Letting our children down

Recently I saw a feature on how the ACLU is suing over a cross being displayed in a cemetery. What is up with this anyway?

I think they have really overstepped their boundaries. I remember when Mt. Soledad in San Diego had an atheist complain about their cross on top of the mountain. The property had to change hands in order to keep the cross.

Why are we letting a small minority play such a big role in destroying the values our country was built on? We as a country should never allow a lawsuit to be filed against anyone over a cross or anything else that could destroy our morals anymore than they have already been affected.

Everyone wants to know why there are so many murders involving kids. Just stop and think about it instead of blaming everyone else -- look at yourselves.

Do you teach them the difference between right and wrong or just let them figure it out for themselves?

Are you so distracted with your everyday affairs that you let them raise themselves, only to hang with the wrong crowd? People, you have to have a moral responsibility in some ways; at least teach your kids about God, drugs, morality and the value of abstinence.

Then let them make up their minds as they grow older, but at least give them the knowledge you should have had at one time in your life. Again, why are we letting our children down?

A very concerned parent and grandparent.

PATTY GRUBBS

VEA financial management

This is an open letter to Valley Electric Association (because other methods have failed).

It is notable and most interesting that we co-op owners have "agreed" to sponsor scholarships, student summer camps, Wild Blue Internet Service, and infomercials on television, but "we" cannot give medical discounts/special rate to disabled persons, some of whom are on life support systems, or to the financially disadvantaged whose total income does not fall into the "lighthouse" category guidelines. Also notable, VEA is not financially able to return capital credits in a timely manner to co-op members.

We've heard that Wild Blue is a money loser. In fact none of the above categories listed generate revenue. It has been "suggested" by a former employee that the PCA is really being used to replace the shortfall created by Wild Blue.

One recent addition, for which we are most thankful, is the critical care list. In the event of another prolonged power outage, oxygen and other special needs can be addressed if your name is on that list. Thank you VEA for that bit of progress. Service-wise they do a great job. However, there needs to be a more realistic approach in financial management. All the "bells and whistles" are "warm and fuzzy" but are they really practical and beneficial to the overall operation and scope of the co-op?

GERA MILNER

Fourth of July is sacred

I, for one, will not attend the Fourth of July celebrations in Pahrump this year. Why? Because there aren't any. There will be celebrations on the first of July, but none on the Fourth of July.

The Fourth of July is not an expression, it is a date. It doesn't fall on the third of July or the first of July. It is, and it commemorates the day the United States established its independence.

Thomas Jefferson thought the Fourth of July was somewhat important. On his death bed, he struggled stubbornly to cling to life on the third of July so that he might die on the 50th anniversary of Independence Day. A few states away, John Adams died just hours after Thomas Jefferson, on Independence Day, the Fourth of July, 1826. Neither of these august statesmen wished to die on the first of July because, say, it was the weekend and better for tourism.

Some things are not all about money. The Fourth of July is one of them. Shame on our town leaders who turn this sacred day into an opportunity for bucks. It occurs to me that these same wise decision-makers wouldn't think to move Cinco de Mayo to quatro de Mayo, lest the population with Spanish-Mexican ancestry stage a less than peaceful protest.

I hope there are many others who feel this way so that we can make it clear to the town leaders that some things are sacred.

LINDA DELAMARE

[Cinco de Mayo was celebrated May 6. -- Ed.]

Take responsibility

I noticed in the letter, "Take a Stand Today" (page A4, May 30, PVT) that in some areas there is "no recommended screening."

I think the key thing here is "recommended." Breast thermography (visit at both .com and .org) is a specific screening probably not recommended because other lobbyists were more powerful and influential.

After my personal research, when a loved one died of cancer due to failed diagnosis and early detection, I found a lot of great information on the Web. This woman did have her mammogram but the cancer went undetected.

Some years back in an article in the Wall Street Journal, it stated that insurance companies were considering no longer paying for mammograms since they were so inaccurate. It further detailed the low accuracy by age groups. Even when cancer is found via a mammogram, I understand that it may have already been there for nearly eight to 10 years.

Thermography definitely has a place in proper screening of all parts of the body with much earlier detection, and I think more people should be aware of this non-invasive process.

Too many people are passive in taking charge of their health, until something goes drastically wrong and their life is turned upside down. Much has been said about good eating and nutrition for years, but people don't read or listen enough because this is a society of what feels good and tastes good regardless of consequences.

Society has given too much responsibility to doctors and public schools. We ask why things happen and wonder where God is. Don't make your doctor your God.

They may be caring and professionally trained to help you and many go beyond the call of duty. They don't know it all because how the education process has changed over the years.

There are alternatives and complimentary health programs to go hand in hand with modern medicine for which we should not limit ourselves or be blinded to the facts.

Seek and you shall find. Perhaps even in health the phrase "history repeats itself" can be applied to finding answers right in organic foods that were grown not all that long ago before the pesticides and chemicals became the answer to greed and marketing.

Try backyard or container gardening for some homegrown tastes and good nutrition not just for cancer prevention (which many organizations have preached five to nine fruits and vegetables a day), yet many still look for medications regarding their health problem to "make it go away."

It takes years to develop most health problems, and no remedy is instant. Early detection with proper screening coupled with common sense, personal commitment and hard (health) work (in the kitchen and garden) can certainly make a big difference.

It's a big thing to "say no to drugs," but let's "say no to chemicals" as well, both in foods and cleaning products (even hair dye).

TERRI NELSON