Fred Kurtz | Gregory P. Leif | Kent Johnson | Dallas Morarie | Pat Hoff | Cory Cripe

Don’t kowtow to Bush administration
By DALLAS MORARIE / Readstown, Wis.

I’m writing in regard to Deanne Sczepanski’s letter. I’m not belittling her because of her conservative views.

Conservative or liberal, let’s face it: If we were all paid $1 for every time we complained or opposed something throughout our lives, we’d all be rich. Wisconsin might not always have been Democratic when it comes to governors, but for the past few presidential elections, Wisconsin has been a blue state. I think that the majority of Wisconsinites don’t want a governor who will kowtow to the Bush administration. As for stem-cell research, I don’t support it or oppose it.

Right to exist for Israel, Palestine

By the Rev. KENT JOHNSON/ La Crosse

A recent headline focused on the escalation of war in the Mideast. I condemn the action of Hezbollah in initiating this conflict. I also condemn Israel’s massive retaliation that has led to the escalation of war.

Whether in Gaza or Lebanon, Israel has exercised the right to defend itself by killing hundreds of Palestinians or Lebanese civilians for each Israeli soldier held captive. The brutal offensive in Lebanon and the military response in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of a more than 100 Palestinians and 300 Lebanese, mostly civilians. In both cases, Israel’s disproportionate response raises questions regarding Israel’s real agenda.

For 39 years, Israel’s right to defend itself has taken the form of the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in violation of international law. Under Israeli occupation, Palestinians have experienced human rights abuses including the destruction of their homes and the confiscation of their property. There must be no doubt that Israel’s right to exist and the right to defend herself does not put her above international law.

Furthermore, the refusal of Israeli extremists to recognize the existence of a Palestinian state is also a major part of the conflict. Many Israeli and Jewish peace groups recognize the tragic and self-defeating costs of military occupation and economic domination. Any successful effort to achieve lasting peace and security must be based on justice, not on military might.

Johnson is pastor of English Lutheran Church.

Israeli leaders are arrogant bullies

By the Rev. GREGORY P. LEIF / Caledonia, Minn.

As a Catholic priest, I received the opportunity to travel to Palestine in 1980 for three weeks and in 1990 for 31/2 months. During these two stays, I listened to both the Israelis and the Palestinians.

First of all, many of the Israelis do not practice any religious belief in a God. Secondly, the Palestinians are all Arab and many are the first Christians because they have always lived in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem and the region where Christianity had its birth. These are the people who first helped to hand on the faith to us.

Each day the United States gives the state of Israel more than $25 million for arms, tanks, helicopters, and missiles that the Israeli Defense Force uses to oppress these people they say they fear.

In 1990, I listened to Bashan’s story. In 1947 Bashan, a boy of 10 saw the leaders in the name of England, France and the United States tell his father to take the family and leave their home. Some harsh words were spoken, and Bashan watched them kill his dad. In 1990, Bashan spoke to a group about the inroads they had made to work for peace in the region, but that the IDF was making it increasingly difficult.

If we took the aid money back and the Israeli government leaders had to sit at the table as equals and not the arrogant bullies that they have become, then the peace accords would move in entirely new directions.

Don’t let union destroy the jobs

By FRED KURTZ / De Soto, Wis.

I’m a relative newcomer to the Coulee Region. I’ve only lived here for eight years now. During my tenure here, I have seen the once viable and robust Heileman Brewery close its doors and 450 people lose their careers and jobs.

Then I saw the brewery rise from the ashes like the mythical Phoenix and once again rebuild its way to prosperity. It truly is a grand story.

Before I lived here, I lived in the Milwaukee area. I was there when all the former great breweries like Pabst, Blatz and Schlitz closed their doors. These were once excellent places to work and they produced a good product. Now they are history.

I cannot understand the Teamsters Union and their rejection of the new contract proposal. You see, I’ve seen this thing happen before, and I’ve seen hundreds of people loose their work because of the greed of the union leadership. Don’t let this happen here ... again!

City Brewery is doing well. I think it’s only going to get better. I also think the union needs to take the latest company offerings and be happy their membership still has jobs.

Keep one thing in mind ladies and gentlemen of the union, there is a lot more to having a job and a career than earning money. And I say shame on you, union leadership and your members, for rejecting a contract from a company that only a couple of years ago was in ruin and you all lost your jobs. Think about it.

Oppose ban on gay marriage

By PAT HOFF / Chaseburg, Wis.

Would Jesus vote for or against the marriage amendment? Verses could be quoted from the Bible and interpretations made to support both views.

In times past, the name of Christ has been used to justify great harm to innocent people. Native Americans were called “heathen” and those with “Christ on their side” slaughtered them and stole their lands. The South used the Bible verse “slaves, obey your masters” as justifications to treat African Americans as less than human. Nazis called the Jews “Christ killers” and exterminated them. As a Lutheran, I was horrified to learn that Martin Luther preached that Jews should be burned in their synagogues for not converting to Christianity.

Now, in the name of Christ, people of Wisconsin are being asked to vote for an amendment that ensures lesbian and gay couples will have no protection under the law.

Democracy is easy if everyone is white, heterosexual and Christian. We can be thankful for religious freedom that guarantees each church the right to decide who is worthy to enter into holy matrimony within their church. But we, as a government of the people, must not rest until all Wisconsin citizens are assured equal rights. Vote “no” in the name of democracy.

Set the right exercise priorities

By CORY CRIPE / La Crosse

When I see people “working out,” I notice that most of them don’t understand what they are doing, or better yet, why they are doing it. Exercising through various modalities is easily the best way to prevent many health problems.

However, the majority of the general public is following programs that are set up by their old high school coach who still believes that working out with a machine is the best way to build strength, or their friend that has a cousin who has been working out for five years now, or by reading a magazine with unrealistic concepts of health and fitness. I hope that I don’t have to tell you that magazines are filled with more marketing propaganda than research-based information, but I just did.

You need to look at your fitness program and realize why you are doing certain exercises, and where they fit in the order of exercise priority.

Two-hundred repetitions of arm curls per week for the rest of your life is not going to save you when you are 50-plus years old and lose your balance, fall and injure your hip. Countless hours running is not going to strengthen and improve your body so that you don’t have to pop pills to alleviate any knee pain down the road.

Where would you like to see yourself physically in 10, 20 or 30 years from now? Exercising is a great contributor to an improved being of wellness; the exercises you choose must be functional and relative to your long-term life goals.

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