Doctor's killer must be treated as terrorist

Dr. George Tiller, the Kansas abortion doctor, was assassinated by a zealot. He is the eighth physician to be killed for "being a mass murderer" during the past 35 years.

Upon what basis was he a mass murderer, as Randall Terry and Operation Rescue maintain? Their whole case is based on the presumption that life begins at conception#.

A few cells performing cellular respiration are not human. Conceptions are spontaneously aborted in 30 to 50 percent of cases with no intervention. Does that sound like human life was meant to begin at conception?

Their belief is solely based on private moral and religious principles. Those beliefs are fine, but others must have the same right to religious and moral freedom. The First Amendment … says, "Congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Thus, no law or court ruling abridging people's right to make their own religious choices should be allowed. …

Terrorizing clinic patients, staff and physicians with threats and intimidation and multiple murders is immoral. They must be treated as the terrorists they are. Want to see a mass murderer, Mr. Terry? Look in the mirror.

Ted Robinson

Carlsbad

Bush welcomed at Notre Dame?

Re: "Obama urges understanding," May 18: If Catholics believe their institutions should not honor those who do not adhere to their moral principles, why was President Bush welcomed at Notre Dame without incident, even though he used the death penalty more than any other governor elected to the Oval Office and invaded Iraq where thousands of lives were lost?

It is hypocritical to suggest that abortion and stem cell research are morally wrong while ignoring the immorality of the death penalty and a war of choice.

Bunny Landis

Oceanside

Can you feel it?

Walking a mile in another's shoes is something you have to do if you want to understand what other people are going through. Its importance when thinking about public policy seems evident, but rarely happens in the political realm, leading to much of the world's heartache and pain. I ask you, North County Times readers, to change all that.

Before you decide we need to balance the budget by slashing aid to pregnant moms and insisting they have their babies, try to feel the fear of a mom with no money. Next time you are asked to support a "shock and awe" bombing of civilians because of actions by the untouchable leaders of that country (or ours), imagine bombs exploding in your neighborhood while your children scream in terror. How would it feel to be gay in a society where you are not welcomed, or to be a woman paid less for doing the same job as a man, or a dad in dire financial straits because of an illness or a corporation moving your job overseas?

Empathy for others comes from strength, not weakness, and leads to a true understanding of the world. Politics without it is heartless.

Paul Cavanaugh

Ramona

Just don't call it 'marriage'

With the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the voters will on the passage of Proposition 8, I would like to weigh in on the subject. I believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman. I would not, however be opposed to "gayarriage" for same-sex couples.

With "gayarriage," a couple would be afforded the same benefits and pitfalls of marriage. Same-sex couples would have to get a license, have a ceremony, have the same tax benefits, employer family health benefits, Social Security spousal benefits, etc. If they wanted out of their "gayarriage," they would have to file for divorce, pay "gaylimony," pay child support, etc.

I believe that most people are not opposed to two people who want a committed relationship that is recognized legally and socially. They just don't want it called marriage.

Patricia Hernandez

San Marcos

Three wrongs don't make a right

Speaking as a local Lutheran pastor, a proper response to Sunday's shooting death of abortion doctor George Tiller would be to say that three wrongs don't make a right. The three wrongs are the murder of Dr. Tiller, the abortions he performed and any attempt to misrepresent the true, peaceful, pro-life spirit.

Let me draw attention to two statements, both coming out on Monday. Lutherans For Life said, "We want to make the killing of children in the sanctity of the womb as unthinkable and deplorable as the killing of George Tiller in the sanctity of his church." And German pro-life theologian Uwe Siemon-Netto wrote, "Those who secretly cheer [this] dastardly act must be made aware that they are participating in a despicable revolt against the creator."

Christians who mourn the killing of the unborn are called now to mourn the killing of Dr. Tiller as the ultimate statement of their pro-life position. The true tragedy is that Dr. Tiller in a way is now numbered with the victims of abortion. In the words of Jesus, "Blessed are those who mourn." Mourning won't make it right, but it is the right thing to do.

The Rev. Matthew Richardt

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Church

Missouri Synod

Escondido

Suspicious error in the North County Times

I was wondering why the North County Times ran the article "GOP belittles climate change proposal" twice in the Sunday paper (page A5 and A10)? Was this a mistake or was it on purpose?

I agree with the Republicans on this one. We don't need this now. Why burden the people with more taxes and loss of jobs? Why not wait until the economy becomes stable before adding anything else like to our plate?

Also, why wasn't the military recruiting center shooting story covered?

Mark Pfeiler

Vista

Checkpoint opposition racially blind?

Would Victor Torres ("Why Escondido's police chief must go," Community Forum, May 28) object to Escondido's vehicle checkpoints if the race most affected was other than Latino? Does he want to give all law breakers a free pass or only the ones from south of the border?

This same question can be asked of Police Chief Maher, who favors driver's licenses for illegal aliens, but only after a criminal background check. If the good chief can't spot the crime against America involving illegal aliens, then he and Mr. Torres might indeed share some common ground after all.

Last, but not least, is John Van Doorn's Observer piece ("Something has happened to 'live and let live' ") also of May 28. What a load of hypocritical hogwash! Why does he consider it "very creepy and essentially arrogant" when anti-gay folks proclaim their beliefs as being correct, while it is perfectly fine for pro-gays, like himself, to subject everyone to their opposing view with impunity?

He opined further, "… sharing personal views ought not include forcing them on others." Yet he and the other opponents of Proposition 8 are trying to do just that.

Bill Lane

Escondido

National debt is high and climbing

The United States debt is now $668,621 per household. And climbing fast. I can't see any way this can be repaid, except through massive inflation.

Maybe we should default now, while we still have some assets left.

Or start drilling for oil â€"â€" hard.

Graham Marrs

Oceanside

A trio of poor role models

The saga of Miss California continues to roll on weeks after Miss USA was chosen (does anyone remember her name/home state?). The Carrie Chronicles continue â€"â€" Trump, who never met a pretty woman he didn't like, excused her. This woman has generated more publicity for his pageant than had she won â€"â€" she is golden! …

Another young woman … has been all over national media sitting demurely with her young son on her lap, extolling the virtues of abstinence! As Dr. Phil would say, "How'd that work out for ya?"

Last and by no means least is a local council member, who never met a developer he would not follow, and who is facing a recall election. Being creative and obviously inflammatory by planning a "canned" bird hunt at $1,000 a pop has raised the term "blood money" to a new level. Claiming to be a lifelong hunter, which requires a degree of skill and sportsmanlike conduct, neither necessary for cage-raised birds who will be turned loose in a controlled environment to be killed. Shame on planners and participants for this type of smarmy activity.

None of the above-mentioned qualify, by character or deed, as good role models!

Cara Lou Wicks

Oceanside

Longs for days when facts were presented

Apparently, Republicans "belittle" liberal causes and Democrats "challenge" conservative causes. The North County Times tries to drive home this point by printing the same article twice in the A section of its Sunday paper ("GOP belittles climate change proposal").

The irony is that Republicans tend to challenge liberal causes, while Democrats seem to personally attack the conservative messenger. But, in today's journalism, words are used to slant articles toward the viewpoint of the writer. I miss the days when journalists just presented the facts and gave us credit for having enough intelligence to form our own conclusions.

David Szatkowski

Carlsbad

Where is (all) the news?

I have scoured the paper the last few days, hoping to find some mention of the Obama administration's dropping of charges of already convicted Black Panthers for their role during the last election. Nothing!

Is the North County Times falling to the pressure of the Obama regime to only report news that is relevant to them? Have you been threatened to be closed down or, better yet, taken over if you do not publish what they say? Give us the news.

The anti-Bush voters who supported Obama "just because" must be kept apprised of their impending fate. After all, some of history's most atrocious villains came to power in a time of needed "hope and change."

Give us both sides and call it as it is, not as "dictated" by Obama's elite corps of engineers.

Kirsten Pursell

Oceanside

Sotomayor is clearly qualified

I'm amazed how a candidate is put forward for the Supreme Court who seems capable, representative of so many Californians and not a strong left- or right-leaning decision maker; yet the Republicans seem to be again showing themselves to be the party of "no" by digging for any reason to oppose her nomination.

I'm not a Latino, but I welcome diversity where the person is so clearly qualified.ˇI welcome a rational, intelligent decision-maker with so much judicial experience and so little controversy as Judge Sotomayor.

I would welcome your paper's positive support for this logical choice.

Mick Tinker

Encinitas

Terrorists and fear

It seemed like a good idea to some people: Close the detention center at Guantanamo.

But as the United States government began to act on this idea, fear broke out in our country that the detainees might end up in U.S. prisons. The behavior of some politicians and the talking heads on Fox, driven by fear, is bordering on cowardice. Two hundred and fifty terrorists are under strong, secure guard and will remain that way wherever we hold them, but the fear reaction is immense. These terrorists are creating fear (might I say terror) while they are locked up!

Our terrorist enemies throughout the world must be laughing their heads off!

Where is our courage? My fellow citizens, we can do better. Indeed, to win the war on terror, we may have to do better.

Walter Lehmann

Cardiff

First Amendment died in Vista court

May 21, my heart was broken at the Vista Courthouse. I watched in horror as a group of 12 "jurors" and a judge revealed to me the First Amendment is dead ("Jury finds activist defamed opposition activist," May 22). Until then, I believed that Americans were for freedom of speech and the freedom to forward private e-mails …

During illegal alien activist Joanne Yoon's frivolous defamation lawsuit and trial against San Diego Minutemen founder Jeff Schwilk, the court system failed all of us. It basically ruled that we are now all liable for all e-mails and Web links that we forward, even against "public figures" which, of course, Yoon was. Her outspoken and aggressive activism for illegal aliens from 2005-07 in San Diego County is legend.

If the ruling isn't reversed by the appeals court, the First Amendment is dead. What happened in the courtroom was a travesty. Our rights and freedoms are under assault by far-left extremists in America. No wonder Americans are rising up by the millions to fight these socialist forces and agendas.

Let's hope everyone wakes up in time. Our growing resemblance to Communist China is frightening. Read more about this malicious political prosecution at www.SanDiegoMinutemen.com.

Mari Hayden

Oceanside