Opinion

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

In Sweden, there used to be a widespread belief that animals could talk on Christmas Eve.

My Swedish mother read me stories about this as a child, and it is true. Apparently throughout Scandinavia, folks would give their animals treats so they wouldn’t speak badly of them. This part makes me doubtful — not that the animals got treats, but that anything I gave my cat, Felix, would prevent him from giving his opinion — with or without the ability to speak.

Felix would tell you that he thinks he should get more treats all of the year and that he has grown tired of his current cat food and that he thinks he should get brushed at least an hour every day and that — under no circumstances — does he want his nails trimmed. He says this all the time. He just says it in Cat.

GUEST COLUMN, J. Basil Dannebohm

In his book, “God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas,” neo-orthodox theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, “Who will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger.”

Today, an epidemic of narcissism casts a cold cloud over our world. Humanity is rife with a lust for power, honor, reputation, vanity, arrogance, and individualism. Yet despite our shortcomings, God saw fit to send His only Son to save us. (John 3:16) And so, we find ourselves once again commemorating that joyous occasion.

Whether we are celebrating “correctly” is another matter entirely.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reita Isaacs, Liberal

Good late evening to you. Now the decisions have been made on which Christmas breads and cookies I will attempt, it’s time to relate my personal opinions again.

Mercy, I can’t believe how much information got deleted since the end of my first paragraph. Interesting but off the main topic.

Lies, lies, nothing but lies. How about deception, deception, deception; never waste the opportunities available; or make up some of your own. The constant onslaught of tragedies in America and elsewhere are designed to keep you sidetracked without looking for answers. My accumulation of notes and resources have sat here too long without me addressing them.

I now believe Charlie Kirk is not dead. Stop and think about all those pieces of information listed in the last few articles.

GUEST COLUMN, Robert Blancato, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs

Millions of older Americans struggle every day to afford the medications they need. Too often, they make impossible choices: splitting pills, skipping doses, or forgoing prescriptions altogether because of the price.

President Trump recognizes the problem. His administration is weighing whether Medicare should cover GLP-1 medications for weight loss, a decision that could have major implications for access and cost.

The White House has also recently worked with several pharmaceutical companies on voluntary "most favored nation" deals, which will secure more affordable access by expanding direct-to-consumer options and cutting out price-gouging middlemen.