LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Role models letting kids down

Cops who poison their profession, a coach who blatantly breaks the rules, a financial manager who falsifies reports to make himself look good - how sad that the role models our youth should be looking up to are descending into a whirlpool of self- indulgence.

JANE ODDS

Springfield

Prenatal testing takes thought

After reading the article about prenatal testing (Register-Guard, June 20), I found myself wanting to respond. The article paints a very real picture of what many parents today face. In fact, my husband and I faced this very thing almost one year ago.

The article reminded me that these decisions are often made based on fear and ignorance, and all options are not discussed. There was not one person represented in this article who chose not to terminate the pregnancy.

I try not to judge those who choose termination. The decision is entirely personal. However, when parents are faced with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and make the decision to terminate, I think many do so out of fear of the unknown. After we were given the results of our amniocentesis showing our baby would have Down syndrome, we were given the "facts." A very bleak and inaccurate picture was painted.

There has been great progress in the last five years alone in treating through early intervention many of the symptoms related to Down syn- drome.

One option never mentioned to us was adoption. Yes, there are people just waiting to adopt a baby with Down syndrome.

The whole prospect of raising a child with Down syndrome was terrifying, no matter how many stories we heard or people we met - that is, until we held our little girl in our arms. Now at 6 months old, she is just that, a 6-month-old baby, learning, laughing and pure joy.

We don't regret a thing.

GAIL UDELL

Eugene

Moore film about patriotism

Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson would be proud of Michael Moore. His new film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," woke up the American people to the mass deception created by the Bush administration. After the film opened to record crowds, MoveOn.org hosted house parties across the nation with Michael Moore discussing the impact of "Fahrenheit 9/11" on a diverse audience.

The film is more than a stellar weekend box office showing. It is a statement about true patriotism. The American way is to allow individuals to read, watch and gather information. No one tells an American what to think, and that defines our freedom. The Bush administration is working overtime to stifle that freedom and to spin, control and censor the facts of the Iraq war, facts voters deserve in order to make informed decisions. Many who attended "Fahrenheit 9/11," some hoping to discredit the film, came away knowing that the people have been duped by Bush and his defense industry contributors.

Michael Moore's depiction of the tangled web of lies and cover up allows the audience a look behind the curtain to see an empire without clothes. They will also see how far this administration will go in thwarting true democracy and the voice of the people.

See this film if for no other reason than to hear the voices of our soldiers in the hospitals and on the battlefields, because it is now apparent that this is an unjust war. Support all of our troops by bringing them home alive.

BURTON JOHNSON and

KRISTY ANNE MURRAY

Eugene

LETTERS LOG

Letters received in past week: 125

Letters published: 63

What's on readers' minds: Letter volume is in its lower, laid-back, summer zone. But even though volume in numbers is down, volume in the tone of disagreement is in the red zone. The No. 1 topic was the bitter divide between liberals and conservatives on President Bush, the war in Iraq and especially Michael Moore's incendiary political film "Fahrenheit 9/11." Other issues receiving multiple letters included the efforts by the Eugene City Council to regulate scooters on city bike paths and the debate over partial-birth abortion.