March 18, 2024

Letters 02-23-2015

Feb. 22, 2015

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Vaccines And Israel

Apparently Stephen Tuttle thinks that whatever he writes is accepted as fact according to his February 9th article titled "Outrageous." Since Steve highly approves of vaccinations, and measles are current news, did you know that there have been zero measles deaths in ten years, but over 100 measles vaccine deaths reported? Fact!

The FDA warns that after a person is vaccinated with a live rotavirus, they can transmit the virus to others. Fact! Please verify the facts for yourselves at vaccineimpact.com, medalerts.org and uscfc.uscourts.gov.

As far as the Muslim terrorist issue goes, I’ll leave that to the Jewish controlled media. Apparently Steve is trying to convince his liberal friends that Israel is not the problem in the Middle East. I on the other hand am trying to convince my conservative Christian friends that they are. Jews are the problem because they are not from Israel, but the Palestinians are. Most are descendants of the Khazars from Eastern Europe according to the Jewish encyclopedia. The 1980 Jewish almanac states, "Strictly speaking it is incorrect to call an ancient Israelite a Jew or to call a contemporary Jew an Israelite or a Hebrew." Like many of Steve’s liberal friends, I also am smart enough to know that all races did not evolve from Adam. (Strong’s Hebrew Concordance Number 119) The world is millions of years old, and we know that by the way the Jews treat the Palestinian people that they are not God’s chosen people.

Gordon Lee Dean, Benzonia

Turn Your Lights On

I’ve mentioned this before in this column, but here we go again. On February 14th I was on the roads during the extremely treacherous blizzard/whiteout conditions the Grand Traverse area experienced due to part of my job as a delivery helper. Anyone who was out driving, especially along the Bay, is well aware that there were complete whiteouts where you could not see a vehicle just a couple feet in front of you.

So what then, may I ask the several drivers I saw that day, would possess you to drive in such conditions without having your headlights on?! I simply couldn’t believe what I was seeing...or should I say, was lucky enough to see, as they were obviously not trying at all to make themselves conspicuous in such adverse conditions. People! This is just plain dangerous!

Please, if you cannot understand the simple concept of turning your headlights on in low visibility conditions, just stay off the roads! It would make it a whole lot safer for the rest of us who understand the value of trying to be seen under such circumstances.

Michael Dost, Traverse City

Measles Facts, Not Fear

I am responding to Mr. Steven Tuttle, who stated in a recent column that politicians who support parents’ rights to make vaccine choices for their children are promoting fear mongering rather than science. I disagree, and I have some facts to help put this in perspective.

FACT: Many infectious disease deaths were dramatically dropping well before the use of mass vaccines, probably due to better sanitation, cleaner water, septic systems, refrigeration, etc. There were 10,745 measles deaths in 1917 (U.S. Vital Statistics), compared to the 500 deaths you referred to in the 1950s. Considering the population during the 1950s, that’s a risk of .000237% before the measles vaccine was even introduced.

FACT: Despite routine vaccinations, there was a large measles outbreak in 1989-1991. This outbreak involved 53,000 cases, yet only 120 deaths (Pediatr Infect Dis J.).

FACT: Higher measles death rates around the world occur where children are undernourished.

FACT: There are about 34,000 deaths per year due to auto accidents (CDC).

FACT: There are roughly 235,000 deaths per year related to diabetes (AMA). Perhaps you should write about your fear of fast foods and lack of exercise.

FACT: A major cause of death in this country is due to medical intervention; there are at least 225,000 deaths per year in this country due to iatrogenic causes (JAMA). Are you afraid of doctors and hospitals?

So Mr. Tuttle, why so much fear and attention towards measles? Why so much aggression toward those who believe in medical rights? I think you are fear mongering yourself.

Jarin Weber, Fife Lake

Media Or President?

Fox’s Heather Childers took exception to President Obama’s use of the term "YOLO" (you only live once) in a healthcare.gov promotional video by responding with "Well, you know who’s not alive? Kayla Mueller."

Which is more disrespectful to this brave young American hostage killed by ISIS: saying "YOLO" while promoting improved health care for millions of Americans, or using her name to make cheap political points? You decide.

Bob Ross, Pellston

Silence Cheapens Us

All Brian Williams, the deposed NBC news anchor, was recently crucified upside down on the cross of conservative obscenities. Over the years, he has presented the news objectively and accurately to the best of his abilities.

Mr. Williams committed a minor infraction which offended the narrow-minded sensibilities of the top one-percent. He did the right thing by admitting his mistake and apologized to the American people. Now he is faced with losing the economic symbol of his manhood for six months and the possible ruination of his career.

How sad that this good man should be so severely chastised while a huge percentage of our elected officials commit more egregious sins every day. How dare we the people in a "Christian" nation have the audacity to stand by and watch them drive nails of our apathy through his hands and feet!

I find it a bit duplicitous of us to hold Brian William’s feet to fire, and then turn the channel to watch Jon Stewart on the Daily Show as he intellectually castrates the same "news."

Perhaps Edward R. Murrow style reporting is not in favor anymore. Silence to injustices such as this devalues and cheapens us all.

William E. Scott, Traverse City

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