Letters to the editor
Published on Wed, Dec 23, 2009Read More Letters
Help us do for ourselves
It is Azella again. I want to speak again for disabled rights.
The Sequim Library had to do some work on their sewer lines. They closed their parking lot because of the work. They gave no thought to how this would affect the disabled of Sequim.
I requested a book and went to pick it up. I had to walk from the parking lot next door at the church. When I got inside, the book was there but in the back. The librarian could see I was disabled but would not go look for it. The library is a public place, open to all; at least this is the idea. But I guess it is not for the disabled.
The post office, also for the public, does not have a door opener. It, too, is only for people who are whole.
My bank, First Federal on Sequim Avenue, also does not have a door opener.
Yes, I know these things cost money, but so do doors, handles and the like.
Why do businesses keep telling the disabled to go away?
Yes, I am angry!
I had a stroke four years ago. I went to sleep at 52 and awoke at 92.
Sequim, the disabled are people, too. We want to partake of life, just like you.
Start thinking about how people who are not whole deal with life and assist them to be able to do for themselves.
I am a co-chair of Passport for Change, the steering committee for disabled rights of Washington.
If you are disabled and/or have questions, call me at 681-8961 or our staff person Betty Schwieterman at 800-562-2702.
Azella
Sequim
Editor's note: This is her full legal name.
DNA and life
Science has proven that each person's DNA is unique. DNA is present at conception and a person determined by that DNA is present, alive and growing. Names for its various stages of growth are zygote, embryo, fetus, baby, child, youth, etc.
That person is entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The objective and scientific truth is that abortion denies that person its inalienable right to life. To reject this truth is an abuse of reason. Without the right to life, all other rights are meaningless.
When Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun wrote the majority opinion in the case of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, he acknowledged that if the personhood of the unborn is accepted as a matter of law, the legal case for abortion collapses because "the fetus' right to life is then guaranteed" by the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment.
Roe vs. Wade was a bad decision and should be revoked in the light of present-day science. This country has killed over 50 million babies since that decision. Because of abortion, the most dangerous place for a baby today is in its mother's womb.
Congress should acknowledge that, from scientific proof alone, personhood occurs at conception and abortion kills that person. Any funding of abortion by any government condones the murder of innocent persons. Pregnancy is not a disease to be surgically or chemically treated as such.
G.P. Franey
Sequim
Community cares for children
A big thank you to the Sequim community for attending the recently held Sequim Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital holiday bazaar at the Sequim Prairie Grange. Even though there is a concern for the economy right now, our local community came out by the hundreds to support our well-known charity and the participating vendors.
The entire year before the event, our guild members spent many hours creating a wonderful display of handcrafted items for sale. A special thank you to Cheryl and Michelle Earley and their helpers for providing a delightful assortment of terrific food items to enjoy.
Rosa Nguyen delighted the shoppers and vendors with her piano-playing gift as well as guild member Mary Whitmore and her talented orchestra, who truly made our event magical. We look forward to continuing this holiday tradition for many years to come.
Our guild made approximately $4,000 at the bazaar, all of which will be sent over to Seattle Children's Hospital for uncompensated care and services. The Seattle Children's Hospital gives so much to our children here on the Olympic Peninsula. We are so thankful to their entire staff and their continued dedication to miraculous works.
To all our guild members and their spouses and friends who donated their time to help by baking pies, making crafts, hauling, setting up and taking down or just helping wherever they were needed - a heartfelt thank you.
I am proud to live in a community where there is so much caring and support of one another, especially our children.
Carol Labbe
Guild president
Sequim
Who's in control?
Watching Congress members deciding what will and what will not be included in the final health care bill, one can see who is in control. It is clear that lobbyists are in control. Lobbyists decide who they will fund in the next election.
If Congress members vote the way lobbyists want them to, they get the lobbyists' funds. If not, lobbyists support their opponents. It is clear that many Congress members choose to vote the lobbyists' way so they will get re-elected rather than vote for what is best for their constituents.
I suggest there is a way for we, the people, to change this undemocratic system. My suggestion is to ban all lobbyists from giving money to our elected member and to anyone running for Congress. Have only citizens fund elections and put a maximum limit on the amount we can give.
We can't blame Congress members for doing what it takes to get re-elected. It is up to us to change the law to improve the system.
Norman Melos
Sequim
It is Azella again. I want to speak again for disabled rights.
The Sequim Library had to do some work on their sewer lines. They closed their parking lot because of the work. They gave no thought to how this would affect the disabled of Sequim.
I requested a book and went to pick it up. I had to walk from the parking lot next door at the church. When I got inside, the book was there but in the back. The librarian could see I was disabled but would not go look for it. The library is a public place, open to all; at least this is the idea. But I guess it is not for the disabled.
The post office, also for the public, does not have a door opener. It, too, is only for people who are whole.
My bank, First Federal on Sequim Avenue, also does not have a door opener.
Yes, I know these things cost money, but so do doors, handles and the like.
Why do businesses keep telling the disabled to go away?
Yes, I am angry!
I had a stroke four years ago. I went to sleep at 52 and awoke at 92.
Sequim, the disabled are people, too. We want to partake of life, just like you.
Start thinking about how people who are not whole deal with life and assist them to be able to do for themselves.
I am a co-chair of Passport for Change, the steering committee for disabled rights of Washington.
If you are disabled and/or have questions, call me at 681-8961 or our staff person Betty Schwieterman at 800-562-2702.
Azella
Sequim
Editor's note: This is her full legal name.
DNA and life
Science has proven that each person's DNA is unique. DNA is present at conception and a person determined by that DNA is present, alive and growing. Names for its various stages of growth are zygote, embryo, fetus, baby, child, youth, etc.
That person is entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The objective and scientific truth is that abortion denies that person its inalienable right to life. To reject this truth is an abuse of reason. Without the right to life, all other rights are meaningless.
When Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun wrote the majority opinion in the case of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, he acknowledged that if the personhood of the unborn is accepted as a matter of law, the legal case for abortion collapses because "the fetus' right to life is then guaranteed" by the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment.
Roe vs. Wade was a bad decision and should be revoked in the light of present-day science. This country has killed over 50 million babies since that decision. Because of abortion, the most dangerous place for a baby today is in its mother's womb.
Congress should acknowledge that, from scientific proof alone, personhood occurs at conception and abortion kills that person. Any funding of abortion by any government condones the murder of innocent persons. Pregnancy is not a disease to be surgically or chemically treated as such.
G.P. Franey
Sequim
Community cares for children
A big thank you to the Sequim community for attending the recently held Sequim Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital holiday bazaar at the Sequim Prairie Grange. Even though there is a concern for the economy right now, our local community came out by the hundreds to support our well-known charity and the participating vendors.
The entire year before the event, our guild members spent many hours creating a wonderful display of handcrafted items for sale. A special thank you to Cheryl and Michelle Earley and their helpers for providing a delightful assortment of terrific food items to enjoy.
Rosa Nguyen delighted the shoppers and vendors with her piano-playing gift as well as guild member Mary Whitmore and her talented orchestra, who truly made our event magical. We look forward to continuing this holiday tradition for many years to come.
Our guild made approximately $4,000 at the bazaar, all of which will be sent over to Seattle Children's Hospital for uncompensated care and services. The Seattle Children's Hospital gives so much to our children here on the Olympic Peninsula. We are so thankful to their entire staff and their continued dedication to miraculous works.
To all our guild members and their spouses and friends who donated their time to help by baking pies, making crafts, hauling, setting up and taking down or just helping wherever they were needed - a heartfelt thank you.
I am proud to live in a community where there is so much caring and support of one another, especially our children.
Carol Labbe
Guild president
Sequim
Who's in control?
Watching Congress members deciding what will and what will not be included in the final health care bill, one can see who is in control. It is clear that lobbyists are in control. Lobbyists decide who they will fund in the next election.
If Congress members vote the way lobbyists want them to, they get the lobbyists' funds. If not, lobbyists support their opponents. It is clear that many Congress members choose to vote the lobbyists' way so they will get re-elected rather than vote for what is best for their constituents.
I suggest there is a way for we, the people, to change this undemocratic system. My suggestion is to ban all lobbyists from giving money to our elected member and to anyone running for Congress. Have only citizens fund elections and put a maximum limit on the amount we can give.
We can't blame Congress members for doing what it takes to get re-elected. It is up to us to change the law to improve the system.
Norman Melos
Sequim
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Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words may be shortened. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.
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