Agu. 1, 2001

By Staff
Bush should reject federal funding for stem cell research
To the Editor:
Compassion is in order for sufferers of diseases such as those of Mary Tyler Moore and Christopher Reeve. However, truth and reason must trump raw emotionalism.
In Moore's and Reeves' quest for federally funded embryo stem cell research, they wrongly use the term "fertilized eggs." A fertilized egg does constitute a genetically complete human being. Yet, in this debate, their use of that term is disingenuous. These are embryos.
Money-grubbing researchers have fueled the flames until the debate in support of using these embryos has become hype and conjecture. There are absolutely no clinical trials showing promising results. To assert that the use of approximately 100,000 frozen embryos would bring an end to multiple diseases is to cruelly hold out false hope to people already suffering and ill. Those who smell government money perpetuate this dark and diabolical contrivance. We don't kill people to "help" people.
Misguided thinking states that these embryos will be "thrown out anyway" so should be "used" for research. Carrying that thinking to its farthest conclusion, men on death row who will be "thrown out anyway" could be "used" in research, for organs, or whatever other ghoulish cannibalism our death-loving culture cares to concoct. God forbid.
We must pray that President Bush will be a man of his word and refuse to approve federal funds for such atrocity. He has made a promise. He needs calls to encourage him to do the right thing.
Susan Seale
Philadelphia, Miss.
Seeks word on missing dog
To the Editor:
About a month ago my grandchildrens' dog ran off. We have been driving around the Suqualena area and Highway 19 looking for her. We put signs up at several stores and I ran an ad in the Lost and Found section of the newspaper. We've had several people call saying they saw her at Midway and Highway 494.
If you know the whereabouts of a white female boxer with a few brown spots and a pink color, please call and let us know if she is dead or alive so we know to stop looking. The children miss her very much.
Sharyn Antimore
Meridian
Good News' chaplain for prisoners
To the Editor:
There is a building in downtown Meridian that is more crucial to the total development of downtown than Weidmann's or the Opera House or any of the existing businesses. That building is located only a block and a half from Weidmann's and only two blocks from the beautiful historic old Opera House. That building is the Lauderdale County Detention Center.
Housed in that building is the "worst of the worst" in our community. Also housed in that facility are a few "good" people who made some bad choices and did a stupid thing and now must pay the price for their crimes. Most are willing to pay that debt but need support and encouragement because they are not of the same inclinations as the "worst of the worst."
These young people are too often the sons and daughters of community leaders or grandchildren of ministers or, perhaps, the by-products of the church and the community that was too preoccupied with their own "goodness" to take care of business.
Housed in that same building is a very dedicated county sheriff, who has a passion for truth and justice. In his search for a solution to the daily chaos that seemed to loom over his facility, he discovered that other county sheriffs had seen a noticeably different atmosphere after hiring a chaplain, a man who represents "truth and justice."
The sheriff contacted the most reputable organization he could find, Good News Jail and Prison Ministry out of Richmond, Va. These people are known and respected throughout the nation as experts in providing chaplains to county jails and prisons. They came into our community and searched extensively for the best candidate for chaplain of our local facility. After being hired and trained as the chaplain, John Sweeney began the arduous task of bringing "Good News" to those who would listen. In addition to that, he ministered to the guards and the staff and, at times, even to the sheriff. You see, passion can survive only when confirmed by truth.
This is the business that we need to take care of. The facility was built by the county with our tax dollars. The sheriff and his staff are paid by the same funds. The chaplain, however, is employed by the Good News Jail and Prison ministry. His salary and the cost of running the chaplain's office must be paid for by this community.
I agree wholeheartedly with the renovation of the Opera House and I applaud the group that will save Weidmann's, but there is other business that we need to add to the agenda if we are to take care of all the business of "restoring" downtown. The character of downtown can be restored only when we take care of "the least of these."
Please do the right thing. Take care of all the businesses of our beautiful downtown.
Carroll Lewis
Volunteer
Good News Jail and Prison
Meridian