HUMAN TENACITY
Story of man’s resilience against adversity inspires
I am deeply moved as well as inspired by that most remarkable individual, Donnie Fritts. Thank you for showcasing his odyssey in “New face gives man new life” (Living, Dec. 28th) . Simply stated, I am in awe of Donnie and his wife, Sharon, and what they have endured these past 11 years. Whatever challenges lie ahead in my life and my knees buckle, I will have his story in my heart. If ever I am inclined to shake my fist at God, I know where this keepsake Living section is filed to calm myself while re-reading it. Whenever I might stay too long in the reality that life is unfair, I will bring into focus Donnie’s courage, tenacity, resilience and faith, and say to myself, “Be like that warrior, Donnie Fritts.”
TIM SCHNABEL, MONROE
CLIMATE CHANGE
Global Warming Scientists Under Attack in Antarctic
World news called attention to a Russian ship ice-bound off the Antarctic coast since Dec. 24. The purpose of the trip was a team of 18 public-funded climate scientists from universities in Australia and New Zealand looking for data showing global warming caused by carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is moderating the Antarctic climate.
Ice breakers from China and Australia were unable to reach the ship, so the scientists were helicoptered to safety after a week-and-a-half’s detention. Larger ice breakers from Russia and the U. S. are steaming to rescue the ship.
It is summer in Antarctica and the sun shines 24 hours. This calamitous trip shows global warming is not taking place in Antarctica and increasing carbon dioxide has no influence on the Antarctic climate.
After endangering their and other lives and much expense for rescue efforts, will these scientists admit their theories are in error? Doubtful because they are blind to the truth.
JAMES H. RUST, POLICY ADVISER, THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
UNEMPLOYMENT
Cuts in benefits for jobless can reduce public dole
Most of us feel sympathy for the unemployed people who have lost extended taxpayer-paid benefits.
However many, if not most, of then have really been on a public dole — and
not short and temporary assistance in finding gainful employment.
Where does assistance end — and dependency on an unending government dole begin?
Consider those who claim unemployment, yet work while receiving under-the-table payments.
Those employers and employees compromise the system (as does the barter trade).
ROBERT GREEN, COVINGTON
‘Duck’ fallout
Recent flap shows limits of everyday knowledge about Constitution
A recent letter writer “What happened to our freedom of speech?” (Readers Write, Dec. 31), in referencing the “Duck Dynasty” flap, bemoaned a perceived loss of our free speech rights “as enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution.” Like most of the people who jumped to Phil Robertson’s defense, the writer fails to understand that no one in this situation suffered a First Amendment violation.
The First Amendment guarantees that the government cannot censor what individuals say. It does not shield people from having to defend or deny the comments they make. No rights have been violated in this ridiculous dust-up. The government was not even remotely involved.
Far more bothersome to me than Robertson’s comments is that so many who claim to venerate our Constitution do not even understand the document. From history to politics to science, adults are willingly celebrating ignorance and superstition over common sense and facts. America cannot retain superpower status when her citizens cannot — and will not — think critically.
MAILEY MCLAUGHLIN, ATLANTA
