Letters to the editor (9/17)

What's more important than the right to life?

Dear Editor:

When I was in the education field, I mindlessly continued my membership in the National Education Association (NEA), justifying it because I needed the insurance they offer. That in spite of the fact that they continually endorse pro-abortion candidates, which is in contrast to my pro-life stance. If I can convince even one pro-life teacher to look into the alternatives to membership in the NEA, I will feel I have made a contribution.

Teachers Saving Children, Inc. (TSC) is an organization of pro-life educators. Their publication informs readers on the progress of the pro-life movement. It stresses how teachers can work within the NEA to advance our position. Each year TSC has a booth at the NEA convention, handing out materials showing the development of the fetus, realia and books that can be used in the classroom to promote life for the unborn.

The latest copy states that Barack Obama has stated that if elected president, one of the first things he would do is sign the "Freedom of Choice Act," a bill that would make partial-birth abortion legal again, require taxpayer funding of abortion, nullify virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion, such as parental notification laws.

What's more important than the right to life?

Roseann Wagner

The contest between 2 candidates

Dear Editor:

I believe most will agree that this national election is the most important to our country in recent history. It most certainly is for me, and I am 81 years old.

I personally see this as a contest between the two men running for president; although the vice presidential candidates do affect the way I see the country going.

One of the presidential candidates has worked his way to a great education through hard work.

The other candidate was put in a special high school in order to get a high school diploma. He did poorly. Because of family influence, he was given an appointment to Annapolis ahead of much more deserving young men. 

He finished fifth from the bottom in his class and showed a minimum of leadership skills. Because of family influence he gets into the pilot training program ahead of more deserving young men. He does poorly, crashes one plane and still graduates. He crashes two more planes, and still gets promoted ahead of others in his Annapolis class.

One of the candidates has been married and faithful to the same women since they first walked down the aisle; the other admits to many affairs and divorced an ailing wife to marry another women. The winner of this election will have a chance to take America into the 21st century; through logic and reason.

If the evangelical right manage to elect the pampered Navy retiree; we can expect our education system to fall behind the rest of the world. Logic and reason can move us ahead.

The evangelicals cannot see beyond their faith. Faith and truth are not compatible. The advances in science in the next four years are going to be truly amazing. I can only see our country leading the way if we elect the young man who worked for everything; to get to where he is today.

Larry J. Kluth (Lt. Col. USAF Ret.)

Attacks on Palin gone too far

Dear Editor:

Enough already! The senseless, unprofessional and tasteless media bashing of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has gone too far.

The American news media has proven itself to be a tacky, mudslinging, left-winged vehicle used to circulate unsubstantiated and inventive innuendos, suspicions and overall negativity.

What happened to simply reporting facts in an unbiased, objective format and leaving viewers to formulate their own opinions and draw their own conclusions?

Do we really need six or more talking heads telling us what to think about every story (legitimate or otherwise) that rolls across the television screen?

Sadly, Americans have become puppets, buying into the lies of the media and hanging onto every word and viewpoint they hear.

Can't anyone think for themselves anymore? We have become a people obsessed with judging others and rejoicing in their pain. News, as we know it, has become nothing more than glorified gossip and gloom-and-doom broadcasting.

Maybe if we all turned the television off, minded our own business and got our own lives, we wouldn't have time to obsess about the shortcomings of those around us.

Simply put, a lot of people are jealous and envious of Palin: she is an attractive, educated, successful, intelligent and well-rounded woman with a solid marriage, a beautiful family and a thriving career. Apparently, our news media just can't handle a well-adjusted individual in today's age of dysfunction, and when they can't find anything worthwhile to report, they attempt to ruin a good reputation with bad journalism.

My hat is off to Gov. Palin. It's about time someone boldly stood up for the foundational values our country was built upon that have now become taboo: faith in God and the traditional family unit.

And, by the way, anyone seeking to legislate immorality by promoting government-endorsed sodomy and the homosexual lifestyle and agenda has no business criticizing a 17-year-old pregnant girl who has chosen to keep her child.

Once again, the Bible has proven itself to be true and inerrant: we have officially reached the point in history when evil is considered good and good, evil.

Laura Myers

Varied political views do exist in Ahwatukee

Dear Editor:

I was very offended by an opinion ("Barack Obama: son of promise, child of hope," AFN, Sept. 12), which showed fear and derogatory tactics against Barack Obama. The use of the mention of the Communist Party and stating that the Palestinian Jihadis donate to his campaign is the usual smear that I have seen from the far right conservatives.

I love this area and have enjoyed this local newspaper, but I am very worried that your publication is one-sided. There are many people living in Ahwatukee that have different political views, and this is what makes America a great country.

I would like to see in your publication a commentary from the Democrat side, citing the differences between McCain and Obama on the issues and not smears. Of course, it should be as long as Mr. Roger's piece and not hidden in a small article. For informational purposes, I am a senior citizen and of the Jewish faith.

Lois Bejerano