Published: February 06, 2010 10:24 pm      

Public forum, Feb. 7

Republicans made their own mistakes

After reading Mr. Boyd’s article (Pharos-Tribune, Feb. 1) about Scott Brown’s victory in the Senate, it is very clear Mr. Boyd believes if you are a Republican, you have no faults, and if you are a Democrat, you can do no right and that if a Democrat is the one who finds the “cure for cancer,” Mr. Boyd would want you put in jail because he wasn’t the one who discovered it!  

We could have used Mr. Boyd’s opinionated letters when the Republican Senate was “ramming” (using his words) bills into law with only a 51-49 vote with no input allowed from the Democrats. Now it requires 60 votes when the Democrats are in majority.

Would someone explain that new concept of vote totals to me, if you will? I must have missed that Constitutional amendment.

It is fantastic that Mr. Boyd quotes Arnold Schwarzenegger because most of us can’t even understand what he is saying. And, just how is California’s economy working out since he took office?

Mr. Boyd, if the “deals” made by the Democrats would have put them in jail, then where should your fearless former fearless leader Bush be since he lied to Congress saying that they had verifiable evidence that Iraq had WMDs and was an imminent threat to the United States when later he stated they made a mistake and there actually weren’t any WMDs? Poof, they just disappeared.

Just what is the official definition of treason if it is not lying to the Congress and to the American people to start a war and get over 4,000 young American soldiers killed and tens of thousands others maimed for life?

Also, consider the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, grandparents and grandchildren who have lost or will have to deal with loss of their loved ones or care for a maimed family member for the rest of their lives?

If that is not treason, then there is no such act as treason, Mr. Boyd. There is only one person responsible for these despicable acts and abuse of power, and that is the head man in charge. Where were your letters to the editor the night he lied to Congress on TV to get the power to go to war?

The American people sure could have used you then.

Mike Smith

Young America



PETA doesn’t measure up

Recently, I noticed a report of PETA being “thorned” for grandstanding efforts raised in an annual tradition. Since I am an animal person who respects these helpless creatures, I was interested in the item.

As a reader and subscriber of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving for several years, I do not donate to pet organizations unless they are approved by the BBB. For many years and in my latest edition, PETA is not approved and has not met standards.

I’ve always wondered why they get so much “good” publicity when they are not qualified to promote accountability throughout the charitable sector. Most donors like to know their money goes to the reliable organizations.

Lita Hendrick

Logansport



Cellphones, driving dangerous pairing

Texting while driving should be banned. Cell phone use whether hands free or not should also be banned. I think the cell phone companies should be made to make the phones unusable while a car is started. We should have to pull to the side of the road to use the phone. I have been almost hit so many times from people talking or texting, and I am tired of it.

Donna Musselman

Twelve Mile



Community must invest in future

As a city and a county bound together by government, we collectively can make all our futures brighter.

The editor of this paper printed my name at the bottom of my past articles with my address as Twelve Mile, probably based on my phone number, but my address is really a Logansport one since my property is in Clay Township. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of that fact that I am from Twelve Mile, born and raised there. Our “Biggest Little Town in the World” has produced several successful people including, authors, scientists, military heroes, influential businessmen, teachers and elected government officials.

One man in particular was a mentor for all of my age, a man who kept our town functioning even after our school went away. He always looked to the future and invested his time and “clout” in the future of his town and county. It was his idea to develop the event that takes place every Fourth of July and with the continuing effort of the local Lions Club that he helped to charter, he is still giving to our little town many years after his passing.

The man I speak of did not stop at the town limits but worked for the county as a commissioner, and he was so well thought of that a plaque stands in the County Building as a testament to his vision and forward thinking. If you haven’t guessed by now, his name was Ned Grable.

Ned’s favorite saying, I heard him say it many times, and I’m sure that others who worked with him heard it to: “Oh yea of little faith.” When things seemed impossible, when others could not see past the end of their noses, Ned forged ahead, dragged many with him and accomplished great things for his expanded community.

I’ve stated that we cannot “save” our way out of hard times, but we must “invest” our way out. There is some evidence of that happening by the fact that many unemployed people are going back to school as reflected by Ivy Tech’s enrollment numbers. I just hope we don’t have to wait for these forward-thinking people to make an impact. My hope for my community is that someone or some group will step forward and have enough “faith” to “invest in our future” and make things better for us and those who follow.

Sherman Kantzer

Logansport



Churches also helping Haiti

In light of the letter from the Red Cross you published on Jan. 28, I just wanted to alert your readers that we at All Saints Catholic Church have also been raising money to bring relief to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, having collected over $13,000 to date ourselves. Our funding goes to Catholic Relief Services, who have had some 300 workers in Haiti before this tragedy, and thus are equipped for both the immediate relief and long-term rebuilding that will be needed there. They complement well the important work the Red Cross is currently doing there in the wake of this disaster.

Our church has responded more than I have seen to any of these situations before in part because we have maintained a sister parish in Haiti for over 20 years. Our interaction with the people of the town of Terre Nueve has taught us how beautiful the Haitian people are and how dire their needs are even in the best of times. However, I believe that most of the churches in our area have also raised significant amounts of money for the people of Haiti. So if you think there has been an outpouring of generosity from this community for earthquake relief just from the response to the Red Cross, I feel it is helpful to point out that it is only a fraction of the true story of the outpouring of love for Haiti that is indicative of how caring a community we all live in.

Father Mike McKinney, pastor

All Saints Catholic Church

Logansport



City doesn’t need more empty stores

The Logansport City Council on Monday approved rezoning of land near the new Walmart Supercenter. Just remember folks, ’tis the season for voting.

The developer said the shopping center would encompass 19,000 to 22,000 square feet and include seven or eight stores. He said pre-leasing agreements from four companies already accounted for 75 percent of the center.

So, what’s going to happen to the strip mall in front of the mall and the one in front of Home Depot? Are the stores there going to move to fill the last 25 percent of the new strip mall? If so, what will happen with those two little malls?

If all the business district is now on the east end of town then the west end should be rezoned for housing. Any time a building goes vacant, tear it down and make more apartments and homes.

Councilman Kerry Worthington was the only member of the council to vote against re-zoning three parcels of land near the new Walmart.

“Why build more until we fill those empty spots in town?” he asked. “That’s why I’m against this.”

Rex Gangloff

Camden