Letters to the Editor 12-09-2003
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Missing Wallet - Teachers - Abortion Misconceptions - Thankful For Guard - Breakfast With Santa - Thanks To Community - Gun Issues
Missing Wallet
Editor, Times-Union:I wrote to you about three weeks ago regarding a missing wallet. Last week our doctor's office called and said someone brought in some money for him. We picked it up and went to the pharmacy for more medication. They handed my husband a check for $100 and a note expressing their sorrow for our misfortune. We both were so touched by these acts of kindness that we cried. Thank you so much for helping us. Mike has replaced his driver's license and has sent to Social Security for a new card, and to Medicare for a new card also. Monday evening my therapist said I should be walking by Christmas. The world looks a lot better now.
Again, I thank those wonderful people who helped. May God bless you.
Mike and Corene Hanson
North Webster
Teachers
Editor, Times-Union:There are many people that influence a teacher. I would like to share who they can be by addressing the concepts of purpose, passion, partnerships.
Teachers, occasionally, think that someone has determined that the purpose of their day is to sit not down. More often than not, teachers think that their purpose is not to give up. By that, I mean, as teachers, our purpose is to stand for the honor student, the autistic preschooler, the 13-year-old with a chip on the shoulder or the 10-year-old of the transient family. This is when we say thank you to those supporting staff members that make our buildings look their best. Thank you Kirby and your staff. Thank you to the secretaries that provide the first welcoming impressions to our schools. Thank you, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Cleveland. Thank you to our Parent-Teacher Organizations for your tremendous support to students and staff. Thank you, Mrs. Simmers, Mrs. Hess and Dr. McGuire for working to help our community discern what is best for our students. Thank you to my parents, who have helped me recognize the need to honor the dignity of everyone.
As educators, we must realize that each and every child has a powerful need to "connect." We must help them realize that these connections are lifelong. As leaders of this journey of discovery, it is our personal responsibility to be prepared to the best of our ability. Warsaw Schools has first-rate professionals that know how to keep the main thing as the main thing. I am talking about passion.
This is a great place to thank my family and Mike, who tries to understand my passion for education. He has supported my passions by tilling stubborn soil at Harrison School for a "friendship garden" or by hauling a pickup truck full of pop cans to the junkyard so Leesburg kids could donate money to the Statue of Liberty restoration project.
Warsaw Schools and Kosciusko County can celebrate quality partnerships. To our parents and to the community, you, too, have a duty as guardians of the future. Our technological society requires a high level of thinking, reading and writing. You must help convey the importance of literacy, and the best way is truly by example. You do make a difference. No act is too small. The picture of the Hispanic family reading together at a Family Read-in Night sends a powerful message to those children.
Time, talent and treasures are gifts that we all have to give according to our means. Could you donate one hour a week to listen to children read? Would you lend an ear and listen to an adolescent read and discuss a writing work-in-progress? Should you support your community schools by e-mailing or calling the school office to learn how you can to lend a hand? A key here is "can," the last four letters in American. And this addresses accountability; I can and so can you.
Judy Kinsey
Warsaw
via e-mail
Abortion Misconceptions
Editor, Times-Union:The Dear Abby column on abortion in the Nov. 24 edition of the Times-Union included misconceptions that need to be addressed. This column would lead people to believe that abortion is safe, provides relief for the woman, and that Planned Parenthood is looking out for the benefit of the woman.
The column states, "Although some women experience guilt, I have read that many report feeling a combination of regret and relief." This would lead the reader to think that feelings following an abortion are relatively minor. The truth is that problems, both physical and mental can, in many cases, be major.
National statistics on abortion show that 10 percent of women undergoing induced abortion suffer from immediate complications, of which one-fifth were considered major."Major" complications include infection, excessive bleeding, fevers, chronic abdominal pain and ripping or perforation of the uterus.
Studies on the first few weeks after an abortion have found that between 40 and 60 percent of women questioned report negative reactions. Within eight weeks after their abortions, 55 percent expressed guilt, 44 percent complained of nervous disorders, 36 percent had experienced sleep disturbances and 31 percent had regrets about their decision and 11 percent had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor. An increasing number of counselors are reporting that unacknowledged post-abortion distress is the factor in many of their female patients, even though their patients have come to seek therapy for seemingly unrelated problems.
The column also claims that Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, had humane reasons for "helping" poor people (which the Dear Abby column states included women of color) to control their fertility. The truth can be found in several of Sanger's own statements.
"Eugenics is the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political and social problems."
"Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated."
"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population."
The Dear Abby column states, "Planned Parenthood's mission is to help women make the right choice for them." The truth is that Planned Parenthood is the No. 1 provider of abortions in the country and its ultimate goal is to make money no matter what destruction it leaves in its wake, including the deaths of millions of unborn babies and physical and emotional damage to women.
Finally, the column says that crisis pregnancy centers force women to watch color videos of aborted babies. I can't claim to know what every pregnancy centers does, but I do know that most, including Heartline Pregnancy Center here in Warsaw, care more about women than to force them to do anything let alone watch aborted baby videos.
If you want more information about the problems related to abortion, I encourage you to go to www.afterabortion.org
Dave Koontz
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Thankful For Guard
Editor, Times-Union:Recently we had the privilege of hosting a party for the men of our local 293rd National Guard unit and their families. We are so very thankful to these men for their service and to their families for their courage and bravery during the absence of their soldiers. We know many of the families on a personal level and know how difficult this was. We also would like to say a very special thank-you to Amir Ashtari and Cal Roe of our local Pizza Huts for donating the pizzas for this event. You helped make this a very special night.
Mike and Deb Gilliam
Warsaw
Breakfast With Santa
Editor, Times-Union:This past Saturday, Dec. 6, Leesburg Elementary School held our annual Breakfast with Santa Celebration. Between 500 and 600 students/parents and community members attended this event and shared a joyous morning.
For many children this event is or may be the only celebration of the season that they are able to attend. Our Breakfast with Santa provides a warm breakfast to all who attend, a craft, face painting, visits and pictures with Santa. This event is free to anyone who attends. Also being held was the school book fair along with the Santa Shop. This year we were very blessed to have the Leesburg Fire Department in attendance; they gave away free smoke alarms to anyone who wanted one, over 70 were given out. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Leesburg Fire Department for making every effort to ensure a safe holiday for all, teachers and staff of Leesburg Elementary who gave their time and efforts to ensure that the morning was a huge success, Dr. & Mrs. McGuire, Mr. & Mrs. Sandra Hess who greeted and served countless pancakes and sausages, always with a smile and a kind word, the members of the Leesburg PTO whose love for our children is endless and finally, to those Leesburg parents who provided the hundreds of smiling faces that filled our building with the magic of the holiday season. To all of you I thank!
Patti Hanson
Leesburg Elementary PTO President
via e-mail
Thanks To Community
Editor, Times-Union:We would like to take an opportunity to thank the community for all the prayers, meals, fund-raisers, and other help given to our family.
As many of you know, our 4-year-old son Austin was diagnosed with cancer back in May.
Since then, our community of churches, service organizations, friends, the City-County Athletic Complex, local businesses and people we do not know have contributed beyond our expectations.
We would like to give a special thanks to our close family and friends who have over abundantly given of their time and resources. And finally, we would not have made it through this time without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have seen it with our own eyes that his word is the truth. Isaiah 58:8
Merry Christmas,
Andy, Angie, Austin and Drew McCleary
Gun Issues
Editor, Times-Union:Well, 2003 has about had it and for gun owners and the Second Amendment, it's been a very good year indeed.
Alaska dropped its requirement for a concealed carry permit this year and four more states - Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri and New Mexico now have permits.
What this means is we now have two states, Alaska and Vermont, that require no permit at all, 34 states with "shall issue" permits, nine states with limited issue permits and only five states with no permit of any kind.
Although I'm not good at predictions,my guess is that four of these states will come in line in the near future, leaving only Illinois with no permit. Illinois being Illinois, they will probably pass a permit about the same time hell freezes over.
2004 is shaping up to be one of our best years in a very long time. As you probably know, the so-called "assault weapon" ban is set to expire in September and at this time it appears it will do so. Although a few politicians are trying to extend it, the vast majority appear to be willing to allow it to die. Especially with 2004 being an election year. Most of them remember what happened to Congress when the law was passed in 1994.
For now we need to keep the heat on our elected representatives and let them know we will remember how they voted when we vote in November.
Harold Kitson
Warsaw
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- Missing Wallet - Teachers - Abortion Misconceptions - Thankful For Guard - Breakfast With Santa - Thanks To Community - Gun Issues
Missing Wallet
Editor, Times-Union:I wrote to you about three weeks ago regarding a missing wallet. Last week our doctor's office called and said someone brought in some money for him. We picked it up and went to the pharmacy for more medication. They handed my husband a check for $100 and a note expressing their sorrow for our misfortune. We both were so touched by these acts of kindness that we cried. Thank you so much for helping us. Mike has replaced his driver's license and has sent to Social Security for a new card, and to Medicare for a new card also. Monday evening my therapist said I should be walking by Christmas. The world looks a lot better now.
Again, I thank those wonderful people who helped. May God bless you.
Mike and Corene Hanson
North Webster
Teachers
Editor, Times-Union:There are many people that influence a teacher. I would like to share who they can be by addressing the concepts of purpose, passion, partnerships.
Teachers, occasionally, think that someone has determined that the purpose of their day is to sit not down. More often than not, teachers think that their purpose is not to give up. By that, I mean, as teachers, our purpose is to stand for the honor student, the autistic preschooler, the 13-year-old with a chip on the shoulder or the 10-year-old of the transient family. This is when we say thank you to those supporting staff members that make our buildings look their best. Thank you Kirby and your staff. Thank you to the secretaries that provide the first welcoming impressions to our schools. Thank you, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Cleveland. Thank you to our Parent-Teacher Organizations for your tremendous support to students and staff. Thank you, Mrs. Simmers, Mrs. Hess and Dr. McGuire for working to help our community discern what is best for our students. Thank you to my parents, who have helped me recognize the need to honor the dignity of everyone.
As educators, we must realize that each and every child has a powerful need to "connect." We must help them realize that these connections are lifelong. As leaders of this journey of discovery, it is our personal responsibility to be prepared to the best of our ability. Warsaw Schools has first-rate professionals that know how to keep the main thing as the main thing. I am talking about passion.
This is a great place to thank my family and Mike, who tries to understand my passion for education. He has supported my passions by tilling stubborn soil at Harrison School for a "friendship garden" or by hauling a pickup truck full of pop cans to the junkyard so Leesburg kids could donate money to the Statue of Liberty restoration project.
Warsaw Schools and Kosciusko County can celebrate quality partnerships. To our parents and to the community, you, too, have a duty as guardians of the future. Our technological society requires a high level of thinking, reading and writing. You must help convey the importance of literacy, and the best way is truly by example. You do make a difference. No act is too small. The picture of the Hispanic family reading together at a Family Read-in Night sends a powerful message to those children.
Time, talent and treasures are gifts that we all have to give according to our means. Could you donate one hour a week to listen to children read? Would you lend an ear and listen to an adolescent read and discuss a writing work-in-progress? Should you support your community schools by e-mailing or calling the school office to learn how you can to lend a hand? A key here is "can," the last four letters in American. And this addresses accountability; I can and so can you.
Judy Kinsey
Warsaw
via e-mail
Abortion Misconceptions
Editor, Times-Union:The Dear Abby column on abortion in the Nov. 24 edition of the Times-Union included misconceptions that need to be addressed. This column would lead people to believe that abortion is safe, provides relief for the woman, and that Planned Parenthood is looking out for the benefit of the woman.
The column states, "Although some women experience guilt, I have read that many report feeling a combination of regret and relief." This would lead the reader to think that feelings following an abortion are relatively minor. The truth is that problems, both physical and mental can, in many cases, be major.
National statistics on abortion show that 10 percent of women undergoing induced abortion suffer from immediate complications, of which one-fifth were considered major."Major" complications include infection, excessive bleeding, fevers, chronic abdominal pain and ripping or perforation of the uterus.
Studies on the first few weeks after an abortion have found that between 40 and 60 percent of women questioned report negative reactions. Within eight weeks after their abortions, 55 percent expressed guilt, 44 percent complained of nervous disorders, 36 percent had experienced sleep disturbances and 31 percent had regrets about their decision and 11 percent had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor. An increasing number of counselors are reporting that unacknowledged post-abortion distress is the factor in many of their female patients, even though their patients have come to seek therapy for seemingly unrelated problems.
The column also claims that Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, had humane reasons for "helping" poor people (which the Dear Abby column states included women of color) to control their fertility. The truth can be found in several of Sanger's own statements.
"Eugenics is the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political and social problems."
"Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated."
"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population."
The Dear Abby column states, "Planned Parenthood's mission is to help women make the right choice for them." The truth is that Planned Parenthood is the No. 1 provider of abortions in the country and its ultimate goal is to make money no matter what destruction it leaves in its wake, including the deaths of millions of unborn babies and physical and emotional damage to women.
Finally, the column says that crisis pregnancy centers force women to watch color videos of aborted babies. I can't claim to know what every pregnancy centers does, but I do know that most, including Heartline Pregnancy Center here in Warsaw, care more about women than to force them to do anything let alone watch aborted baby videos.
If you want more information about the problems related to abortion, I encourage you to go to www.afterabortion.org
Dave Koontz
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Thankful For Guard
Editor, Times-Union:Recently we had the privilege of hosting a party for the men of our local 293rd National Guard unit and their families. We are so very thankful to these men for their service and to their families for their courage and bravery during the absence of their soldiers. We know many of the families on a personal level and know how difficult this was. We also would like to say a very special thank-you to Amir Ashtari and Cal Roe of our local Pizza Huts for donating the pizzas for this event. You helped make this a very special night.
Mike and Deb Gilliam
Warsaw
Breakfast With Santa
Editor, Times-Union:This past Saturday, Dec. 6, Leesburg Elementary School held our annual Breakfast with Santa Celebration. Between 500 and 600 students/parents and community members attended this event and shared a joyous morning.
For many children this event is or may be the only celebration of the season that they are able to attend. Our Breakfast with Santa provides a warm breakfast to all who attend, a craft, face painting, visits and pictures with Santa. This event is free to anyone who attends. Also being held was the school book fair along with the Santa Shop. This year we were very blessed to have the Leesburg Fire Department in attendance; they gave away free smoke alarms to anyone who wanted one, over 70 were given out. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Leesburg Fire Department for making every effort to ensure a safe holiday for all, teachers and staff of Leesburg Elementary who gave their time and efforts to ensure that the morning was a huge success, Dr. & Mrs. McGuire, Mr. & Mrs. Sandra Hess who greeted and served countless pancakes and sausages, always with a smile and a kind word, the members of the Leesburg PTO whose love for our children is endless and finally, to those Leesburg parents who provided the hundreds of smiling faces that filled our building with the magic of the holiday season. To all of you I thank!
Patti Hanson
Leesburg Elementary PTO President
via e-mail
Thanks To Community
Editor, Times-Union:We would like to take an opportunity to thank the community for all the prayers, meals, fund-raisers, and other help given to our family.
As many of you know, our 4-year-old son Austin was diagnosed with cancer back in May.
Since then, our community of churches, service organizations, friends, the City-County Athletic Complex, local businesses and people we do not know have contributed beyond our expectations.
We would like to give a special thanks to our close family and friends who have over abundantly given of their time and resources. And finally, we would not have made it through this time without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have seen it with our own eyes that his word is the truth. Isaiah 58:8
Merry Christmas,
Andy, Angie, Austin and Drew McCleary
Gun Issues
Editor, Times-Union:Well, 2003 has about had it and for gun owners and the Second Amendment, it's been a very good year indeed.
Alaska dropped its requirement for a concealed carry permit this year and four more states - Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri and New Mexico now have permits.
What this means is we now have two states, Alaska and Vermont, that require no permit at all, 34 states with "shall issue" permits, nine states with limited issue permits and only five states with no permit of any kind.
Although I'm not good at predictions,my guess is that four of these states will come in line in the near future, leaving only Illinois with no permit. Illinois being Illinois, they will probably pass a permit about the same time hell freezes over.
2004 is shaping up to be one of our best years in a very long time. As you probably know, the so-called "assault weapon" ban is set to expire in September and at this time it appears it will do so. Although a few politicians are trying to extend it, the vast majority appear to be willing to allow it to die. Especially with 2004 being an election year. Most of them remember what happened to Congress when the law was passed in 1994.
For now we need to keep the heat on our elected representatives and let them know we will remember how they voted when we vote in November.
Harold Kitson
Warsaw
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