CANCER AWARENESS

Blue light demonstrates support for the cause

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and we are asking people in the Treasure Valley to show their support by putting a blue light outside their homes. This is an inexpensive way of showing that you know somebody who has been touched by prostate cancer, or that you support prostate cancer research. Since one in six men is diagnosed with prostate cancer, we should see the Treasure Valley and other American areas bathed in the light of support. Please take the time to do this small gesture for the men of our nation.

JEAN JEFFRIES, director, Us Too Prostate Cancer Education & Support, Meridian

Pancreatic cancer shouldn’t be overlooked

Research breakthroughs have resulted in positive medical improvements for many forms of cancer. During the past 40 years, the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has climbed from under 50 percent to over 65 percent. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has not benefited from these advances. Today, there are no early detection tools or effective treatments for pancreatic cancer.

The result is that pancreatic cancer is the only one of the top cancer killers with a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits, at 6 percent. Pancreatic cancer is anticipated to move from the fourth to the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. by 2020, possibly as early as 2015. But, we now have the opportunity to change the future for pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act (S. 362/HR 733) is before Congress. The bill requires the National Cancer Institute develop a long-term, comprehensive plan to address pancreatic cancer. The legislation has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives, which is why I urge our representatives to ensure this bill is passed by the end of the year, so that pancreatic cancer patients have hope for a better future.

DWIGHT TOVEY, Meridian

TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMY

GOP plan won’t work

I am so tired of trickle-down economy. It hasn’t worked. Not since Reagan first started it. Nor did it work with either Bush. It certainly won’t work with the Romney/Ryan plan.

The only thing that will happen if Romney gets elected is the rich will get richer and the poor will greatly increase. It would be a society of haves and have nots. You can’t equate jobs with making millions for your share holders. Which is all that Romney has ever done.

JEANNIE PETERSON, Boise

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

Prepare for snark attack

Responding to an advert sponsored by the RNC, asking me how I created my business and wealth, by my own sweat and investment, I was left to imagine a freight hauling (or any industry that relies on freight being hauled).

Snark follows ...

Research indicates that Melaleuca founder and CEO, personally created the Oregon Trail, and the Northern Bypass. He also was instrumental in the creation of the first post/mail roads in pre-revolutionary corporate colonies. He risked his wealth (life is too much to ask from such a generous benefactor) to provide the security for such pathways during the 18th century revolution against corporate and royal authority.

(OK, it is easy to forget, that the North American colonies revolted against corporations/king’s charter, that were to collect tax. The bloodshed occurred as the king’s government army was conscripted to enforce corporate demand.)

The product and distribution method was his entire creation. His products are never delivered by anything that could be called “general welfare,” noted in the U.S. Constitution.

Snark off ...

Will Sen. Mike Crapo please explain to me, and others, why, or where not, he supports the RNC platform?

EDWARD WATTERS, Boise

ROMNEY

The new Elmer Fudd

I have to let David K. DiLisa know our family agrees with him totally about the Mitt-Twit.

That man would ruin the U.S. diplomatically. He would be paying back all of the people that donated to his campaign.

I never saw a person lie the way this man does. He voices a different opinion with each new crowd he talks to. I never thought I would agree with anything Rush Limbaugh said, but he called the Mitt Elmer Fudd. (Poor Fudd.)

DAN DAY, Boise

Too ignorant to win

Dear world — sorry about Mitt! It must make people on our planet nervous to see someone this ignorant on foreign affairs as candidate for president. Yikes! Mitt defended the values of the makers of an anti-Muslim film while attacking Obama before he knew any of the facts. We lost four people, but Mitt couldn’t resist making tone-deaf, poorly timed, political remarks on 9/11. Then, he doubled down on his mistakes the next day. I’d like to see what kind of statement Mr. Romney might have put out if he was an employee at the consulate while angry protesters were gathering outside. Don’t worry world, Mitt won’t win.

JULIE JUSTAD TOLMAN, Boise

OBAMA

Don’t confine fact checks to Republicans

In response to Shawna Chadez’s letter dated Sept. 11 titled “Check the Facts,” we all need to remember the people in glass houses concept.

The comments about fact-checking the RNC speakers Ryan, Romney, Santorum and Christie are certainly valid. But, we must also fact-check the DNC speakers! Spin, distortion, retreads and impossible promises. Remember too, all of the promises coming from Mr. Obama in 2008. Where is the immigration reform? Has Gitmo been closed? Are we still in Afghanistan? Have more American servicemen and women died? Did he cut the deficit in half during his first term? Has Mr. Obama even passed one budget?

Has he gotten even one vote in favor of his budgets? Has Mr. Obama taken responsibility for his actions? Yes, Ms. Chadez, the knife cuts in both directions.

WILLIAM R. LOGSDON, SR., Boise

ABORTION

It’s all about faith

“Be glad your mother did not chose abortion.” Occasionally we are forced to read these words, but I hate to say that I don’t automatically accept that argument. By giving me life, I was also cursed with the knowledge of my death. All life is suffering, said Buddha. By being born we also are cursed with the knowledge that all we know and love will age, suffer and die. I can hear you all now, Jesus, eternal life, yada, yada, yada. There is no rational argument for an eternal sky being. It is all built on faith.

Had my mother chosen abortion, I would never have had to leave, or would immediately return to, that magical land and bypassed all that life entails.

If the sky God doesn’t exist, then one could argue that life is a cruel joke that ends with the punchline, “and then you die and cease to be.”

I just don’t know if the returns are worth the price. Perhaps the aborted are the truly lucky ones? Guess I just gotta have faith?

TROY INGRAHAM, Boise

REVEREND TUTU

Demagogue’s comments should not carry weight

The recent article published in the Statesman stating the “Reverend” Tutu thinks that President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair should be tried in an international court for war crimes should have us all miffed.

Our irritation shouldn’t be so focused on what a court jester thinks, but rather on how media outlets somehow consider Tutu’s comments worth printing.

Just what — or who —does this loo loo represent? Is he some sort of official international watchdog?

No, this desperate demagogue holds no legitimate position of power, and Americans do not answer to international opinion. Informed and patriotic Americans reject anti-American and Western sentiment spewed from the mouths of jealous foreigners seeking attention from media outlets lacking impetus to find and report real news.

When the late President Reagan was asked what he thought of this silly, pious little man, the Great Communicator simply said, “Tutu? ... So so.” Some of us may not be so polite, believing those who think this man worthy of print are Tutu Cuckoo.

CHRIS ATHERTON, Eagle