Redkey woman is giving thanks

To the editor:

I need to say a couple of thank yous. First of all to Bill Davis for taking care of a sidewalk problem for me. I really appreciated your quickness; it looks great.

Second to the Indiana Department of Transportation and Violet Erlenbush for sweeping High Street through downtown. What a difference just cleaning the street makes. It looks wonderful.

Dottie Quakenbush

Redkey

Civilized?

To the editor:

The Associated Press reported a story (12/09/09) that was illustrative of how prejudice and intolerance can be so pernicious and in this case, deadly. It was reported that the legislature was proposing legislation that would impose the death penalty on homosexuals living in Uganda, and their families and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they failed to report them to authorities. If a landlord rented to a homosexual they would be subject to imprisonment also.

The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote "therapy" for gays to "become" heterosexuals. I wonder what sort of "therapy" they had in mind. The proposed legislation is still being debated but gay rights activist say it is likely to be passed.

Some of the "highlights" of this legislation: if you are an active homosexual and you have HIV the death penalty is mandated. "Serial offenders" also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term.

Anyone with "religious, political, economic or social authority" who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years imprisonment.

Does anyone remember Adolph Hitler or the witch hunts and trials in Salem? Someone please remind me why we consider ourselves civilized.

Michael S. Kinser

Portland

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