeks ago, it was my privilege to 
watch my granddaughter play her first softball 
game. With a good hot cup of coffee and a 
seat where I could survey the whole process, I 
settled down to watch a relaxed softball game.

 Then, the game took on a new status. My 
granddaughter came up to bat and I was on 
the edge of my seat. At that point, the whole 
game changed for me. Sitting next to me, a 
man began yelling at the pitcher. “Go ahead, 
pitcher,” he screamed, “burn one across the 
plate, the batter’s a bum, she can’t hit nothing.”

 I had been away so long from a good 
ballgame I completely forgot about this 
element of the game. I demurely turned to 
the gentleman next to me and opined, “You 
shouldn’t yell at the kiddies that way. They’re 
just having fun.”

 Without even looking at me, he shot, “Mind 
your own business, Buster.”

 I am not easily roused, but this man, what 
should I say, irritated me. Yes, that is the word, 
“irritated.”

 Then, still not looking at me, he snipped, 
“The pitcher’s my daughter.”

 With all the dignity, I could muster 
under the circumstances I retorted with, 
“But the batter is my granddaughter. And 
granddaughters out- rank daughters every 
time.”

 I noticed the information stunned him a 
little. Old Bubba was trying to process this 
and I could see he was having a little bit of 
trouble. I did not mind because for a moment 
he could not think of anything to say, which 
is good no matter which side you are cheering 
for.

 At this point, the situation turned ugly. 
When I say ugly, I mean Mrs. Bubba inserted 
herself into the tête-à-tête. Let me say, I was 
not afraid of good old Bubba; it was Mrs. 
Bubba who put the fear of God into me at the 
time.

 This only illustrates the vast difference 
between men and women. Men can have a 
loud, obnoxious, chest puffing argument, and 
then when it is all over, go, buy each other a 
cup of coffee and slap each other on the back 
celebrating the winning team.

 Women are not like that; at least Mrs. 
Bubba was not like that. As best I recollect 
the situation, Mrs. Bubba, who was sitting on 
the other side of Bubba, leaned forward and 
simply said, “Oh yeah?”

 It was not what she said, or even how she 
said it that bothered me. The last thing I 
remember was her left hook interfacing with 
my left eye.

 Driving home, I mused on what the Apostle 
Paul wrote. “I charge thee before God, and 
the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, 
that thou observe these things without 
preferring one before another, doing nothing 
by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, 
neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep 
thyself pure.” (1 Timothy 5:21-22 KJV.)

 Sometimes, one strike and you are out.

 

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family 
of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road in Silver 
Springs Shores. He and his wife, Martha, live 
in the Shores. Call him at 687-4240, or e-mail 
jamessnyder2@att.net. The church Web site is 
www.whatafellowship.com.

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 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

SAMUEL M. WATSON AKA SAMUEL MEAD WATSON

CASE NO. BP160802

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons 
who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of 
SAMUEL M. WATSON AKA SAMUEL MEAD WATSON.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CONSTANZA 
WIDWIG WATSON in the Superior Court of California, County of 
LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CONSTANZA 
WIDWIG WATSON be appointed as personal representative to 
administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent's WILL and codicils, if any, 
be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for 
examination in the file kept by the court. 

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the 
Independent Administration of Estates Act . (This authority will allow 
the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining 
court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, 
the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested 
persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed 
action.) The independent administration authority will be granted 
unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows 
good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 
04/21/15 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS 
ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at 
the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the 
court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your 
attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, 
you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal 
representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four 
months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal 
representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate 
Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to 
you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. 

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as 
a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in 
California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person 
interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special 
Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of 
estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code 
section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the 
court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

JEANNE BURNS-HAINDEL - SBN 132177

3360 E. FOOTHILL BLVD. #414

PASADENA CA 91107

3/14, 3/21, 3/28/15

CNS-2727929#

City of Sierra Madre

PUBLIC HEARING 
NOTICE

To: Property Owners 
within a 300-foot 
radius

From: The City of Sierra 
Madre

Subject: PARCEL MAP 

 15-01 (73420), 
Historic 
Designation 
15-01, Certificate of 

 Appropriateness 
15-02, Affordable 
Housing Incentives

Applicant: HHP Highland,LLC

Project Location: 186 W. Highland 
Avenue, in the 
City of Sierra 
Madre, County 
of Los Angeles, 
State of California

The City of Sierra Madre gives notice, 
pursuant to State of California law, that 
the Planning Commission will conduct 
a public hearing to consider 

1) a request for a three-unit 
subdivision for condominium 
purposes, 

2) a proposal to designate the property 
as a historic landmark, 

3) a certificate of appropriateness to 
restore, modify, and change the use of 
the structure, and 

4) the use of affordable housing 
incentives. 

DATE/TIME /PLACE OF 
HEARING 

City of Sierra Madre

Planning Commission meeting 
City Council Chambers

Thursday, April 2, 2015 
232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

(Hearing begins at 7:00 p.m.) 
Sierra Madre, CA 

All interested persons may attend this 
meeting and the Planning Commission 
will hear them with respect thereto.

ENVIRONMENTAL 
DETERMINATION: The project 
qualifies for Class 15 Categorical 
Exemption Minor Land Division, 
and Historic Resource Rehabilitation, 
pursuant to Sections 15315 and 15331 
of the California Environmental Quality 
Act (CEQA).

APPEAL: The Planning Commission 
is a recommending body to the City 
Council on this project. A second, 
subsequent hearing on all entitlements 
will be held before the City Council 
under separate notice.

For further information on this subject, 
please contact the Planning and 
Community Preservation Department at 
(626) 355-7138.

By Order of the Planning Commission

Leticia Cardoso

Interim Director of Development 
Services

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF 
MARILYN L. HINDLEY

Case No. BP160084

 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who 
may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARILYN L. HINDLEY

 A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Douglas Blakey Hindley 
in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

 THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Douglas Blakey Hindley be 
appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

 THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted 
to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept 
by the court.

 THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent 
Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal 
representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking 
certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required 
to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to 
the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless 
an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the 
court should not grant the authority.

 A HEARING on the petition will be held on March 18, 2015 at 8:30 AM in 
Dept. No. 9 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the 
hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the 
hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

 IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you 
must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative 
appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first 
issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) 
of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal 
delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

 Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a 
creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

 YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested 
in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form 
DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition 
or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice 
form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:

LOWELL H ORREN ESQ

SBN 152894

ORREN & ORREN

1100 E GREEN ST

PASADENA CA 91106-2513

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF 
ETHEL ALMARINE BROCK

Case No. BP160849

 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons 
who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ETHEL 
ALMARINE BROCK

 A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Mary Kathryn 
Dennis in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

 THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Mary Kathryn Dennis 
be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.


 THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, 
be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination 
in the file kept by the court.

 THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under 
the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the 
personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. 
Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative 
will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have 
waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration 
authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection 
to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.


 A HEARING on the petition will be held on April 15, 2015 at 8:30 
AM in Dept. No. 29 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear 
at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court 
before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

 IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, 
you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal 
representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months 
from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, 
as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from 
the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 
of the California Probate Code.

 Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights 
as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California 
law.

 YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person 
interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special 
Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets 
or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A 
Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:

LESLIE ANN BARNETT ESQ

SBN 161040

1631 BEVERLY BLVD

STE 103

LOS ANGELES CA 90026

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