Reader Comments
Issue 97 - December 12, 2007

Editor: I could not agree more with your “A Civil Debate on Torture.” What has happened to the younger generation on the right? It is obscene that our United States, so well described by Ronald Reagan as the "shining city upon a hill," that we even have a public debate over torturing people. We wear the white hats -- we're the good guys. Torture is evil. Descriptions of the communist secret police using "cold rooms" brought groans of outrage from American audiences. Some argue that extracting information from captured terrorists is more needed than when the enemies were Nazis, Communists, Japanese Bushido fanatics, kidnapers or serial killers. They are even willing to put American captives at greater risk to be dreadfully mistreated. If potential information is that important, then they should stop quibbling about acceptable methods of torture. Why set a limit to the degree of pain and fear to be inflicted? In the real, often nasty world, the United States should simply condemn all torture. What if you hold a terrorist prisoner who definitely has information that could stop a terrible event? In that case, your action is between you and God. Charles Wiley

Editor: Great piece on “A Civil Debate on Torture.” It is so unfortunate that our White House precludes rational debate on so many important issues. You are absolutely correct: we are the good guys and should act like it. Best regards, Bob Luddy, Raleigh, N.C.

Editor: Regarding your “A Civil Debate on Torture", as a Conservative Republican, I thought you would like to read my op-ed on what is and what is not torture. Lee Ellis http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/index.php?id=1385168

Editor: Regarding your “A Civil Debate on Torture,” we have to understand our enemies in order to defeat them, in other words, to prevent them sneaking into our country to kill us. A few weeks ago, I saw one of our reporters, I forgot his name, who volunteered to act like he was being interrogated. He said that 8 hours after being interrogated he felt it is okay. I believe that that was the first time in his life had experienced anything like that. But we have to understand that the terrorists have been very well trained to deal with all kinds of torture. I am using the words "torture" to make my meaning clear. The way we are doing our interrogating is nothing to them. We have to understand that. Do not let them laugh behind our back. I never lived under Communism, but I have heard about them lots of times, and I believe the Communists and the terrorist are very similar. When it was in the South East Asia, it was called "communist" and when it was in the Middle East, its name is "terrorist.” We do not too much care about the Geneva Convention. It seems that the Geneva Agreement is just for us to follow only. We should not let the terrorists keeps saying: "We keep going into their country, and killing them; they have never dared to hurt us because their hands are tied very tight in their own law, and in the Geneva Convention." We don't want them laughing on our face. Our country is being attacked by terrorists. Remember that. Sincerely, Theresa L. Pham, Huntington Beach, CA

Editor: Gosh, Carey Roberts’ “4 Year-old Sex Fiends” is so right. I had two girls and at those young ages it never bothered me if they gave the teacher a hug. Lord knows why do these people have to bring sex into everything? Hugging is hugging not fondling. Bob Lewis, Norfolk VA

Editor: In regard to Carey Roberts’ “4 Year-old Sex Fiends,” I believe that the mainstream media have lost all prospective of what is right and what is wrong. From my viewpoint, as I have observed small children, they love everyone. Something is very wrong when small children are picked on for doing something that is natural to them like hugging a teacher. Ethel P

Editor: Regarding Carey Roberts’ “4 Year-old Sex Fiends,” too little is being done to expose the reporters who are looking for sensational news and not the truth; the truth be d*m is most of their philosophy. Get the news attention never mind the ruined lives that are proven not guilty. We should be able to sue for character defamation and slander in all the not guilty cases, not let them get away on “freedom of the press” grounds. There must be many dirty minded reporters in this kind of witch hunt. Jerry O'Briant

Editor: Regarding Carey Roberts’ “4 Year-old Sex Fiends,” while the liberal dimwits who produce “Two and a Half Men” and “How I Met Your Mother” "entertain" us with nothing but heavy sexual innuendo, and even explicit sexual banter, suddenly they have discovered young persons actually touch during school hours; ergo, sexual harassment is rampant? Television is NOTHING but sexual titillation when it isn't actual smut--but that's the First Amendment. On the other hand, when a seven-year-old second grader kisses his "girlfriend," he's a molester. Planned Parenthood promotes abortions for twelve year olds (the legal age in NJ and parents do not have to be notified), but the outstanding organization balks at coughing up the names of adult males who are the fathers of fourteen year old pregnant teenagers' babies--that's "confidentiality"--BUT THAT'S REALLY STATUTORY RAPE AND SLIGHTLY MORE ILLEGAL THAN "HARASSMENT," Excuse me for yelling. Renny Hartmann, Toms River, NJ

Editor: I found and read with interest your article “Nuclear Is Back” by E. Ralph Hostetter while "Googling" for Westinghouse Nuclear Division. Can anyone tell me why we are not pursuing nuclear powered vehicles, steam driven with small pieces of nuclear fuel generating the heat? It would seem an easy design, to locate movable fuel pellets, probably a very, small amount, in the center of a protective core which when heated within the middle of a boiler, would generate steam? Why not? Dick Overton, Decatur, MI

Editor: Thank Jerry Bowyer so much for the article "Cho Against The West". I felt this was the case ever since someone briefly mentioned the writing on his arm. I really appreciate your going into detail with your explanation. Sincerely, Angela Orlando

Editor: If President Bush can pardon a turkey there is absolutely no reason why he can't pardon the two Border Patrol agents now sitting in jail. Ken Hearn, Huntsville, Alabama