Speak Out 11/29/08

Consider the trees

HAS ANYONE considered that high ozone levels in Perry County may be caused by oak trees? Ozone is formed by the effect of sunlight on nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. It has become clear that some trees like oak and poplar are producing huge amounts of a hydrocarbon called isoprene, which is dominant in the formation of ozone. Professor Russell Monson of the University of Colorado, who made a special study of the issue, said: "The problem is that forests around many southern U.S. cities have so many oaks, and isoprene is many times more reactive with the atmosphere than man-made hydrocarbons." Perry County is downwind from the Missouri Ozarks, which is full of large oak trees.

Less extreme

I AM a moderate who votes for candidates from both parties, usually the candidate who is less extreme. I have always respected John McCain. I voted for Barack Obama. Why? The Bush/Cheney/Rove GOP in general, and Sarah Palin in particular, have come to represent a rebirth of the know-nothings and a brand of fundamental Christianity that is repulsive to me. It seems as if I am not alone in my thinking. Many longstanding GOP states and many swing states went for Obama.

Not-so-fair doctrine

I CANNOT believe any American citizen who thinks for himself could actually be in favor of the so-called Fairness Doctrine. This is nothing more than another ploy by liberals to silence opposition to their agenda. Even though the intent of the Fairness Doctrine states is to give both sides equal time, what it really does is bog down the talk-show sponsor with so much red tape and government regulation that there is no way most conservative talk-radio shows could afford to stay on the air. Talk radio, whether it be conservative or liberal, is a First Amendment right given to us by our Founding Fathers and protected by all the wonderful men and women who fought in wars and sacrificed more than we could ever repay. It's called the freedom of speech. If liberals want their viewpoints stated on the radio, what is stopping them from starting their own radio show to express these opinions?

Best advice

IT SPEAKS volumes when the best advice for the salvation of the sinking Republican Party comes not from fire-and-brimstone propagandists on the radio and in the print media but from a local lawyer and a psychiatrist.

Stick to principles

K.P.S. KAMATH evidently didn't notice, but the center-right candidate he is yearning for ran for president and was beaten by far-left Democrats and the liberal press that helped get him nominated. Ronald Reagan didn't rescue the U.S. economy and defeat the Soviet Union by abandoning conservative principles. He embraced them. Republicans can learn valuable lessons on how to win elections from Reagan and how to lose from McCain.

Party politics

JOHN COOK'S advice to Republicans on how to salvage their failing political party was insightful and sound. However, I hope party leaders ignore the advice and continue to listen to talk-radio extremists who are collectively destined to carry the party over a cliff. Cook is correct in saying the extinction of the GOP would inevitably lead to the splintering of the Democrats, but that would be OK. Better a multiparty liberal, radical, centrist and conservative party than the continuation of the irreversibly corrupted GOP.

Important decisions

I AGREE something needs to be done about the high percentage of students who drop out of school. What is really hard is when your child can drop out of school at the age of 16 but a parent is still legally responsible for him until the age of 17. If a person is allowed to make life-changing decisions when he is 16, then he should be held responsible for those decisions, not the parents.

Religion of choice

PLEASE ALLOW me the right to believe in the God of my choice. I follow the Tao. The positive religion of the Tao originated in ancient China thousands of years ago. The word "Tao" translates to the English word "path" or "way." The philosophy of the Tao explains a creation theory that be reconciled with Darwin. Also, the material world is derived from the Tao. Certain meditation will lead to an alert stillness of the mind. There are other esoteric practices that can make one a genius and can extend life by up to 30 years. The follower is encouraged to try to find the answers to the big questions in life. Nature is the Tao of the terrestrial. The student learns to read nature by intellectualization about an observed phenomenon. Then it's followed to transform the psyche of the student. Muscular coordination and control will evolve to super health. The follower aspires to be a master. This means simply that he is a master of life.

It just gets worse

LET'S SEE. We have a war on terror, the economy has hit bottom and now we have to worry about shopping carts declaring germ warfare on us. Lord, help us.

Disappearing cat

I CAN go Joe Sullivan one better with my cat. When my husband and I were first married, we traveled in a motor home. Sometimes we were gone up to three weeks. I brought home a stray cat. She disappeared, and we couldn't find her anywhere. We figured she sneaked out the door. We took a trip, and two weeks later when I was in bed, I could hear this meow. After about two days, I followed the sound and found the cat underneath our sectional couch. I don't know what she ate. Se must have gotten water from the toilet. This was the most amazing feat that I have ever known a cat to do. Thank you, Joe. I really appreciate your column.

Special column

THE COLUMN that Ellen Shuck writes every other Saturday is so good, I look forward to it. I enjoy it so much.

Touched by story

AFTER READING about the elderly disabled woman and her cats, I nearly broke down and cried because her heart was in the right place. I feel so bad for her. I have seven cats. They're all neutered and spayed and well cared for. I don't think I would want 20.

A reason to laugh

HI, JOE Sullivan. After re-reading your column, I just laughed. I don't know if you know how much I appreciate this column. It's so good. Keep it up. Way to go, Joe.

Band support

I WANT to thank the Jackson High School Marching Chiefs for the support through the regular football season and during the playoffs. I hope the band members know how they helped the boys by being at each game. There's nothing like having a taste of home so far away.