Letters to the Editor http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor Letters the Post-Dispatch runs are just the tip of the iceberg. More here. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:56:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en 1 Letters to the Editor http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/images/yahoo/stl_pd_logo.jpg http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor 143 50 STLtoday.com The Nader endorsement to come http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/the-nader-endorsement-to-come/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/the-nader-endorsement-to-come/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:56:24 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/the-nader-endorsement-to-come/ Whe October rolls around and the Post has to endorse a third party candidate the readers will finally get to see the paper really does not take sides. The time for endorsements will be here and the Post can finally show all those conspiracy people they are wrong.

With Mr. Obama stating his Chritian faith will drive his policy obviously the Post can’t endorse him. With Mr. Obama agreeing that he would work with religious charities to help the poor (as Mr. Bush has tried) and saying let the states decide if they want capital punishment for sex crimes against children, what is an independent stallwart like the Post to do?

Since the paper has no hidden agenda I am sure Mr.Nader will gladly accept the endorsement. Now you can finally show those right wingers how wrong they are. I am already proud of the Post in advance. Right?

Phil Rose

Affton

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/the-nader-endorsement-to-come/feed/ St. Cronan’s Church and Sister Louise: Stung by Burke’s actions http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/st-cronans-church-and-sister-louise-stung-by-burkes-actions/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/st-cronans-church-and-sister-louise-stung-by-burkes-actions/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:49:18 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/st-cronans-church-and-sister-louise-stung-by-burkes-actions/ I agree with SLU Professor Kenneth Parker (7-7-08) that St. Louis area Catholics are in need of a bishop who serves the diocese as a pastor, not a canon lawyer. After almost two decades of pastoral neglect, many of the…

]]> I agree with SLU Professor Kenneth Parker (7-7-08) that St. Louis area Catholics are in need of a bishop who serves the diocese as a pastor, not a canon lawyer. After almost two decades of pastoral neglect, many of the laity of this diocese are indeed hurting.

As a member of St. Cronan’s parish for the past 25 years, I have witnessed the assignment of a pedophilic priest as its pastor, by former Archbishop Rigali (the priest’s string of charges were hidden from public disclosure by the Chancery). Parents (including myself) had not been informed of the risks facing their children. Coincidentally, shortly after the news broke of the local pedophilia scandal, Archbishop Rigali was promoted to Cardinal of Philadelphia. He left St. Louis without even a simple apology to the people of St. Cronan’s.

Recently, on June 26th Archbishop Burke issued Sr. Louise Lears, S.C., a pastoral minister at St. Cronan’s, an official interdict excommunicating her for her ‘crime’ of witnessing and supporting the illicit ordination (according to Canon Law) of two Catholic women in November, 2007. Sr. Louise is well-known and respected for her principled stances in areas of peace and social justice, including the rights of women within and outside ecclesial circles.

Prior to the June 26th interdict, St. Cronan’s parishioners, saddened and offended by the aggressive nature of the archbishop’s action, had invited Burke to visit our parish “to get to know us” and our sister Louise before producing such a rash and harmful judgment. The invitation was turned down.

On June 27th, Archbishop Burke broke his news of promotion to headship of the “supreme court” of the Roman Catholic Church. Needless to say, this “big news” drowned out the news of Sr. Louise’s excommunication.

While the last two bishops “earned their stripes” climbing the ecclesial latter by following the “letter of the law,” may the next one reclaim the role of pastor as a shepherd, like Jesus, who personally and deeply cares about the flock.

Catherine Hartrich

St. Louis

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/st-cronans-church-and-sister-louise-stung-by-burkes-actions/feed/ Get kids to exercise and eat well instead of medicating them http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/get-kids-to-exercise-and-eat-well-instead-of-medicating-them/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/get-kids-to-exercise-and-eat-well-instead-of-medicating-them/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:44:17 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/get-kids-to-exercise-and-eat-well-instead-of-medicating-them/ Re: Headline "Drugs now urged for kids with heart risk". Sad, sad,sad. Another commentary on the terrible state of parenting in this country. I am not surprised by the state of obessity in kids. One would have to be blind…]]> Re: Headline “Drugs now urged for kids with heart risk”. Sad, sad,sad. Another commentary on the terrible state of parenting in this country. I am not surprised by the state of obessity in kids. One would have to be blind not to see that in any public place. Kids eat mostly junk, high fat, high calorie foods. The parents buy it, either being ignorant of the inevitable result or not caring that they are prepping their kids for a premature death.

We have four grandchildren under seven years of age. All are within the weight for height and age limits. Their parents do not allow them junk foods except as a “treat”. Their passive TV and video game time is limited, and they are encouraged into physical activities. If they develop heart disease. it will not be from obesity and diabetes.

Pediatricians should not medicate for obesity caused problems in kids. If telling the parents they are killing their kids with junk food kindness, so be it.

What is not mentioned in the Post article is the growing evidence against cholesterol lowering drugs, especially stains, for causing muscle weakness and other problems.

The idea of medicating kids to lower their cholesterol is, in my mind, almost criminal. But it is another watershed moment in defining the state of parenting in this country.

Carl W. Lehne

Florissant

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/get-kids-to-exercise-and-eat-well-instead-of-medicating-them/feed/ Groups shouldn’t have unlimited “freedom of speech” when it comes to campaign contributions http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/groups-shouldnt-have-unlimited-freedom-of-speech-when-it-comes-to-campaign-contributions/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/groups-shouldnt-have-unlimited-freedom-of-speech-when-it-comes-to-campaign-contributions/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:42:34 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/groups-shouldnt-have-unlimited-freedom-of-speech-when-it-comes-to-campaign-contributions/ “The “Missouri money maze” was a good story. It confirms my belief that campaign contributions from a group of any kind should be banned. they only serve to hide donors’ identities. Contributions from individuals should be unlimited with only the requirements that they must be made public. This preserves freedom of speech for individuals. Where is it written that groups, by any name, of any type, have unlimited freedom of speech. And if someone says unlimited contributions by individuals let the rich buy a candidate, let them read your story again; its happening now.

Tom Beebe

St. Louis

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/groups-shouldnt-have-unlimited-freedom-of-speech-when-it-comes-to-campaign-contributions/feed/ Celebrating the Fourth at the Arch shows we must be cautious with ‘improvements’ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/celebrating-the-fourth-at-the-arch-shows-we-must-be-cautious-with-improvements/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/celebrating-the-fourth-at-the-arch-shows-we-must-be-cautious-with-improvements/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:40:09 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/celebrating-the-fourth-at-the-arch-shows-we-must-be-cautious-with-improvements/ Having seen the 4th at the Arch, it might be said -please, proceed with care in any changes to those magnificent grounds! In point of fact it would appear only periphery improvements, at the four points of the compass, are in order.

First, on the West, minimally from Market to Chestnut streets, the “lid” walkover of the Interstate 70 depressed lanes, that would literally reconnect the green space of the Saint Louis Riverfront via the green corridor of the City’s Gateway Mall.

Second, on the East, a revitalized “period” Port Saint Louis, -steamboat era whimsy, flexible for adapting to the ebb and flow of the Mississippi River.

Third, on the South overlook, a River Species Aquarium/Family Restaurant Center (perhaps in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation.)

Fourth, on the North, overlooking the River, the Arch, the Eads Bridge, the Lewis and Clark Memorial Sculpture, renovation of the stark expanse of concrete that is the “grounds level” of the parking garage, into a multi-use facility that can serve as lower levels parking, at grounds level an Amphi-Theater/Band Shell, Market Place/Arts and Crafts Fair area.

The Arch, symbol of America’s Westward Expansion, identifies Saint Louis to hundreds of thousands around the world. What a great pity it would be to disfigure that beautiful green space opening to our city, with a plethora of structural “development.”

Ron Pohle

Mehlville

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/celebrating-the-fourth-at-the-arch-shows-we-must-be-cautious-with-improvements/feed/ Can we trust McCain to control himself? http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/can-we-trust-mccain-to-control-himself/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/can-we-trust-mccain-to-control-himself/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:33:19 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/can-we-trust-mccain-to-control-himself/ I have previously written to make the point that Senator John Sidney McCain III is not the person we should elect as our next president.  Now my friends in the “biased liberal media” have uncovered even more evidence of this…

]]> I have previously written to make the point that Senator John Sidney McCain III is not the person we should elect as our next president.  Now my friends in the “biased liberal media” have uncovered even more evidence of this fact:

·                    Senator McCain is taking credit for the passage of Senator James Webb’s new GI Bill that will give vastly improved benefits to our troops.  Senator McCain fails to mention that he (and the Bush Administration) opposed the bill.  Once again, President Bush and his lackey, Senator McCain, are walking in step.  It appears that the “Straight Talk Express” needs a tune up.   An article at http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/05/23/mccain_misses_vote_ on_ a_new_gi_bill_scorns_criticism_from_obama/  has more information on Senator McCain’s failure to support our troops.

·                    Senator Thad Cochran has provided us with even more evidence of Senator McCain’s inability to control himself.  A story in the SunHerald includes Senator Cochran’s account of how Senator McCain got into a physical confrontation with a Sandinista.  The funny thing is that, at the time, Senator McCain was on a diplomatic mission.  The complete story is at http://www.sunherald.com/newsupdates/story/660742.html.

·                    Senator McCain’s wife, Cindy, has charged $500,000 on her American Express credit card during a single month.  I have no objection to Mrs. McCain spending her money.  However, a man who is married to a woman who amasses a $500,000 credit card bill can never understand what it is like for hard working Americans who find themselves having to choose between food and medicine or other hard working Americans who are losing their jobs and their homes.  A wealthy man such as John Sidney Mc Cain III cannot be expected to think or act in the interests of hard working Americans who make less than $1,000,000 per year.  Since Senator McCain has admitted that he has little understanding of how our economy works, he can be counted on to continue the “reverse Robin Hood” policies of the Bush Administration.

The fact of the matter is that John McCain was the Republican Party’s bottom of the barrel/worst case scenario candidate for their party’s nomination.  Mere months ago, the right wing mouthpieces viciously attacked him.  But now, Republicans would like us to hold our noses and elect John Sidney McCain III as the next president of the United States.  In other words, the Republicans expect us to select their last choice as America’s first choice.  Hmmm.  Let’s see how that works out. 

 

Carl A. Grandberry

St. Robert, Mo.

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/can-we-trust-mccain-to-control-himself/feed/ A-B should stay American, but it should look at pricing in St. Louis http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/a-b-should-stay-american-but-it-should-look-at-pricing-in-st-louis/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/a-b-should-stay-american-but-it-should-look-at-pricing-in-st-louis/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:32:13 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/a-b-should-stay-american-but-it-should-look-at-pricing-in-st-louis/ I am 100 percent in support of keeping AB an American product, owned by Americans.  I do have to acknowledge that Anheuser Busch lost me as a customer when I realized that that AB brand products are cheaper in cities…

]]> I am 100 percent in support of keeping AB an American product, owned by Americans.  I do have to acknowledge that Anheuser Busch lost me as a customer when I realized that that AB brand products are cheaper in cities such as Milwaukee than in St. Louis.   AB is adding extra cost of shipping the product to Milwaukee and is still selling it cheaper in Milwaukee than St. Louis.  I would hope that AB would respect its fans and local clientele in the St. Louis area and offer a more competitive price.Ajay Kansal

Glen Carbon

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/a-b-should-stay-american-but-it-should-look-at-pricing-in-st-louis/feed/ What hasn’t been dumbed down?1 http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-hasnt-been-dumbed-down1/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-hasnt-been-dumbed-down1/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:30:17 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-hasnt-been-dumbed-down1/ A reader’s letter printed on the Fourth of July questioned whether or not our nations patriotism has been “dumbed down”. Are you kidding? What hasn’t been dumbed down in America the last 30 years? Lawsuits have been won by people…]]> A reader’s letter printed on the Fourth of July questioned whether or not our nations patriotism has been “dumbed down”. Are you kidding? What hasn’t been dumbed down in America the last 30 years? Lawsuits have been won by people too stupid to drink hot coffee, ride public transportation or operate simple machinery. Television has become mindless voyeurism and game shows that challenge weight loss or intelligence at a fifth grade level. Pop music has devolved into rhythms and chords stolen from other actual songs, mixed with non-melodic mumbo-jumbo lyrics that glorify violence and debase society in general. Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Michael Moore are revered as heroes, while President Bush, General Petraeus and Justice Roberts are scorned, mocked and ridiculed at every turn. You can burn the flag but you can’t smoke in a bar. Small business owners are taxed and regulated to death . We can’t drill for oil in our own country for fear of harming an area of the planet that no one lives, we can’t afford to pay teachers and illegal aliens and enemy combatants are afforded constitutional freedoms. Dumbed down? Duh…..

Bob Flynn

St. Peters

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-hasnt-been-dumbed-down1/feed/ What is patriotism? http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-is-patriotism/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-is-patriotism/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:28:32 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-is-patriotism/

What is Patriotism? Many Americans, especially the conservative ones, would answer that particular question with some version of the phrase "My country, right or wrong!" which was originally spoken in 1816 by Stephen Decater, a returning war hero. The full…

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What is Patriotism? Many Americans, especially the conservative ones, would answer that particular question with some version of the phrase “My country, right or wrong!” which was originally spoken in 1816 by Stephen Decater, a returning war hero. The full quote is “may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!” Their attitude is that whatever it takes to keep us safe, and by that they mean some version of richer and better off than the rest of the world, is okay as long as they are not exposed to its effects and, in fact, don’t even want to know about any of it. If it takes renditioning and torturing and blowing up the occasional innocent civilian, well that’s why they call it collateral damage, which is somehow better that intended damage, sort of a “Whoopsie” that can be glossed over with a “Sorry” or “He was someplace he shouldn’t have been” or even a “But we THOUGHT he was guilty!”

 

My definition would be more along the lines of honoring our troops by making sure that they are put at risk ONLY when our nation is threatened and then taking care of them when their tour of duty is over. This means that putting them in places like North Africa in 1942, Europe in 1944, or Afghanistan in 2002 is a proper use of them, but not in places like Vietnam in the ‘60s and Iraq in 2003. It also means making sure that the care they receive in our hospitals is the best that there is, that they are not given a discharge for pre-existing conditions when the condition is obviously duty related, or denying them monetary benefits that were given to the fathers and grandfathers because it might influence them to not re-up. They are NOT raw material to be used up and then discarded because they are too expensive or inconvenient. And let the news cover their bodies being returned to the country that they sacrificed their lives for, even if it reduces the President’s approval ratings.

 

My definition of patriotism would also include the simple act of holding our politicians accountable for their actions, and those actions must include making sure that this country always at least tries to do the right thing. We may not always succeed, we are after all merely a nation of flawed human beings, but we should always try. And by the right thing I don’t mean the politically correct thing or the popular thing or the thing that will get you re-elected or the thing that will get your former, or perhaps future, employer a huge government contract or insure you a cushy job. I mean that which will most benefit the country and its citizens, all of its citizens and not just the rich or the poor or the corporations or your donors, but all. They may not always succeed, in fact they will probably rarely succeed, but failure to help all will usually help most. And then they could stand up, and all of their fellow citizens could stand up, in front of current and future generations and say “We always did the best we could, the best we knew how, and we tried to do the right thing!” That would make a great epitaph for any person, or any country.

John A. Joseph

St. Louis

]]> http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/what-is-patriotism/feed/ Hey, Anheuser-Busch defenders, remember Rolling Rock? http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/hey-anheuser-busch-defenders-remember-rolling-rock/ http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/hey-anheuser-busch-defenders-remember-rolling-rock/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:27:09 +0000 Letters http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2008/07/hey-anheuser-busch-defenders-remember-rolling-rock/ In 2006 A-B purchased the Rolling Rock brand of the Latrobe Brewing Company from InBev, but did not purchase the brewery. Fortunately another brewer bought the Pennsylvania brewery and many jobs were saved. I am amazed by the double standard that so many people have for Anhueser-Busch. When it comes to A-B buying another company and destroying its tradition it is a business decision, when it comes to another company buying A-B it is a national tragedy. For those who do not like the idea of foreigners owning A-B; what are their opinions of A-B owning brewers or parts of brewers in China, India, Mexico, and elsewhere. I am sure many people in those countries were not thrilled about foreigners taking over their brewers either. It seems that the people of St. Louis are happy when their man is the biggest guy around, but say “no fair” when a bigger opponent comes along.
 
Bryan D. Monaco
 
Taylor, Mich.

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