Letters 09-14-2015

Sept. 10, 2015

The Truth About Abortion

I take the strongest possible exception to Mr. Kachadurian’s views about abortion. I am glad his daughter was born to parents who wanted her. His experience with a difficult pregnancy is compelling. His statement that his daughter "would have been aborted without a second thought" is an egregious canard, straight out of the enforced birth movement’s phrase book.

His analysis of the polarity surrounding abortion is simplistic and woefully skewed. The antiabortion movement has been manipulated into a single-issue catalyst for Republican politics. The party professes pious respect for the sanctity of life, but it only covers conception to birth. Republican refusal to support programs, which actually benefit life beyond the womb, is plain to see. Their orchestrated campaign against Planned Parenthood attacks prenatal care as well.

Mr. Kachadurian promotes falsehoods from the enforced birth movement by ignoring the fact that abortion is largely limited to the first 16 weeks here. This compares pretty well with other countries he cited. With a religious mafia supporting hypocritical politicians, abortion access has been eroded in our country. Religious hospitals in the U.S. don’t even advise rape victims about the "morning after pill," which is not an abortifacient. This religious mafia, with their Republican martinets, interferes with proper sex education and family planning services.

For Mr. Kachadurian to characterize the prochoice movement as demanding abortion up to "a baby in the birth canal" is a grotesque falsehood. The anti-abortion mythology is that an eight months pregnant woman would simply drop by the local abortion clinic. If Mr. Kachadurian and his ilk want an open discussion, they should put facts ahead of mythology. Abortion: Keep it legal, safe and rare.

John M. Gerty, Jr., Williamsburg

Some Ambassador

For Marriage Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who, in order to defend traditional marriage, refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, has been released from jail.

Perhaps this will give her the opportunity to further demonstrate her support for traditional marriage by entering into the fifth such union of her own.

Bob Ross, Pellston

Don’t Blame Cadillac!

Hey, don’t blame all of Cadillac for Colleen Smith’s benighted, narrow-minded homophobic bigotry ("No More State Theatre", Aug. 24)!

Sure, we have our share of people who get hyper-righteously exercised about abortion, gay rights and religious freedom, but probably no more than other cities. But they don’t speak for the majority of thoughtful, compassionate, open-minded residents of our area.

The ten writers responding to her letter aptly described our shared revulsion for such shortsighted malice.

Just please don’t blame all of Cadillac for the misbegotten intolerance of one prejudiced person (or a very few like her)! Doors and minds may begin to open if we all take the high road of inclusion and acceptance. Remember, we’re all in this together!

Dave Newhouse, Cadillac

Learn About Common Core

School is beginning again; another year of Common Core. Soon, the MI DOE will be considering adopting the new science and social studies standards to go with the already implemented math and ELA standards.

Melanie Kurdys will be speakin on the topic in Traverse City on Sept., 21 from 5-8pm at the Traverse Bay Area ISD and Math Science Center. I encourage everyone to come and get your questions answered. If you’ve never heard of Common Core state standards, come and listen. The kids are depending on the adults to speak for them.

Kelley Vilenski, Interlochen

Long-Term Effects of Making a Profit

I have lived in Traverse City for 21 years and I have seen a lot of growth. I understand that some growth is inevitable but I am greatly concerned with all the developments in the works or being planned.

First I was very dismayed with the large apartment project on the corner of Zimmerman and North Long Lake Roads; traffic is already beyond crazy with the high school and new subdivisions. I know that nothing can be done about this development now, but I am wondering if who ever planned this did not take into account the traffic congestion it would cause.

And the proposed plan to put roundabouts on Division Street has got to be one of the craziest ideas I have heard. The reasoning being given is it will slow down traffic, which does not make any sense because the road is already so busy that it is at a standstill during business hours, not to mention when the Cherry Festival comes to town traffic is backed up past Grawn.

And lastly, infrastructure in this town is barely able to support all the car and bike traffic as it is, and still developers are trying to stuff more housing and business buildings in any space they can find. Does anyone have a plan on how to move traffic more efficiently? Building high-rise buildings will do nothing more than ruin the quaint downtown and cause even more congestion. The tourists come here because they want a place to get away from the big cities. I don’t know where the developers live or where they come from, but I do know that they are only focusing on the profit it will bring them.

Melody Bajema, Traverse City

Applause For Tom And Life

Thanks for the opinion piece by Thomas Kachadurian, "About a Girl." I give him a lot of credit for stating his pro-life opinions amidst predominantly pro-choice northern Michigan. He’s right; both sides are rigidly polarized on the issue. What seems to be lacking is common sense.

Although the author is uncertain as to when life begins, I’d like to point out that federal law protects fertilized eagle eggs under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. This is because common sense dictates that a fertilized eagle egg is a nascent eagle, a living thing that left unmolested will become an eagle. The same is true for a fertilized human ovum. It is clearly "alive" with movement and growth, and left to nature, will grow into a human being. Isn’t a human being more precious than a bird?

Joe San Filippo, Manistee

Look In The Mirror

There appears to be a new definition of free speech; the letter to the editor version: "A means to throw stones without an actual stone."

A couple of issues back, Colleen Smith had a few words to say regarding her feelings about gay marriage, and good for her. Consequently, a sizable number of folks took issue with her position and good for them, too. We all know that free speech is a great thing. But when we start hurling words like "pathetic, narrow minded, holier than thou, intolerant, bigot" at those who don’t share our viewpoint, a good long gaze in the mirror could well reveal examples of those terms uncomfortably close to home. Let’s not squander the spirit and elegance of the first amendment by spewing insults at one another.

Tom Hart. Benzonia

No To Nine Stories

Calling all TC neighborhoods! We must once again stand up to developers and demand the city commission says NO to any new 100’ tall buildings downtown.

It is clear that some of our commissioners simply don’t give a darn about how city taxpayers feel about the proposed Pine and Front project. At the end of a recent study session, Commissioner Werner admitted that, despite receiving many emails condemning the project’s nine-story height, he will vote in favor of it because the height is not an issue to him. He doesn’t care what you or I think; he makes up his mind and refuses to budge, waver or compromise.

Werner, Howe and now Easterday all appear to have the same goals – opening the floodgates to 100’ tall buildings in our downtown and all C-4 districts.

Our commissioners need to stop pandering to developers. Please call, email, and tell your commissioners NO to the project. Petitions are also circulating around town. Find one and sign it!

John Scrudato, Traverse City

Segregation Is Learned

I was vacationing recently in Charlevoix and picked up the Aug. 24 Northern Express. I read with interest the "Crossed" column that featured a debate between a Presbyterian Pastor and a local atheist.

I feel the atheist presented a much stronger argument in support of his position than did the pastor. His assessment that organized religions are based on conformity to specified precepts and excludes those who do not accept their belief system is totally on point. Many religions look for reasons to keep people out rather than welcome them in. This in and of itself is a form of discrimination.

The pastor states that "segregation comes by nature, not faith" and "though we come by divisions, naturally, faith calls us to a higher ground." To say that segregation comes naturally is not supported by nature itself. Simply observe a group of small children of diverse backgrounds playing together. They aren’t aware of any divisions nor do they segregate themselves based on real or perceived differences. Segregation and exclusion are learned behaviors.

In his response, he references Dr. King’s statement that "Ten o’clock, Sunday morning, can be the most segregated hour of the week." It is because people choose it to be that way, not because of any natural order of things. Religions and churches do not discourage this behavior, but rather support it.

In his response, the pastor references John Lennon’s song "Imagine" and the thought of "no religion." His comment that "peace," "shared possessions," and "a brotherhood of man" are distinctly religious concepts is ridiculous. One does not need religion to embrace these concepts. In fact, it is easier to embrace them without the interference of religion. Also, his attempt to differentiate between "good" and "bad" discrimination was totally irrelevant to the issue of religion reducing or promoting discrimination.

Robert Horstman, Lake Orion

Thanks, Tom

Thank you, Thomas Kachadurian, for your logical approach to the abortion issue! I appreciated your facts comparing the barbaric U.S. to Europe. That your view could change when it became personal (congratulations!) is honest. It appears our only difference is that I am a Christian, which of course I feel is quite important. However, I value and agree with your opinion.

Joyce Looman, Alden