`Comforting' that clergy can spot sin

4/30/2003

We read with interest the article reporting that 130 United Methodist clergy, including five from Toledo, and a retired West Ohio bishop petitioned our President to repent for his policy in Iraq and his domestic policy. It is “comforting” to know that 130 clergy have set themselves up as judges to determine if a policy is sinful or not. Where were they when we needed them (our previous president)?

We wonder if President Bush is to repent for what happened in Baghdad Easter Sunday, and we quote: “Iraqi Catholics hold hands and bask in freedom as they recite a prayer during mass in Baghdad, or repent for a pilgrimage that a group of Muslims took to a holy shrine in a northern Iraqi city for the first time in several years.”

“I cannot believe that I am here today openly celebrating,” said Hamid Muhammad, 53, a wheat merchant. “The government used to shoot us when we tried this in the past.”

It is a huge leap from disagreeing with a policy of our President to judging it as sinful. With all due respect to the bishop and clergy, we do not believe that they are capable of making that leap.

MICHAEL and SALLY RENCH

Sylvania

Shortly the voters of Maumee, Anthony Wayne, Lake Local, and Swanton school districts will vote on school levies. These levies will impact students for years to come.

These excellent school systems need everyone's support. When levies fail, the only ones who suffer are the students. We need to show the students we care about them and want to see that they can compete with other students in the 21st century.

I know you're thinking I have a personal interest in seeing that these levies are passed. As superintendent of Lucas County Schools, my primary interest is the students. Each one of these districts is under the leadership of excellent people. The staff in these districts are people who continually make personal sacrifices for students and are committed to making learning enjoyable. Each and every day they show they care.

Schools today are continually being asked to do more and more. In fact, they are expected to solve the social problems of the country. All of these districts have done an excellent job of providing many programs to meet the growing needs of their students. It is now time for people in these districts to make education their top priority. Remember, children are our most precious resource. Vote “yes” on your school levy May 6.

THOMAS B. BAKER

Superintendent

Lucas County Educational Service Center

Toledo Public Schools administrators claim that the projected budget deficit could be nearly eliminated if the district's three unions would agree to $10 co-payments for health insurance.

In her infinite wisdom, Francine Lawrence, president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, would rather see layoffs of 300 teachers, closing of schools and classes, which ultimately will weaken an already troubled educational system even more.

Ms. Lawrence continually demonstrates that she would rather build her dynasty than strengthen the TPS educational system. I can't believe that teachers have a similar bent.

Co-payments have been a reality in most union contracts and businesses in the Toledo area for some time. It is a fact of modern life.

Any responsible union official must build a union's strength, necessary for union survival, but to do so on the backs of its own members and our youth is unconscionable. It doesn't serve the union or the community.

Educating our children should be the first consideration of all concerned and the teachers well being and qualifications - as well as reward for excellence - must rank high in the list of musts for a strong education system. It is the duty of the union, as well as the TPS board and administration, to work cooperatively for overall district progress.

FRED NOFZIGER

Maumee

Michael Woods addressed the hearing aid problems wonderfully. That industry is outrageously gouging people with hearing loss.

Somewhere along the line millionaires are being made, aided by eager audiologists who falsely proclaim that each new hearing aid that comes on the market is better than the one for which you have just paid $4,000.

In reality, there is very little difference between the newest hearing aids and the ones my mother purchased 50 years ago for less than $100.

EVELYN KUHL

Carver Boulevard

As chairman of the International Festival of Lights for the last few years, it was not good news when Pat Nowak, our very good friend from FoodTown, called with the news that it would not be our chief sponsor of the lights for the year 2003.

It was even worse news when she revealed that FoodTown was closing many of its stores and many employees would be out of their jobs.

Our board of directors would like to commend Richard Iott and Pat Nowak for being such special friends of the park for so many years. We will miss them and their generosity. They will be hard to replace.

PHIL COUTURE

Vice President

International Park Advisory Board

Ohio lawmakers and the Ohio Historical Society spent $6.2 million to re-do Fort Meigs, and the people running the historical park are now asking the public to chip in $1.5 million to keep the place open and running. Questions and comments:

1. Could the Ohio Historical Society publicly explain why it was necessary to spend $6.2 million to re-do Fort Meigs?

2. How much, if any, of the $6.2 million was dedicated to memorializing the life and death of the American Indians who once populated the Maumee River valley?

3. Were the Ohio lawmakers and members of the Ohio Historical Society who made it possible to spend the $6.2 million accountable to anyone other than to themselves?

4. Why was there, apparently, no plan in place to use part of the $6.2 million to keep the Fort Meigs reconstruction open and running following the re-do?

In my opinion, the Fort Meigs re-do is much more of a monument to some monumental egos than it is a tribute to historical events.

CHARLES F. KAHLE

Perrysburg

Some alternatives to city's welcome sign

Top six suggested replacements for new “Welcome to Toledo” signs:

1. ToledOH! ... Only about an hour away from D'OH-troit!

2. We're glad you're here. Here's how to read our sign: Everything to the left (green) is to be read together. Now pause, then read the OH! part (blue background) with enthusiasm. If you have done this correctly, you won't read the sign in a way almost nobody else does, but the city is afraid people might.

3. ToleDA bridge is under construction.

4. ToleDON'T park your car on the street when it's leaf pickup day for your zip code. I mean, really, how hard is that to understand?

5. ToleDONUT shops all over the place.

6. ToledOH! ... I can't believe you read this sign while driving and talking on the cell phone.

JEFF MICHAELS

Mayfair Boulvevard

D'oh! It's too late now to have a cow

Great concept behind the “ToledOH!” advertising campaign, but you may as well pitch the concept because we now have in print “Tole-DOH” and Homer Simpson in the same paragraph. I can hear Leno, Letterman, the Daily Show, or even an episode of The Simpsons capitalizing on the marketing campaign and make Toledo look like the Simpson's fictional Springfield.

Toledo has done a quiet job of building itself up as the place to be. However, as a prior boss once told me, “A lot of attaboys can be wiped away with one Oh S$&%!”

DOUGLAS BLAKE

St. Marys, Ohio