EXPELLED

Religious scientists
In his May 11 diatribe [" 'Expelled' exposes ways of academic elite"], Pastor [Steve] Cornell attempts to bolster propagandist [Ben] Stein's movie "Expelled" by telling us that universities should be places for diversity, unbiased research and toleration for all viewpoints.

Stein and his cohorts interview so-called "martyrs" and attempt to show that universities do not allow others to share ideas. This is simply not true.

There are scientists employed by our universities who have religious backgrounds. Funny how Pastor Cornell decides not to tell his "faithful" audience that "Expelled" co-producer Mark Mathis decided not to interview Francis Collins (head of the Human Genome Project), Francisco Ayala (professor of biological sciences and professor of philosophy at the University of California, Irvine), or professor Kenneth Miller of Brown University, all with religious backgrounds. Why? Specifically, Mathis cites Miller by name: "Ken Miller would have confused the film unnecessarily." Really? And who is attempting not to allow differing viewpoints?

Maybe Stein and Pastor Cornell should thank science the next time they are in need of a vaccine or an antibiotic instead of debating the science community over the origins of the universe, which are unknown to them.

-William Koch, Lancaster


Separate how and why
I admit that I have not seen "Expelled," but I have seen the trailer on Ben Stein's Web site and a mash-up from the film, and neither has made me enthusiastic about seeing it. While there may be some legitimate issues about academic freedom in the film, it is simply "creationist" propaganda. Proponents of intelligent design mix bad science and bad theology and get even worse results.

Saying "God did it" is not a scientific answer. Likewise, saying "Over millions of years, the ancestors of primates evolved" is an inappropriate answer to "Why are we here?" in a theology class. Darwin's theory is supported by numerous facts and is as strong as any theory in the biological sciences (in contrast with physics) can be. Nothing in it says there is no God.

Those presenting intelligent design as an "alternative"commit the basic fallacy of begging the question: Their proof of the existence of God's assumes the existence of God as part of the argument. Such is the "open debate" Mr. Harnish [Letters, May 11] wants to have, in which he follows only the rules that are convenient to his side.

Science should not be used to disprove the existence of God, either, as atheists such as Richard Dawkins ("The Selfish Gene") try to do. Science and theology answer very different sets of questions in different ways and should, as such, be kept separate. Leave the "how" in science class and the "why" in theology class.

-Peter Whitcopf, Lancaster


MOTHER'S DAY

A disappointed dad
While I appreciate that mothers share a unique bond with their children and have traditionally done the lion's share of child-rearing, I am disappointed that Lancaster Newspapers chose to create an online community for local moms [LancMoms.com] at the exclusion of local dads.

Were there any fathers of young children on the committee that designed LancMoms.com? If so, they might have told you that we too deal with "boo-boos, lost shoes, nasty math problems" and, yes, even "broken hearts." I often turn to online resources to exchange parenting advice, look for kid-friendly events and keep tabs on the latest products and media aimed at children.

You — and your advertisers —missed an opportunity to create a space inviting for all parents, regardless of gender.

-Tim Brixius, Lancaster


Father's Day coming
Once again for Mother's Day, Lancaster Newspaper Inc. and Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital produced a special advertising supplement for the Sunday News, May 11.

Pictures do tell a thousand words.

I was delighted to see advertised, "Dads, it's your turn. Look for the first ever Father's Day section" June 15 in the Sunday News.

Since this is sponsored by Lancaster Newspapers and Boscov's, my thanks for making this possible. We are just as important. Happy Father's Day.

-Walter Koob, Lancaster


THANK-YOU NOTES

From her heart
Several months ago my husband's heart stopped beating. The Rohrerstown Volunteer Fire Department responded very quickly and the Susquehanna EMS personnel were on their heels. They were able to restore my husband's pulse with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and they then took him to Lancaster General Hospital's emergency room. After being stabilized, my husband was transferred to the intensive care unit and was under the care of doctors from The Heart Group.

To all the doctors, nurses, aides and technicians, many thanks for saving my husband's life and restoring his health to a level better than it was before the incident.

Kudos to the personnel at LGH. Everyone was so pleasant and helpful to our family and to each other.

We are blessed to have such a wonderful health system in Lancaster.

-Marylou E. Givens, Rohrerstown


School memories
I've always enjoyed "The Lancaster That Was," but this one [May 11] got pretty close to me.

I was in the third-grade class the next year at Leola Elementary and two of the children in this picture were my neighbors along South Groffdale Road in 1957-58. Jack Harnish and his parents lived in the apartment on the second floor of the house my parents and I lived in, and Eileen Gamble lived next-door.

I'm not sure about this, but the teacher might have been Miss McCarthy.

Mom and Dad bought a house in East Petersburg, and we moved around the end of October 1958. I lost touch with everybody, only occasionally seeing a familiar name in the papers over the years.

I thank Bob Leaman for submitting the photo. He brought back some fun memories.

-William J. Banaszak, Manheim Township


OTHER SUBJECTS

Ode to North Queen
In response to the article about the demise of North Queen Street ["Where Lancaster buried its North Queen mistake," May 4] and to all those who took part in the so-called redevelopment of Lancaster, may you now walk down North Queen Street and slip on a banana peel.

Following is an "Ode to North Queen Street":

Where have all the buildings gone, long time standing Where have all the buildings gone, long time ago? Where has Hotel Brunswick gone, long time standing? Where have all the movie theaters gone, long time ago? Where have all the small-town business owners gone, long time passing? When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?

As a teenager in the 1960s, I was not aware of the wonders, the history and the architecture that filled our small community, nor did I care. My only thought was to go to college in hopes of leaving Lancaster evermore.

Now I stand here in my beloved hometown at 62 years of age and wonder how we could, and why we did, do this to our beloved hometown.

I certainly hope history does not repeat itself and that we do learn from our mistakes, big mistakes.

-Theresa Sinopoli Musser, Lancaster


Giving credit
College credit for high school students [a subject of previous "In my Opinion" columns] raises at least three issues: content, experience and certification.

These days, content is widely available, and neither high schools nor colleges are its curators any longer.

Experience working with other students at the same level of skill and interest is valuable. Also valuable is working with a teacher who selects content and matches it to the students.

Certification is a promise that a student has mastered a subject. For skills courses, certification can be done with standardized tests representing national consensus on the subject. Otherwise, the worth of certification depends on the reputation of the school that gives it. The school's reputation in turn is tied to the lifetime performance of its certified students.

With stakes this high, the college department should assess each student's performance before granting credit for one of its courses.

-John W. Dooley, Physics Department, Millersville University


A smoke screen
I really cannot understand all of the fuss over smoking in restaurants, bars and public places in Pennsylvania. Even as a child, I cannot remember ever being bothered by others smoking indoors or out.

I have an uncle who was never bothered by secondhand smoke until it was villainized by the media and groups like the American Cancer Society. It wasn't until he heard anti-secondhand-smoke propaganda that he suddenly developed itchy eyes and difficulty breathing around people who are smoking, despite being raised by two parents who smoked in the home all their lives.

Enough is enough. If these anti-smoking fanatics had their way, we would all be drinking distilled water and eating bars of recycled foods.

-John C.M. Walton, Lititz


Traffic light needed
We have been trying for more than six years to get a traffic light at Wabank Road and Route 741. Now we would settle for a 15-mph sign stating there is a school on this corner.

This intersection is horrific. Everyone drives about 45 mph. It is a disaster waiting to happen.

We can spend thousands of dollars for a primary in this state, but the safety of our streets and schools takes a back seat.

-Andrea Ingrassia, Lancaster


Change location
I represent citizens who favor choosing a more practical location for the proposed Bear Creek Intermediate Elementary School. I am calling the attention of all who live in the Elizabethtown Area School District, especially those who have preschool children, to the plans and site.

The proposed site is in a relatively remote area on limited acreage at Sheaffer Road between Ridge Road and Spring Road. You only need to take a ride on surrounding roads to imagine how [it will be] to negotiate in increased traffic.

The district suggests all students will be transported by bus to school. Imagine how many parents, staff vehicles, buses and fuel it would require to transport up to 1,100 children to school and activities every day.

The school building is designed for expansion; however, there seems to be minimal space in the plan for overflow parking. Imagine fire and emergency access.

Learn about the proposed site and how it will affect you. We invite you to read the editorials from concerned citizens at www.we-town.com.

-Elaine Altman, Mount Joy Township


Shakespeare headline
Regarding the reader whose family didn't get headline "Uneasy lies head of Disney princess": I'm just a lowly high school graduate (class of 1956, East Lampeter High School) and I know exactly what you meant.

I remember when I saw it, I was rather impressed that you had used it. [I must admit I didn't know it was from [the Shakespeare play] "Henry IV." I don't know how much this says about Princeton and many of the institutions of higher learning.

I know, I know. "The lady doth protest too much."

-Lois Haines, Wrightsville


Quoting from Bible
Anna Mae Ressler's most recent rantings against Barack Obama and the Democratic Party [Letter, "Bad weekend," May 11] deserves a response:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the damnation of hell?" (Matthew 23:27-28, 33)

Woe unto you, Anna Mae Ressler, for one day you will be held accountable for all of the wretched bile that flows from your poison pen.

Barack Obama was right on the mark when he said that there are some people in Pennsylvania small towns who are bitter. You, Ms. Ressler, are living proof of that.

-Dan Sweigart, Ephrata