Thursday, Jul. 09, 2009

Letters: 7/09/09

Remove Rover's refuse

I love my dog, and I walk her three times a day on a leash. I always carry a plastic bag with me to pick up her droppings. I wouldn't think of leaving it on someone's lawn. However, other people evidently do not think this is necessary, because I am constantly seeing droppings on the sidewalk (which I have to walk around) or piles of it in the grass. This is not only terrible for the homeowners, who have to mow their lawns, but my dog always wants to stop and sniff it, which is an annoyance for me.

Please, when you walk your dogs, be responsible dog owners and pick up what they leave.

In addition, do not let your dogs go out and walk themselves without you. This is not only dangerous for the dogs (I saw one dead in the street recently), but you have no control over whose property they are soiling.

Let's all carry a plastic bag with us from now on when we walk our faithful companions.

Kay Bowman

O'Fallon

America's guardians

ON BEHALF OF the more than 13,000 men and women serving in the Illinois Army and Air National Guard, and their families, I'd like to commend you for the editorial, "Nothing heroic about celebrity," in the News-Democrat. As you so accurately put it, if it weren't for the servicemen and women, like Staff Sgt. Josh Melton, and the families who love and support them, our culture wouldn't exist.

For centuries it has been the men and women, all volunteers, of the National Guard who have defended America from both enemies and natural disasters. Thank you for honoring them and remembering them.

Maj. Gen. William Enyart

Illinois Army and Air National Guard Belleville

Jackson tribute

I'M PROBABLY GOING to be raked over the coals for this, but I feel it needs to be said. First of all, I feel sorry for the family of Michael Jackson because of their loss. But the truth is, he made a spectacle of himself with his off-the-wall lifestyle and weirdo ideas, plus his admissions that sharing his bed with young boys is something he felt was natural. In one case he paid a young boy and his family $5 million to settle a claim of molestation rather than face court action. I was always taught if you're innocent, defend yourself to the end. He also was being sued by other boys for improper sexual behavior.

It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to see what most people have seen, Michael Jackson was in reality a perverted individual. He may have been a brilliant song writer and an extraordinary performer, but many referred to him as Wacko-Jacko because of his extreme actions and obscure views of real life. OK, so roast me.

Dennis Rodenhofer

Swansea

'Feed my lambs'

ON A RECENT Sunday morning, while my wife was in church, I watched a program on PBS that covered a topic with the scope and tone that could have come from a pulpit. The subject was young gays and lesbians coming out to their parents.

The fear of rejection that they experienced as they exposed their true feelings was told over and over. And the parental response to this emotional moment was equally covered in the piece.

One mother said, "I didn't know Asians could be lesbians," in reaction to her teen daughter's confession. A rancher father regretted his active gay bashing that his son witnessed while he was growing up. A black mother advised counseling so parents could understand that homosexuality is not a choice but an innate condition.

The conflict experienced by parents caught between their religious beliefs and their love for their offspring was expressed by both Protestant and Catholic parents. One religious mother said, "I am not stupid, I was ignorant about the subject."

But the most poignant moment of the program came when she told of attending the funeral of one of her gay son's classmates, who, also gay, committed suicide. As she cradled the bereaved mother's head on her shoulder, she looked up at a stained glass window at the figure of Christ and the words, "Feed my lambs." She then said, "We didn't feed this lamb."

If only the sincere Christians who single out a tenet from the Mosaic law of the Old Testament could instead focus on the forgiving message of the New Testament and Christ's words, "Feed my lambs." If only.

Ray Hollmann

Fairview Heights

Hunting, not humans

RAY HOLLMANN'S comments were offensive. He should be glad we had powdered wigs and muzzle loading muskets or we may well be British colonies today.

Our right to bear arms is just as important today as it was 200 years ago. The second amendment guarantees that right to me and even Hollmann.

I will defend your right to be anti-gun and you should defend my right to be pro-gun. Firearms play a large part in recreational activities for my family. My daughters and I spend many happy hours at the range. This is true for thousands of sportsmen. Every shooter and sportsman should put his two-cents worth to paper and send it to the News-Democrat.

Concerning Robert Kirkland's remarks, real assault rifles are unavailable to the general public. The implication that my AR-15 type rifle and Mini-14 Ruger are for killing humans is incorrect. These firearms are used for both hunting and target practice. They are perfectly legal to own at this time. Hopefully firearms of this type will remain available to sportsmen who want them.

Robert E. Bailey

Maryville

Under the lights

I TOOK OFFENSE to Tony Smith's letter of July 1 that called the lights at the Smithton ballpark an earmark. Money appropriated for youth programs are not earmarks and Smithton should be commended for its efforts in helping kids.

The ballpark in Smithton has a long history for American Legion 76'ers ball games, Freeburg High School and local grade school games. My late uncle Jim McGuire donated much time, materials and money making the park a reality. My cousin went on to be a successful college baseball coach from playing in Smithton.

These kids are not out tagging houses or gang banging, they just want to play ball. Maybe the writer needs a program like this in his neighborhood. I would like to thank all the coaches and umpires that help to improve youth sports. Please attack some other waste of government money, but leave the park in Smithton alone.

Joseph McGuire Jr.

Smithton

Healthy option

MEDICARE Advantage is a good program that shouldn't be cut.

Already, my wife, Merle, and my primary concern each month is balancing our expenditures and our medication against the opportunities we have with our grandchildren.

Without Medicare Advantage, our medication costs could increase 10-fold. In the event this happens, we would have far less money to take trips to see our grandkids.

Congress needs to find a way to keep Medicare Advantage, especially for people who are on a fixed income and face so many variable costs each month.

James Price

Granite City