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Letters, 3/25: Foley’s move a bold step

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Saturday, Mar 25, 2006 - 12:09:52 am CST

The Journal Star’s attempt to garner pity for the family planning industry, also known as Planned Parenthood, bordered on one of the most absurd and extreme misrepresentations I have seen in the media (“Family planning $$ at risk,” March 15).

Sen. Mike Foley’s attempt to cut state funding for Planned Parenthood was a courageous, bold and constitutional step that is long overdue. Planned Parenthood is a supposedly tax-exempt organization that is dependent on contributions from organizations and individuals to keep operating. They are not, as they receive federal and state dollars to spread their  leftist, pro-gay, pro-choice, hate George Bush and the Christian right agenda.

If we fund them, then I say it is only fair we also fund organizations that promote abstinence and other conservative principles. As it is, churches and other Christian individuals fund pro-life organizations and do not receive any government money. So what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

As for women having to drive from Mullen to North Platte if they need “family planning services,” you failed to point out that if one lives in Mullen and desires a Wendy’s hamburger, then they also have to make that same drive. Just like liberals, never let facts get in the way of good hysteria-driven propaganda.

If Planned Parenthood wants a clinic badly enough in Mullen, maybe they should fork over the cash they receive from all the abortions they perform. After all, there have been an estimated 48 million abortions since 1973.

Oh, that John Paul Stephens would just retire, then maybe, just maybe …

Steve Davenport, Lincoln

His views ‘agenda-driven’

I am writing in regard to Greg Schleppenbach’s recent Local View (LJS, March 13) entitled “Snow job about unintended pregnancies.”

Schleppenbach refers to an “agenda-driven report” and to “Guttmacher’s agenda-driven … criteria” and to “a shameful example of an ideologically driven organization,” referring to the highly regarded Guttmacher Institute.

Offhand, I cannot think of a more “ideologically driven” organization than the Nebraska Catholic Conference, of which he is director of pro-life activities. Are we to think, perhaps, he would have us believe his own remarks are not “agenda-driven”?

Carlton B. Paine, Lincoln

Voters deprived of rights

Do all those who voted for term limits just to rid the Legislature of Ernie Chambers know what they have done? Our forefathers went to war and untold thousands of patriotic men and women have lost their lives so that we could vote for whom we wanted to represent us in government.

Since you didn’t like Sen. Chambers, you found a way to get rid of him and deprive the people in his district the right to vote for whom they want to represent them.

You should be ashamed.

David L. Wilson, Lincoln

Mayor’s Wal-Mart grudge

Wal-Mart: Grudge or greed?

Why not put a Wal-Mart on 84th and Adams? It would divert some 27th and Superior traffic. It would benefit the middle- and lower-class residents because of prices.

The man with most control of groceries, Super Saver and Russ’s Markets, needs competitors to control prices.

When the 1,000-plus homes are built out there, and they go to Wal-Mart on 27th and Superior, things are just going to get worse.

Does the mayor have a grudge against Wal-Mart?

What has she got against the residents saving money and gas by putting up a new Wal-Mart?

She was voted in. She can be voted out as well. Keep an eye on her and the City Council.

Charles Hendrix, Lincoln

Yoga numbs mind, soul

A karuna-type yoga was associated with Mother Teresa in a March 12 Lincoln Journal Star article. Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun who was not practicing yoga in her extraordinary life, and it is a travesty that she was used to sell the practice, which has roots in the Hindu religion.

Yoga is marketed for supposed health benefits, not religious purposes. But inherent to the yoga practice one will be drawn into themselves rather than towards others as Mother Teresa’s religious faith did for her. She spent 1½ hours a day attending Mass and praying. This led her to attend to the realities of life and she would have the strength to carry dying people off the streets and minister to them which many times, included cleaning worms and maggots off their reeking bodies.

Yoga is sold for its physical and mental benefits which attempt to bring the mind to a complete oneness with the universe, which has as its goal peace. But yoga ends up bringing the mind to a complete numbness and has as a real outcome the avoidance of reality and the shutting down of the soul. In contrast, Mother Teresa’s Christian spirituality awakens the soul and leads to an outpouring of sacrificial love towards others.

Though the article said yoga is a tool for incorporating people’s spiritual beliefs and can help strengthen those beliefs, the eight limbs of yoga that were encouraged will have devastating effects on the person’s soul who pursues them.

I would have a problem doing yoga next to a person who is trying to strengthen their own beliefs of paganism, Satanism or any other type of destructive belief system. I, on the other hand, invite all to study the life of Mother Teresa and follow her practices that lead to true peace.

Jackie Varicak, Lincoln

A democratic solution

From my personal observation I have deduced that:

1. A small minority (the president and his team) make bad things happen in our country.

2. A slightly larger number of people (the technocrats) observe and try to comprehend what is happening.

3. The great majority (the people) have not the foggiest notion what is really happening.

Considering the political, economic and social conditions in the country during the past five years, people in category “2” might logically conclude that those in category “1” are also well-qualified for category “3.”

Therefore, the technocrats should get together with the great majority (the people) and vote the president and his team out. It is logical. And it is democratic, too.

God bless us all.

Mohammed H. Siddiq, Lincoln


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John wrote on March 25, 2006 2:20 am:
" ".Just like liberals, never let facts get in the way of good hysteria-driven propaganda" And this is in the same letter that compares getting an abortion with a trip to Wendys? Perhaps one of the great things about being Self Righteous is that you don't need to be terribly Self Reflective. "

 Eric wrote on March 25, 2006 3:15 am:
" I hope no one attacks Mr. Siddiq for his, one could say, "leftist" or "liberal" opinion here because Mr. Davenport isn't any better; Steve is so far right... he's so far right he's right off the highway! Just an observation, mind all ^_~ ... As for Charles letter, isn't this old Wal-Mart debate just getting a little bit... "old", just like the concealed handgun debate??? "

 Gerro D'acron wrote on March 25, 2006 9:16 am:
" Brilliant idea Mohammed. What could be better for your islamic brothers intent on destroying anyone and everyone who is an infidel "non-believer", than to put people in office who are intent on surrendering the war on terror to the terrorists. John Murtha for president. Yeah, we'll all be speaking arabic in a few years with democrats running the show. "

 Eric wrote on March 25, 2006 11:00 am:
" Gerro D'acron, totally unfair to attack Mohammed because of his name, not to only say a huge stereotype to assume that he's Islamic (because of his name... so if someone's name is Christian, can we automatically assume that he/she's Catholic, etc.?) And if he is Islamic, does that automatically make him the "bad guy"? Islam is a peace-loving religion; it's the extremists that do harm. Thanks, Gerro D'acron, for the great example of the narrow-minded thinking that goes on in people's bubbles like yours :D ! "

 Scott wrote on March 25, 2006 12:23 pm:
" Jackie: Wow, what a lot of time spent worrying about the fact that Mother Teresa and yoga were put together for an article. When did yoga become the anti-christian exercise? Yoga is about slowing down and finding balance in your life. Every time I finish with yoga I feel more peaceful and energized. I'm much more capable of helping others and most importantly being patient and friendly! I'm also capable of doing a lot more on less sleep because my body is recharged. Part of what you are worrying about is the "meditation." Do you not realize that praying the rosary is a form of meditation?!?! If you are so worried about this, maybe you should be out volunteering and helping the poor and spend less time writing useless letters to the editor. Next I go to the YMCA, I'll make sure to do step class, instead of Yoga. I wouldn't want to offend my fellow christians. If I convert from Catholicism to Methodist do you think I could lift weights? Or would that be too bad? "

 lh wrote on March 25, 2006 2:26 pm:
" Since when is Planned Parenthood "pro-gay"?? Think about it. By definition and biology, the last people on Earth to need abortions (the most attacked and yet least frequent service Planned Parenthood provides), are homosexuals. I'd laugh at this viewpoint if it weren't for the fact that it's so frighteningly common. People actually believe what Mr. Davenport says in his letter. Take funding for Planned Parenthood away, and I guarantee we'll have more children in "the system" awaiting adoptions that never happen, more unwed teenage mothers (oh the Christian horror!), and more people on welfare (right-wingers, brace yourselves!). And NO ONE does "hysteria-driven propaganda" better than the right, especially the religious right. Isn't most religion about a little hysteria and a little propaganda? kinda fits when you think about it.. "

 Josh wrote on March 25, 2006 3:05 pm:
" Mr. Davenport makes no sense. How is an organization able to "spread their leftist, pro-gay, pro-choice, hate George Bush and the Christian right agenda". Leftist AND Chriastian right? Besides - if Foley is so wonderful, why did he deceive his fellow Senators? "

 Bill wrote on March 25, 2006 3:28 pm:
" Eric, here's a current events quiz for you. Name one "peace loving" religion other than Islam that requires people be executed for converting to another faith. The base of the Muslim faith is peace and tolerance. However the goal of Islam is to be the one true faith and religion in the world. Christians do this through missions. Muslims do this through violence. Are the cars in Paris still burning? Until the true peace makers of the Muslim faith are willing to condemn and speak out against the actions of the extremists, one must conclude that they have the same agenda. "

 nam vet wrote on March 25, 2006 6:33 pm:
" Bill, in response to your question about a religion executing people who believe different that you? How about christianity back in the days of the inquisition? Of course not. People were tortured and murdered for not believing in christianity. Also, how many native Americans were killed in the 19th century in the name of christianity because they were considered heathen and weren't christians? So christians aren't as pure as you think. I do not believe the Muslims do not believe in world domination like you say. They just want us "infidels" out of their countries. Until we realize this and move our troops out, there won't be peace. "

 Steve wrote on March 25, 2006 7:27 pm:
" Jackie obviously comes from a place where prayer, meditation, and reflection can only occur within a narrow set of rules and regulations. Jackie is presumptious to assume the motivations of those engaged in yoga. Perhaps Jackie would benefit from reading "Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation, Yoga as a Christian Spiritual Practice," by Rev. Thomas Ryan, a Catholic priest, published by Paulist Press in 1994. We're not all square pegs, Jackie, and we those of with peace and joy in our lives would be happy to introduce you to other ways of looking your own Christian spirituality. "

 Bill wrote on March 25, 2006 9:27 pm:
" nam vet, Sorry, my question must have been beyond your scope of reasoning. It had nothing whatsoever to do with "executing people who believe different that you". It was in reference to the muslim man in Afghanistan who converted to Christianity while in Europe, then was condemmed to be executed for doing so when he returned to his home in Afghanistan. Very peaceful and tolerant wouldn't you say? I am not responsible for the crusades, nor the injustices done to the native Americans by the early settlers, nor am I responsible for slavery while we're at it. When was the last time a Christian was sentanced to die for CHANGING their religious faith? The Spanish Inquisition, maybe? Is that my fault too, nam vet? So for as long as Christians live and / or work in Islamic countries, terrorists will target innocent men women and children? Do you not even read your own arguements? "I do not believe the Muslims do not believe in world domination like you say. They just want us "infidels" out of their countries." They don't want to dominate the world, they just want to be able to dictate who lives in their countries? Bin Laden said in his claim to the 9/11 attacks, that they were done in part because of US military presence in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. We were only there because of Saddam Hussain. Ever heard of the GULF WAR? Yet isn't this EXACTLY the plan proposed by Rep. John Murtha? Re-deploy to Kuwait and let Iraq slowly crumble into a full blown civil war, THEN we'll go back in a start ALL OVER AGAIN. BRILLIANT! What happens when terrorists decide that America is holy Islamic land? Don't say it's not possible look at Israel. "

 Retail $'s from Eagle wrote on March 26, 2006 7:56 am:
" Lincoln's marketing motto should be: "no retail growth". I have lived in the Lincoln area for 25 years. We are near Eagle now and have called Lincoln our retail shopping base forever. 3 weeks ago we went to Omaha to go to Lowes on a Sunday afternoon. I was amazed at the retail expansion on West Center street. There we hundreds of new retail stores and eating establishments. I made the comment to my wire there is no way Lincoln will ever let this type of retail growth happen. We ended up spending the whole day in the area and left a "little bit of Lincoln's retail $ in Omaha". Well yesterday we went back for more. Thinking more about it we have made a subconscious decision to divert our retail shopping $'s to Omaha I guess. I don't mind the 40 minute drive if we can go to an area of positive retail growth as opposed to what Lincoln now has in spread out minor pockets of retail. Also, if Russ's and SuperSave oppose the Wal-Mart issue in East Lincoln so much why are they not stepping up to the plate to build something for those Northeast Lincoln folks? Have you been in that 70 & O street Hy Vee in the past 8 years? There is a reason they have not remodeled or updated it I assume? I bet they assume something large and formidable was going to go up east of them and would negate any capital investment they made in that building. Guess not with Lincoln leadership's excellent foresight... "

 Sara wrote on March 26, 2006 7:19 pm:
" Jackie Varicak seems to have no understanding of the practice of yoga and I can't imagine why she chose to write such an ill-informed letter. Although I'm unfamiliar with the article to which she refers I would venture to say that it is hardly "a travesty" and is, in fact, quite appropriate to speak of Mother Teresa when speaking of the search to achieve calmness, peace and self understanding so as to rise above materialism and find ones "duty" or ones "right path". It has nothing to do with worrying about what the person next you is doing or thinking. "

 Martha wrote on March 29, 2006 1:24 pm:
" As an atheist who practices yoga, I am overjoyed to know that atleast one overly-opinionated and prejudiced Christian will stay home rather than practice yoga next to me. Yoga is a wonderful practice that centers the mind and envigorates the body. All open-minded health-conscious individuals are welcome, and many enjoy it as a part of daily life. "

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