Letters to the editor for Sept. 8

Trump doesn’t believe in the words in his oath of office

After watching and listening to Donald Trump speak, I believe that he does not believe in the words within his oath of office uttered Jan. 20, 2017. “To support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” but only if it supports Donald J. Trump, the new dictator not president of the United States. He was so sure that hour he conducted his enterprises in the business world he could run over Congress and get his way by browbeating anyone who gets in his way. If he keeps up his current attitude he just might hear the House of Representative announce, “The articles of impeachment are as follows” against Donald J. Trump, draft dodger.

Obey the law, respect police and you’ll have no problems

Your editorial cartoon in the Aug. 25 edition of the Belleville News-Democrat hit the nail on the head. Everyone should take note of it and learn from it.

A bit of wisdom behind the cartoon is: Obey the law and show respect to law enforcement officers, and you will almost be guaranteed to have no problems with the law. It is actually that simple!

Unfortunately, there are many people who seem to want to make life harder than it has to be. Disrespect for the law and property destroying protests and demonstrations, along with animosity toward police officers, have recently been evidence of that.

In 1969 there was a bumper sticker that read, “If you don’t like police, next time you need help call a hippie.”

I wish I would find one now, for I would put it to use.

The nuisance of aggressive panhandlers is a problem

I agree with the BND Editorial Board statement of Aug. 31, 2017, regarding panhandlers. The nuisance of aggressive panhandlers is a problem. No one wants to be accosted while entering or leaving a business establishment. But, as Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.”

It is not the responsibility of the police to deal with panhandling in front of stores. It is a police responsibility to control panhandlers who obstruct traffic or assault drivers on the street.

Big box stores, smaller retail outlets with their own parking lots, stores in strip malls, and small business stores along downtown streets bear the responsibility of protecting their customers upon entering, leaving and parking.

If local ordinances or laws are required, the focus should be on the responsibility of the businesses to hire security personnel to patrol the entrances and the parking lots.

Police action should be required only to cite business owners for not providing security for customers. Or, to arrest panhandlers who actually commit physical assaults on customers or businesses.

Monuments don’t represent legacy, contributions do

Admittedly I had never heard of Dr. J. Marion Sims before reading BND’s recent article. In it he’s unfortunately depicted more as a racist Dr. Frankenstein than father of gynecology.

Queens College associate history professor Deirdre Cooper Owens offered this perspective: “Sims lived in a slave-holding society and openly expressed the racism and sexism which were considered normal during his time. He wanted to cure all women from their distinctly gendered suffering.”

Sims treated a dozen enslaved women suffering from the terrible effects of obstetric fistulas, at a time when no cure or treatment existed, endeavoring to mend their bodies. They endured multiple procedures without benefit of anesthesia, which was not fully medically accepted at the time.

Sims also attempted these procedures on white women but found they could not stand the pain. This validated, at least in his mind, the then common belief that black people did not feel pain like whites. He administered post-operative opium to all his patients.

He was successful in repairing fistulas in enslaved as well as other women. Women were cooperative and supportive as these “experimental” procedures offered hope for relief.

Sims’ gynecological techniques and devices are still used today. He went on to found the first women’s hospital in America as well as the first cancer institute.

Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Sims was not perfect. It’s not monuments that represent his legacy; it’s his significant contributions to medicine, especially women’s health.

It was not uncommon for some Native America tribes to take slaves

In regards to Joseph Reichert’s articulate and eloquent rebuff to my question as to whom did the Native Americans “rip off” when they invaded North America: I say well done, my lad. Bravo! You are the poster child for all that is PC and naive. Having lived most of my life on the plains of Kansas, I can say that the different tribes of Indians were not all angels and did not commune peacefully with each other. The Pawnee tribe was hated by all the other tribes. They were thieves and murderers. It was not uncommon for some tribes to raid and take slaves. Oh my, slaveholders! Stealing each other’s horses was tantamount to starving their neighbor to death who needed horses to provide food through hunting buffalo and other game. They did have fights to the death. Counting coup was not a television show with everyone in a circle playing tag. But yes, there were those that were peace loving and not of the warrior culture. But your real point is that the white man is evil and every other culture via rewritten history were victims. Got it. I feel guilty to the 10th degree. I think I’ll join antifa and beat some peace into those that disagree with me. And by the way, my last name is spelled without the “e.” It was right there on my comment. Please pay attention next time. If you want to be highbrow in your vernacular. Toodles!

They are leading you down a destructive path

After reading Frankie Seaberry’s recent letter, I’m just a quivering mass of conservative emotion. She suggested that I, Leon Anderson, Lori Felts, Gary Like, and her other “buddies” change our evil ways and come over to the dark side (no pun intended).

In the spirit of bi-partisan cooperation, I would like to reach across the isle and extend the same offer to her.

Give up your adoration of “the chosen one” and his dream of a Marxist/Socialist, utopian society. Come to grips with fact that Slithery was a flawed, depraved, mentally ill, sickly old woman that normal people could not stand. Confess that Russia had nothing to do with her defeat. Oh, and stop weeping!

Rein in your lust for the O’Fallon Aparatchik, the Belleville Bolshevik, and the Carlyle Comrade, for they know not of what they speak. They are leading you down a destructive path from whence you can’t return.

Admit that your father (a Republican) was right, and that you were led astray (probably in your college years) by evil people hell bent on the destruction of America. They are not your little friends. Escape from the Democrat plantation, now!

If you really love us, ______ if you really love me, you will give up your evil ways and embrace Rush Limbaugh. Come home, come home Frankie, it’s suppertime. Sorry, I just can’t go on. Good night.

This story was originally published September 7, 2017 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor for Sept. 8."