Letters to the Editor: May 19, 2017
Not government’s place
A May 5 letter from Alisa Owen asks state Sen. Brian Boquist why he wants to control her body. I can’t speak for Sen. Boquist, but I imagine he might say that he is more interested in saving the life of an unborn child than he is in controlling her body.
Other than cases of rape or incest, a woman does have control over her own body when she decides to have unprotected sex. There are so many ways to prevent an unwanted pregnancy these days, it’s hard to see why there is still so much emphasis on abortion.
It’s not popular to talk about self-control or being responsible for your own actions, but I think that’s what is called for. Everything shouldn’t be a government responsibility.
Craig Pubols
McMinnville
You call this a plan?
Council approval of the Baker Creek subdivision came as a complete shock to me when I returned from a trip.
After reading the April 28 News-Register article, I became angry over how the council handled the entire affair, especially councilors making the middle-of-the-night decision after critics went home. So much for council openness and transparency. I met with the planning director early in the process and was assured the application met the city’s criteria, and sure enough, councilors recommended approval.
My remark at the time was if this application met all the city plan requirements, then the city has a crappy plan. Has the planning department ever reviewed a developer’s plan they didn’t like? The only sane partner in this affair was the planning commission, whose initial rejection was overturned by the city council.
It is my belief this low-income housing subdivision will not be a good fit for northwest McMinnville and it will be regretted in the years to come. Perhaps we should all remember this at the next election.
Gene White
McMinnville
Next time, read the Bible
June Horowitz’s May 12 letter on “false gods” is wrongheaded. The only similarity between the Asherah pole and the Rotary peace pole is that they are poles.
Ancient folks believed that the fertility goddess Asherah was immanent in her poles. We do not believe that any god or goddess, false or otherwise, is immanent in the Rotary peace poles. They bear witness to the very human desire for peace, and they are in keeping with my Christian faith.
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”
A bit later, in Matthew 5:43, he says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.”
Would that all Christians heeded the words of the master.
Robert E. Mason
McMinnville
Comments
Mudstump
Craig Pubols - "Everything shouldn’t be a government responsibility."
Yet you seem to be advocating complete government control of women's health care.
Don Dix
Mr. Publos -- Employing deductive reasoning, anytime there is a total lack of experience and knowledge of the subject, another choice (of advocate) would be a wise and prudent decision.
That said, there is not a male on the planet that, by experience, can relate to pregnancy, childbirth, or being a mother -- and yet men seem to believe they have an insight on the processes, by way of rules and restrictions. If experience is the best qualification (of most issues human), males should be the last choice to represent!
Mudstump
Craig Pubols - You seem to believe that loss of self control is the reason women get pregnant. You have a lot to learn and remember women don't get pregnant alone. Your shaming of women is way over the line. You should educate yourself on the reasons women choose to terminate a pregnancy and be aware that it's a very private matter....often excruciating and difficult. To reduce it down to a simple loss of control is over-simplifying the issue and ignorant. My husband and I don't want you or the government involved in our private healthcare decisions so, you can butt out.....and, we sure don't appreciate your childish and condescending attitude.
Bizzyditchaz
Hear Hear Don Dix!!!! It's ironic how men are so quick to make it a woman's responsibility after their fun is done. When you speak of "self-controlling actions" I certainly hope you are speaking of your own gender who has VERY little in way of actual repercussions to an accidental pregnancy! "...she decides to have unprotected sex. There are so many ways to prevent an unwanted pregnancy these days..." Willing to be a test subject for the male BC pill in works, Craig?
gophergrabber
Can a person stand by while a murder is happening? I didn't think so.
Lulu
Why don't you ask the Yamhill County Jail, gophergrabber.
Horse with no name
You get the government you elect. Boquist, the sanctimonious and their flock Pubols are going to make the world right according to their narrow, hypocritical and uneducated world view. Don't elect clowns like Boquist in the first place. Quit electing ideologues, and elect intelligent people instead. Plenty of intelligent women out there I'd like to see one replace Boquist and his ilk next election.
Don Dix
Horse -- You wrote --"Quit electing ideologues, and elect intelligent people instead."
On a strictly wider scale, if it's intelligence vs ideologues, that would include most elected officials in this state, if only by passage of all these costly 'ideas'!