Opinion

More letters

In the lower right corner of "Cartoon Corner" in the March 26 opinion pages is a cartoon that says it all. It is a tiny cartoon, tiny by comparison to the top cartoon that has a groom promising his bride death by starvation in an elegant church setting. A box in black with a world globe turned to Africa and a dialogue balloon asking "What's a feeding tube" points out the hypocrisy of American thought on moral issues of the day. The very size of the cartoon (which of course fits nicely into the space) says something about our priorities. The cartoonist has hit on what should be the priority of all Christians who, at one time or another, must have heard that the Lord told his followers to "feed my lambs." Note the plural, please. Seen any emergency congressional or presidential actions taken lately to feed starving children and adults at home and abroad? Joel Charles

Retired, Tucson

You'd never know gas was over $2 per gallon - it's as if that's okay now. And, with the approach of warm whether, it will only get worse. I'm talking about the wanton wasting of our resources, not to mention the effects on our environment. There are days that I myself drive 100 miles, alone, in a full-size pickup on business. But there are things that we can all do to conserve our resources and protect our environment. I'm talking about not leaving your vehicle running while you're in the post office, convenience store, grocery store, etc. How about parking your vehicle in a marked parking place and getting off your butt and walking inside? How about having some consideration for the rest of the people who want to walk in? How about having some consideration for our resources and environment? So, if you see someone staring at your (very impressive, I'm sure) vehicle while parked and running outside one of the aforementioned places, and mumbling/muttering under his breath - that's me. Knock it off and act like you care, would ya? Gregory A. Miedema

President, Dakota Builders Inc., Tucson

State lawmakers approved four measures on March 15 that would work to hinder people crossing the border illegally. Also, during this time Gov. Janet Napolitano refused to meet with a group of Mexican senators traveling to Arizona to investigate the outcomes of Proposition 200. The Mexican senators are trying to analyze the effects of the law on Mexican nationals and determine if it would be beneficial for other states to take suit and enact the law also. The four bills that were approved are a step in the right direction because Arizona needs to take action against the illegal immigration problem. The way to cripple illegal immigration is to crack down on people smuggling and deny bail to illegal immigrants accused of certain crimes. The four bills that were approved do all of that. The senators come to our country to analyze our law, and then to try and persuade our states against it. I do not understand where the Mexican senators fit in with our laws and our states. Our people have voted to enact Proposition 200 and that is now our business. The four measures that were approved will benefit Arizona and should be supported. Syd Moore

Cholla High Magnet School student, Tucson

In response to the March 31 article "Mrs. Bush, in Kabul, offers aid for schools." I find it ironic that Mrs. Bush can go ahead and offer to give away American taxpayers' dollars toward schools in Afghanistan geared toward women while many of our young women are forced to enlist in the military in order to better themselves or pay for college. I work in the nonprofit sector and truly believe in helping others, but charity needs to begin at home. We have many wars to fight on our home front that are sadly being ignored: lack of health care, a Social Security system that's falling apart, drug addiction, homelessness, the phenomenon known as the "working poor," illiteracy, a growing undercurrent of hate crimes and a seeming return to an era of McCarthy-like witch hunts and censorship of the media. We are all paying for this! Laura Ann Ostermeyer

Tucson

Greg Hansen is a provocative writer with whom I often disagree. However, he is right on the money concerning the criticism of Lute Olson and the final minutes of the Illinois game. Maybe he did milk the clock a little early, and yes, we're all disappointed about only reaching the Elite Eight. Only reaching the Elite Eight . . . now that's a real tragedy. Sounds conspicuously similar to the cries for Dick Tomey's head after he put the football team in the top 10 in the nation, yet failed to make the Rose Bowl. The day those of us who currently "scalp" tickets can get moved from the waiting list to actually purchase basketball season tickets will be the day the Wildcats will take up residency in the Pac-10 cellar. Lute Olson is Arizona basketball the same way Dick Tomey was Arizona football. Let's see if those loyal fans renew their season tickets once we're praying to be invited to the NIT tournament. Mike Pavon

Self-employed, Tucson

I hate to start my day in a foul mood, but the Star has done it today! Two items especially outraged me. One was a front-page story reporting allegations of sexual misconduct by a local girls' softball coach. The Star withheld the accusing girl's name out of respect for her privacy, yet there were no qualms about destroying the coach's life with details of his identity. These are allegations, not proven misconduct or criminal behavior. Shame on the Star! Is the Star willing to ruin a man's reputation on the say-so of a young teenager? Shame, shame! Then when I turned to the Tucson/Region section, there on the front page was a photo of local citizens re-enacting the "Stations of the Cross." The caption underneath credits the Tucson Parks and Recreation and Police departments with cooperation in this project. Has the Tucson city government declared the First Amendment null and void? There. I feel better. Arthur Ross

M.D., Tucson

In response to the April 3 letter "A mean, vicious writer." His opening sentence was, "The Star obviously thinks that Ann Coulter is a big asset to the editorial page, but, quite frankly, most of us readers do not." Just why does he think he is qualified to speak for "most of us readers?" Regardless of my personal opinions, I would never think of making a statement like that. I am one reader who does not think that Ann Coulter's invective can begin to compete with that of Ivins, Huffington and Dowd. Nor can it compare to the invective of Father Greeley. Unlike the aforesaid, Ms. Coulter does not trade in propaganda. She actually backs up her opinions with facts, like many good writers of both the right and the left. I am one small voice crying in the wilderness, I suppose, but I entreat you to continue featuring Ann Coulter. Again, compared to the aforesaid, she is magnificent. Donald S. Thomas

Marana

I wonder what President Bush and others mean by "culture of life" and protecting those who are unable to protect themselves? They seem willing to spend thousands of dollars maintaining the existence of someone totally unaware of his/her surroundings with no quality of life or to protect an unborn fetus but want to decrease funding for a person with no health insurance who is unable to afford life-sustaining medications such as cancer drugs. As a home health nurse in the early '90s, I cared for patients who had to choose between purchasing food and necessary medications. Occasionally I was seeing someone because he/she had been hospitalized for a cardiac incident that would not have occurred if the patient had been able to afford prescribed medication. It can only have gotten worse with increased drug prices. This isn't what I would call a "culture of life" or protecting the less fortunate! Clare Velonis

Retired RN, Tucson

In response to the April 2 Ernesto Portillo Jr. column "Minutemen picked the wrong target." I'd like to express my gratitude to the Daily Star for employing Ernesto Portillo. His opinion piece on the Arizona Minutemen is right on the money. An issue as complex as our immigration cannot be solved by men with guns. Denying jobs to these hard-working people is not the answer, either. The United States needs a rational policy that acknowledges the reality of the situation. However, as long as there is money to be made by denying these workers equal protection under the law, I'm not sure there is much hope on the horizon. Where does the settlement money from the Wal-Mart lawsuit go? Who benefits? Also, who collects the Social Security money that is deducted from the paychecks of these workers living on the edge? With so much money in the balance, the temptation is to let the issue slide at the expense of our national security. With such complex problems in a complex situation, it is easy to forget that these are people trying to earn a living and survive. Patricia Waters

Tucson

With President Bush's 10-point drop in the polls, aren't we about due for at least an "orange" alert? It seems every time he, or his administration, is cornered, we get a terror alert to keep us distracted from the truth. Anthony Mihalko

Tucson

Here is a good "common sense" idea! How about the "Department of Immigration" giving a "Legal Entry Packet" (which has all of the necessary paperwork to come into the U.S. legally) to the people that are arrested for illegal entry into the United States when U.S. Border Patrol transports them back to the Mexico. The Department of Immigration could also buy airtime on the Hispanic radio stations that state the advantages of coming into the U.S. legally. The cost of the printing of the forms and airtime would be a lot less than the total cost of returning people to the border more than once a year. Think about it! Jim Reynolds

Tucson

The future of a strong and productive state depends upon its children. I urge everyone to back the governor in supporting funding for all-day kindergarten, child protective services and health care for the lowest-income children in the state. We must protect the children, and we must care for their education and health. Marjie Baker

Tucson

I just had to respond to the woman whose housekeeper is on the hook for a $300 traffic fine (March 27 "More letters"), asking what her poor housekeeper should do. My question to her is - if this honest, good woman has been faithfully cleaning your house twice a month for the last 14 years, the least you could do is pay the fine for her. If this honest, good woman's services over 14 years aren't worth a $300 "tip," you could make it in the form of a loan. You could withhold $10 from what you pay her each time until she pays off the $300 (15 months). It's obvious that if you can afford a housekeeper, you aren't hurting financially. Or were you hoping that some stranger with a lot of money would pay it for her and take you off the hook? Mike Brasher

Tucson

Shame on Pastor William Rice. Instead of leading his flock, he is following them on a path of ignorant hostility, standing by while Judge George Greer and his family are threatened by a mob that professes to support the sanctity of life. Whatever happened to compassionate conservatism? Dorothy Olson

Retired, Tucson

As a person who only attends church twice a year, I read with interest the March 27 article "'Chreasters' will show faces in church today." Having subsequently learned that "Chreaster" or "C and Es" as we're sometimes called, is a term of derision, I've come to the only decision I can. I've decided to stop attending church entirely. I am a Christian, and the very idea of leading others into sin is anathema to me. I humbly ask forgiveness of any regular churchgoers in whom I have evoked judgmental and uncharitable sentiments. The pleasure and comfort of attending church on my own terms is insignificant compared to causing a fellow believer to stumble. Shawn Lyons

Marana

I finally figured out why I do not like the Star's new opinion pages. They are like light beer - less body, less flavor. White space and larger headlines do not satisfy. Try a different brew. L. Boyd Finch

Retired, Tucson

The Star's new format is most unappealing. Why the huge 6-by-8-inch cartoon in the middle of the opinion page? It dominates the entire page. The whole layout is most unprofessional. Another demonstration of the Star's declining standards is the inclusion of hatemonger Ann Coulter in the Saturday edition. With all of the talented, thoughtful, conservative writers available, why choose her? Maureen Madden

Oro Valley

Our hearts go out to Coach Olson and his players. They all played an extraordinary game against the No. 1 team in the nation. Too bad there are some who would dare to criticize a year we will all remember. Five minutes before tipoff, waiting anxiously for the Wildcats to begin, I received a phone call that my daughter was hit by a drunk driver and they were cutting her out of the vehicle with the Jaws of Life. She is recovering, thank goodness, but I think we all need to get some perspective on life and what's really important. Sally Pfeifer-Kosir

Tucson

Scary stuff! The pieces by Maureen Dowd (March 29 "Theocracy rules in Washington") and Sarah Garrecht Gassen (March 29 "Don't let the zealots win") are clearly pro-secular. If the "righties" of this country ever make the connection to Thomas Paine's Age of Reason and Common Sense, dare I say it, God help these women. Albert LeBouton

Retired UA faculty, Tucson