GIL SMART COLUMN





-- Acceptance, not tolerance


I thank Gil Smart for his unfailing support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His opinions are clear, logical and never condescending. His is a refreshing voice from the often patronizing local heterosexual community. He reminds us that tolerance is not enough; we need acceptance. Kudos, Gil.


Bob Breen, Lancaster


-- Why can’t it be choice?


It takes courage to take unpopular positions. Gil Smart possesses courage of conviction. I respect that.


It is clear that a mosaic of factors shape human sexuality: biological (genetics), cultural (parental modeling and peer approval) and world view (spirituality and values). Some oversimplify sexual preference by reducing the matter to simple choice, ignoring other influences.


Smart oversimplifies sexual preference when he argues, “Who would ‘choose’ to live an ostracized life, to be hated, and that is the correct word, by such a large segment of society, denied the rights accorded to everyone else, discriminated against, shunned and called a sinner at every turn?”


Smart can’t imagine people choosing to do anything that they know would bring painful consequences to themselves. Yet, across our world abused women willingly return to abusive men, widows throw themselves on funeral pyres of deceased husbands, people begin smoking cigarettes, and men fly airplanes into buildings. The truth is people make choices they know will bring personal pain, disease, and even death.


Why is it impossible to imagine that some find the gay lifestyle more pleasurable than avoiding the furrowed brow of some public disapproval?


David Anderson, Lancaster


-- Question your doctors


As usual, Gil Smart [July 30] has brought another frightening aspect of religious fanatics, who are trying to take over our country, to the forefront.


No medical professional should be able to deny legal medical care to a patient because of his personal religious beliefs. If Good Samaritan Hospital knew of this doc’s fanaticism, it should also be named in what I hope is a soon-to-be-filed lawsuit.


Whether or not we want to recognize it, pregnancy is still a potentially life-threatening condition. No one should be able to force a woman to give birth under any circumstance, but when the pregnancy is a result of an attack there must be no question.


If this woman gets pregnant and has her rapist’s baby, she will be tied to him and his family for the rest of her life. His parents could demand visitation. When he gets out of jail, he could demand rights as well.


From now on when I interview a new doctor, I will ask if his religious beliefs will in any way threaten my medical treatment.


Paula Luciano, Lancaster


-- Can change gay lifestyle


After reading Gil Smart’s column [July 23], “Does tolerance create gay kids?” I felt an urge to respond.


If your son comes to you and tells you he is gay, I am glad that you will accept him. I can only pray that you give your son a healthy family image, teach him about boundaries, relationships and following God. His gayness could very well mean something is missing in his life.


Before you dismiss me as one of those narrow-minded, right-wing people from Lancaster County, please hear me out. I have just spent the last 18 years in the homosexual lifestyle. I was one of those who believed I was born gay.


I have learned through some research that there have been a lot of factors in my lifestyle choice, but nothing I cannot overcome. People are individuals, and there are many reasons that lead to homosexuality.


Within the past year, God has shown me how much he cares for each one of us. I am not a Bible scholar, but I can tell you that this is something I now know in my heart. My sole purpose is to let others know about the peace that I have experienced. It is for everyone, no matter where you are in life. He will meet you there.


Kim Armstrong, Columbia





GOVERNMENT


-- Milking the cash cows


I couldn’t believe when I read the Sunday News [July 30] about how our representatives are “raising Cain” about money spent on getting slots started.


Armstrong and Sturla and all the rest are so determined to build the convention center. I was glad when I read Gov. Rendell turned them down when they asked for more money, saying other programs need money too.


As far as Armstrong asking if they think they have a “cash cow” for the slots, what about when he and other representatives voted themselves an undeserved raise in the middle of the night? They were using taxpayers as a cash cow.


I read the letter that said Sturla’s raise cost each taxpayer a quarter and, when questioned, Sturla gave the taxpayer a dollar, saying it would cover him and three friends. That’s being a little arrogant.


Manny Beiler, Lancaster


-- How to cut inheritance tax


The Republican plan would eliminate the inheritance tax over a three-year period and place a $700-million hole in the state budget.


I respectfully have to disagree with my friend Rep. Scott Boyd’s assertion that the state could afford the cut because of the more than $850-million budget surplus.


This surplus should be used to reduce onerous local property taxes. It’s not leadership for Harrisburg to brag how it is cutting taxes while our school taxes go through the roof.


In 1976 the state provided 50 percent of the cost of public education; now it’s just over 30 percent. Simply put, a state tax cut means a school property tax increase.


This Republican plan does not reduce taxes. It just shifts them to those with the least ability to pay and lets Harrisburg politicians get an “A’’ rating from some corporate-backed, so-called nonpartisan think tank.


Here are some better ways to make the state inheritance more fair:


A threshold of $2 million could be enacted, same as the federal law, meaning that any estate under $2 million would not pay the inheritance tax.


Secondly, if the inheritance tax is paid within three months of the decedent’s death, a 5 percent discount is allowed. Why not raise that to 15 percent? This would allow people to reduce the impact of the tax.


In regard to the effect of the inheritance tax on farmland and farmers, it would be better policy to enact Sen. Wenger’s idea of eliminating inheritance taxes on preserved farms. This would encourage farmers who want to have their children farm. In addition, school property taxes on preserved farms should be frozen and only indexed to rise at the cost of inflation.


The state should also return to the 50 percent funding of public schools and not impose anymore unfunded mandates on the public school system.


Jon Price, Clay Township supervisor


-- Missing the point


Mr. Loughery’s response to Arthur Morris’ column of July 23 missed the mark. Mr. Loughery failed to grasp that the passage of the pay raise and the closed-door allocation of $29 million to legislator nonprofits evaded public scrutiny.


Democrat Rep. Mike Sturla and 130 of his colleagues in the House opted to accept “unvouchered expenses.” Mr. Sturla received $5,100 over a four-month period, refused to pay the money back, and claimed to have donated it to undisclosed charities.


Mr. Sturla is one of 60 House members who continue to profit from the repealed pay raise by either refusing to return the money or donating the “expenses” to charities and qualifying for a pension bounce. If Mr. Sturla resigns or is defeated this year (or in 2008), his pension will increase by at least $816.16 annually because the money he took was not refunded.


Mr. Sturla formed Lancaster Investment in a Vibrant Economy or LIVE in 2004 with $500,000 in state grants. No doubt the group is sound and the projects are valid. Mr. Morris said as much. Anybody can be generous with someone else’s money.


Eric Epstein, coordinator, RockTheCapital.org, Harrisburg


-- Ten and out in the 16th


A check of the “How They Voted” column [Page P5, when Congress is in session] is often a good way to see how out of touch our representatives in Washington are with regard to their constituents’ best interests. Last Sunday’s column did not disappoint.


I noted Joe Pitts voted to raise the federal minimum wage when it was coupled with a reduction of the estate tax. But then given the opportunity just to raise the minimum wage, he voted no. I’m sure Paris Hilton is pleased that Congressman Pitts has helped to protect her inheritance from the tax man.


Speaking of flip-flopping, let’s not forget that when he ran for office a decade ago, Pitts promised to limit his stay in Washington to five terms. Maybe he had his fingers crossed.


Let’s help Joe keep his original campaign promise. Use your vote this November to award him a new career. His record shows that he voted with Tom Delay 94 percent of the time. Since Delay has resigned the House in disgrace, perhaps Joe could move to Texas and run in his stead. With that record, the transition could be virtually seamless. The Texans probably wouldn’t notice, but you can bet that with fresh representation in Congress the folks of the 16th District would sure see a difference.


Robert Ulrich, Lititz





CAL DUNCAN


-- A salute to Lancaster’s finest


My first meeting with Calvin L. Duncan was in November 1967, when I was appointed to the Lancaster Bureau of Fire. He [as a police officer] performed my background investigation. We became friends on a professional level.


I worked with Calvin on numerous projects. From the days of unrest in the city to the commitment of the city to clean up the streets and take them back from the undesirables and drug dealers, Calvin was always there, up in front and bigger than life, leading the “charge.” He never missed a beat, and he never backed down.


I had the honor of working with him on Demonstrate Against Drug Dealers, Community Block Grants, and Safe Streets (Neighborhood Crime Watch) programs. Calvin’s tireless dedication and devotion have created a truly better and safer place in which to live and work.


Thank you, Calvin.


Ed Knight, Lancaster





OTHER SUBJECTS


-- Birthday cards for soldier


This past Christmas season, Lancaster County folks touched our family by sending cards, letters of encouragement and support, and even care packages to our daughter, who is stationed in Iraq. (She is with the 101st Airborne.) Elizabeth was overwhelmed and blessed beyond measure. On Aug. 16 she will celebrate her 27th birthday. It is our desire to surprise her and have her mailbox flooded with birthday cards, and we’d like to ask for your help. If possible, would you send a greeting her way? A simple card will do, and all you need is a regular stamp. Mailing time is 7-10 days.


The address is:


SPC Foltz, Elizabeth


MI DET 501st STB


101st ABN DIV ASSLT


FOB Speicher


APO AE 09369


We would be so grateful and we know our daughter would be, too. We also ask for continued prayer for world peace, that God will bless our troops, and that America will continually praise God.


Tim & Carol Foltz, Ephrata


-- Learn to speak English


I was reminded recently of the controversy over immigration and English as the national language when I had to have a new photo taken for my driver’s license. There was a Hispanic woman in line in front of me, and I couldn’t help but hear the difficulty the PennDOT worker had communicating with her.


A monitor displays three questions to be answered. PennDOT, in its efforts to be politically correct, has a button to choose between English or Espanol. Public signs and notifications in two languages only delay the assimilation of people into our society. How do they drive safely without being able to read road signs ?


My wife and I have a Greek neighbor with whom we have been able to communicate since he moved in 25 years ago. For the past year we have had a Hispanic neighbor whom we would like to befriend, but she hasn’t spoken a complete sentence to us in English. Continuing to use the two languages will only prolong the divide between their culture and America.


Ronald P. Harper, Lancaster


-- Up in arms


The National Guard armory wants to feel welcome in Elizabethtown! Now, here is a story about big government and how it works to be a friend of the community.


The National Guard needs to spend allocated tax dollars on whatever, or lose that money for the year. So it finds a beautiful location with trees, wildlife and taxpayers’ homes and spends $18 million erecting some nondescript buildings and parking lots, calling it an “armory.”


While ruining the quality of life of its new neighbors, the Guard thinks friendships can be developed.


The National Guard states that drills will be held “twice per month” with some 200 personnel. What is that costing us taxpayers to ruin this “free land?” Multiply 25 years times 12 months, which equals 300 months. Divide $18 million of your hard-earned tax dollars by 300 months, and we get $60,000 per month construction costs each year for 25 years. And that doesn’t count upkeep and costs involved driving equipment to and from Fort Indiantown Gap, where it can be used for military exercises.


It doesn’t matter to Col. Cleaver that the land is zoned “rural” and this type of construction is not permitted by zoning law.


It doesn’t matter that the residential community is opposed and 134 people have signed a petition against the proposal.


It also doesn’t matter that they sneaked into House Bill 2713 a statement allowing the Guard to ignore all of Mount Joy Township’s zoning and construction regulations.


Well, it does matter to me.


It is worrisome that the legislature doesn’t care about our home and property values and doesn’t seem to value and trust our township officials’ responsibility for zoning regulations.


We don’t dislike the National Guard, but the community does not want this area developed. How much clearer do we have to be?


Robert Stanley, Elizabethtown,


-- Stories of real people


Thank you for that wonderful article [July 23] “For Brooklyn man, answer is … in him.”


What a pleasure to read an interesting article about a great guy doing such nice things like adopting children. Kudos to him.


Please give us more of this. We are all very tired of stories about Hollywood movie stars who are oversexed, overpsyched, overused, etc., and are in therapy because they didn’t get the big role they wanted.


We want stories about real people.


Muriel Barajikian, Christiana


-- An upsetting diagnosis


Imagine lying in a hospital bed, recuperating from quadruple coronary-artery bypass surgery. Those difficult days are made more difficult on both you and those caring for you because we have a nationwide shortage of health-care providers.


Your nurse now has to take twice the number of patients from 10 years ago. In addition to assessing their needs, he or she is also responsible for other tasks potentially not within the scope of practice. It is reminiscent of the disastrous era of “patient-focused care” in the 1990s, which led to an increase in medical errors as documented by the Institute of Medicine’s report, “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System.” This is not a road we want to travel down again, or do we?


As a respiratory therapist for more than a decade, I have seen what has occurred when properly trained providers of care cannot be found. Simply put, patient care suffers.


We need to start planning today with public-service announcements touting the rewards of being a health-care professional. Expose high-school students to the various health-care jobs and provide equitable pay to those who give so much of themselves providing care.


I propose that the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002 be expanded to include all health-care professionals involved in direct patient care, and call upon all providers to be actively involved in the promotion of their respective professional organizations.


It’s a start in the right direction.


Dana Stauffer, Manheim


-- A smarter Wal-mart


I enjoyed Elsa Brenner’s article [July 30] on Wal-Mart. It appears as though it is finally getting smart and adjusting strategies when planning stores, their sizes, layouts and locations.


Wal-mart surprised me even more by occupying previous retail space. What, no paving of 19 acres of ground for a parking lot?


Maybe now we can expect it not to do really stupid things like try to put a 140,000-square-foot store in a town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with a population of fewer than 4,500.


What could be next, the equal miracle of peace in the Middle East?


Mark Motter, Columbia


-- Beauty of County Park


I am a softball umpire in the Lancaster Recreation Commission league. I had a game at Lancaster County Central Park, which was very clean and free of litter, well-mowed and maintained, and looked to be in great shape. What a great park we have, with a blend of recreational facilities and natural habitat, so close to all of us in Lancaster County.


Doug Zecher, Lancaster


-- A winner for a mom


Arlene Landis’ smiling face at our Friendship Circle Mom’s group was a blessing to so many people, and especially to me.


When I was in charge of getting teachers, I became discouraged because very few jumped for joy or even consented when I asked them to teach. I can still recall the answer she gave: “Oh, yes! I’d love to!”


Wow! But that was only the beginning. She didn’t just show up for the two hours, collect her small stipend, and leave. She would arrive very early with bags full of goodies, make the most creative things with our children and, if I remember correctly, she didn’t even take the money.


Who knows what will become of Floyd’s win of the Tour de France, but with a mom like Arlene he’s already a winner. Congratulations to such a fine family.


Amy Weaver, Ephrata blog comments powered by Disqus