Letters to the Editor 05-20-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Not Representative - Great Sacrifices - Abortion Inaccuracies - REMC Program - Enjoys Veterans Series
Not Representative
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to Deanna Newton's letter which appeared in your paper May 17, 2004.
I take great offense to Ms. Newton's supposition that the few individuals who mistreated Iraqi prisoners represent us all. I was appalled by the actions of those folks who wear the same military uniform that I also once wore. But to say they represent the whole of America is not only absurd, it's un-American. We are one of, if not the, most generous nations on Earth. As a whole, Americans are filled with not only patriotism, but honor and compassion. We live in one of the greatest countries on Earth and while it's not perfect, it affords us great opportunity and many freedoms that citizens in other countries can only dream of. I have always believed that with great fortune comes great responsibility. So yes, I have always believed it is one of America's duties to keep a watchful eye on the tyrants of the world and to help free oppressed people if we can. It's one of the prices we pay for living here. And it's a tribute to all those who gave their lives for this country.
And am I the only one who listened with any amount of attention to President Bush's pre-war addresses? I ask that because it seems to me many on the left have put all their attention on WMDs and have failed to remember the various other reasons given for ousting Hussein. I for one have no doubt that he played some sort of role in 9-11. And that role, no matter how slight, makes him an enemy of the United States. I remember specifically hearing the vice president say that the war on terrorism was not going to be easy. I remember him saying specifically that people would die - some innocent. And I remember agreeing with him when he said that the blood of those people would be on the hands of the Sept. 11 terrorists and all those who harbor them.
To the military personnel who broke the law and gave leftists like Ms. Newton another reason to oppose the righteous cause that is this war on terrorism, I say may you be removed of your uniform swiftly and without mercy. And to those on the left who seem to thrive on such tragedy in order to bolster their misguided point of view, I ask you this ... what would you say of the liberation of Iraq to friends and family of those killed under the tyranny of Hussein?
Phil Smith
Warsaw
via e-mail
Great Sacrifices
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in response to the letter from Deanna Newton printed in the May 17 Times-Union.
First of all Ms. Newton, you are free to leave this Great Country that you seem to hate and are so embarrassed by.
Secondly, many young people have made great sacrifices since 9-11. Our son for one, just spent a year in Iraq, he joined the military to help make sure that you have the freedom to run the government down in print. To make sure we keep the freedoms we enjoy in this country. What sacrifices have you made for this country, other than your liberal whining in the Times-Union? I know you claim to be a Libertarian however, you certainly don't sound like one.
Thirdly, "Except for ending slavery, fascism, nazism and communism, war has never solved anything. Communism and despotism have only killed 100 million people. Let's give them another chance."
I know you enjoy running gun battles on this Opinion page however, I will not engage with you in one. I've said my piece.
Amy Harding
Warsaw
via e-mail
Abortion Inaccuracies
Editor, Times-Union:Ellen Goodman, in her 5/13/04 editorial, made some inaccurate and misleading statements regarding abortion-related issues. Goodman takes issue with pro-lifers who say that Bernard Nathanson stated that 10,000 deaths occurred each year because of abortion in the early 1970s even though the official statistics showed that only 39 women died from abortion. Ms. Parker is correct that official statistics show that only 39 women died in 1972. However, the point to be made is not how many women actually died.
The issue is how many women did pro-abortion groups say were dying in order to convince people that abortion should be legal. Bernard Nathanson (who was a co-founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws - NARAL) made the following statement in 1979 in his book "Aborting America": "How many deaths were we talking about when abortion was illegal?
"In NARAL, we generally emphasized the frame of the individual case, not the mass statistics, but when we spoke of the latter it was always "5,000 to 10,000 deaths a year." I confess that I knew the figures were totally false... But in the "morality" of our revolution, it was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics? The overriding concern was to get the laws eliminated, and anything within reason was permissible."
The editorial also accuses pro-lifers of falsely claiming that a connection between abortion and breast cancer exists. Studies have consistently shown that women who have chosen abortion have an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 25 reports, one dating back as early as 1957, have demonstrated that women who have abortions before completing a pregnancy have a 50 percent higher breast cancer risk. Dr. Janet Daling, a leading cancer epidemiologist and pro-choice advocate, has stated, "I have three sisters with breast cancer; I resent people messing with scientific data to further their own agenda. ... I would have loved to have found no association between breast cancer and abortion, but our research is rock solid, and our data is accurate."
A third issue is Ms. Goodman's claim that the FDA caved in to conservatives when it decided to not approve the Morning After Pill for over-the-counter distribution even though experts voted that it was safe and effective. The truth is that there are many problems and concerns about the MAP. The FDA has found that the promoters of Plan B (MAP) are guilty of false advertising for overstating the effectiveness in prohibiting pregnancies than the evidence shows and understating the medical risks to women. The World Health Organization has warned: "There may be a higher percentage of ectopic pregnancies among emergency contraceptive pill failure cases than among a normal pregnant population."
If you would like more information regarding concerns about the MAP, please go to our Web site, www.kcrtl.org
Dave Koontz
Kosciusko County Right to Life
via e-mail
Editor's Note: Ellen Goodman's column of May 13 erroneously ran under the byline of Kathleen Parker. This letter was edited to reflect that the column was written by Goodman.
REMC Program
Editor, Times-Union:I'm not sure if the Warsaw community is aware of the great program that has been presented to many of the Warsaw elementary school students by our local Kosciusko REMC. Our local REMC has taken the time, money and great effort to inform many of our children about items such as electrical safety and daily uses of energy. I've heard several positive comments from students, parents and administrators that the program kept student attention, was extremely informational and totally worthwhile for program content. It makes me think that adults might be good candidates to see this program as well. Thanks again to our REMC for their contributions to the community.
Ron Yeiter
Atwood
via e-mail
Enjoys Veterans Series
Editor, Times-Union:I'm thoroughly enjoying the accounts of the brave men in the Warsaw area that all of us owe so much. We become forgetful so easily. All the discomforts and life-threatening situations that they went through so that we could enjoy our freedom. May we never forget their sacrifices.
I live next door to an 84-year-old former WWII Marine that was the only survivor in a group of 28 men that fought in the South Pacific. A few years ago I thanked him for what he had done for me and our country. He told me I was only the second person that had ever thanked him in over 50 years.
Make sure you thank a veteran this and every Memorial Day.
Bob Inman
Georgetown, Ga.
Former Warsaw area resident
via e-mail
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- Not Representative - Great Sacrifices - Abortion Inaccuracies - REMC Program - Enjoys Veterans Series
Not Representative
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to Deanna Newton's letter which appeared in your paper May 17, 2004.
I take great offense to Ms. Newton's supposition that the few individuals who mistreated Iraqi prisoners represent us all. I was appalled by the actions of those folks who wear the same military uniform that I also once wore. But to say they represent the whole of America is not only absurd, it's un-American. We are one of, if not the, most generous nations on Earth. As a whole, Americans are filled with not only patriotism, but honor and compassion. We live in one of the greatest countries on Earth and while it's not perfect, it affords us great opportunity and many freedoms that citizens in other countries can only dream of. I have always believed that with great fortune comes great responsibility. So yes, I have always believed it is one of America's duties to keep a watchful eye on the tyrants of the world and to help free oppressed people if we can. It's one of the prices we pay for living here. And it's a tribute to all those who gave their lives for this country.
And am I the only one who listened with any amount of attention to President Bush's pre-war addresses? I ask that because it seems to me many on the left have put all their attention on WMDs and have failed to remember the various other reasons given for ousting Hussein. I for one have no doubt that he played some sort of role in 9-11. And that role, no matter how slight, makes him an enemy of the United States. I remember specifically hearing the vice president say that the war on terrorism was not going to be easy. I remember him saying specifically that people would die - some innocent. And I remember agreeing with him when he said that the blood of those people would be on the hands of the Sept. 11 terrorists and all those who harbor them.
To the military personnel who broke the law and gave leftists like Ms. Newton another reason to oppose the righteous cause that is this war on terrorism, I say may you be removed of your uniform swiftly and without mercy. And to those on the left who seem to thrive on such tragedy in order to bolster their misguided point of view, I ask you this ... what would you say of the liberation of Iraq to friends and family of those killed under the tyranny of Hussein?
Phil Smith
Warsaw
via e-mail
Great Sacrifices
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in response to the letter from Deanna Newton printed in the May 17 Times-Union.
First of all Ms. Newton, you are free to leave this Great Country that you seem to hate and are so embarrassed by.
Secondly, many young people have made great sacrifices since 9-11. Our son for one, just spent a year in Iraq, he joined the military to help make sure that you have the freedom to run the government down in print. To make sure we keep the freedoms we enjoy in this country. What sacrifices have you made for this country, other than your liberal whining in the Times-Union? I know you claim to be a Libertarian however, you certainly don't sound like one.
Thirdly, "Except for ending slavery, fascism, nazism and communism, war has never solved anything. Communism and despotism have only killed 100 million people. Let's give them another chance."
I know you enjoy running gun battles on this Opinion page however, I will not engage with you in one. I've said my piece.
Amy Harding
Warsaw
via e-mail
Abortion Inaccuracies
Editor, Times-Union:Ellen Goodman, in her 5/13/04 editorial, made some inaccurate and misleading statements regarding abortion-related issues. Goodman takes issue with pro-lifers who say that Bernard Nathanson stated that 10,000 deaths occurred each year because of abortion in the early 1970s even though the official statistics showed that only 39 women died from abortion. Ms. Parker is correct that official statistics show that only 39 women died in 1972. However, the point to be made is not how many women actually died.
The issue is how many women did pro-abortion groups say were dying in order to convince people that abortion should be legal. Bernard Nathanson (who was a co-founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws - NARAL) made the following statement in 1979 in his book "Aborting America": "How many deaths were we talking about when abortion was illegal?
"In NARAL, we generally emphasized the frame of the individual case, not the mass statistics, but when we spoke of the latter it was always "5,000 to 10,000 deaths a year." I confess that I knew the figures were totally false... But in the "morality" of our revolution, it was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics? The overriding concern was to get the laws eliminated, and anything within reason was permissible."
The editorial also accuses pro-lifers of falsely claiming that a connection between abortion and breast cancer exists. Studies have consistently shown that women who have chosen abortion have an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 25 reports, one dating back as early as 1957, have demonstrated that women who have abortions before completing a pregnancy have a 50 percent higher breast cancer risk. Dr. Janet Daling, a leading cancer epidemiologist and pro-choice advocate, has stated, "I have three sisters with breast cancer; I resent people messing with scientific data to further their own agenda. ... I would have loved to have found no association between breast cancer and abortion, but our research is rock solid, and our data is accurate."
A third issue is Ms. Goodman's claim that the FDA caved in to conservatives when it decided to not approve the Morning After Pill for over-the-counter distribution even though experts voted that it was safe and effective. The truth is that there are many problems and concerns about the MAP. The FDA has found that the promoters of Plan B (MAP) are guilty of false advertising for overstating the effectiveness in prohibiting pregnancies than the evidence shows and understating the medical risks to women. The World Health Organization has warned: "There may be a higher percentage of ectopic pregnancies among emergency contraceptive pill failure cases than among a normal pregnant population."
If you would like more information regarding concerns about the MAP, please go to our Web site, www.kcrtl.org
Dave Koontz
Kosciusko County Right to Life
via e-mail
Editor's Note: Ellen Goodman's column of May 13 erroneously ran under the byline of Kathleen Parker. This letter was edited to reflect that the column was written by Goodman.
REMC Program
Editor, Times-Union:I'm not sure if the Warsaw community is aware of the great program that has been presented to many of the Warsaw elementary school students by our local Kosciusko REMC. Our local REMC has taken the time, money and great effort to inform many of our children about items such as electrical safety and daily uses of energy. I've heard several positive comments from students, parents and administrators that the program kept student attention, was extremely informational and totally worthwhile for program content. It makes me think that adults might be good candidates to see this program as well. Thanks again to our REMC for their contributions to the community.
Ron Yeiter
Atwood
via e-mail
Enjoys Veterans Series
Editor, Times-Union:I'm thoroughly enjoying the accounts of the brave men in the Warsaw area that all of us owe so much. We become forgetful so easily. All the discomforts and life-threatening situations that they went through so that we could enjoy our freedom. May we never forget their sacrifices.
I live next door to an 84-year-old former WWII Marine that was the only survivor in a group of 28 men that fought in the South Pacific. A few years ago I thanked him for what he had done for me and our country. He told me I was only the second person that had ever thanked him in over 50 years.
Make sure you thank a veteran this and every Memorial Day.
Bob Inman
Georgetown, Ga.
Former Warsaw area resident
via e-mail
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