Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.Byline: The Register-Guard Senators in harmony When you do your duty for your country and vote this November, there is something I would like you to think about. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or independent makes no difference. You may not like the way that Sen. Gordon Smith
Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is Oregon's junior United States Senator, currently serving his second term. He is a member of the Republican Party. has voted on some national issues, but you'd have to look a long times to find better cooperation between two senators from the same state than that which exists between Smith and Sen. Ron Wyden Ronald Lee Wyden (born May 3, 1949) is Oregon's senior United States Senator. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early career and personal life Wyden was born in Wichita, Kansas to Edith Rosenow and Peter H. . Although they represent different parties, they work in harmony on behalf of Oregon. I have nothing negative to say about Smith's opponent except to ask why we should fix something that's not broken. Vote again for Smith for U.S. senator, and I'm sure the two senators from Oregon will continue to take the same harmony to a greater level for us and our state. HENRY WROLSON Eugene 'Liberal' not dirty word I was incensed beyond belief at a letter which appeared on July 6. I suppose I should consider the source (an 18-year-old who considers himself to be a sage), but somehow, that only made it worse. It was more trashing of Democrats, which has become so fashionable for the conservatives now. If Reid Fogelson would read the definition of a liberal, he might be surprised to find that "open minded," "not prejudiced" and "generous" are three descriptions. However, the statements that most infuriated in·fu·ri·ate tr.v. in·fu·ri·at·ed, in·fu·ri·at·ing, in·fu·ri·ates To make furious; enrage. adj. Archaic Furious. me were the ones he made saying that liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats, British political party Liberal Democrats, British political party created in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal party with the Social Democratic party; the party was initially called the Social and Liberal Democratic party. are a disgrace DISGRACE. Ignominy, shame, dishonor. No witness is required to disgrace himself. 13 How. St. Tr. 17, 334; 16 How. St. Tr. 161. Vide Crimination; To Degrade. to the flag and to all who fought to protect it. My husband served five years in the U.S. Army in World War II, and our son served with the Marines in Vietnam. Both enlisted and did not use deferments or influence to stay out of active duty, as did most of those now in the White House. To imply that liberals are not patriotic is simply uninformed and, yes, stupid. What gives Fogelson the authority to say that liberals do not love the flag and their country? I am so moved by our national anthem anthem [ultimately from antiphon], short nonliturgical choral composition used in Protestant services, usually accompanied and having an English text. The term is used in a broader sense for "national anthems" and for the Latin motets still used occasionally in that sometimes when it is played tears come to my eyes. Same reaction to our flag, and I know that I speak for most liberals. Is our blood not red? This country is big enough for differences of opinion. It is time that conservatives learned that "liberal" is not a dirty word and that God loves liberals, too. FRANCES FISCHER Springfield Vouchers protect freedom Some would use the constitutional separation of church and state
Why should parents be penalized pe·nal·ize tr.v. pe·nal·ized, pe·nal·iz·ing, pe·nal·iz·es 1. To subject to a penalty, especially for infringement of a law or official regulation. See Synonyms at punish. 2. by having to support both public schools and the private schools they have chosen for their children? Parents have a responsibility to teach their children certain ethics and values. Allowing parents to use vouchers enables them to choose schools that teach their children the educational and moral values they share. Those who oppose the voucher A receipt or release which provides evidence of payment or other discharge of a debt, often for purposes of reimbursement, or attests to the accuracy of the accounts. system use the separation-of-church-and-state trump card as their excuse. This country was built on the freedom to choose to believe or not believe in God. Our schools have pushed God so far away under this pretense that they are actually undermining parents who do believe in God and in their responsibility to pass that belief on to their children. Allowing parents to have vouchers protects that freedom of choice. It allows parents who want their children to go to religious schools to do so without penalizing them. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision also enables parents to choose a nonreligious private school, if they believe that will help their children get a better education. Why should less fortunate children not be allowed freedom of choice because their parents can't afford to support both public schools and the private schools where they want to send their children? Religion is not the deciding factor here; freedom of choice is. Separation of church and state is not the real issue here; the ability to obtain a good education is. SANDRA KOUBELE Eugene LETTERS LOG Letters received in past week: 159 Letters published: 61 What's on What's On (Traditional Chinese: 熒幕八爪娛) is a weekly half-hour TV series that airs on Fairchild Television. Format Originally started in 1996, the show is currently the longest-running program in Fairchild Television history. readers' minds: The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court's decision on the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. was the hottest topic for the third consecutive week, with 21 readers weighing in on the ruling. We received 14 letters regarding Eugene attorney Edward Monks' June 30 guest column on the Fairness Doctrine fairness doctrine: see equal-time rule. and conservative talk radio. We also got 10 letters on the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, and six each on the West Eugene Parkway The West Eugene Parkway was a proposed re-alignment of Oregon Route 126 through the western parts of Eugene, Oregon and its suburbs. Highway 126 through western Eugene currently runs along several surface streets (including West 11th Avenue); this route is well-known in the Eugene and the proposed designation of the South University Neighborhood as a federal historic district. - The Register-Guard CAPTION(S): The Register-Guard welcomes letters on topics of general interest. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Letters must be signed with the writer's full name. An address and daytime telephone number are needed for verification purposes; this information will not be published or released. Mail letters to Mailbag, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188 Fax: 338-2828 E-mail: RGLetters@guardnet.com |
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