Speak Out 6/18/05

Helping a stranger

TO THE man in the white pickup truck who stopped to make sure I was all right after my car hit a deer on Highway 177, I extend a well-deserved thank you. Even though I did not require any assistance, you took time out of your day to help a stranger, and it is much appreciated.

Don't believe it

I'VE HAD one Chevy truck, and it never failed me. The quality of Japanese cars and the demoralization of the U.S. auto industry was brought on by propaganda in the form of commercials by foreign auto manufacturers. I am disappointed some of us can easily put down our fellow Americans by saying they do not produce quality products.

Weirdest law

ONE OF the weirdest laws in this country today is the hate-crime law. An assault is an assault and murder is murder regardless of why the crime was committed.

Religious thinking

HERE IS a shocker: I am a Christian and a Democrat. I am tired of being judged by other Christians and insulted by Democrats. Just because I am a Democrat does not mean that I support abortion or gay marriage. It means that I believe there are more pressing issues, like taking care of our fellow man. That's in the Bible too. And just because I am a Christian does not mean that I can't think for myself. Yes, there are a lot of Christians who diligently follow what other people tell them is God's instruction. I am not criticizing them, because it is what is in their heart that is important. However, there are also many Christians who read the Bible, pray and make their own decisions regarding the interpretation of the Bible. Forcing a separation of the two is not good for Democrats or Christianity. Must we be so antagonistic and judgmental of each other?

Politically correct

WHY IS the prosecuting attorney perpetuating this inane hate-crime legislation? The recent incident in which Morley Swingle wants to use his prosecution might involves a man who punched another man after being propositioned. I'd punch the guy in the face too. There's no special form of hate involved in this. A crime is a crime. In this case it was an assault. Let's not bring this ridiculous political correctness to our area.

Chinese oil

AN AVERAGE American consumes something like 70 barrels of oil a year. The average Chinese consumes about 1.3 barrels. However, that figure may rise to 3 or 4 barrels in the relatively near future. How gluttonous of the Chinese.

What's happening?

I SUPPORT the man who hit the homosexual for propositioning him. I would have done the same thing. What is this country coming to when a man hits another man and just because he happens to be homosexual, it is regarded as a hate crime?

Fall from power

HOWARD DEAN is the best thing to happen to the Democratic Party in years -- for Republicans. The far left that has taken over the party enjoys his rants, but let's look at the facts. The main job of the chairman of the Democratic National Committee is fund raising, not policy decisions or speechmaking. Since Dean has taken over, collections have dropped almost 40 percent. As long as the Democratic Party allows these people to run things, their fall from power will continue.

Church-state issue

I AM appalled by what is taking place at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility for suspected terrorists. U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used to buy copies of the Quran. Shouldn't the establishment clause of the First Amendment prevent this? Where is the ACLU when you need them?

Total ban

I SUPPORT the ban on cell phones while driving for all ages. I would hope this goes for police officers also. I always see them talking on their cell phones.

Teen behavior

PARENTS: PLEASE be aware when dropping off your teenagers at Jackson Main Street Bowling Lanes. I live next to the park and have watched parents dropping their kids off. As soon as the tail lights are out of sight, the teens head over to the park and various places. My family has had to drive through huddles of students that stand out in the middle of the road. We have seen young girls traipsing off into dark baseball dugouts with their boyfriends. Being a parent myself, I am in no way criticizing anyone's parenting skills. But please be aware of where your teens actually are. I would hate for something to happen to them.

Parental control

I THINK the police should randomly sit outside day-care centers around common pickup times to catch the careless parents who refuse to buckle up their children. Do these parents not love their children? Why let a toddler stand up in front of an airbag no matter how short a distance? Most accidents happen within five miles of home when you least expect it. A dancing toddler in the car is more distraction. If parents can't control a child enough to be in a car seat, parenting classes are in order. What are parents going to do when their children are 16 and telling them what they will and won't do?

Terminally stupid

WALTER WILLIAMS says mandating seat belts is too much control by the state. Some people would say the same thing about speed limits, but I don't want either to go away. Some ignore both laws and are injured and are usually cared for by tax dollars. He says that's because of our tendency to socialism. The sad fact is that if hospitals didn't treat the terminally stupid when they injure themselves, the lawyers would line up even faster than they do now.

Stem-cell reasoning

SPLITTING HAIRS seems to be necessary when it comes to being for or against certain forms of stem-cell research. I am for stem-cell research that uses cord blood or adult stem cells. I am against stem-cell research that uses embryos that are developing. Does that make me medieval in thinking? I think developing embryos are on their way to being future congressmen, scientists, doctors, lawyers or judges. Do we destroy the future to help now, or do we use the proven method of research plus protect our future?