Saturday, December 6, 2008

Letters to the editor

Space exploration has brought technology to us

EDITOR:

I wish to respond to Charles Rundles letter to the editor (in the edition of) Nov. 26.

First, I would like to thank Mr. Rundles for being one of few people that show their concern for our amazing and beautiful planet. I must, however add my comments to balance the statements made and inform readers of some misconceptions.

The first and commonly misunderstood idea is that the exploration of space and other planets is a waste of human effort, time and money. The truth is that more than 85 percent of the technological and medical advances we use today came from the pursuit of our space and military programs. The personal computer and related Internet and communication technology that Mr. Rundles and I used to research, compile and submit these letters to the editor would not be possible without these high-tech marvels. These same technologies are used extensively in the medical and research fields to help save our planet and many deserving people. Take a look around you and you'll see many high-tech devices and procedures that we all take for granted and are relatively inexpensive. As far as the money for space exploration — that money does not get shot out into space, it stays right here, paid to the many people and supporting individuals who solve these space exploration problems. It definitely stimulates the economy and makes our planet more habitable!

Here are some interesting facts about world population. In just the last four years, the United Nations has reduced its global population projection for 2050 by nearly one billion. Other demographers expect that in the next few years the organization will be forced to lower its projections by yet another billion. The 2050 projection has gone from the 1994 estimate of 9.8 billion to this year's estimate of 8.9 billion. The current population is about 6 billion people.

Over the past 30 years, the average number of children born to women in the less-developed countries has fallen from 6.6 to 3.0 - a decline of record-breaking speed. Although a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is needed just to replace current population, in Europe the fertility rate has dropped to 1.42 and in Japan to 1.43. Spain has the world's lowest fertility rate — at 1.15. Experts predict Europe will lose at least 100 million people by mid-century. Due to immigration, the U.S. rate has gone from an average of 1.9 over the past quarter of century to 2.0 now. With this in mind, one should ask, "Who are we saving the planet for?" As far as plagues and starvation goes, it's still a reality to the many suffering the lack of basic medical supplies, food, shelter and potable water in Third World countries. By the way, we have the same amount of water now as we did a thousand years ago. We just need to scale up some of those water purification methods that they use in space.

As far as a government-sponsored population control program goes, we have one! It's authorized and paid for by our government. Can you guess what it's called? Forty-eight million (48,000,000) of our population has disappeared here in the United States alone. That number is growing by about 3,000 a day. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and other infamous leaders labeled the millions, "unwanted" and exterminated them. Can you imagine what would have happened if Hitler would have encouraged, educated, and loved those people before he set out to take over Europe? We would all be speaking German now. Boy, did he blow it! All selfish acts of man are the demise of our planet and civilization.

A single selfish man or a selfish religious organization can have a negative impact on our world.

There are over 35,000 religious denominations, so I don't know what they all "encourage" regarding this matter of population, but I will tell you what the "large, religious, still operating in biblical times" Church "encourages." It encourages a married man and women to love each other and to be responsible parents open to life. That means raising a child or your children to respect and take care of this world and all that's in it (that includes the least of our brothers). It does not encourage using each other and multiplying like rabbits. It does allow a God-given natural, effective method to help a loving family grow responsibly. No matter what the number, if the people's morality is of a well-formed, quality nature, the situation will always be better. Of course, the opposite also holds true.

Most people don't realize the true purpose of artificial birth control. The purpose is to allow people to do what they want. Now think about it. Is it better to teach people to do what they want, or to teach them self-control, or in other words, self-mastery?

If you really want to understand what our "rigid, Biblical times Church" teaches about sex, Google "Theology of The Body" or Christopher West's presentation of "Theology of The Body." You'll be amazed!

There's a lot of problems in this world because people do what they want to (a selfish act), rather than what they ought to. If we did the latter, the world would be a better place.

Mr. Rundles, I'm glad to know that you spend time and effort to make this world a better place. We all need a reminder, from people like you, to continue our efforts making this "God-given Earth" a better place.

Matthew A. Torres
Los Lunas

Government's role is to ensure equal rights

EDITOR:

Quoting from Sandra F. Penn's letter to the editor in the Albuquerque Journal on Nov. 20: "It is time that we truly separate church and state. The church can dictate the beliefs and behaviors of its members, including whom they permit to marry. The rest of us should be free of those constraints or we have become a theocracy, not a democracy."

Churches have used their beliefs and scriptures to promote bigotry throughout our history. Where I grew up, obscure passages from the Hebrew Bible were used to claim that God ordained mistreatment of Blacks. I was taught that slavery was justified in the Christian scriptures. By quoting a few Biblical passages, some say homosexuality is "unnatural." This is the same word that was used to describe abolition, interracial marriages and school integration. A older cousin once told me that he reacted physically when he saw people of different races mixing together. He told me that he was glad that our laws are not based on his ingrained bigotry, but on the equal rights of all our citizens.

This issue of equal rights for gays is currently a hot topic. Many churches are now recognizing gay marriages. Others are not. Whatever churches decide is up to those churches. The role of government is to provide equal rights to all citizens, gay and heterosexual alike. If the state is sanctioning marriage as a legal institution with certain rights and responsibilities, it must do so for all citizens.

We are all invited to work to bring an end to our nation's crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. We elected an African-American president. We are moving aside many of our once-held beliefs and prejudices. Can we open our hearts to support the love and happiness between members of the same sex as we do members of the opposite sex? Who are we to deprive anyone of their right to love whomever they choose?

George Moscona
Rio Communities

China's policy led to sad fate for babies

EDITOR:

In his most recent letter, Mr. Rundles states, "We have ... to have government-controlled birth control, like China ..."

Perhaps Mr. Rundles is not familiar with the fact that the birth control policies in China has led to the abandonment of tens of thousands of female babies. These babies are placed in orphanages where they receive little if any attention. They grow up unloved, and most suffer from untreated health problems. Many do not achieve adulthood.

Mr. Rundles goes on to say, "One of our large religious bodies, still operating in Biblical times ... due to stupid rigidity ..." In another recent letter, he states that anyone who did not vote as he did is a self-serving, prejudiced moron.

I presume that he is speaking of the Catholic Church, but he may be referring to some other religious body. In any event, calling the leaders and adherents of any religion stupid because he disagrees with their tenets is uncalled for.

One of the major problems we have in the U.S.A. today is divisiveness caused by intolerance for other people's religion, lifestyle, politics, ethnic or racial background. Calling other people stupid, self-serving, prejudiced or a moron because they don't agree with you or to make an argument is intolerant ...

Perhaps before Mr. Rundles fires off his next letter, he should take a hard look in the mirror and ask himself, "Am I part of the solution or part of the problem?"

Ted Raff
Los Lunas

DWI offender ads are wrong-headed

EDITOR:

Ever since the Albuquerque City Council adopted an ordinance (Chapter ll, Article 13) directing the police department to cause names and photographs of DWI offenders to be published in a local paper, I have been concerned that minorities, particularly Hispanics, would get a bad rap. Thus far, I have been proven correct.

I disagree with the council and those who lobbied for the ordinance that the action has had a significant impact in the reduction of DWI offenses as a whole. They are barking up the wrong tree. The problem is societal in nature and will continue to haunt us as long as liquor laws facilitate the purchase of alcohol and real causes are not examined.

Secondly, I am concerned that stigmas that have long been attached to minorities are being exacerbated. Statistics published thus far as a result of Albuquerque's ordinance support this contention.

Statistics gleaned from the first report published are very similar to those gleaned from the most recent one. The latest publication in the Albuquerque Journal covering the period August/September 08, reveals the following: