A better way to haze
Another article about hazing. Hazing has been going on since schools and secret societies were invented. Some of it is harmless fun. When I started high school, we had to dress funny and carry books for our “superiors.” At a dance that night, some frosh had to sing, dance or do tricks, but no one got hurt.
Sometimes, hazing goes very wrong — alcohol poisoning, exposure, rape, exhaustion, etc.
This is addressed to those who instigate hazing in college or other “secret” organizations, which in the long run cause the hazers trouble and adverse publicity. Fitness to join a group should not depend on one’s ability to ingest quantities of alcohol or perform humiliating stunts.
How about requiring community service, participation in a physical marathon or daily good deeds? This would restore the reputations of fraternities or similar organizations and might even save a few lives.
Helen Cantor
Franklin
• • •
Puma watch
I want readers to know about this organization called EPRN. They may want to contact them after reading in the Nov. 24 issue the article “Biologist discusses elusive Eastern cougar.”
EPRN is short for Eastern Puma Research Network. It is a group of volunteers who investigate and keep records of reported mountain lion — cougar sightings. It began in the early 1960s and is a nonprofit volunteer research study group.
They have documented reports from every state east of the Mississippi River and from Canada, especially the Maritime provinces. I am one of the volunteer EPRN investigators.
The address is EPRN, HC 30, Box 2233, Maysville, WV 26933.
The 24-hour hotline is 304-749-7778.
E-mail is epuma@hardynet.com.
Karen Holmes
Cooper
• • •
Parental nightmare
I will soon be flying out of Boston with my family, including my two grandchildren, ages three and four. It has upset me to watch the humiliation adults and children have been subjected to this past month at our airports.
I now find myself and my family having to go through the same humiliation.
We teach our children not to let strangers touch them and now have to tell them they are required to let a stranger touch them. How do we explain this double standard to our youth? If I had the time I would certainly drive instead of fly so my grandchildren wouldn’t suffer the trauma and hypocrisy, but instead we have no choice if we want to fly.
Christine Taylor
Bangor
• • •
Time to repeal policy
The repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is a question of justice, not a concern of safety, as a recent study from the Pentagon and 70 percent of the American people would agree. It’s about the acceptance of all people, regardless of sexual orientation.
Most schools across the nation protect all students, regardless of sexual orientation — why do we not protect our soldiers? They are citizens who have answered the call of duty, only to protect their fellow citizens, selfless individuals who, at least, deserve the respect of this country.
Will we continue to deny our LGBT brothers and sisters the right to serve to protect us?
The president has also made his voice loud and clear — he fully supports the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Americans have made their voices loud and clear, with 70 percent supporting the repeal. The military is ready for the repeal. Why is it that we have not already repealed this outdated, discriminatory legislation?
I ask that all who support the repeal contact Sens. Snowe and Collins. Tell them that you support the repeal and encourage them to vote for decency, to end discrimination in the U.S. military once and for all. It is important that DADT is repealed this year, before the next Congress comes into power — or else it we may lose an opportunity to ensure equality for all of our brothers and sisters serving in The United States Military.
MaKayla Reed
Ellsworth
• • •
Whose side, senators?
It is disappointing that our two senators have signed onto a Republican resolution to block any legislation going forward until the Bush-era tax cuts are made permanent for the most wealthy in the country.
With a vote on the new START treaty coming up, the defense authorization bill that contains the repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell, the Dream Act, real discussion on deficit reduction, extension of unemployment benefit and even making the truck weight law for Maine permanent, they and their colleagues have chosen to draw the line in the sand on guaranteeing the super rich will get their tax cut.
These cuts were understood to be untenable when they were passed in 2001 and they are much less defensible now. We will be essentially be borrowing money to pay for this pandering “tax relief” for those who need it the least.
The people of Maine have the right to ask our senators which side are you on — the plutocrats or the rest of us.
Greg Rossel
Troy
• • •
Take care of our own
As I was watching the news tonight, I was wondering how Congress could even consider cutting Medicare when we are spending billions fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Most of the people on Medicare and Social Security are Americans citizens who have worked all their lives to support our way of life and have paid into the system. When will this Congress realize that we should take care of our own first and foremost?
Instead of even considering cutting any program for the American people, let’s bring our troops home and use that money to take care of our own.
Americans first!
Bert Levesque
Fort Kent
• • •
Strange days
Our government refuses to focus on who actually tries to seize or bomb aircraft, instead subjecting millions of ordinary Americans to illegal and humiliating body searches.
Our government spends billions on a failed bailout, putting taxpayers in hock for decades to come.
Our government is held hostage by a nasty little man who hacked into classified data and published it.
Our government lets North Korea threaten our ally, South Korea, and does nothing to stop it.
Strange times indeed.
Henry Smith
Sorrento