Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 6:00 pm
I was disappointed to see the village of Steinauer referred to as a “one-horse town” in the Jan. 21 Journal Star. This seemed like a needless cut. A lookup of “one-horse” in Webster’s Dictionary yielded the word “inferior.” Dictionary.com listed it as “very small or insignificant.”
My ancestors founded this town, my dad grew up in it, and I have current relatives living in Steinauer. I can assure you the residents are very proud of their town.
We appreciate the coverage of a news event in a small community; however, “quiet village” might have been a more appropriate choice.
Steve Steinauer, Seward
Kids before elephants
I don’t understand how Sen. Marian Price can justify LB1000. Does Price have that much time on her hands to devote to elephants? It angered me that this is something at the top of her priority list when there are so many more important issues at hand, such as therapy services for children with autism.
The article, “Bill targets bullhooks” (LJS, Jan. 11), stated Price was horrified when shown videotapes that she said contained evidence of elephants being mistreated. I wonder if Price has ever spent a few hours with a child with autism. I think then she would see something worthy of being horrified over. What is even more horrific is the state of Nebraska’s view of treatment for children with autism.
Last year, LB101 was introduced. LB101 would provide a Medicaid waiver for intensive early intervention behavior therapy services for children with autism spectrum disorder. Am I wrong to think that our children are more important than a handful of elephants? Don’t get me wrong. I am all for the protection of animals, but come on.
My son was diagnosed with autism four years ago. The state of Nebraska was able to offer me early childhood special education (ECSE) through the school system. The school system does the best they can, but a child with autism needs so much more. ECSE for a child with autism is like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping abdominal wound; it just won’t work.
My son had early intensive behavior therapy; however, we had to pay for it out of pocket. This therapy is so effective that my son’s autism diagnosis was removed last year; he is now indistinguishable from his peers. LB101 would get the services so desperately needed for all children with autism, regardless of ability to pay.
Sen. Price, get your priorities in order. Children first.
Jennifer Dick, Lincoln
Contacting Fortenberry
In December, a group of us from our church decided to try to get appointments with our two senators and our representative to Congress to talk about finding a sensible exit strategy for Iraq. We were quickly given appointments to meet with the staff of Sen. Chuck Hagel and Sen. Ben Nelson, where we felt our ideas and concerns were truly heard.
A call to Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s office told us that we needed to put our request in writing; e-mail would be fine. So we sent the same request to the address they gave us. We got no reply. So we sent it again. Again, no reply. So we e-mailed him at jeff.fortenberry@mail.house.gov and got this response:
“Dear Friend:
“Thank you for taking the time to contact my office.
“I am honored to serve as your United States Congressman. Please know that I value your opinion and look forward to reviewing your concern. Should your inquiry request a response, I will reply via the United States Postal Service.
“Thank you again for your comments. Your thoughts and ideas are extremely important to me as I work to represent you in the United States House of Representatives.
“Sincerely
“Jeff Fortenberry
“Member of Congress”
I don’t know who he is representing, maybe the lobbyists or fat cats. He doesn’t seem to want to talk to mere constituents.
Marge Schlitt, Lincoln
Sherman said it best
Although he did not use the word “chickenhawk,” Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman noted the phenomenon in his time:
“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”
Jo Naber, Lincoln
Cannabis is medical herb
A recent issue of the Investors Business Daily (Jan. 9, ’06) reported our FDA has approved a phase-three trial for Sativex, the cannabis-based drug developed by GW Pharmaceuticals in England. The trial is for its use for cancer pain. It has already passed this trial in Europe.
Canada approved Sativex in 2005 for use by its 50,000 MS patients. Other articles have spoken of its possible use for rheumatoid arthritis pain. Besides our cancer patients, 400,000 MS patients wish our government would get on with it and help their pain.
Sativex is not the only product ever made of cannabis (now called marijuana). Several pharmaceutical companies offered a number of cannabis products until the late 1930s. The “Reefer Madness” hype of the early 1930s, even now repeated, and more recent manipulated research have resulted in unnecessary pain and other debilitating symptoms being extended for thousands of patients.
In spite of the feds ruling its use illegal, 11 states have now approved the use of medicinal cannabis again. Six religious denominations have statements supporting this use, as have medical, law enforcement, administrative and other professional organizations.
What message does this use give young people? Teenage recreational use, nationwide, has decreased. Approval states may have higher decreases; California ninth-graders, minus 45 percent in eight years; Washington state sixth-graders, minus 50 percent in six years; and all Hawaii grades surveyed, up to minus 38 percent in four years. Youths, doctors and patients can make good decisions if given honest information about cannabis, a natural plant.
“God makes the earth yield healing herbs, which the prudent man should not neglect” (Book of Sirach, 38:4, Catholic Bible).
Wayne Whitmarsh, Lincoln