Letters to the Editor

The notion that liberals are “baby killers,” as though they get a thrill out of babies being killed, is absurd.

Did prohibition stop the manufacture of liquor? No, it did not. People were making their own or drinking grain alcohol and dying.

I remember when I was a young girl hearing about “back alley abortionists” or “butchers” as they were also referred, where young women who had made a bad decision went and many were maimed or even died from infections. Many tried to perform the gruesome procedure on themselves with a coat hanger.

I remember when my parents, who were staunch republicans, were in favor of legalizing abortion for this reason. This was not strictly a liberal decision.

My heart tells me that abortions should be illegal and that every baby that is conceived should be born and live in a happy home. Unfortunately, in reality, abortions would still go on, history would repeat itself because young women would still make poor choices out of desperation. The difference would be that many young women would also perish along with their babies.

One of my daughters knew a girl, when she was in college, who had an abortion. This girl was a pastor’s daughter. I assume that she didn’t want to embarrass or bring shame on her family.

I believe what is badly needed in this country is a “relationship revolution.” We need to open up meaningful communication with our daughters, other people’s daughters, and sons, and let them know that promiscuity is a very destructive lifestyle choice, but if they make a mistake they would still be loved and so would the baby. Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8. They need to know that abortion is not an acceptable option.

I think we are cutting off the wrong end of the snake by blaming politicians for something that is a societal problem.

I just wanted to let everyone know what wonderful neighbors I have!

I live in the 1200 block of Avenue A and the majority of my neighbors have dogs. I have never lived anywhere where I have seen or heard such well behaved animals, and such courteous owners.

I also never hear the barking of a dog all night like some poor people have to suffer through.

So, thank you Avenue A for being such a great neighborhood!

Lloyd Pohl is a proud liberal. He takes us back to 1776, before the original definition of the word liberal was supplanted by liberals. Lloyd would have us believe that 56 liberals signed the Declaration of Independence, while a “leading conservative”—“a guy named Robertson”(?) was afraid to break with George III. It’s ironic that recently, while conservatives were praying to remain independent, a guy named Obama restored the yoke of tyranny upon us.

Lloyd wrote that after we became independent, “the conservatives” wanted to make Washington king. I wonder how many guys that was? Lloyd wrote, “I don’t really know” what conservatives said about wasting money on the Louisiana Purchase. Does he think they opposed doubling the size of the country for a pittance?

Lloyd tells us that conservatives were okay with southern states seccession, because war was too expensive. Why did they send 360,000 guys to their deaths? For Lincoln, the Civil War was not about slavery. It was to prevent seccession. Lloyd wrote, “I don’t really know” what conservatives said about the intercontinental railroad that Lincoln signed into law. Did he mean the Pacific Railway Act, passed by a Republican congress? Two private companies used government bonds to build the line. Lloyd remembers that “conservatives called Alaska Seward’s Folley.” I doubt that his own party was too upset with another huge land purchase at two cents/acre.

Lloyd thanks God for Social Security. I thought FDR gave us that. Now, Nancy Pelosi says health care is a right. I’m confused. I thought our rights came from God. Rights given to us by politicians can just as easily be taken away.

I thank Lloyd for his military service. When he was in the Army, he saw segregation in Arkansas. He wrote, “That was the work of conservatives.” Others take a different view. The National Black Republican Association has issued a petition to Barack Obama, requesting a formal apology for the Democratic Party’s 150-year history of racism. They have a long list of what they describe as “horrific atrocities” performed by proud liberals. See www.nationalblackrepublicans.com.

Lloyd wonders why “conservatives won’t spring for a little money” to keep the interstate highway system in repair. Eisenhower gave us the roads, but he also gave the federal government a guillotine to hang over our heads. What’s the first thing they threaten when states don’t comply with their wishes? They gave us “the gift that keeps on taking.” When did states forget how to build roads?

Before the new bill, laws were in place requiring health care be given to everyone (even illegals). They don’t prevent liberalism from killing over 1.5 million babies per year. I don’t know what the exceptionalism of Lloyd’s children has to do with liberalism. Liberals hate individualism. Now that Lloyd is old, he laments visiting one of Palin’s death panels. They’re Obama’s death panels. Palin just pointed out that they exist in the new law. I never said liberals were a bunch of losers, they’re just wrong. Their proposals make us all losers.

Public health has seen dramatic progress achieved through a century of public health advancements — the elimination of polio, vaccination for many childhood diseases, the fluoridation of drinking water and seat belt laws. But there is more work to be done and by building on the successes of the past, we can improve Nebraskans’ health.  Progress can be made by creating safe communities that enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Small actions at the community level can make a big difference!

Children are more likely to bike or walk to school—increasing their activity levels —in communities that have newly built or improved sidewalks, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and bicycle paths.

Taking just a moment to receive (or give) a vaccination can be a life-saver. For example, people in retirement communities are 27 percent less likely to be hospitalized and nearly half as likely to die from flu- or pneumonia-related complications if they receive yearly flu vaccinations.

Businesses are part of the solution too. Workplace nutrition and physical activity programs successfully contribute to weight loss and improve body mass index among employees.

Each of these small changes starts with someone like you who is committed to improving the health of his or her community. It’s up to you to create and continue the momentum so that together we can become the healthiest nation in one generation.

For more information contact Two Rivers Public Health Department at 1-888-669-7154 or see our Web site or click here to view a video.