Letters to the editor: May 15 | Lexington Herald Leader

Relay For Life a chance to fight against cancer

Today, 68 people in Kentucky will be told the words "You have cancer." Fortunately, we have an opportunity to join as a community in an effort to fight back against this awful disease.

The American Cancer Society is the No. 1 non-governmental funder of cancer research in the United States, and its largest fund-raiser, Relay for Life, will be June 1-2 in Fayette County.

It is an overnight, relay-style event where teams of people camp out around a track and members of each team take turns walking the track during the duration of the event.

It begins with a Survivors Lap, when survivors circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we've achieved over cancer. After dark, during the Luminaria Ceremony, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease.

Last, there is a Fight back Ceremony where we make a personal commitment, such as quitting smoking, getting annual screenings or lobbying elected officials, to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.

Start a team, register to walk as an individual, fund-raise, donate or simply come to the event and walk a few laps. Go to Relayforlife.org, and contact us with any questions. We are honored to have this opportunity to share our passions with you, and to work together to find a cure.

Jessica Tretter

Brian Stephens

Lexington Relay for Life co-chairs

Use public for energy

I oppose retrofitting the Big Sandy power plant and other old power plants. I would prefer to see Kentucky Power shift toward renewable energy as soon as possible.

I would prefer to see it shift its policy toward purchasing renewable energy from private citizens — a system working and creating jobs in North Carolina now.

It means a market shift, which is why Kentucky Power doesn't want to do it. However, the utility will have to do it anyway someday, because people will cause the shift to happen if the company doesn't, and then Kentucky Power will lose control of the power market altogether.

For example, I can create my own microhydropower system and cut off Kentucky Power totally. Or, it can work with me and buy energy from me.

Greta Fields

Mayking

Proud of inferiority

It looks like I'm going to have to rethink myself after reading an April 20 letter to the editor, as the writer makes me realize that being an unenlightened conservative I am inferior in intelligence.

Superior intelligence seems to be exclusive to enlightened progressives.

The writer tells conservative women that they should stay in their place. Just where this place is is not clear. Maybe their place is to stay barefoot and pregnant? Or cover their faces and bodies and remain uneducated? This would fit in with the Taliban philosophy.

The writer states that Christians are worthy of being demeaned and anyone who believes in a God is intellectually inferior.

I'm confused, I thought his esteemed leader, Barack Obama, claimed to be a Christian and therefore a believer in God. Does this mean, as some have thought, that he is intellectually inferior?

If such bigotry, intolerance and ignorance are the true attitudes of the enlightened progressives, I am glad to be called an intellectually inferior conservative.

If these enlightened progressives, liberals, socialists, Marxists or communists (the smell is the same by any name) gain control of this country, may God (Obama's or any other) have mercy on the United States.

Robert Hoskins

Hyden

Proven qualities

I am writing to recommend Jennifer Mossotti as the representative of the 9th District on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council in the primary election on May 22.

I had the opportunity to work closely with Mossotti on the council when she held that position several years ago.

Mossotti was an outstanding council member, serving in leadership positions and always working hard for improvements in her district and in the entire community.

With all the necessary qualifications, such as intelligence, capability, knowledge and experience, I strongly support Jennifer Mossotti and believe she will be a significant asset to the council.

Isabel Yates

Former Lexington vice mayor

Lexington

Horses no faster

A phrase we hear in Central Kentucky regarding the Thoroughbred industry is that there has been improvement of the breed. The facts may indicate otherwise.

Twenty Grand, the 1931 Derby winner, posted the same time as this year's winner — 81 years ago. Whirlaway was even faster, 71 years ago.

Middleground was faster 62 years ago, as was Hill Gale, 60 years ago. Decidedly was decidedly faster 50 years ago, so was Northern Dancer 48 years ago.

Affirmed was faster 34 years ago and, of course, Secretariat was a lot faster 39 years ago.

In the "old days" they didn't have computers to select broodmares for stallions, modern medicines and designer drugs were not available, and the racing surface itself was less well-manicured and slower than that of today.

Improvement of the breed? You decide.

Gary Doernberg

Lexington

No help for teachers

Sen. Mitch McConnell did not cosponsor House Resolution 1332, the House Social Security Fairness Act that would repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provision offset to Social Security.

What this means is that McConnell does not support giving teachers their full earned benefits for employment in the private sector when they were not teaching.

Thousands of teachers work at second jobs in the private sector after hours and during vacations.

But, because their Teacher Retirement System opted not to participate in Social Security, the money that they paid into Social Security through their private sector employment has not been honored at its full worth, but at a reduced benefit.

If your representative or your senator is a cosponsor of HR 1332, thank them. If not, urge them to sponsor the bill. Withholding earned benefits from teachers is not the way to save Social Security. In fact, it is blatant theft.

Jean-Marie Welch

Lexington

Misplaced support

I attended a recent meeting of Christians United for Israel. This organization has over a million Christians and thousands upon thousands of pastors as members.

I don't like to disparage God's anointed, but if a pastor supports the present-day country of Israel they are not very anointed, in fact they are like the watchmen in Isaiah 56:10.

The Jews in present-day Israel are killing the Palestinians, bulldozing their houses down and taking their best farmland.

I am like King David who said he hated those who hated God. When you go to meet your maker, will you be ashamed for supporting his enemies?

The Bible tells us to love our enemies, but it never tells us to love God's enemies.

James Laughlin

Lancaster