U.S. should keep foreign aid here

3/12/2013
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We are falling off the fiscal cliff, and yet we are giving a foreign country $60 million (“U.S. to increase nonlethal aid to Syrian rebels; No weapons will be provided; only food, medical supplies,” March 1). How can this be justified with millions of Americans hungry and homeless?

Let’s keep this money here and use it to create more full-time jobs or help people who need health care. U.S. taxpayers cannot support the world when we have our own problems to contend with.

LARRY ZIEGLER
Northwood

Ex-Soviet Union taught us a lesson

I was taken aback by the headline over Mike Sigov’s March 3 commentary: “Putin’s government clings to strategy of the Big Lie.”

If not for the mention of Russian President Vladimir Putin, I would have believed this article to be about the tactics of our government, given the near-astonishing levels of misinformation that emanate from it on a daily basis and the bold and arrogant way in which it is delivered.

It would seem that we have learned much from the former Soviet Union.

JANET MILLER
South Reynolds Road

Other religions get by with no pope

In response to your March 4 article “Millions worship worldwide without pope”: A more accurate headline would have been “Millions of Catholics worship without pope.” Millions worldwide already worship without a pope — it’s called being a Protestant, Jew, Muslim, or other non-Catholic.

KATE LINDON
Sylvania

Worship with no pope? No problem

There have been a number of mornings in my 90-plus years when I, a Catholic, have prayed with no consideration at all as to whether there was a pope in charge.

JIM RICHARD
Sylvania

Pope deserves to be defended

I thank the writer of the March 5 Readers’ Forum letter “Commentary on Pope disturbing” for coming to the Pope’s defense. It takes a strong person to admit to no longer having the capacity to lead, as the Pope did.

JAMES CROSSEN
Ward Street

Conservationist from past needed

In response to your Feb. 18 article “Local conservationists decry planned siting of power lines”: Where is Teddy Roosevelt when we need him?

JIM MLYNEK
Oregon