Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

Letters 11/10

Grateful for hunting

Maybe the person who sounded off recently in the News-Democrat about hunters should consider the number of innocent little deer wounded or that die a cruel and painful death because of auto accidents. Then think of the millions of dollars in property damage that occur due to the overpopulation of deer.

Most importantly, we should be concerned about the innocent humans who are killed or injured because of auto versus deer strikes. Due to hunter intervention, the deer population has decreased in a manner that is providing quality meals for families, sporting recreation, not to mention the millions of tax dollars that are generated for the state.

I suggest on the caller's next trip to get his tofu, alfalfa sprouts, and soy burgers that he only drive during daylight hours. This way he would lower the chances of hurting a cute little 275- pound buck with his weapon of mass destruction.

I say shame on the Sound-off callers who do not put their name to their ideological anti-hunting garbage.

Boyd Ahlers

Belleville

Views don't compute

It seems most people I talk with who vote Democrat seem to be confused with what is going on in our country.

If I were to vote Democrat, I'd have to think a corn seed would grow and become a corn plant, but a human seed may not yield a human. That it would be OK for a homosexual male to use the boys restroom, but other males could not use the girls restroom.

I'd have to think my property was mine, but other's property does not necessarily belong to them. My belief in God is somehow offensive to many people, but belief in nothing is not offensive to people. Christianity is harmful to the world, but Muslims are not harmful to the world. Evolution with no evidence is correct, but creation with thousands of years of evidence is wrong.

My daughter should not be promiscuous, but everyone else's daughter can be promiscuous. I complain about dishonest politicians because I am honest, but I keep voting for those politicians who are dishonest. I say I am an American, but I can't explain what makes someone an American.

I don't like to pay taxes, yet don't hold politicians accountable. I believe our Constitution is a revered document, but I watch as it is continually ignored.

If I were to vote Democrat, I'd have to be confused or just stop thinking about it. If more people would just think about it, we'd have less confused people voting Democrat.

Adrian P. Heuermann

Carlyle

Let's be civil

Considering that I am not a mainstream Christian, I appreciate Mark Binkowski's effort to educate our community on our First Amendment rights. I agree with him that the First Amendment guarantees us the right to practice whatever religion, or lack thereof, we please without interference from the government.

My major concern is the tone this conversation tends to have in the media or private discussions on the issue. Instead of starting out by using generalizations and labels to describe points of view that we disagree with, or ending with pointed comments in response to another person's expressed opinion, we would all be much better off with a clear and civil discus- sion.

There are many political, philosophical, ethnic and social perspectives within our community. If we are willing to truly listen to our neighbors and have a healthy, respectful discussion about the concerns we all share, we open up the possibility of mending broken bridges, healing old wounds and moving forward together.

If we fail to respect each other, I am afraid our letters to the editor will have more in common with the Jerry Springer show than they do with the issues, concerns and ideas of our community.

Melinda Allan

Belleville

Hail to the music man

I went to see the Belleville West Jazz Band perform a joint concert with a jazz band from Germany at St. Paul's United Church of Christ on Oct. 25.

I graduated from Belleville West last May and was heavily involved in the music program all four years. I have to say that Dr. Tom Birkner is one of the most influential teachers of my high school and musical careers.

I know many classmates and friends that have the same thoughts about him. Personable, talented, modest and intelligent are four words that come to mind when thinking of Doc.

Unlike any other teacher I know, he has the best ways of conveying his own extraordinary musical abilities into the minds of his high school students. While touching and inspiring hundreds of students, Doc has maintained a fair and communal approach in developing what I consider as the best high school music program in Southern Illinois.

Doc makes it fun for him and his students while producing quality results. This is a concept that many teachers struggle with. He is an irreplaceable asset to the community.

In the years to come, I look forward to watching his program flourish as he continues to do what he has done for almost 15 years at Belleville West. Tom Birkner: Teacher, musician, family man, mentor, friend, and the center of a legacy that will never die.

Stephen Eros

Belleville

Problem solved

On Nov. 3, I reported a hazardous problem (large hole in the street on Lake Drive) and the problem was immediately attended to on Nov. 4, in the morning.

Thank you to the Department of Transportation for giving this prompt attention and possibly preventing an accident.

It's unfortunate that none of our local politicians and/or residents in the immediate area were concerned enough to report what had been visible for several days.

Often time, people will complain when it only takes one phone call to get results.

William Currie

Centreville

Call it terrorism

The murders of U.S. soldiers and civilians at Fort Hood, Texas, was an act of terror.

Major Nidal Hassan planned for the attack, said his goodbyes, gave away personal property of value, purchased guns in advance, planned for a place and time likely to inflict the most casualties on unarmed soldiers and civilians, had plenty of ammunition, and finally, made his bows to his militant Muslim faith with his cries of "God is Great!" as he methodically murdered 13 American soldiers and civilians and wounded another 30.

Immediately, left-wing media supporters of the Obama administration began to talk of the major "snapping" because of the stress of meeting with Iraq and Afghanistan returnees. What was this officer subjected to? An education at government expense (up to and including his doctoral program), generous salary and allowances, a six-year assignment at one of the medical services most cushy posts, etc.

He "snapped" when his country asked him to go to Iraq? What nonsense. He simply knew that he would have fewer opportunities to kill Americans in Iraq. Hassan planned and carried out a terrorist act, and if convicted he ought to receive prompt and severe judgment.

When is America going to recognize that the nation is full of sleepers planning to kill Americans?

Jack Kime

Maryville