MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

During my lifetime, a number of words have been used to describe what people are searching for in religion: truth - love - beauty - grace. And now, this year, as our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the term freedom is everywhere. We recently visited a church while on vacation, and nearly every worship song focused on the freedom we have in Christ. It struck me that two freedoms, national and spiritual, are connected in important ways. However, after teaching US history for 33 years, my conclusion is that true freedom comes only through dependence on God.

For an article published last July in this newspaper, I wrote about at least four references in our Declaration to our founders’ reliance on God. The Declaration begins by appealing to “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”. The preamble continues that we are endowed by our “...Creator with certain unalienable Rights”. Still in the preamble, they appeal to “...the Supreme Judge of the world...”. And then it concludes, “...with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence...”. Though the founding fathers were willing to fight for independence, they knew the Source of that freedom.

GUEST COLUMN, Lamar Smith, retired member of Congress

Americans are fed up with the slowing economy and are taking their frustrations out on the incumbent party. Democrats romped to victory in last year's off-cycle elections and may do so again in the midterms this November.

Patent reform might not seem like an obvious tool for calming voters' economic anxieties. But the truth is, patent protections are essential to spurring the kind of innovation that creates jobs, grows the economy, and brings down prices.

Strong, consistently enforced patents allow inventors to profit from their original creations. They also provide investors with the confidence they need to make big bets on experimental technologies, processes, and business ideas.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Many are pointing to the infamous “Triple Play” as a reason to keep the selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices in the hands of a few.

Isn’t that exactly what was wrong with the Triple Play?

Let me explain:

When Fred Hall lost his primary election to remain as governor of Kansas in 1956, he devised a plan that short-circuited the judicial selection process.

Kansas Supreme Court Justice William Smith resigned, leaving a vacancy that would have to be filled by governor appointment.

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

I spent last week “up north” with my parents. While my husband, Peter, and my cat, Felix, stayed at home and played cat games, I drove up to my parents’ cabin four hours north.

The city was hot, but right now, even up north is hot. So I decided to go swimming.

I hadn’t been swimming in a long time. I walk in the woods every chance I get, but I don’t go in the water as often as I could. Sometimes it feels like a nuisance to get wet. Sometimes I get self-conscious putting on a bathing suit. Usually, I fret that the water will be too cold. I chicken out and take a walk instead.