Letters to the Editor 01-09-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Pregnant Teens - American Products - ABATE Says Thanks - Upset By Letter - Christianity - Who's A NIMBY Now? - School Prayer
Pregnant Teens
Editor, Times-Union:As I read Will Baker's letter regarding pregnant teens (Jan. 5, 2001), I felt increasingly sad and, then, just plain mad at his lack of compassion and understanding. There are many reasons that teenage girls get pregnant but the main one is NOT so they can get attention from their friends. They get pregnant because they mistake hormones for love; because they lack enough self-respect to say no; because a boy convinces them that he loves them; or because they are young and sometimes irresponsible.
Indeed, they get pregnant because they have sex when they should not. But we cannot legislate morals and values; there will always be unmarried people having sex. True, it may be more prevalent today than it was "back in his day," but if shame and condemnation did not prevent teen pregnancy back then, why would it work now?
It's time to wake up and realize that there is not a high school in this country where NOBODY is having sex. There may be a high school where no girls are pregnant but I can guarantee you there are students at every school who have been and/or are sexually active. Public schools are not allowed to expel a pregnant student; a private school may do anything it chooses. Abortion also happens to be a "solution" that keeps the issue hidden from those in authority, but I would rather see a pregnant teenager in school than I would see a woman grieve for the child she aborted.
Mr. Baker said he has "become increasingly irate" about this topic. I too became increasingly irate at his letter. When I read his final sentence, stating that "maybe we can stop another child's life from being ruined by being born to a young incapable mother," I knew it was time to respond. It was time because the insults were now directed at my child(ren) and that is unfair. Nobody's life is 'ruined' just by being born to a young mother.
You see, I know this is true because I was "that" young, incapable mother. I was "that" high school girl who was shamed and shunned by students, teachers and parents alike - people like Mr. Baker. But I'm here to tell you that not every story ends like he thinks it will; some stories have good endings! Some young girls have families, friends and yes, even total strangers who rally around them and help make a difficult situation better.
I am delighted to tell Mr. Baker that my children's lives were not ruined because they had a teenage mom. Both are now college graduates and so am I; we have come full circle. Yes, I was young and na•ve; I had two sons before I was 19. And did we struggle? Yes, we sure did. But we beat the odds and I am proud of that. Now it's my turn to help someone else do what we did.
Please do not misunderstand me. I neither condone nor recommend premarital sex or teen parenting. I am merely responding to the realities of life. Things happen. And when they do, we need to be prepared to respond with love and help. This is the only way to make a tough situation better. Being critical and pious won't help; labeling and name-calling won't either.
Instead of condemnation, these girls need our help. This is how to break the cycle - Educate them! Support them! Show them how to beat the odds! Be part of the solution and not part of the problem! If my calling in life is simply to understand, respond and reach out to pregnant teens and their parents ... well then, I accept the challenge because they already have enough critics. At least I understand the situation because I have walked a mile in their shoes.
Shelly Gilliland
Pierceton
via e-mail
American Products
Editor, Times-Union:GE - These initials once stood for a great American company with American workers who made excellent products sold all over the world and supported the American way of life.
The GE refrigerator plant at Bloomington, Ind., will in the next year layoff (fire) about 3,200 American workers and move the production of refrigerators to Mexico, using underpaid workers with no benefits or pensions, etc., making second-rate products, which will not support the American way of life.
The American worker, with wages, pensions and insurance plans, was making about $24 per hour. The Mexican worker will make $2 or $3 per hour.
Do some mental calculating. A $1,000 refrigerator made in America may cost GE $500 or $600 to make. In Mexico, GE's cost is $250 to $300.
GE will still sell the refrigerator for $1,000 to the American worker. Talk about inflation. The American consumer and worker are being stabbed in the back by NAFTA. Buy American products made by American workers in America.
Write your senator and congressman. We want tariffs on all products coming into the United States. The money can be used to lower our taxes and protect our American workers' way of life.
Jack W. Klinefelter
Warsaw
ABATE Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:ABATE of Kosciusko County wants to thank all the area businesses for donating door prizes and raffle items for our 12th Annual Toys for Tots. Without your help many kids would not have had a Christmas. It's good to see the community behind us and supporting us in our efforts.
Donations went to CCS and Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County.
Again, thank you very much.
Kirby LeMond
ABATE Officer
Claypool
Upset By Letter
Editor, Times-Union:Regarding Mr. Baker's letter on Pregnant Teens, I would like to say as I read it I was thinking this guy is a concerned father and that's nice to see in this day and age. However, after reading the last sentence of his letter, containing the follow statement: "Maybe we can stop another child's life from being ruined by being born to a young incapable mother and possibly father," I was very upset. Just because a teen has a baby doesn't mean that the baby is going to have its life ruined. Or for that matter the parent of that baby. I am glad that my mother had me at the ripe young age of 16. Perhaps if more parents were closer to the age their children are they would have more understanding of things that are affecting them. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to have a child as a teen. But no one should say that a person will ruin their life or another life by having a child. It simply doesn't have to be true, with some love and understanding from parents these young adults can become as good if not better parents than their own.
Jeremiah Lewis
Warsaw
via e-mail
Christianity
Editor, Times-Union:Would someone who has had a much higher education than I have had please explain to me what Mr. Teevan is saying about Christianity because "Skot of Claypool" isn't a believer? Does he really believe that Christianity is this world's best religion and this world couldn't get along without Christianity? Didn't it get along without Christianity for a long, long time? Aren't human beings the same now as they were before religion came?
Also, if Christianity is as great for this world as he believes it is, why does the Bible tell us that a time comes when a certain judgment of this world's sinners begins with the members of the Christian religion? (The meaning of that "judgment" is "condemnation"!) It even says that sinful Christians will have a swift destruction. Mr. Teevan says that all other religions have an endless and meaningless cycle of life ending in extinction. When Scripture says what it does about Christianity, how could the Christian religion be any different than all others? How could the Bible be for the destruction of Christianity if Christianity is the best this world has?
But how could Christianity be any better than others when the followers of Christianity do the same wrong things as the followers of Buddha or Lao-Tse?
Or, does Mr. Teevan just tell us what Christianity should be or could be like since it has a resurrected savior while other religions don't have such saviors? Is this the reason for the coming destruction of the Christian religion? Since its members don't care to be what they could be or should be, extinction comes?
What about this? Why not have a meeting of some of the followers of different religious leaders in the area to see what differences there might be in the daily living of the different followers?
Robert Stichter
Milford
Who's A NIMBY Now?
Editor, Times-Union:Does anyone else find it ironic that some of the most vocal supporters of Meijer locating on Husky Trail are now opponents of widening CR 350W? I guess being a "NIMBY" is only bad when the back yard is someone else's.
Jerry Hogan
Warsaw
via e-mail
School Prayer
Editor, Times-Union:During this "winter boredom" we all have special things on the "tube" we look forward to. In the past, I have enjoyed watching the "Grammys" - but not this year. It really disturbed me to think that Eminem Rapper is up for 4 Grammy awards for a song (if you want to call it that) that includes lyrics such as raping and killing his mother, suicide and many other sadistic chants. I don't even listen to RAP but when I heard the lyrics of this RAP garbage via TV advertisement, it caught my attention - mainly to my stomach - it made me sick! I'm going to share with you the following e-mail I received some time ago that pretty well describes a lot of our problems.
Mary had a little lamb, his fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go. He followed her to school one day, 'Twas even in the rule, it made the children laugh and play, to have a lamb at school. And then the rules all changed one day, illegal it became; to bring the Lamb Of God to school, or even speak his name. Every day got worse and worse, and days turned into years. Instead of hearing children laugh, we heard gunshots and tears. What must we do to stop the crime that's in our schools today? Let's let the Lamb come back to school, and teach our kids to pray.
Marilyn E. Workley
Warsaw
via e-mail
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- Pregnant Teens - American Products - ABATE Says Thanks - Upset By Letter - Christianity - Who's A NIMBY Now? - School Prayer
Pregnant Teens
Editor, Times-Union:As I read Will Baker's letter regarding pregnant teens (Jan. 5, 2001), I felt increasingly sad and, then, just plain mad at his lack of compassion and understanding. There are many reasons that teenage girls get pregnant but the main one is NOT so they can get attention from their friends. They get pregnant because they mistake hormones for love; because they lack enough self-respect to say no; because a boy convinces them that he loves them; or because they are young and sometimes irresponsible.
Indeed, they get pregnant because they have sex when they should not. But we cannot legislate morals and values; there will always be unmarried people having sex. True, it may be more prevalent today than it was "back in his day," but if shame and condemnation did not prevent teen pregnancy back then, why would it work now?
It's time to wake up and realize that there is not a high school in this country where NOBODY is having sex. There may be a high school where no girls are pregnant but I can guarantee you there are students at every school who have been and/or are sexually active. Public schools are not allowed to expel a pregnant student; a private school may do anything it chooses. Abortion also happens to be a "solution" that keeps the issue hidden from those in authority, but I would rather see a pregnant teenager in school than I would see a woman grieve for the child she aborted.
Mr. Baker said he has "become increasingly irate" about this topic. I too became increasingly irate at his letter. When I read his final sentence, stating that "maybe we can stop another child's life from being ruined by being born to a young incapable mother," I knew it was time to respond. It was time because the insults were now directed at my child(ren) and that is unfair. Nobody's life is 'ruined' just by being born to a young mother.
You see, I know this is true because I was "that" young, incapable mother. I was "that" high school girl who was shamed and shunned by students, teachers and parents alike - people like Mr. Baker. But I'm here to tell you that not every story ends like he thinks it will; some stories have good endings! Some young girls have families, friends and yes, even total strangers who rally around them and help make a difficult situation better.
I am delighted to tell Mr. Baker that my children's lives were not ruined because they had a teenage mom. Both are now college graduates and so am I; we have come full circle. Yes, I was young and na•ve; I had two sons before I was 19. And did we struggle? Yes, we sure did. But we beat the odds and I am proud of that. Now it's my turn to help someone else do what we did.
Please do not misunderstand me. I neither condone nor recommend premarital sex or teen parenting. I am merely responding to the realities of life. Things happen. And when they do, we need to be prepared to respond with love and help. This is the only way to make a tough situation better. Being critical and pious won't help; labeling and name-calling won't either.
Instead of condemnation, these girls need our help. This is how to break the cycle - Educate them! Support them! Show them how to beat the odds! Be part of the solution and not part of the problem! If my calling in life is simply to understand, respond and reach out to pregnant teens and their parents ... well then, I accept the challenge because they already have enough critics. At least I understand the situation because I have walked a mile in their shoes.
Shelly Gilliland
Pierceton
via e-mail
American Products
Editor, Times-Union:GE - These initials once stood for a great American company with American workers who made excellent products sold all over the world and supported the American way of life.
The GE refrigerator plant at Bloomington, Ind., will in the next year layoff (fire) about 3,200 American workers and move the production of refrigerators to Mexico, using underpaid workers with no benefits or pensions, etc., making second-rate products, which will not support the American way of life.
The American worker, with wages, pensions and insurance plans, was making about $24 per hour. The Mexican worker will make $2 or $3 per hour.
Do some mental calculating. A $1,000 refrigerator made in America may cost GE $500 or $600 to make. In Mexico, GE's cost is $250 to $300.
GE will still sell the refrigerator for $1,000 to the American worker. Talk about inflation. The American consumer and worker are being stabbed in the back by NAFTA. Buy American products made by American workers in America.
Write your senator and congressman. We want tariffs on all products coming into the United States. The money can be used to lower our taxes and protect our American workers' way of life.
Jack W. Klinefelter
Warsaw
ABATE Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:ABATE of Kosciusko County wants to thank all the area businesses for donating door prizes and raffle items for our 12th Annual Toys for Tots. Without your help many kids would not have had a Christmas. It's good to see the community behind us and supporting us in our efforts.
Donations went to CCS and Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County.
Again, thank you very much.
Kirby LeMond
ABATE Officer
Claypool
Upset By Letter
Editor, Times-Union:Regarding Mr. Baker's letter on Pregnant Teens, I would like to say as I read it I was thinking this guy is a concerned father and that's nice to see in this day and age. However, after reading the last sentence of his letter, containing the follow statement: "Maybe we can stop another child's life from being ruined by being born to a young incapable mother and possibly father," I was very upset. Just because a teen has a baby doesn't mean that the baby is going to have its life ruined. Or for that matter the parent of that baby. I am glad that my mother had me at the ripe young age of 16. Perhaps if more parents were closer to the age their children are they would have more understanding of things that are affecting them. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to have a child as a teen. But no one should say that a person will ruin their life or another life by having a child. It simply doesn't have to be true, with some love and understanding from parents these young adults can become as good if not better parents than their own.
Jeremiah Lewis
Warsaw
via e-mail
Christianity
Editor, Times-Union:Would someone who has had a much higher education than I have had please explain to me what Mr. Teevan is saying about Christianity because "Skot of Claypool" isn't a believer? Does he really believe that Christianity is this world's best religion and this world couldn't get along without Christianity? Didn't it get along without Christianity for a long, long time? Aren't human beings the same now as they were before religion came?
Also, if Christianity is as great for this world as he believes it is, why does the Bible tell us that a time comes when a certain judgment of this world's sinners begins with the members of the Christian religion? (The meaning of that "judgment" is "condemnation"!) It even says that sinful Christians will have a swift destruction. Mr. Teevan says that all other religions have an endless and meaningless cycle of life ending in extinction. When Scripture says what it does about Christianity, how could the Christian religion be any different than all others? How could the Bible be for the destruction of Christianity if Christianity is the best this world has?
But how could Christianity be any better than others when the followers of Christianity do the same wrong things as the followers of Buddha or Lao-Tse?
Or, does Mr. Teevan just tell us what Christianity should be or could be like since it has a resurrected savior while other religions don't have such saviors? Is this the reason for the coming destruction of the Christian religion? Since its members don't care to be what they could be or should be, extinction comes?
What about this? Why not have a meeting of some of the followers of different religious leaders in the area to see what differences there might be in the daily living of the different followers?
Robert Stichter
Milford
Who's A NIMBY Now?
Editor, Times-Union:Does anyone else find it ironic that some of the most vocal supporters of Meijer locating on Husky Trail are now opponents of widening CR 350W? I guess being a "NIMBY" is only bad when the back yard is someone else's.
Jerry Hogan
Warsaw
via e-mail
School Prayer
Editor, Times-Union:During this "winter boredom" we all have special things on the "tube" we look forward to. In the past, I have enjoyed watching the "Grammys" - but not this year. It really disturbed me to think that Eminem Rapper is up for 4 Grammy awards for a song (if you want to call it that) that includes lyrics such as raping and killing his mother, suicide and many other sadistic chants. I don't even listen to RAP but when I heard the lyrics of this RAP garbage via TV advertisement, it caught my attention - mainly to my stomach - it made me sick! I'm going to share with you the following e-mail I received some time ago that pretty well describes a lot of our problems.
Mary had a little lamb, his fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go. He followed her to school one day, 'Twas even in the rule, it made the children laugh and play, to have a lamb at school. And then the rules all changed one day, illegal it became; to bring the Lamb Of God to school, or even speak his name. Every day got worse and worse, and days turned into years. Instead of hearing children laugh, we heard gunshots and tears. What must we do to stop the crime that's in our schools today? Let's let the Lamb come back to school, and teach our kids to pray.
Marilyn E. Workley
Warsaw
via e-mail
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