DEAR EDITOR:
Abraham Lincoln said:
“You cannot bring about prosperity by discovering thrift
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging the claw of hatred.
You cannot help the poor by discouraging the rich.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should be doing for themselves.”
Times have changed?
Remember Abraham Lincoln’s comments when you cast your ballet on Tuesday.
Dennis Klausing
Delphos

DEAR EDITOR,
Our “Emperor” Obama was caught on tape whispering to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.” Flexibility to do what? Obviously something we Americans won’t like or he would tell us now. We’re being lied to. He’s hiding something serious. Is he selling Americans out in the arms race? Is it gun control? He’s already declared war on the First Amendment and Catholics. If you’re not Catholic, he’ll be after your religion soon to pay for his “Obamacare,” which over 60 percent of Americans detest. Under Obamacare, we senior citizens are to get “pre-death counseling” rather than treatment.
If you’re a hunter or know someone who hunts, or whose livelihood is dependant on any business related to hunting, you or they will be out of luck if he’s re-elected. A lot of people think he’s only opposed to “assault rifles” or “Saturday night specials.” He wants to ban all guns, even home defense guns. The FBI has said many times that violent crime goes way down when people have home defense guns.
Here’s Obama’s record of his attack on the Second Amendment:
- Obama appointed two anti-Second Amendment Supreme Court Justices, one of whom lied to get appointed (Sonia Sotomayor). If he gets one more, the Second Amendment is effectively repealed.
- He voted to ban millions of common rifles, pistols and shotguns.
- He voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition used for hunting.
- He voted to uphold criminal prosecution of people who used firearms in self defense, even in their own homes.
- He voted to ban all handguns, even those used for self-defense in your own home.
- He opposed all Right-to-Carry laws.
- He voted to raise taxes on hunting ammo by 500 percent.
- He and his U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, shipped U.S. guns to Mexican drug cartels in an attempt to blame U.S. guns for gun violence. It failed and U.S. border agent Brian Terry was killed because of it. Holder is being prosecuted by Congress and Obama’s hiding behind “executive privilege” for his part.
The U.S. Military got Osama Bin Laden. Obama just happened to be president when they did.
Obama thinks the government’s job is to take money from somebody and give it to somebody else. At best, he is a Marxist. He may even be a Communist. He must be defeated. Please go to the polls and vote for freedom. Vote for Mitt Romney. Also, our Senator, Sherrod Brown, thinks like Obama. Vote for Josh Mandel for Senator, he respects our Christian values, like Mitt Romney.
Folks, the Democrats of today are not the Democrats of old. Once upon a time, the Democratic Party protected workers’ rights. Not anymore. What the Democrats want today is absolute power over all of us.
James D. Pohlman
Spencerville

DEAR EDITOR,
Although I agree 100 percent with everything else Laura Peters said in the article, which appeared on page 1 of the Oct. 26, 2012, issue of the Delphos Herald, except her comment, “Breast cancer isn’t considered a life-threatening disease anymore. They’re calling it a chronic illness.” I don’t know who they are who told her this and maybe it was to put her mind at ease but that is totally not true. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer of a more rare type that doesn’t always show on a mammogram or until it is an advanced stage. Stage 5, you die.
I had surgery, a year of very aggressive chemo from which I was told may take 10 years to recover, if ever completely, and 2 1/2 months of daily radiation. Breast cancer or any type of cancer is a serious and sometimes life-threatening or fatal disease. It should not be minimized or taken lightly.
Let me share the most current information on breast cancer:
BreastCancer.org
• About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990 ­— especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
Women’s Wellness Center, St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima
• One woman dies from breast cancer every twelve minutes in the U. S.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women 35-54 years of age.
• Cancer is the No. 2 cause of death in the U. S.
• Recurring cancer may not be breast cancer or the type of cancer a person initially had.
American Cancer Society (cancer.org)    
Cancer Facts & Figures 2012 report by the American Cancer Society
• An estimated 229,060 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected in 2012, of which 39,920 people will die. An additional estimated 63,300 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in 2012.
Please don’t trivialize the seriousness of breast cancer or any type of cancer. Wonderful advancements have been and continue to be made in the field of cancer treatment but it is still a life-threatening and often fatal disease. Survivors need to stress that it is a life-threatening disease and should be considered as such. Everyone needs an annual mammogram and to do monthly self-exams. Like Mrs. Peters, I feel fortunate to be a survivor but you can only be a survivor when something has threatened your life, not just been chronic.

Debbie Mayes
Delphos

DEAR EDITOR:

All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing

This allowed Hitler to get on with his murderous ways in Europe during the 30s and 40s.

Someone said “First they came for the unborn but I was already born so that didn’t concern me, then they came for the handicapped but I wasn’t handicapped so I wasn’t worried, then they came for the aged but I was young and didn’t care, then they came for the Jews but I wasn’t a Jew so that wasn’t any concern of mine, but when they came for me no one was there to help me.

Don’t wait till they come for you. Fight the good fight with your vote. Consider the unborn, protect religious freedom and all constitutional rights and defend marriage as a union between one woman and one man as God intended for the procreation and the education of children.

Ed Luersman,

Fort Jennings

DEAR EDITOR:

Some Republicans continue to make false statements about President Obama’s leadership and what has been accomplished during his term in office despite the obstructions most Republican office holders in the House of Representatives and the Senate have practiced.

The following are facts:

Under President Obama, all the money used in the Bank Bailout Bill of 2008 signed by President Bush have been recovered plus $13 billion in interest.

Regulations, transparency and restrictions have been put into effect on these bailed-out firms and their top executives to prevent what happened leading to the 2008 crisis from happening again.

The Affordable Care Act did not and will not lead to the government takeover of health care. It put needed rules and regulations into the existing health insurance market, putting people and not insurance companies in charge of their health care. Government has not taken over health care but is protecting all Americans’ rights to health care.

The president has strengthened the border and laws concerning illegal immigration into our country. There are fewer illegal border crossings than ever before. Those who are already here, have been given a legal path to citizenship, which they must follow if they wish to remain here.

President  Obama  has  not  asked  for  new gun restrictions. Not one law-abiding citizen has had a gun taken away. In fact, under President Obama, national parks and Amtrak has been opened to the legal possession of guns.

President Obama respects all religious beliefs and is committed to religious freedom for all and also to the rights of all women, including access to contraception, regardless of where they works. Those religious organizations objecting to providing contraception need not do so but their insurance company must offer free contraception.

Auto manufacturing, parts suppliers, dealers,  communities  and  businesses  have benefitted greatly under President Obama’s leadership in saving the auto industry in spite of most Republican leadership. Senator Voinovich supported the president in accomplishing this.

President Obama improved the GI Bill with the most generous benefits in the history of this great nation.

He doubled funding for Pell Grants, helping millions more students to afford a college education.

The middle class have lower taxes than when President Obama took office. He signed 18 tax cuts into law for small businesses.

There is much more to be done but under President Obama, we are moving in the right direction. Send a message to Congress to support and assist the President to move this country forward and not commit to obstruction.

Our country and the people in it are still and will continue to be the greatest on earth, regardless of the outcome of this election. God bless America for its greatness and honesty.

Charles P. Sampson Jr.

Delphos

DEAR EDITOR:

To the vandals who destroyed and damaged our political, religious freedom and pro-life signs this weekend:

We have not trespassed on your property and destroyed and damaged the political signs that you have displayed which are supporting your candidate and causes. So why have you seen fit to destroy and damage our political, pro-life and religious freedom signs and trespass on our property?

If you think this will stop us from supporting our causes and our candidates, you are sadly mistaken. If you are juveniles and/or teenagers and think this was a funny joke, we feel sorry for you.

People can disagree strongly with each other concerning the abortion issue, religious freedom and politics. Resorting to this type of childish and immature behavior is ridiculous. We’d rather see matters settled at the ballot box than in this manner.

At first glance, it looked as the damage was caused by the wind. When I looked closer, I found that there were holes in some of the signs (which were still attached to the sign holders) and some of the sign holders had been broken apart. Then I knew it was not wind damage. This was deliberate vandalism.

Sincerely yours,

Mike and Marlene Wrasman

I have to admit I’m stilling pouting over the lack of trick-or-treaters at my door Thursday evening. I know North Main Street is off the beaten path for most but dang it, I had candy, my porch light was on and some just turned on Ninth Street and headed east or west as I watched with a little lip quiver.

Were they trying to say my candy wasn’t what it ought to be? (Stolen from The Wizard of Oz from the scene with the talking apple trees.)
We had 26 little beggars. And oh, what cute little beggars they were. Some parents and children have a great affinity for dress up. I saw some very creative costumes. In the coming days, you will see some of them, too. We’ll be running them until at least through Halloween, if not beyond. We still have more Landeck, Ottoville and Fort Jennings pictures.

My friend a few streets over had 60 and I was jealous. We always buy a big bowlful of candy with the intention of passing out every last piece. (Well, that’s my intention. My husband’s is to have leftovers. He has a ginormous sweet tooth that requires nearly constant attention. Me? I just sneak a bag of Smarties back and I’m good to go.)

OK, back to my pout. I’m not sure how to remedy the situation and still keep the autonomy of my own porch and the ease of chatting with the neighbors in between handing out candy.

In my trick-or-treat days, we went through our neighborhood and one street over each way and called it a night. Our sacks were full. Sometimes our candy would last for months. When Cameron was of Trick-or-Treat age, I can remember throwing out picked-through bags in December. Does anyone need that much candy? Besides my husband, that is?

The Trunk-or-Treat at Trinity United Methodist Church is a huge draw. It’s a safe place for kids to gather, get treats and have some fun. The adults get in on the action by decorating their trunks and wearing costumes. They don’t have to get up and answer the door every few minutes — the tricksters come to them. It’s a good gig if that’s what you’re in to.

Perhaps I’m holding on to something of the past. Maybe group offerings are the wave of the future of Beggar’s Night and porches will be dark. I’m still going to hang in there and keep the tradition of sitting outside bathed in the porch light and passing out candy to those who cross over Tenth Street. I holler at the ones who head up or down Tenth to come down and get a treat. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. Oh well, their loss.