Enough of a reason

By: Letters To the editor | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: November 21, 2009

If this is not enough of a reason why women do not want the government involved in our health care, I do not know what is. The article in the Nov. 17 Journal, "Panel's advice stirring debate," informs us that a "government task force" has decided that most women should wait until they are 50 to have a mammogram, and then only every other year.

Wait, there is more. They also decided that breast self-exams "do no good" and that we should not be taught to do them. Tell that to all the women under the age of 50 who are fighting breast cancer. Tell that to all the women who are alive today because they practice monthly self-exams.

I get it now; the government tells us we do not need to do self-exams and, oh by the way, we will not start mammograms until age 50 and then it will be every two years. Now, that will eliminate a lot of medical costs for preventive care. Is the government going to pick up the tab for all of the cases of advanced breast cancer not diagnosed early enough because women were under age 50 or because their cancer started growing on their "no-mammogram-needed" year? Oh, that is right; another government task force will decide that those women are too far along to treat.

Another savings. Looking forward to government-run health "care"?

KAROLINE P. CLEVINGER

Clemmons

End this controversy

To end this controversy relating to the prayer issue, we should refer to Colossians 3:17, which states: "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the father by him."

This ordinance should not be broken, because it comes from God. The decision that will be made will have an effect now and on our future generations. There is no substitute for the name of Jesus in our prayers.

MILLER ALLEN

Winston-Salem

Pretty plain meaning

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The Second Amendment seems to be pretty plain -- the purpose is to support a militia; the prohibition is on infringing the right to have guns.

At the time of the revolution and at least through the Civil War, militias were called up from time to time and each man furnished his own weapon. In the Civil War, some volunteer artillery units even bought and owned their cannon.

If we don't need that any more, the honest way to change it is through the amendment process. That would include a public debate and involve the whole citizenry, not a few people pretending that the plain words mean what someone wishes them to.

MICHAEL D. WOODS

Kernersville

Calculating the cost

The Journal has calculated the cost for our community to oppose Judge Trevor Sharp's ruling against the prayer policy at our Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting ("Costly prayer," Nov. 15) and found it too costly. Perhaps for comparison, the Journal will calculate the cost if we don't oppose it.

JERRY RAY

Winston-Salem

Trial in New York

Even the idea of having a trial in New York for the 9/11 terrorists insults those who lost their lives just going to work, minding their own business ("9/11 defendant to go on trial in New York," Nov. 14). The cost alone will be astronomical for the protection of the defendants, the interruption of the daily lives of the citizens of New York, and the possible attacks to free the defendants. I hope that America wakes up soon from this nightmare and demands that the rights of its own citizens be treated as far more important than those of the terrorists who are out to destroy us.

BARRY C. BRINEGAR

Mount Airy