Speakout: May 8, 2009

May 08, 2009 03:25 am

—

TOPICS CUT OFF
The Press-Republican gave readers plenty of opportunity over the past month to comment in Speakout about the tenure issues at Plattsburgh High School and Beekmantown Central School. Now that the votes have been held, we are cutting off comments about those issues.

We also have a large number of Speakouts that we have received about gay marriage. Once the comments we have already received have appeared in the paper, we will no longer publish that topic for a while in Speakout.

We periodically limit topics that we feel have run their course. Readers are still welcome to write signed letters to the editor expressing their viewpoints.

• • • • •

DELAYS
Haven't seen your Speakout? There are a few possible reasons.

We won't publish Speakouts that are longer than 100 words or that we consider libelous or inappropriate, including personal attacks, merchant complaints that we can't verify and court matters.

Also, once a topic seems to have run its course, we will cut those for a time. The point has been made, and writers are always welcome to send a signed letter to the editor of no more than 300 words for publication on the Editorial page.

Lastly, if you haven't seen your Speakout yet, you might just need a little patience. It has proven hugely popular, and most days, we have hundreds of inches waiting to get in. News articles have priority, but we try to get in a little Speakout each day.

If you have any questions, call News Editor Lois Clermont at 565-4131.

Intrusion
Government intrusion into the intimacy of marriage has always been inappropriate. Your editorial on gay marriage was excellent, and the tone carefully not incendiary. If they stop and think about it, people who disagree can't truly want government to regulate marriage.

Swine flu
We do not need your reporters talking about possible swine flu in the area. Why don't you limit your reporting to what is actual not possible? There's already enough overexposure of this issue in the media. Stop trying to get your pound of flesh by scaring ignorant locals about the illness. 36,000-plus people a year die from the regular flu each year so stop your whining boogie-man reporting and get back to reporting the news, actual news.

Speeding
Please put more police on Route 374 between Plattsburgh and Dannemora. I am tailgated every day, going to and coming from work. I do the speed limit. Why should I have to pull over for someone who is breaking the law? Some drivers think it's OK to pass two or three cars at a time and do well over 60 mph. It's not a drag strip, people!

Web site
The CO pay controversy could stop right here. Here is a public site to see the pay rate of all New York state employees. Just type in their name and you will see exactly what they are making. The site is www.seethroughny.net. Have fun and enjoy.

Divorced
I would like to know how a divorced woman feels she is on some moral high ground to not allow gays the right to marry. Even worst, to claim it's because children need a father and a mother to be together to be successfully raised. If your marriage failed in divorce, you should abstain from voting to not allow another citizen to have that right. Perhaps we should ban divorcees from ever remarrying.

God's law
It's refreshing to see a just God do his work to teach his children. Sooner or later, all will realize the economy, prosperity and all blessings are from God, who teaches consequences to all of our choices, be it for good or evil. Simplicity of this logic may seem misguided. But it is logic made simple for all to understand. We will not need to seek a lawyer to comprehend God's law. It is for all mankind, not just select groups who will someday stand in the streets shaking their fists at God. Thank you, Sen. Little, for natural choices.

Media scare
Bird flu? Terrorism? Mass murderers? What is the media going to scare of us with next? Now we all have to be afraid of the new epidemic, swine flu. And the mass eats it up. My advice is to stay calm, laugh, breathe and live well. Why go mad in the process?

Swapping shifts
The "CO pay" author commented on how COs are able to have more time off by swapping shifts and working 17-hour days. How safe is this practice? I constantly hear from CO union radio advertisements, Letters to the Editor and through Speakout articles how hard it is to be a CO. If this is true, how is it then that COs can find the energy to work 17-hour shifts for 20 some odd years? After working two straight days of 17 hours, will COs have the energy to respond to a dangerous event in a timely and safe manner?

APA and Little
Move the APA to Never-Never Land. They have outlived any useful purpose and have drained the pockets of taxpayers. Move them and save millions of dollars. And we owe a huge debt of thanks to Betty Little; she's the greatest representative of the people.

Rights
I'm tired of people trying to say that civil rights and gay rights are the same thing. Civil rights are about principles; gay rights are about preferences. There's a difference. When people say the same things loud enough and long enough, a belief system begins to emerge, strongholds develop because they become accepted norms, and once you have that you get a way of life, and that's a culture. But homosexuality, like gossip, premarital sex, lying, etc., is as wrong today as it ever was, regardless of what's accepted in our culture. God doesn't change to fit our culture.