Letters to the Editor 03-15-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- School Violence - Programming Problem - 14th Amendment
School Violence
Editor, Times-Union:In one of your past issues of the Times-Union, you stated that we should do something about the violence in the schools, using that six-year-old girl in Michigan as an example.
I hate to say this but if all we do is put more of an influence on gun control, that won't completely stop the violence in schools. In fact, it may increase death by stabbing with knives or increase the violence with the old-fashioned beat down, as some people put it. I think that it is a good idea to take guns completely out of the schools, but the question is: "Is it possible?"
What I think we should do is to put metal detectors in the schools as soon as possible and not only in high schools but every other school around the U.S. whether it is a private school or not. I understand that private schools aren't necessarily under government funding, but I think that the government should give them somewhat of a grant so that they have the funding to put metal detectors in. I also think that the X-rays of bags, like they do at airports, are a good idea but that might be stretching it a bit. I mean, as years progress, the violence increases. We as people can all see that.
I agree with you that some of the actual personalities of the children and teens all lead back to the home life of the child. It leads back to negligence by a mother or father or both, it leads back to how they have been raised. I personally believe that, as the Bible states, "If we teach a child in the way that they should be, then they will grow up knowing the right way to go." Another major factor in the child's train of thought is the television shows that they enjoy. I think that there should be a regulation on what is shown on television and what children are able to watch.
Anyway, like I was saying, I don't think the only step to reducing violence in the school is only more gun control.
Jeff Rice
Warsaw
Programming Problem
Editor, Times-Union:WNDU, South Bend's NBC affiliate, exercised its right to pre-empt the network broadcast of the controversial new cartoon "God, The Devil, And Bob" last Thursday evening. In fact, numerous NBC affiliates throughout the U.S. blacked out the show. It's very easy to understand and appreciate WNDU's position. The station is owned by Notre Dame University, a prestigious, private university founded by clerics who belonged to the Congregation of Holy Cross. "God, The Devil, And Bob" would have been shaky ground for the owners to tread. However, I found a great deal of humor and irony in WNDU's choice for alternative programming. A "Seinfeld" rerun titled "The Contest," one of the show's most ribald episodes where the four main characters make a wager testing their self-restraint, replaced "God, The Devil, And Bob." I guess we'll never know whether this programming blunder was a management oversight, or an insider's prank.
Chip Davenport
Milford
via e-mail
14th Amendment
Editor Times-Union:In a recent letter defending abortion, Mr. Zimmerman referred to the 14th Amendment in a way that misrepresented the language and meaning of our Constitution. In it he states that it "clarifies when and to whom these absolute and otherwise unalienable rights (referring to the Bill of Rights) begin and belong to: all persons born and naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
Let me quote what the amendment actually says (my emphasis added): "All PERSONS born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are CITIZENS of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the PRIVILEGES or immunities of CITIZENS of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any PERSON of LIFE, LIBERTY, or PROPERTY, without due process of law; nor deny to any PERSON within its jurisdiction the EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws."
First he confuses the "unalienable rights" spoken of in the Declaration of Independence with the Bill of Rights which he correctly says protect us from "governmental intrusion." The unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" which belong to "all men" are said by Jefferson to be endowed by our "Creator." Without evidence to the contrary, we must assume the endowment takes place at the moment of creation.
Secondly, he fails to point out the distinction that is made between the privileges of citizens and the rights of persons. It is true that only certain persons are citizens, but all persons have the rights of life, liberty and property. Following Mr. Zimmerman's logic would lead us down a notoriously sinister path. If persons in the womb are not protected by the 14th Amendment, then neither are foreigners. They could be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process and could be denied equal protection.
Most importantly, Mr. Zimmerman has failed to show how intentionally taking the life of an innocent human being is anything other than murder. Murder is wrong regardless of what Zimmerman, Jefferson or the Constitution says. It clearly violates God's holy law. Freedom to murder is not a "blessing;" it is a national atrocity. We have taken our place in history alongside the Nazis and the Communists. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34
Tim Witte
Winona Lake
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- School Violence - Programming Problem - 14th Amendment
School Violence
Editor, Times-Union:In one of your past issues of the Times-Union, you stated that we should do something about the violence in the schools, using that six-year-old girl in Michigan as an example.
I hate to say this but if all we do is put more of an influence on gun control, that won't completely stop the violence in schools. In fact, it may increase death by stabbing with knives or increase the violence with the old-fashioned beat down, as some people put it. I think that it is a good idea to take guns completely out of the schools, but the question is: "Is it possible?"
What I think we should do is to put metal detectors in the schools as soon as possible and not only in high schools but every other school around the U.S. whether it is a private school or not. I understand that private schools aren't necessarily under government funding, but I think that the government should give them somewhat of a grant so that they have the funding to put metal detectors in. I also think that the X-rays of bags, like they do at airports, are a good idea but that might be stretching it a bit. I mean, as years progress, the violence increases. We as people can all see that.
I agree with you that some of the actual personalities of the children and teens all lead back to the home life of the child. It leads back to negligence by a mother or father or both, it leads back to how they have been raised. I personally believe that, as the Bible states, "If we teach a child in the way that they should be, then they will grow up knowing the right way to go." Another major factor in the child's train of thought is the television shows that they enjoy. I think that there should be a regulation on what is shown on television and what children are able to watch.
Anyway, like I was saying, I don't think the only step to reducing violence in the school is only more gun control.
Jeff Rice
Warsaw
Programming Problem
Editor, Times-Union:WNDU, South Bend's NBC affiliate, exercised its right to pre-empt the network broadcast of the controversial new cartoon "God, The Devil, And Bob" last Thursday evening. In fact, numerous NBC affiliates throughout the U.S. blacked out the show. It's very easy to understand and appreciate WNDU's position. The station is owned by Notre Dame University, a prestigious, private university founded by clerics who belonged to the Congregation of Holy Cross. "God, The Devil, And Bob" would have been shaky ground for the owners to tread. However, I found a great deal of humor and irony in WNDU's choice for alternative programming. A "Seinfeld" rerun titled "The Contest," one of the show's most ribald episodes where the four main characters make a wager testing their self-restraint, replaced "God, The Devil, And Bob." I guess we'll never know whether this programming blunder was a management oversight, or an insider's prank.
Chip Davenport
Milford
via e-mail
14th Amendment
Editor Times-Union:In a recent letter defending abortion, Mr. Zimmerman referred to the 14th Amendment in a way that misrepresented the language and meaning of our Constitution. In it he states that it "clarifies when and to whom these absolute and otherwise unalienable rights (referring to the Bill of Rights) begin and belong to: all persons born and naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
Let me quote what the amendment actually says (my emphasis added): "All PERSONS born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are CITIZENS of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the PRIVILEGES or immunities of CITIZENS of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any PERSON of LIFE, LIBERTY, or PROPERTY, without due process of law; nor deny to any PERSON within its jurisdiction the EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws."
First he confuses the "unalienable rights" spoken of in the Declaration of Independence with the Bill of Rights which he correctly says protect us from "governmental intrusion." The unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" which belong to "all men" are said by Jefferson to be endowed by our "Creator." Without evidence to the contrary, we must assume the endowment takes place at the moment of creation.
Secondly, he fails to point out the distinction that is made between the privileges of citizens and the rights of persons. It is true that only certain persons are citizens, but all persons have the rights of life, liberty and property. Following Mr. Zimmerman's logic would lead us down a notoriously sinister path. If persons in the womb are not protected by the 14th Amendment, then neither are foreigners. They could be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process and could be denied equal protection.
Most importantly, Mr. Zimmerman has failed to show how intentionally taking the life of an innocent human being is anything other than murder. Murder is wrong regardless of what Zimmerman, Jefferson or the Constitution says. It clearly violates God's holy law. Freedom to murder is not a "blessing;" it is a national atrocity. We have taken our place in history alongside the Nazis and the Communists. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34
Tim Witte
Winona Lake
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