In a recent letter to the editor Fred Oliveri suggests that the
killing of Dr. Tiller, the abortion doctor is less important than
the killing of an Army recruiter. He acts angry that Dr. Tiller got
more press than the recruiter.
Dear Editor,
In a recent letter to the editor Fred Oliveri suggests that the killing of Dr. Tiller, the abortion doctor is less important than the killing of an Army recruiter. He acts angry that Dr. Tiller got more press than the recruiter.
I know Fred and his five beautiful grandchildren. When he says that he is glad Dr. Tiller wasn’t around when they were born he makes the same kind of crazy assumption that many anti-abortion fanatics do – as if Dr. Tiller was in the business of seeking out and killing unborn children without any thought for their human potential.
I do not agree with abortion except when the life and health of the mother and child are in danger; but I also do not agree with making hateful statements that make violence more acceptable in any form. The kind of sarcastic, dehumanizing statement Fred makes about Dr. Tiller feeds those who are filled with hatred. I would like to see the discussion about these issues take place with less cynicism and sarcasm and a bigger attempt at understanding.
Maybe then killings such as these two would be less likely to occur.
Davlyn Giovanetti, Morgan Hill
Congress needs to do more to protect wetlands
Dear Editor,
As a duck hunter and a concerned citizen, I am distraught by my country’s failure to adequately protect our wetlands and waterways.
Wetlands such as those in our own San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys serve as crucial habitat for more than 900 species, including migrating waterfowl. But every year we lose more than 80,000 acres of American wetlands habitat.
That number is only going to get worse unless Congress improves the Clean Water Act that has been weakened over the past few years. These regulatory changes have removed protections from an estimated 20 million acres of wetlands. This loss accounts for about 20 percent of all remaining wetlands in the lower 48 states.
I encourage all sportsmen and individuals who value wildlife to learn about this problem at www.ducks.org/cleanwater and to demand action from our representatives. How is Congress going to make sure our wetlands are protected?
Dan Russo, Morgan Hill
Urge representatives to work for healthcare reform
Dear Editor,
I read today that President Obama said, “In order to make it (health care reform) happen, I’m going to need ordinary Americans to stand up and say now’s the time.”
If President Obama can pull off health care reform when earlier attempts by Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Carter and Clinton all failed, it will be a miracle. But the political and financial environment of organized medicine (AMA, ACOG in particular), investor-owned corporate medicine, lobbies for big pharma and 1,300 private health insurance companies wield enormous power – watching out for the bottom line … profit, not good healthcare.
There is no need to re-invent the wheel. Our policymakers just need to put their egos aside, admit that the U.S. is not No. 1 (as it should be) and look at what Canada, Australia, Europe and Scandinavia are doing to make it work – for less money and better outcomes.
We certainly can do much better and the blueprints are there for us to choose the best from the bunch.
And yes, President Obama, we – the “ordinary Americans” do need to stand up and say now’s the time. Indeed, maybe ‘we’ are the magic ingredient to pull this off! Put www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ into your “favorites” and contact your representatives often.
Jeannie Batacan, Morgan Hill
Sustainability must include grassroots democracy or civil war is coming
Dear Editor,
Wes Rolley’s column on “growth” was very thought-provoking (“What is ‘Growth’ Good For?” June 29, 2009).
One additional cliche to consider is this oft-quoted line by John F. Kennedy: “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
The idea that a “rising tide” (a growing economy) raises both the rich man’s yacht and the poor man’s canoe is the promise that has saved America’s unique system of liberal capitalism through every crisis for 200 years.
This country grew as countries in Old Europe threw off “the wretched refuse of your teeming shore” with the promise of “the good life” in America. Today, people still come to California from all over the world (like Arnold Schwarzenegger) for the exact same reasons, no matter what anti-immigrant demagogues say. Accordingly, one thing I would add to Mr. Rolley’s commentary is that sustainability must go with social justice, nonviolence, respect for diversity, and grassroots democracy or we’ll have civil war.
Alex Walker, Los Angeles
