Howey sheds new light on important topic

Thank you to Brian Howey for his column titled “Sweating out …”

I’ve been looking for someone in the press to finally address the connection between the present heat/drought and the impact humans have on Earth.

Without coming down explicitly on either side of the argument, he, at least, suggests there might be a connection. I guess as long as the power for our air conditioner continues and the turning of our faucet gives us what we need, some of us will not see the connection that science so clearly points out. And when the sea water rises and there are more people fighting to live on less land, we will certainly blame our legislators.

Yet, how many of us have told our representatives that we want them to address global warming. The silent majority (“63 percent of Americans say there is “solid evidence”) needs to speak up now. Like the Nero of ancient Rome, we seem to be fiddling while Earth burns around us.

So while we continue our prayers for rain, let’s also send our requests to Washington. Seems to me God would expect us to do our part as well.

— Sister Marsha Speth, SP

St. Mary-of-the-Woods

Horrified by violence, but we pay to see it

Why is it socially acceptable for movie makers to make millions of dollars from graphic depictions of gratuitous violence on a grand scale in movies such as the “Batman” series, yet when actual violence occurs, as in the tragic Colorado shootings, we are shocked and horrified?

Why not make these grandiose, graphic depictions of violence in movie theaters socially unacceptable?

— Bill Cain

Terre Haute

Thanks for help

finding lost dog

I am writing to convey my heartfelt appreciation for all the effort put forth by the employees of the Terre Haute International Airport in regards to catching a dog named Zeke.

Zeke escaped from a foster home yard near 23rd and Crawford on the evening of June 15. Since that time, volunteers had formed search parties in areas where sightings of Zeke had been reported. No one could have imagined that an 11-year-old dog could travel so far. He was reported first at Deming Park, then Hawthorn Park, then he kind of dropped off the radar screen. Since Zeke was raised on Milner Avenue, I thought he might be headed home.

On Monday, July 2, 1 called Jerry Arney, who had been an animal control officer with Code Enforcement but had since taken a position with public safety at the airport. I explained about Zeke and asked if I provided flyers, could he pass the word. He said he would be more than happy to help.

At this stage we were very concerned about Zeke, who had been lost for more than two weeks in the extreme heat. Not only was Zeke up in years, he is blind in one eye and high heartworm positive. Zeke was very bonded to his 12-year-old mother, Venus who was also high positive for heartworms. They, along with Albert, a 10 year old companion and also positive for heartworms, had been accepted by a senior canine rescue near Chicago and were all to be treated for their heartworm problem. Since heartworms weaken the heart, we all feared Zeke would die if not caught soon.

You can imagine my surprise when on Thursday morning I received a call from Officer Beasley stating they had a dog shut inside the fence matching Zeke’s picture. I jumped in the car and rushed to the airport. Officer Beasley proceeded to go to all the buildings asking if they had seen the dog. He said it had been lying in the ditch near one of the maintenance buildings. He feared the dog had somehow gotten out.

I went home, but about a half hour later I received a call from a Lifeline employee saying the dog was near their building. By the time I arrived, they had him encircled with pickups and workers. With the help of the former owners who graciously came to help when I called, Zeke was caught and returned to the shelter. He had lost 20 pounds but otherwise seemed fine.

On Saturday, Zeke was reunited with his mother who has already had her first heartworm treatment. In a few weeks, Zeke will begin his treatments after he regains some weight.

To all the people who called in sightings, park personnel, police, vet office and businesses that allowed us to post flyers — thank you. A special thanks goes to the airport workers who finally accomplished the mission. It was a very long and hot three weeks. Zeke doesn’t know how much work and grief he caused.

— Sharon Mattison

Volunteer Canine

Rescue Coordinator

Terre Haute Humane Society

The big picture

on raw milk

I am writing in response to the article that appeared in the July 16, 2012, issue of the Tribune-Star headlined “Debate Churning Over Raw Milk Sales.”

I love raw milk. My family and I have been consuming raw milk legally for over five years and we have never suffered any ill effects from it. That is because the cows that we receive our milk from are healthy. They are raised on a pasture where they receive plenty of fresh grass and sunshine. Our farmer is diligent to make sure that the cows are well cared for and healthy and that when they are milked the udder is clean and the equipment is clean and sterilized and that the milk is chilled.

Pasteurization of milk came to be because cows were confined in a barn or small lot. They were not given fresh grass, their udders were not clean when they were milked, and the equipment used to milk them was not clean or sterile.

All of these factors led to an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria leading to many deaths and illnesses. Instead of correcting the underlying problems, pasteurization of the milk was done, which not only destroyed the unhealthy bacteria, but also the good bacteria that we need to repopulate our gut.

In looking at the number of illness from raw milk, or any milk or food for that matter, you have to take into account the whole picture, or the health of the person consuming the food, or in this case, milk. If someone is already immuno-compromised through disease, poor eating habits, etc., then they are already suffering from an overpopulation of unhealthy bacteria and any further introduction of unhealthy bacteria will only make them more ill. Studies show that there have been more illness and deaths from consuming processed milk than raw milk.

The article quoted Jennifer House as stating that there have been no studies on the safety of raw milk. This is not true. There have been studies and numerous books written on the topic. Look at human history for example. For thousands of years people have consumed raw milk. This did not change until the 1900s when people began living in cities on a large scale, moving away from the countryside and access to fresh milk.

Some great resources on the topic are “Untold Story of Milk” by Ron Schmidt, ND; Farm to Consumer Foundation, Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, and www.realmilk.com.

I am undecided about legalizing raw milk. It has been my experience that most people are apathetic to their own health preferring to be told what to do rather than doing their own research and making their own decisions. People who aren’t informed and conscientious about their health are going to rely on the government to make decisions for them which could likely lead to problems for small farmers because the farmers can’t line the governmental coffers with silver and gold like the big food industry can.

— Jennifer Utz, RN

Terre Haute

Nothing improper

with voter ID laws

Hurray, Don Phillips. Your July 6 response to the Tribune-Star editorial of July 13 was enlightening, insightful, accurate and intelligently presented. The same cannot be said of the T-S editorial.

The editorial is nothing more than an exercise in shallow thinking, generalized opinion, and veiled partisan politicking poorly presented. Let’s examine the editorial: Paragraph two suggests the voter ID law seeks to find a cure for no known disease. Terribly shallow. Prevention has always been favored over cure in American culture. If a qualified person wishes to cast a vote (not a federal Constitution guarantee), register for an ID; paragraph three suggests that the prevailing view in Indiana may be about to change. Therefore, it may not be; paragraph four shares that 1,200 voter ID violations were found in the 2008 general elections in Indiana and Georgia, and rejected for consideration, and paragraph five relates to four by stating the AP review suggests that “legitimate votes were rejected by the law.” Hello! Legitimate votes don’t get rejected by law, only by unconscionable political sycophants.

Lastly, paragraph six suggests that elections should not be decided by law, but by the will of the people. This ill-advised position is diametrically opposed to 235 years of American beliefs and cultural traditions. The “will of the people” is reflected in the expressed laws on record. The voter ID laws are each state’s choice regarding who is a legitimately registered voter, and do not violate the voters’ citizenship or civil rights legitimacy. Laws are intended to establish justice (fairness, not equality) and ensure domestic tranquility (harmony). The voter ID law does not deprive any Indiana citizen to his/her right to equal access and protection.

It does, however, legitimize the dedicated efforts and opinions of those citizens who know that “the will of the people” is a cop-out for “anything goes.” Change the law, fine. Just stop misstating and suggesting what “is”, when it “is not.”

Without a state-approved license, one may not legally drive a qualifying motor vehicle within that state. It only takes four or five personal “ID proofs” to secure the driver’s license, making a voter ID seem comparatively easy to obtain.

Being well into my seventh decade of life and a registered Democrat, my position is not influenced or dictated by politics. Rather, my belief — right or wrong to others — is influenced only by the “greatest good for the greatest number.” If would-be voters are rejected, so be it.

Now, if we could just return to the election of 2000 and keep the U.S. Supreme Court from illegally interfering with Florida’s right to conduct and control their in-state elections. … Oh well, one step at a time.

— James Camp

Terre Haute

Plastic has

its advantages

What is this about plastic bags? They last forever. Well, not really. If the sun gets to them they eventually go away. They fill up landfills. Way back, before the environmental extremists got control of our world, we used to burn them as well as other combustible material. You cannot burn things. If that is correct, what about the forests fires out west?

Plastic is petroleum based, but its use saves a lot of trees from being used in paper bags production. We need to use cloth bags. Unless cloth bags are laundered before each use, the potential for germs is astronomical. If using cloth bags make you sick, and if under Obamacare it takes six months to see a doctor, somehow to me, using cloth bags has issues.

What about glass, metal, concrete, insulation and the list goes on and on. To the best of my knowledge, none of these material have an expiration date.

I have to admit I am a fan of plastic. They are light, don’t leak, don’t rust, cheap, help keeps trash can clean and controls odors. Since I helped make plastic for over 30 years and they pay my pension, please go find something else to complain about.

— Sam Wallace

Casey, Ill.

What does rep

really stands for?

Congressman Bucshon says he opposes the $500 billion in cuts to Medicare under Obamacare, but he voted twice to keep these cuts in place when he voted for the 2011 and 2012 House budget plans.

That’s right, he voted twice to keep the $500 billion cuts to Medicare while going around saying he opposes the cuts (while at the same time voting to privatize Medicare). This is why voters are fed up with Washington politicians — they think that we are stupid and that they can get away with saying one thing while doing another.

I think I speak on behalf of all voters by making a simple request: Congressman Bucshon, be honest with us.

— Judy Shake

Linton

Still confused over

immigration ruling

I’ve been thinking of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Arizona law regarding illegal immigrants. What am I missing?

The Justice Department sued a state to prevent that state stopping an invasion of illegal immigrants across an international border that the federal government refuses to secure.

We are being invaded by narco-terrorists by the thousands and illegal immigrants by the hundreds of thousands each year. What happens if the Mexican Army crosses the border to assist La Raza in claiming the American Southwest? Will President Obama go to The Alamo to apologize for Texicans forcing Gen. Santa Ana to surrender?  

Just saying, often times people don’t see the possible unintended consequences.

— Edward Kesler

West Terre Haute