Letters to the Editor 12-23-2003
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Unimpressed With Coulter - Food Drive - Founders' Intent - Expressing Opinions - Stolen Vehicle - Snowman Shooting - Community Support - Bush The Villain
Unimpressed With Coulter
Editor, Times-Union:You certainly publish a very interesting selection of editorial opinions in your paper and for this you are to be commended. However, I was surprised when a column by Ann Coulter appeared. While she represents a certain type of writing, I hesitate to include her with journalists such as Clarence Page and Cal Thomas.
I remember the first time I heard Ann on television. I thought I was listening to "Saturday Night Live" but soon realized that she was taking herself seriously. Since then, I have heard her a number of times and have read some of her writings and have been uniformly unimpressed. I thought it was just me since I frequently disagree with her and even when I agree, I shudder at her logic. One of the people she has appeared with was Bob Novak, who is known as a staunch conservative but someone who gets the facts right before he speaks. Even he ended up saying he did not appreciate Ann Coulter's writing. Another journalist reviewed one of her books and said she perhaps had broken the record for the most unsubstantiated or erroneous statements per page.
Even editors such as yourself are careful when you make statements so that you clearly label them as only your opinion or you indicate what information you used in your arguments. You seldom resort to extreme sarcasm since few writers can do this consistently without alienating their readers. Ann Coulter is certainly not such a skilled writer.
While there are some who like her simply because they like to read nasty remarks about many of the people she opposes, I suspect there are just as many who would rather hear the same statements made a bit more intellectually by some one such as Kate O'Beirne.
You may have read the list of the 10 things a certain staff writer does not want for Christmas and it ended with "Ann Coulter's or Dr. Laura's latest books ... They'll end up in the trash can where trash belongs." I mention this because it was printed in the same issue of the Times-Union as the first of Ann Coulter's columns. Kudos to David Slone of your staff. He correctly characterized Ann's writing.
James Streator
Claypool
via e-mail
Food Drive
Editor, Times-Union:To wrap up our food drive this year for Our Father's House, I ran to Aldi's to buy some last minute extras. While in the check-out lane, I made small talk with the woman behind me in line. I had mentioned who we were buying for and she insisted I take a monetary donation from her. After disagreeing with her for a few moments, I accepted and went through the store again. Thanks to this complete stranger, we were able to donate much more food than we anticipated! To our Angel in Aldi's, God bless and merry Christmas!
Katrina Siebenmorgen
Indiana Lawrence Bank, Warsaw
via e-mail
Founders' Intent
Editor, Times-Union:Gary Gerard's Dec. 13 weekly editorial titled "Don't Taint the Intent of the Founders" was right on target. I was impressed with the authentic historical recapitulization, including the emphasis on our country's moral genesis. In a day when liberals and naysayers seek to minimize and obfuscate the original intent of our founding fathers, it was refreshing to be reminded about this. Keep these editorials coming!
Patrick Sells
Warsaw
via e-mail
Expressing Opinions
Editor, Times-Union:I am responding to Brad Green's reply to my letter ("It's A Man's World") to the editor published recently. He said that I had "asserted in this column that Dave Koontz cannot express an opinion on abortion because he has never been and never will be pregnant." This isn't what I said. I pretty much expressed the opinion that because he is not a woman, he cannot take this issue as close to heart or as objectively as a woman can. For example, you wouldn't ask a Russian citizen to give a speech or dissertation on the culture of Japan if he had never been there, correct? That is what I was trying to communicate.
Also, I do not agree that Viagra prescriptions should be covered by health insurance, either. Sexual dysfunction is not life endangering, it should be considered an option to the patient - not a necessity to his well-being.
In closing, the Supreme Court felt strongly enough about the issue to rule in favor of Roe v. Wade 30 years ago. If the Supreme Court is changing their mind now and thinking they made the wrong decision about Roe v. Wade back then, isn't it entirely possible they could be wrong again this time?
Let's see what 2033 brings. I wish I could just say in regards to the abortion issue that it is personal to each individual woman and that you should just mind your own business. But that wouldn't be objective now, would it?
Sarah Lowe
Chelmsford, Mass.
via e-mail
Stolen Vehicle
Editor, Times-Union:I have worked hard all of my life and I have worked hard for the things that I own. I had very nice vehicle that I had for only four months and it was stolen out of our driveway two weeks ago, along with a lot of items that were in the vehicle. This is for the boys who stole our vehicle - shame on you. You thought that you were really clever, however, I know that you did not get away with it. You may think that you did, but you didn't.
For the parents of these boys - let's make a deal. If you want to bail your sons out, let us borrow your newest vehicle and do what your son did to ours. And if you want to pay for attorneys to help your sons out, maybe you should also volunteer to pay for damages caused by your sons.
To the community - many of you have had things stolen by these boys and these boys should sit in jail. They are local boys that went to school with our children and the parents of these boys work in our community. They should serve time and they should pay for the damages that they have done. Next time it might be your new car, your car stereo system, your camera, your video camera, your golf clubs or your purse.
To the city police, to the sheriff's office and the detectives - especially those that we have worked with, thank you. You have done an excellent job. Now it is up to the prosecutor's office and the court system.
These boys are not both in custody yet and both parents do not know yet. Would hate to ruin their Christmas.
Ramona Hurd
Leesburg
via e-mail
Snowman Shooting
Editor, Times-Union:Recently my 8-foot inflatable snowman became the victim of a drive-by paintball shooting. No longer will he be able to light up our block and put a smile on our children's faces. I just want to let the person or persons responsible for this act to know I am praying for them. I pray that they will not have to feel the same pain or see the same hurt in their children's eyes because of a random act of vandalism.
Christy Coonce
Warsaw
via e-mail
Community Support
Editor, Times-Union:This letter goes out in an attempt to show our gratitude for the ongoing support that our community has shown. Each year as our toy drive nears, the people and businesses in our county open their hearts and show kindness to those less fortunate. As the holidays approach, many in our area are in need and look forward to the assistance our event provides. So this thank-you goes out to every business and to every individual who helped support us in our goal to make the holidays a little brighter.
Ken Platt
Kosciusko County ABATE
Warsaw
via e-mail
Bush The Villain
Editor, Times-Union:With the capture and identification of one evil villain we can, perhaps, await the day when yet another may be identified. I refer, of course, to George Bush.
One has to give him credit, however, for accurately assessing the simplicity, hedonism and pseudopatriotism of a great many Americans. Many Americans apparently remain deliriously oblivious to there never having been weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and no connection between Saddam and organized terrorism. Apparently as long as they are able to guzzle gasoline and it's not their kid coming home in pieces, parts or a body bag, they will swallow anything and dismiss the words of soldiers returning from a tour of duty in Iraq telling us, "It's all about the oil."
Credit must be given to Bush also for his sense of loyalty to his friends who stand to profit handsomely from the oil and reconstruction in Iraq. They will, in return, contribute generously to his re-election campaign.
Finally, Bush deserves credit for the great effort he is making on our behalf to trash our environment and resources, and our economy. What a guy!
Bryan A. Ciula
Warsaw
[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
- Unimpressed With Coulter - Food Drive - Founders' Intent - Expressing Opinions - Stolen Vehicle - Snowman Shooting - Community Support - Bush The Villain
Unimpressed With Coulter
Editor, Times-Union:You certainly publish a very interesting selection of editorial opinions in your paper and for this you are to be commended. However, I was surprised when a column by Ann Coulter appeared. While she represents a certain type of writing, I hesitate to include her with journalists such as Clarence Page and Cal Thomas.
I remember the first time I heard Ann on television. I thought I was listening to "Saturday Night Live" but soon realized that she was taking herself seriously. Since then, I have heard her a number of times and have read some of her writings and have been uniformly unimpressed. I thought it was just me since I frequently disagree with her and even when I agree, I shudder at her logic. One of the people she has appeared with was Bob Novak, who is known as a staunch conservative but someone who gets the facts right before he speaks. Even he ended up saying he did not appreciate Ann Coulter's writing. Another journalist reviewed one of her books and said she perhaps had broken the record for the most unsubstantiated or erroneous statements per page.
Even editors such as yourself are careful when you make statements so that you clearly label them as only your opinion or you indicate what information you used in your arguments. You seldom resort to extreme sarcasm since few writers can do this consistently without alienating their readers. Ann Coulter is certainly not such a skilled writer.
While there are some who like her simply because they like to read nasty remarks about many of the people she opposes, I suspect there are just as many who would rather hear the same statements made a bit more intellectually by some one such as Kate O'Beirne.
You may have read the list of the 10 things a certain staff writer does not want for Christmas and it ended with "Ann Coulter's or Dr. Laura's latest books ... They'll end up in the trash can where trash belongs." I mention this because it was printed in the same issue of the Times-Union as the first of Ann Coulter's columns. Kudos to David Slone of your staff. He correctly characterized Ann's writing.
James Streator
Claypool
via e-mail
Food Drive
Editor, Times-Union:To wrap up our food drive this year for Our Father's House, I ran to Aldi's to buy some last minute extras. While in the check-out lane, I made small talk with the woman behind me in line. I had mentioned who we were buying for and she insisted I take a monetary donation from her. After disagreeing with her for a few moments, I accepted and went through the store again. Thanks to this complete stranger, we were able to donate much more food than we anticipated! To our Angel in Aldi's, God bless and merry Christmas!
Katrina Siebenmorgen
Indiana Lawrence Bank, Warsaw
via e-mail
Founders' Intent
Editor, Times-Union:Gary Gerard's Dec. 13 weekly editorial titled "Don't Taint the Intent of the Founders" was right on target. I was impressed with the authentic historical recapitulization, including the emphasis on our country's moral genesis. In a day when liberals and naysayers seek to minimize and obfuscate the original intent of our founding fathers, it was refreshing to be reminded about this. Keep these editorials coming!
Patrick Sells
Warsaw
via e-mail
Expressing Opinions
Editor, Times-Union:I am responding to Brad Green's reply to my letter ("It's A Man's World") to the editor published recently. He said that I had "asserted in this column that Dave Koontz cannot express an opinion on abortion because he has never been and never will be pregnant." This isn't what I said. I pretty much expressed the opinion that because he is not a woman, he cannot take this issue as close to heart or as objectively as a woman can. For example, you wouldn't ask a Russian citizen to give a speech or dissertation on the culture of Japan if he had never been there, correct? That is what I was trying to communicate.
Also, I do not agree that Viagra prescriptions should be covered by health insurance, either. Sexual dysfunction is not life endangering, it should be considered an option to the patient - not a necessity to his well-being.
In closing, the Supreme Court felt strongly enough about the issue to rule in favor of Roe v. Wade 30 years ago. If the Supreme Court is changing their mind now and thinking they made the wrong decision about Roe v. Wade back then, isn't it entirely possible they could be wrong again this time?
Let's see what 2033 brings. I wish I could just say in regards to the abortion issue that it is personal to each individual woman and that you should just mind your own business. But that wouldn't be objective now, would it?
Sarah Lowe
Chelmsford, Mass.
via e-mail
Stolen Vehicle
Editor, Times-Union:I have worked hard all of my life and I have worked hard for the things that I own. I had very nice vehicle that I had for only four months and it was stolen out of our driveway two weeks ago, along with a lot of items that were in the vehicle. This is for the boys who stole our vehicle - shame on you. You thought that you were really clever, however, I know that you did not get away with it. You may think that you did, but you didn't.
For the parents of these boys - let's make a deal. If you want to bail your sons out, let us borrow your newest vehicle and do what your son did to ours. And if you want to pay for attorneys to help your sons out, maybe you should also volunteer to pay for damages caused by your sons.
To the community - many of you have had things stolen by these boys and these boys should sit in jail. They are local boys that went to school with our children and the parents of these boys work in our community. They should serve time and they should pay for the damages that they have done. Next time it might be your new car, your car stereo system, your camera, your video camera, your golf clubs or your purse.
To the city police, to the sheriff's office and the detectives - especially those that we have worked with, thank you. You have done an excellent job. Now it is up to the prosecutor's office and the court system.
These boys are not both in custody yet and both parents do not know yet. Would hate to ruin their Christmas.
Ramona Hurd
Leesburg
via e-mail
Snowman Shooting
Editor, Times-Union:Recently my 8-foot inflatable snowman became the victim of a drive-by paintball shooting. No longer will he be able to light up our block and put a smile on our children's faces. I just want to let the person or persons responsible for this act to know I am praying for them. I pray that they will not have to feel the same pain or see the same hurt in their children's eyes because of a random act of vandalism.
Christy Coonce
Warsaw
via e-mail
Community Support
Editor, Times-Union:This letter goes out in an attempt to show our gratitude for the ongoing support that our community has shown. Each year as our toy drive nears, the people and businesses in our county open their hearts and show kindness to those less fortunate. As the holidays approach, many in our area are in need and look forward to the assistance our event provides. So this thank-you goes out to every business and to every individual who helped support us in our goal to make the holidays a little brighter.
Ken Platt
Kosciusko County ABATE
Warsaw
via e-mail
Bush The Villain
Editor, Times-Union:With the capture and identification of one evil villain we can, perhaps, await the day when yet another may be identified. I refer, of course, to George Bush.
One has to give him credit, however, for accurately assessing the simplicity, hedonism and pseudopatriotism of a great many Americans. Many Americans apparently remain deliriously oblivious to there never having been weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and no connection between Saddam and organized terrorism. Apparently as long as they are able to guzzle gasoline and it's not their kid coming home in pieces, parts or a body bag, they will swallow anything and dismiss the words of soldiers returning from a tour of duty in Iraq telling us, "It's all about the oil."
Credit must be given to Bush also for his sense of loyalty to his friends who stand to profit handsomely from the oil and reconstruction in Iraq. They will, in return, contribute generously to his re-election campaign.
Finally, Bush deserves credit for the great effort he is making on our behalf to trash our environment and resources, and our economy. What a guy!
Bryan A. Ciula
Warsaw
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092