MAIL BAG LETTERS FROM READERS

I have read several letters and articles from people who continue to make contradictory statements. This group equates our president to a communist because he provides health coverage to the uninsured, who have been discriminated against by private insurers, meanwhile, ignoring the historical and political inaccuracies of these politically charged comments. You cannot accuse the president of taking away your freedoms without listing the actual freedoms you have lost.

They share the same hypocritical rhetoric instilled in them by their GOP leaders, who have yet to show leadership and provide solutions for our inherited problems. You cannot claim to be on the side of the struggling Americans when you support legislation that provides tax breaks for the rich. You cannot oppose Wall Street reform and pretend to defend those who live on Main Street. It’s hypocritical to oppose the stimulus package and call our president a socialist, while 114 opponents eagerly accepted the stimulus money, taking credit for it once it proved successful in their home districts.

They condemn our current president for not resolving the recession fast enough, but not a word is spoken against President Bush for contributing to the recession. Your leaders supported immigration reform under the previous administration, now the same political leaders object to the same reform they wrote!

It’s beyond hypocrisy when our president is mocked for bowing to a foreign dignitary when the same people ignore the fact that it was Bush who held hands with the Saudi king, and ended his visit with a kiss.

You can’t complain about the recent oil spill when the dynamic duo of conservatism chanted, “drill, baby, drill,” throughout their campaign, and you applauded.

You have doctors who fiercely oppose Medicare, while accepting payments for their Medicare patients. These are the people who blame President Obama for an attempted terror attack on his watch, forgetting about the “successful” terror attack on Bush’s watch.

Your leaders have yet to denounce those who encourage violence and find it acceptable that congressmen are screamed at with racially and sexually explicit names. You allow your party to be taken over by those who encourage others to pick up their guns and initiate violence against our government, instilling hatred.

Hatred is reserved for those with no ideas. It’s time that the GOP leaders realize that hate is not a resolution; it’s a hindrance. Hatred is not the answer.

Hold gas drillers more accountable

Thank you for the article on how gas drilling has affected outdoor recreation in our region (“Drilling doubt cast: Boom industry concerns anglers, hunters,” May 23).

Like the sportsmen quoted in the article, I am concerned about the potential devastation that natural gas drilling might bring to our environment. I encourage the sportsmen quoted in the article – and anyone else worried about how gas drilling might impact our water supply, air quality, property values and our beautiful region – to become active in advocating for legal safeguards to the energy extraction industry.

Please contact your legislators to share your concerns with them. Ask them to sponsor legislation to hold the gas industry accountable for the safety of our water supply.

Attend meetings, and let your township supervisors know that, if gas drilling is to be done, it must be done safely.

Educate yourself. Information about the potential dangers of gas drilling is just a click away at www.gdacoalition.org.

Writer criticizes cartoon of pope

I am writing to protest the degrading and insulting editorial cartoon published by The Times Leader April 5. It portrays a picture of the pope and someone shouting, “Do something about pedophile priests!” The caricature responds, “Say again?” And the caption is “the deaf boy.”

The timing for such a presentation could not be worse, coming the day after the joyful celebration of Easter. Certainly we all lament and deeply regret the crimes that have been committed by Catholic priests and the suffering by their victims.

Please bear in mind, though, the fact that not all Catholic priests are pedophiles and the vast majority are faithful to their calling. Please bear in mind also, looking at the whole picture, that the sexual abuse of minors is not confined to the Catholic Church

You will find the same situation in the history of many other religious dominations, public or private institutions, social agencies, public or private schools, etc. Why is it that the Catholic Church is singled out by the media? In some instances the reports have taken place 30 or 40 years ago. To what purpose?

It is important, also, to point out that after the scandal broke in our country, the Conference of Bishops through “The Texas Charter” established a zero-tolerance policy, stating that any priest, religious or layperson working for a diocese will be immediately suspended from their position if a complaint is made, and the matter will be immediately referred to the lawful authorities for investigation. If the charges are found to be true, the person is permanently removed from office and is subject to legal punishment. I know of no other religious denomination or group that has taken such a strong stand.

I believe that it should be the objective of the news media to report the news fairly, objectively and without prejudice. The cartoon I refer to fails to meet any of these criteria. To depict the office of pope or bishop, or any authority figure in another religion, in such a ludicrous fashion contributes to undermining the faith of the people and makes religion in general an unimportant institution in our society. I have to wonder if this is the intended purpose of this cartoon.

George Washington said, “And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” It would appear that our modern age never heard the words of the “father of our country,” or, if so, choses to ignore the warning and immorality continues to increase day by day.

Consider the corruption on the federal, state and local levels of government, as well as in private businesses; the crime rate; the rising number of drug and alcohol addicts; the breakdown of family life, many times due to infidelities; abortion; and same-sex marriages.

I ask the editorial staff of The Times Leader to reconsider its policies that contribute to the undermining of religion and that are helping to build a God-less culture in our country.