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Thursday, January 13, 2005
It pays to monitor care of pets closely
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I, too, have had negative experiences with canine vaccines and feel the need to support Christine in her effort. Our experience began in June 2000, when we brought our beautiful chocolate labrador, Moose, in for his yearly check-up. I questioned my veterinarian about this vaccine protocol, telling him I have concerns that he is being "poisoned." I also had a 5-year-old with horrific allergies that we could never get under control. When he would get his booster, his condition would worsen. We would medicate with Prednisone and antibiotics and watch him suffer from the toxins attacking his system. This day in June 2000 changed our lives forever. Right before the vaccine was given, my vet exclaimed, "The benefits far outweigh the risks." This statement has stayed with me to this day. We proceeded with the shot. A short time later, on his second birthday, Moose had his first seizure. I have spent the past 4 1/2 years learning everything I can regarding epilepsy and the proper care of dogs. I learned a valuable lesson that day. It will not happen again. Unfortunately, profits dictate the way some veterinarians practice medicine. We need to be informed and take the initiative where our loved ones are concerned. Do not put anything in their bodies that may cause them harm, including all those "treats" that we think they love so much. Read labels. Ask for the inserts that should accompany drugs, vaccines, flea control, etc. It is our responsibility. Kris' efforts are praiseworthy. Pets and the people who love them will benefit greatly. Alicia West Winslow dnaluvlabs@verizon.net Bias shows through Devine's latest rant I write in reference to the article by J. P. Devine, "Don't bother asking why" (Jan. 9). My point is to take the phrase and put another spin on it. Anyone who has read this man's views over the years knows what to expect of him. He is not presenting neutral, unbiased statements. This would be out of character for the man. He presents what is supposed to be a profound piece on man's mutual injustice, but his extremely liberal political bias burns through. It is the usual anti-Bush rant. He says, for example, "Both Muslims and Christians have books they say contain the truth. Still, that doesn't keep them from murdering one another in Iraq, does it?" Murder? I don't know about your dictionary, but mine tells me that murder is an intentional act of killing done without justification. His position on the war our young people are fighting is quite clear. Our soldiers are murdering Iraqis. Point one: The Bible does not say "it is permissible" to kill those who refuse to accept its truths. The Koran does. Point two: If a policeman kills a holdup man in a shoot-out, he is not a murderer, but Devine might seem to indicate he would be. The policeman is risking his own life for the safety and welfare of others, as are our soldiers in Iraq. Over the years, Devine has listed a number of credits under his articles: former actor, former columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and free-lance writer. I would like to suggest another credit for him: former writer for the Morning Sentinel. Jack Murphy Rome jjmurphy@earthlink.net
Spend aid funds on our own needy Please allow me space to voice another view on the tsunami and its victims. As always, nature's fury and the devastation it can bring to the human race are heart-wrenching. I am all for assisting those in need, but I am also for taking care of our own. It seems to me that some of those extra millions being scraped up for the tsunami victims could be used for our elders in this country who have to work after retirement because they cannot afford to live. We have people deciding between heat or food, and people not getting medical attention because their minimum wages will not let them. We have streets littered with the homeless and mentally ill. Our schools are not funded properly, nor are our police departments and rescue services. Our armed forces do not have the proper attire or equipment. Wake up, America. The very people who protect us and the elders who have blessed us with their wisdom are being neglected. I say send a little to help and stop the game of trying always to be the biggest giver. Start taking better care of our own. With all the donations being sent, there are a lot of Swiss bank accounts that will grow immensely -- you can bet on that. Jane Mullin North Anson Gonzales deserves to be investigated Most issues are complex and real life is full of gray, but nothing can excuse the future attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, for evading the questions of Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont during his Senate confirmation hearing of Jan. 6. Gonzales was asked, "Does the president of the United States have the authority to override the Constitution, international conventions against torture and U.S. statues against torture?" He answered, "The question is hypothetical and President Bush has said that he is against torture." This, of course, is a big, fat lie. Gonzales chaired meetings exploring, then sanctioning, interrogation methods our military judges said were illegal. Gonzales, ever the lawyer protecting his client, the president, could not rise to the standard of a decent human being and say, simply, "no." Members of TASSC International, made up of torture survivors from the United States and other countries, stood in the back of the Senate confirmation room, listening in silence. TASSC International asked to give testimony at the hearing in hopes of clearing up the meaning of torture. Not invited to speak, they had to settle for wearing shirts that read "Zero Tolerance for Torture" and "Investigate Gonzales." Why investigate Gonzales? Because he advised the president that techniques using dogs, hooding, nakedness, loud music, sleep deprivation and near-drownings were not torture. The Senate hearing room scene was only the first act in this American tragedy. The final act will unfold when senators from both sides of the aisle, including our two illustrious Maine senators, will forget how shocked and saddened they claimed to feel last summer. They alone saw all the Abu Ghraib pictures. They will undoubtedly vote "yea" to Gonzales' confirmation as attorney general, adding to the moral confusion about torture practiced in more than 120 countries today. Paul Ferris Waterville 'Tsunami' imperils Kennebec Valley What a catastrophe in South Asia. For lack of an early warning system, many lives were lost. Similarly, how we miss Central Maine Power Co. employees who manned the plants 24 hours a day -- Indian Pond, Wyman Dam, Solon Dam. They kept us posted during the 1936 and 1987 floods, as there was always a question of whether the dams would hold. In 1987, we were told to evacuate our homes and head for higher ground. Valley High School was suggested as an evacuation point. Now that we are threatened by floods, earthquakes and terrorists, there is nobody on duty except an occasional maintenance employee during the day. Now, with Wyman Lake 150 feet deep and 15 miles long sitting high above Bingham, it has been estimated that there would be 20 feet of water in front of the local fire station if the dam let go, plus all the towns south of Bingham. This all happened when FPL Energy took over. Has corporate greed no concern about us residents along the Kennebec River? If you have any doubts about this, try calling any of these plants that I have mentioned. Gerard B. Guay Bingham |
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