Letters, letters, letters

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To the Editor:

Shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Octo-ber 5, a rifle shot rang out just west of Squawback Woods on forestry land. Al-though I didn't search out the source and target of the shot, there is no doubt in my mind that a hunter had taken the life of a buck - practically at our back door.

I have no quarrel with the hunter. It is deer season and he or she was presumably hunting legally.

My quarrel is with some homeowners in Squawback Woods (and elsewhere, I'm sure). They are feeding the deer and drawing them unaware into the sights of the hunters right outside our back doors.

The deer should be where they naturally feed, in the higher elevations. The hunters know the deer are nearby because they see them cross local property to feed out of a few selfish hands.

Just a week earlier while we were out of town, our backyard neighbor counted 15 deer at one time on our property. On other occasions, I have counted as many as 22 at one time. Tell me that they are here to feed in their natural habitat. No, they are here to get a free handout and one of their bunch got shot last Tuesday because of it.

Is this friendly feeding because some people can't read what the Fish and Wildlife people are saying about the negative effects of feeding, or are they doing it for their own selfish interests? The CC&Rs for our homeowners' association specifically state that residents may not keep domestic animals on their property. The deer are becoming domesticated by the very act of feeding them and they love it.

There is plenty of food for the deer away in the woods. You who are feeding them are artificially increasing their population and are directly responsible. I hope you feel guilty for that buck killed last Tuesday. You, in all probability, are the reason he was in our neighborhood.

Jim Smith, Squawback Woods resident

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To the Editor:

This letter is in response to last week's letter from Richard M. Steffensen regarding abortion.

He said only women of childbearing age should be allowed to vote on an abortion ballot. I feel this would be a great injustice to men. The pregnant woman is carrying a child that is hers but also the father's. Shouldn't he have a say as to whether his baby lives or dies?

He talked about the trauma forced pregnancy brings these women but he failed to mention the documented emotional trauma and scarring that women who choose abortion go through, sometimes never healing. He makes a big reference to responsibility; the responsibility starts when two people consent to sex.

If you are going to take a chance (few birth controls are 100 percent) of sperm meeting egg, you just made the choice to become a parent. Most people realize this is how you become pregnant, including teen-agers.

Failure to take responsibility for your choice results in the death of a fellow human being.

If you are not ready to raise a child you owe it to the unique individual, a fellow human being even though dependent on the birth mother for nine months, to not end his or her life.

For women who are just caught in a bad or inconvenient situation, ending the life of an unborn baby can never be an acceptable answer. It is a complete lack of responsibility. I know there will always be a home for a healthy baby and someone willing to pay the mother's expenses if she chooses adoption. You only have to open the phone book!

Mr. Steffensen ends his letter by saying that people should be responsible for a situation they create. Hello! Is someone missing the boat here?! I believe abortion goes beyond being a spiritual wrong and is a great and uncalled-for human disgrace.

Sue Thornton

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To the Editor,

I couldn't in good conscience stay away from Sisters' first Life Chain. Sadly, it more resembled a few scattered links, but we were encouraged by many waves, smiles, thumbs up, and calls of encouragement from passing motorists. Mrs. Wendell deserves a medal for her courage in organizing it.

In the past 25 years since abortion has been legalized, it's been used up to full term to end the lives of 38 million babies in the U.S., using various torturous methods, including partial birth abortion.

This is done in the name of "choice" for women, misinformed that their child is just a mass of unfeeling tissue, an inconvenience better done away with.

Millions of women suffer emotionally from an act they were coerced into against their feeling that it's wrong.

Abortionists aren't known for their concern for their patients, whom they see only long enough to perform the procedure.

Technology shows the humanity of babies from the time of conception. Their heart is beating before the mother even knows she's pregnant. At 10 weeks old in the womb, tiny feet, hands, fingers and toes are visible.

They are seen sucking their thumb, turning somersaults - and trying to escape instruments inserted in the womb to destroy them.

Mr. Steffanson's system isn't necessary. There is a long list of people waiting to joyfully adopt these "unwanted" babies, and gladly pay the medical costs.

There are also free counselors providing practical assistance to women who are pregnant in less than ideal circumstances and emotional healing for post-abortion syndrome.

Responsibility needs to start where it belongs, with the knowledge that sexuality is a gift that can enrich us when used rightly or destroy us when used wrongly.

A large percentage of "women" who find themselves pregnant aren't old enough to vote. But teen pregnancy and abortion rates are dropping as many young people see the folly of others, and voluntarily make the choice to abstain from sex until marriage.

With concern,

Lorene Richardson

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To the Editor:

In response to Mr. R. Steffensen's letter and rather creative means of having those people who vote against legal abortion be responsible for someone else's unwanted baby and counseling dollars needed for the birth mother, etc.:

Perhaps every male with wandering genitalia should also be included for the available adoptive parent pool. This is not solely a women's issue here. The statistics are one in four women have or will have at least one abortion.

Although I've only known my child for five years I'm quite attached. At a five-week ultra-sound, hearing the heart and seeing the form... no way.

You can delete a baby but go to jail for kicking a dog in public. Go America.

My system would work this way:

The choice to deliver the baby would be made once the jeans and T-shirts hit the floor. Your mind can be changed later to "I don't want to raise the thing" - which may be the most responsible thing to do. In most states couples will pay for someone to "house" a baby for nine months. That is a decent salary for getting to eat for two.

At this time there are more fit parents unable to have children that would love to adopt.

I think my system would work. However, if it doesn't, I bet most if not all anti-abortion folks would take on the challenge to give continued life. The final catch to the system that I would add is that after the unwanted delivery the tubes are tied and the vasectomy knives are sharpened... now that would be my "pro choice!"

And to your statement, ". . .law only dictates whether or not they can do it safely," This is selective safety. Being torched with saline or the partial birth abortion safe? For whom? A severe case of child abuse I'd say (but this is legal).

Rebecca Boehm

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To the Editor:

A little story in the September 29 issue of The Nugget brought up a question about the new all day kindergarten. I'm curious, this sounds like a great idea for some, but how many little people are ready for school all day, five days a week?

I've run into a couple parents who were thinking about this new program before the school year started. The main, and sometimes only, reason for entering into this for their five-year-old was because they worked all day.

And then these kids were going to go to SOAR after until the parents are done. It seemed like a bit much for many. I know that some children are ready for school, really ready. But enough to add another all day kindergarten class?

I just ask that the each parent think about their child if it is the best for him/her. They have the next 12 years to go all day, every day. It's always been a great transition to the independence that they are learning.

Kacy L. Brown

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To the Editor:

On behalf of the Sisters Kiwanis Club, I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation for the support given by our local residents and tourists to our "gourmet" cooking efforts during the Harvest Faire this past weekend.

Their dining preferences helped the club set a sales record for this event.

As usual, the needs of the local community will share in the benefits of money which was raised. A success like this makes it all worthwhile for the members of the club who give so generously of their time and effort to help others.

Sincerely,

Jack Berry

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To the Editor:

A big thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped in so many ways, from food prep to transportation at the Sisters Middle School eighth grade retreat to Camp Sherman this fall.

Without you, it couldn't have happened! And so successfully!

The students and staff of Sisters Middle School

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To the Editor:

On behalf of the participants and volunteers of the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank Program, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to people of the Sisters community for the hundreds of pounds of food donations given to the food bank.

I want to thank everyone associated with the Sisters Public Works Department and the Les Schwab Taylor Tire Center for their generosity of time and effort to coordinate and collect the large quantity of food for the food bank.

It is just another great example of the community spirit we cherish pulling together to accomplish a wonderful task.

Thank you very much,

David Hiller

Food bank chairperson