Letters 08-17-2015

Aug. 13, 2015

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Ask Questions First

Planned Parenthood has come under attack as an undercover video shows an awkward conversation with a Planned Parenthood representative who believes she is talking with someone wishing to secure some fetal tissue for medical reasons. The video was edited to suggest the woman was callous and trying to sell fetal tissue illegally. With this brief video clip, several politicians have rushed to defund Planned Parenthood.

My questions are: Have these politicians ever visited a Planned Parenthood clinic? Do they know any women who have? Have they understood how many other hospitals or agencies make fetal tissue available? Do they appreciate how long fetal tissue has been scientifically used in the healthcare field? Have they ever talked with a doctor who is using fetal tissue for research? Have they ever talked with a physician about body parts to understand how casual conversation can become?

Do these politicians understand the services provided for millions of women each year that have nothing to do with abortion or fetal tissue? Do they realize that less than 5 percent of the services are involved with abortion? Do they understand that tax dollars cannot be spent on abortion services?

Do legislators take time to think about what they are doing? Do they realize that mature judgment about these decisions requires further study beyond viewing the tape of a hidden camera? Can’t they do better than that?

Bob McQuilkin, Frankfort

Corrections

An Aug. 3 Express article titled "Local Food: An Industry Made From Scratch" should have made clear: The 2012 MSU study on farm availability, The Farm Succession Study, assisted the Leelanau Conservancy’s recent regional study of farmland viability which was funded by Rotary Charities. An "innovation hub" to foster the local food industry was created and is overseen by the Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance. Taste the Local Difference manages the hub under contract.

In regards to our recent article "You Can Learn Anything: Satellite Campuses of Northern Michigan," Central Michigan University’s main Northern Michigan hub is in Traverse City at the NMC University Center, though they do also have a satellite campus in Petoskey at NCMC. Contact http://global.cmich.edu for more info.