Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:19 AM PDT
Al Gore got it wrong — again
Editor,
In response to Mr. Frank Moloney’s two cents worth, in the Sept. 25 edition of “Letters to the Editor.”
Being a Harvard University honors graduate, senator, vice president, nor being intellectually bright guarantees a person possesses common sense or practical wisdom to any degree. Even suggesting that Mr. Al Gore has served this nation with honor makes me wonder what kind of mushrooms Mr. Moloney has been nibbling on.
From my considerable reading, this business of global warming is not based on any scientific evidence, quite the contrary in fact. If Mr. Moloney is in fact a Christian, how could he possibly resent Mr. Hicks’ reference to scripture? Does he have a superior yardstick to measure anything than by scripture? By printing a diversity of opinions in “Letters to the Editor,” the Argus doesn’t validate one person’s ideas above another. They printed Mr. Moloney’s letter didn’t they? I hope Mr. Hicks keeps writing, as I rather enjoy his column.
Lance Newman
Nyssa
Argus article on sex abuse case was too graphic
Editor,
To the editor of the Argus and the writer of Sunday’s article headed: “Woman charged with sexual battery:”
Too much information was given concerning specific images sent over a cell phone and, direct quotes of the victim were not necessary. First of all, none of your readers needed to know those things. Second, there are the 16 year old boy and other innocent children involved in this case. The reporting of these graphic details and quotes can only increase the trauma that they have and will experience. Think of them, please.
Arlene Watson
Fruitland
No value in graphic
nature of article about sex abuse case
Editor,
I can see no value in the explicit nature of the article on the front page of the Sept. 23 edition of the Argus Observer. Did we really need a detailed description of this person’s illegal X-rated relationship with a minor? Who is the Argus trying to impress with this type of reporting? I’m not impressed, and I feel an alarming concern for the young people who will find this newspaper in their classroom as a part of the Newspapers in Education Program. Does the Argus feel no obligation to that young, impressionable readership? Does anyone, of any age, benefit from this kind of reporting? It’s not sophisticated. It’s not cool. It’s just gross. Thanks, Argus, for giving our school children an “education.”
Cindy Bowers
Payette
Re: ‘Footprints Across Time’
Editor,
The graying man sat alone in his den, surveying what he interpreted as the summary of his life: his long distinguished career as a San Francisco police officer, a staunch conservative, a cowboy and a friend.
At first glance, it struck him as sad and somehow lacking. The man was not looking at what he had become. Instead he was the kind of man most aspire to be, but often end up short. Most men only dream about being a policeman, a cowboy and a hero.
It wasn’t until his later years, that he began to build a deep and meaningful relationship with his son and daughter. They had always been there, quietly waiting for him to open up and reveal his true nature; the one they had been so desperate to know.
His son and daughter always knew there was far more to this talented man, but until he was ready to let them in, they knew they would simply have to bide their time.
Wait they did, understanding far more about him than he realized or gave them credit for.
They had a keen insight to the private persona he guarded so closely, and knew there was far more than he had revealed to them in their youth; whether out of modesty or lack of faith in their capacity for insight into the one they so desperately wanted to know.
Perhaps the man had kept his true self concealed out of misguided guilt born of absence in their lives, but his children never saw him this way. To them he was a tormented soul, bearing a sense of responsibility for separating from their mother while they were young, and feelings of deficiency of a more active role in their metamorphosis into adulthood.
Unfailing in their love and loyalty, they spent years considering and speculating who he was and why he kept himself hidden from them. During these years his children went on with their own lives striving for the understanding, love and approval of the man they so dearly loved. Meanwhile, they forged lives for themselves, sometimes faltering, but always picking themselves up and going on with the strength they shared with him.
At long last they were coming to know the man, seeing him for who he really was, a man strong, independent and a fiercely patriotic American, whom they had come to respect and admire. The love had always been there, but now they were blessed with a new knowledge and understanding of this extraordinary graying man.
Kate Jansen
Payette
Payette residents should support new fire station
Editor,
I am writing this letter to the citizens of Payette on behalf of the proposed building of a new fire station. I am a county resident and cannot vote for this, but I want to strongly encourage all citizens to support this. I have owned my day care and pre-school for 18 years, and I have been to the fire station over a dozen times with all of my kids ... The fire station is very small and not a lot of room to move from truck to truck. Their meeting room is also very small and crowded. If you fell opposed to this maybe you should take a tour of the station and see for yourself. Jeff, Russ and all the volunteers deserve a nice roomy place to hold their meetings, tours and to work on the trucks and equipment without being so crowded. I feel strongly that for all the life-saving things they do for our city and county, they deserve a building they can be proud to call their home. Please show them your support.
Sheri Schuster
Payette
Get out and vote
Editor,
This great republic was founded using Judeo- Christian ethics. It now appears no matter if it is a Democrat, a Republican or a third party candidate, the one that gets the nomination to run for the office of President of the United States will be the one that spends the most amount of money on radio, television, newspapers, periodicals and other media advertising. It does not mean he or she is the most qualified person for the job. This is a sad situation we find ourselves in. Have you got a solution for this problem? Perhaps there should be a maximum amount of political advertising allowed with more debates so the American public can understand what each candidate stands for and their views on the political and economical conditions we are confronted with.
The most important thing is that every American should do their patriotic duty and vote.
Jack Streeter
Mountain Home
Secondhand smoke kills
Editor,
Despite Mr. Hicks' biased babblings and egocentric thinking (“It’s true because I believe it”), the facts show that secondhand smoke kills.
Please refer your readers to http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/SecondhandSmoke.htm.
The CDC article contains the following information, along with the supporting references.
Definition of secondhand smoke:
— Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a complex mixture of gases and particles that includes smoke from the burning cigarette, cigar or pipe tip (sidestream smoke) and exhaled mainstream smoke.
— Secondhand smoke contains at least 250 chemicals known to be toxic, including more than 50 that can cause cancer. Health effects of secondhand smoke exposure:
— Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults.
— Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their heart disease risk by 25 to 30 percent and their lung cancer risk by 20 to 30 percent.
— Breathing secondhand smoke has immediate harmful effects on the cardiovascular system that can increase the risk of heart attack. People who already have heart disease are at especially high risk.
— Secondhand smoke exposure causes respiratory symptoms in children and slows their lung growth.
— Secondhand smoke causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more frequent and severe asthma attacks in children.
Each year in the United States, secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for 150,000 to 300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in children younger than 18 months old. This results in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations, annually.
Marsha Armstrong
Ontario
