LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.Byline: The Register-Guard Iraq war Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. gets worse and worse Iraq is an unfolding tragedy: for our troops, for our country and for the Iraqi people. I'm angry with our leaders for starting this war. There was no Iraqi connection to al-Qaeda, and they knew it. There was no nuclear weapons program, and they knew it. Iraq was no threat to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , and they knew it. The suffering of our troops is blood on their hands. They compound their shame by not supporting our troops with the materials they need, by not providing more troops to share their burden, and by inadequately caring for injured troops when they come home. They've taken us from a world united with us in the fight against terrorism to being viewed worldwide as a renegade menace. Unbelievably, we've managed to alienate even our oldest, closest friends: Canada, Mexico and all of Europe. We've generated a hostility in the Arab world “Arab States” redirects here. For the political alliance, see Arab League. The Arab World (Arabic: العالم العربي; Transliteration: al-`alam al-`arabi) stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the far beyond any that has ever existed, which is breeding terrorists faster than we could ever kill them. The Iraqi people have suffered tremendously. The estimated 15,000 Iraqis killed is comparable to 150,000 American dead, more than double the Americans killed in Vietnam. Homes and businesses have been destroyed, the economy is in shambles, and health care is nonexistent non·ex·is·tence n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non . I fought against our going to war and lost. I now watch the war helplessly. I only hope our leaders and citizens carefully consider the reasons for, and consequences of, any future wars. Sending our troops needlessly to war is not supporting our troops. JACK VAN DUSEN Eugene Santa is an unnecessary lie This letter is directed to parents this holiday season. We bear a huge responsibility for conveying truth to the next generation, yet many are confused by the great lie of Christmas. The lie that there is a godlike god·like adj. Resembling or of the nature of a god or God; divine. god  like being who will reward good acts with
benevolence BENEVOLENCE, duty. The doing a kind action to another, from mere good will, without any legal obligation. It is a moral duty only, and it cannot be enforced by law. A good wan is benevolent to the poor, but no law can compel him to be so.BENEVOLENCE, English law. : "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake." Just innocent fun. Santa is in everyone, and all that. I keep reading these cleverly written missives about how someone has created a moral lesson for their children through the revelation that Santa isn't real. Why are children even set up in the first place with a fiction that must be slaughtered at some point? What happens when they learn from their friends that there is no real Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint. Santa Claus jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937] See : Christmas Santa Claus ? Or have that painful conversation with their parent who tells them that it was just for fun? And while you're at it, think about the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. Why do parents poison the trust of their children by maintaining a lie for years during a season that should be about truth? And fellow Christians, think about what they'll question next. Why not raise our children with the promise that we will never lie to them? There is no shortage of laughter, joy, magic or sparkle in a household that celebrates in love without deception. TRACY J. CROWSON Eugene Bush has zero credibility President Bush now tells us that Social Security is in crisis. He also told us Iraq was an imminent threat Imminent threat is a standard criterion in international law, developed by Daniel Webster, for when the need for action is "instant, overwhelming, and leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation. as a justification for invasion, even though the United Nations inspectors were demonstrating that there were no weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or . It is clear that Social Security is not in crisis, just as it was clear that Iraq was not a threat. Bush has zero credibility. He gets away with not being branded a liar because he just believes what others tell him, no matter how obviously false. Remember, many drunks sincerely believe they don't have a drinking problem, but that doesn't make it true. They are lying to themselves as well as others. We need to start telling the truth to ourselves about Bush. Anyone who pretends that a Social Security crisis exists when it can pay out full benefits until the middle of the 21st century is lying. Anyone who proposes fixing something he says is in crisis because its solvency is in danger, and proposes a solution that will further endanger our nation's solvency while providing windfalls for a stock market, is a liar or fool with an agenda. Our nation cannot let Bush continue to lie about Iraq, Social Security, who the permanent tax cuts would benefit and who would be harmed by his proposed tax system reform. The emperor has no clothes or credibility! We can join him in his delusional "stinking stinking having an intrinsic fetid smell. stinking elder sambucuspubens. stinking hellebore helleborusfoetidus. stinking iris irisfoetidissima. thinking" or tell the truth. WESTON BIGELOW Eugene Should Kulongoski be recalled? When Ted Kulongoski Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski (born November 5 1940, in rural Missouri[1]) is an American Democratic politician. Since 2003, he has served as the Governor of Oregon. He was re-elected in 2006. was sworn in as governor, he took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the state of Oregon. I respectfully submit that he has not honored his oath. Specifically, in violation of the constitution, he has allowed a casino to be built and operated in Florence, and he is now giving serious consideration to allowing a casino to built and operated in Cascade Locks. Whether or not we all agree on the morality of gambling, we must agree that the governor and other public officials cannot be allowed to overtly violate the constitution. As a citizen of Oregon, I am concerned that the protection of the constitution is being circumvented. Some might think that this violation of the constitution is a small matter, but what's to stop the governor and others from doing the same thing again on another matter? I believe that this is a clear case of anarchy, which I would define as one "doing what is right in his or her own eyes." I have written to Governor Kulongoski on several occasions to ask him when he will honor his oath of office An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations. and do what is right, but to date he has not responded. I asked the same question of the attorney general, with the same results. Is it not time to consider taking recall action against Governor Kulongoski? WILLIAM STORMS Florence Protect McKenzie's old growth As someone who lives up the McKenzie River For rivers name "Mackenzie", see . The McKenzie River is a tributary of the Willamette River, 86 miles (138 km) long, in northwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains part of the Cascade Range east of Eugene into the southernmost end of the Willamette Valley. , I read the Dec. 20 article "Rolling on the River" with much interest. I was reminded how lucky I am to live in such a special place. I've got world class angling, hiking and rafting right out my front door. Of course, people are jumping at opportunities to live and play along the mighty McKenzie. As Oregon's population continues to grow, all the economic growth associated with people enjoying the access to the McKenzie's beauty will grow, too. We should make sure that this growth is consistent with protecting the values that are drawing people here. Just as important, we've got to make sure that the folks who manage our public lands are doing so in a manner that protects the McKenzie's beauty and water quality for future generations. Unfortunately, I've been seeing far too many four-log loads rolling down rolling down The liquidation of an option position by an investor at the same time that he or she takes an essentially identical position with a lower strike price. Highway 126. Despite the values the McKenzie has for our natural heritage as well as our economic future, the Willamette National Forest The Willamette National Forest is a National Forest located in the central portion of the Cascade Range of Oregon, US.[1] It contains 1,675,407 acres (2,618 mi², 6,780 km²) making it one of the largest national forests. is implementing logging projects in ancient forests and is planning more. This is simply not acceptable. No more McKenzie ancient forests should be cut. GARY GUTTORMSEN Walterville If only that was all it took How can anyone doubt that abstinence-only sex education Abstinence-only sex education is a form of sex education that emphasizes abstinence from sex to the exclusion of all other types of sexual and reproductive health education, particularly regarding birth control and safe sex. doesn't work or isn't the answer? If children are taught to wait until marriage to have sex, they will wait. Teach them to say no to drugs, they will say no. Teach them to obey speed limits, they will obey. I am confident that all teenagers are aware that the legal age for alcohol is 21 and they are not drinking if they are underage. No smoking, period. Teaching what's right will resolve a multitude of problems. Picture this: Due to the success rate of abstinence-only instruction, by 2010 there will be virtually no teenage pregnancy teenage pregnancy Adolescent pregnancy, teen pregnancy Social medicine Pregnancy by a ♀, age 13 to 19; TP is usually understood to occur in a ♀ who has not completed her core education–secondary school, has few or no marketable skills, is and no sexually transmitted diseases Sexually transmitted diseases Infections that are acquired and transmitted by sexual contact. Although virtually any infection may be transmitted during intimate contact, the term sexually transmitted disease is restricted to conditions that are largely . Drug and alcohol abuse will vanish. Mothers, tell your daughters that sex is wrong. Make sure they know how to respond if a stranger, some man, approaches them. They'll be fine years later when they have to overcome the programming and get married. Men, instill in·still v. To pour in drop by drop. in  stil·lation n. in your sons that manly men wait until their wedding
night. Those adolescent hormones will subside. Make sure they don't
go blind while waiting.
Make this point clear: Unless the woman is at the proper stage and conception is the goal, don't even go there. It will work. It will. HALLIE EDWARDS Marcola Religion must be lived daily Let me start by saying this: I have spent my fair share of time in church. I left the church and now practice spiritualism spiritualism: see spiritism. spiritualism Belief that the souls of the dead can make contact with the living, usually through a medium or during abnormal mental states such as trances. . Why? I have met very few people who live their walk and talk. I do know some. This is not a judgment but a strong observation on my part. Religion must be rejoiced in and lived every day. Try more living it and less looking good. I do think Jesus knows the difference in the end. Let's talk about the Spirit of Christmas signs. I'm fine with those beliefs. However, I see Christmas trees glowing, lighted train sets, snowmen, elves and Santa Claus in the same yards. Is this really "season's greetings," or the birth of Christ or a huge oxymoron that only Christians understand? Peace on the whole Earth every day - not just on some parts, or some of the living beings on it. SHANNON WEBER Cottage Grove Cottage Grove, village (1990 pop. 22,935), Washington co., SE Minn., near the St. Croix River; inc. 1965. There is farming (cattle, sheep, corn, and soybeans) and manufacturing (chemicals and machinery). Don't dissent in Ukraine Steve Kale kale, borecole (bôr`kōl), and collards, common names for nonheading, hardy types of cabbage (var. (letters, Dec. 22) is living proof of his own premise that critical and analytical thinking is in short supply in this country. I'm sure the Ukrainian authorities would welcome him as long as he kept his opinions to himself. They treat dissent with dioxin dioxin Aromatic compound, any of a group of contaminants produced in making herbicides (e.g., Agent Orange), disinfectants, and other agents. Their basic chemical structure consists of two benzene rings connected by a pair of oxygen atoms; when substituents on the rings are . He should be happy to know that his departure will raise the percentage of critical thinkers remaining. I wish him a pleasant journey and stay. ROLLAND R. BENSON Roseburg |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion