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Voice of the people

September 04, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

'Legal but rare' makes no sense

I've just read John Patrick Grace's column on our political parties shifting abortion stances. While he seems to credit the Clinton presidency with helping to reduce the number of abortions in the 1990s, he also credits the Clintons with taking the stance that "abortion needs to be legal but rare."

I'm not sure if Mr. Grace agrees with that position, but I've always thought it to be strange logic.

Since the crux of the abortion question is that abortion is either murder or simply a very effective medical procedure for getting a young lady out of trouble, the "legal but rare" position is self-contradictory. If you've taken the latter position on abortion and your conscience is completely clear, why would you want it to be rare? It's like saying, "I'd like to see a serious reduction in the number of tumor removals but not do away with it completely."

The abortion issue can be complicated, but it does not leave anyone room for "legal but rare" or even pro-choice. If the Clintons' conscience is not completely clear and abortion is murder, no one should be allowed to make such a choice.

Mike Midkiff

Huntington

Flowers destroyed in Shawnee forest

The Save Our Shawnee Forest organization sadly reports that an unknown someone dug all the yellow fringed orchids blooming at the protected area at Stop 5 on the Shawnee State Forest Auto Tour the week of Aug. 3.

An unknown someone also pulled Canada lily plants along Forest Road 4, leaving them on the ground.

It's against the law to dig or pick flowers in Shawnee State Forest. These crimes have been reported to the forest rangers.

One American in 25 is born without a conscience and can do anything without feeling guilty. It's the moral responsibility of the other 24 to use peer pressure to help prevent anti-social behavior. The honest 24, if knowledgeable, need to report crimes in the forest.

The forest belongs to all, even itself. Humans should appreciate, protect and treat it with respect.

Barbara A. Lund

Lynx, Ohio

Return flamingo to the cemetery

Please be on the lookout for a pink flamingo that was "borrowed" from Woodmere Cemetery on Sunday, Aug. 10, between the hours of 1:30 and 6 p.m.

I purchased the birds at an antique store in Florida and carried them through three airports for my son, who loved flamingos very much.

The "borrowers" must have felt guilty, because they left one bird, and it misses its mate. It would mean a lot to Chris if you would reunite his pets at Woodmere Cemetery. Parents, check your yards.

Elizabeth Withers

Huntington

Letters
Reader looks for memories of school

December 01, 2008 @ 08:20 PM

I can still see it as I climb the ridge at the south end of Johnstown Road. And those who turn onto West Virginia 527 from Miller Road and Pleasant Valley Drive can see it, too. That is, if they attended the little red brick school that made its home in the valley where Interstate 64 now runs east and west. It sat in the middle of a vast green meadow. Johnstown Road ran past it, almost at its door, and there was a lazy little creek on the north side of the dirt playground where we spent many a recess. We played marbles in the dust. We played ball and jacks and all the things that can be done in 15 minutes worth of free time. We developed lifelong relationships there, and our teachers taught us so many things. What a wonderful place Pleasant Valley Elementary School was. The interstate took it years ago, but my mind's eye still sees it from the hill.
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Blogs
Tri-State Theater

On Stage in December

December 1, 2008 @ 11:26pm

Who says there's not much to see in December? (Well, I did, but I was way off base.) Here are the shows you should be watching for in the month ahead: - The 1940s Radio Hour - (ARTS) at the Renaissance Center in Huntington on Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. - Mary - (CYAC) at the WVSU Capitol...

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