Movement would take rights away

For years I have been a pro-life advocate and a defender of states’ rights in the shadow of an increasingly intrusive federal government. The pro-life movement is in danger of death due to a movement in Congress to take the issue of rights of the unborn away from states. The Freedom of Choice Act is a radical pro-choice proposal that would legalize on-demand abortion. It will remove protections for the unborn and invalidate sensible initiatives enacted by states. Among these initiatives: disclosure to patients, protections for doctors who refuse to assist abortion, parental notification of minors seeking abortion, and limits on partial birth abortion. Special interest groups are out to handcuff the state legislatures’ ability to enact laws popularly supported by voters. Once in federal hands, the path is clear to enact pro-choice legislation on the federal level.

FOCA creates the first step toward legislation that overrules states. We must act to prevent this slippery slope. Liberal leaders from the courthouse to the White House are taking advantage of the economic crisis to push tax increases, expansion of welfare, wealth redistribution and embryonic stem cell policy. It should be nothing less than a call to arms to conservatives who believe in the greatness of America and a better future. FOCA threatens life, and it threatens our ability to self-govern. FOCA failed in Congress before, but the same sponsors of that legislation plan to reintroduce it. Conservative, pro-life citizens must be proactive now. Ohio State Senator Tim Grendell has introduced a bill that urges the U.S. Congress not to pass FOCA. Please contact state legislators to support Grendell’s proposal, and then contact Congressional legislators to vociferously oppose FOCA. As a former state representative and now candidate for state Senate, I will fight this liberal agenda.

Michelle Schneider

Cincinnati

Schneider is a candidate for state senate.

Burden of proof was not proven

It was a tragedy that Sarah Widmer drowned and the tragedy was compounded by her husband, Ryan Widmer’s, conviction. The burden was on the prosecution to prove that Widmer killed his wife. I don’t see that they did this. I will admit I wasn’t in the courtroom and was not privy to all the information that the jury had. I have been trained in first aid and CPR by the U.S. Military, the Red Cross and the American Heart and Lung Association. One thing all three stressed was that doing CPR correctly will leave bruises and crack ribs. My wife has 6 out of 7 risk factors for heart disease. The thing that scares me now is if I find her unconscious in our house, should I perform CPR or let the EMT’s perform CPR? Or should I go grab the camera and start taking pictures to prove my innocence or maybe a bucket of water so the floor isn’t dry.

David Boyd

Lebanon

There’s more to a teacher’s salary

I feel the need to respond to Mike O’Connor’s letter (April 2, Western Star) about teachers being overpaid. Most teachers I know work many hours outside of the “normal work day” to prepare for the next day, grade papers, make sure their students are making progress, and make adjustments to help them get there. Most teachers I know also take training during the summer which they pay for. Most of those teachers’ salaries that appeared in the Insight edition are those who have worked for 22-plus years, have other duties which they do, and have their master’s ... again a luxury not paid for by the school district.

How much do you make Mr. O’Connor and are you worth what you are paid? Some may not think so. Also, who got you where you are? I would think a teacher did at one point of your life.

Roberta Osborne

Lebanon

Area teachers need our support

Once again, I find myself dismayed by those who wish to complain about teacher’s salaries. We entrust our most important family members to these individuals to prepare them for an ever increasingly changing and more complex world, yet individuals still “whine” and call teacher’s work “part-time.”

As a student continuing my journey in education I see first hand how much time is spent preparing outside of classroom time. As a business person who gives my time each year to the schools for career days at the elementary and intermediate level, I also know first hand how much time I put into preparation. Between prep time, after hours conferences, and weekend work, teachers hours are far longer than most imagine.

The public generally forgets that the state continuously forces educators to do more with less funding. Our teachers typically spend money out of their own pockets to supplement their classroom education materials. I recognize times are tight, but commend teachers for the level of education they are required to attain in order to receive the salaries they deserve. We all have choices in what we decide to make of our lives, I’m sure glad that the great teachers I was fortunate enough to have sacrificed their time and effort to allow me to do the job I have today. I know from reviewing teacher’s salaries that we are very blessed.

Frank Fay

Lebanon