Editor, Times-Union: After reading the column written on shortening the elementary school track season, I was quite shocked that they would even consider shortening their already short seasons and cutting the All-City Track Meet from the schedule. Being Jefferson Elementary alumni, I recall anticipating the All-City Meet all season because it was my chance to run against all the best runners from the schools that weren't on our schedule. There are a lot of kids that only do track as a sport, and when you lengthen the seasons for soccer and volleyball it gives the impression that track isn't as important. Would they cancel the All-City Basketball tournament if the school it was scheduled to be at didn't have a scoreboard that worked? Understandingly, there is a difference between an electronic timer and a scoreboard, but what I'm trying to bring to the table is that they would make arrangements to make it work. If Dave Fulkerson offers to let the elementary schools use WCHS's electronic timer, then why not take advantage of it.
I know that track & field may not be as popular, or have as big of a turn out as basketball or volleyball may but some kids live for running. I know that if Warsaw decided to cut our season down and not let us participate in regionals, I'd move somewhere that I could. In reality, for those elementary kids that have the heart to do track, taking away the All-City Meet is like not letting us high school runners go to state if we qualified.
Stephen Wright Member of the WCHS Track & Field Team
Class of 2007
Blood Drives
Editor, Times-Union: I wish to commend those residents across our county who donated blood during February, as a total of 287 units of blood were received during seven bloodmobiles! We are grateful for every unit received, and yet our challenge remains to attract new donors as the need for blood continues to grow.
Consider these factors: 1.) Blood supplies at the American Red Cross and throughout the country are at critically low levels. The demand for blood is outpacing the donations received. 2.) Americans underestimate the country's need for blood transfusions. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. 3.) The majority of adults overestimate the number of people who actually donate blood. Less than 5 percent of the eligible population donates blood.
During March, the residents of Kosciusko County will have two more opportunities to donate blood in accordance with the following schedule:
Tuesday, March 8, Center Lake Pavilion, Warsaw, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16, Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All blood drives are open to the public.
I believe that blood availability is a preparedness issue. Blood must be on the shelf, ready and available for every day personal emergencies and large-scale manmade or natural disasters. The key to community preparedness is regular donation!
In conclusion, if you are at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and are in generally good health, you most likely qualify as a potential donor. I encourage you to consider donating blood and make a difference in the life of someone you most likely will never meet.
Please call 800-GIVE LIFE (800-448-3543) to schedule an appointment today. Of course, you always are welcome to "walk in" at any location.
Thank you again for your generous support and your willingness to make a difference.
Larry E. Peppel Executive Director American Red Cross
Death Penalty
Editor, Times-Union: The Supreme Court of the United States just ruled that it "is cruel and inhumane punishment" to sentence a person under 18 or mentally retarded person to the death penalty. There were three main reasons for this:
First, that the death penalty is cruel and inhumane punishment. The death penalty is a representation that a human life is of great value. In this case, the inhumane part is because of the person committing the crime. There is a sense in the case of a mentally disabled person that some latitude should be used. However, this will be in the minority of cases. If the person is merely a young person that "does not understand what he is doing" we need to look at our culture. One person who will be removed from a death row committed murder by tying up a woman and throwing her into the river. He was "only" 17 at the time. If we have 17-year-olds who do not understand what he is doing, then we need to do a better job of teaching our citizens morality. We are not teaching our young people proper moral values.
Second, the Court used a "public consensus or public opinion that the death penalty is wrong for these people." Since when are moral issues decided by public opinion polls? Morality has become subjective since the 1970s and 1980s with relative morality. In the future, will public opinion allow murder as OK in some circumstances (or has this already happened)? A culture or society has to be founded on objective standards of behavior or that culture or society comes apart at the seams. One culture had said about it, "Each man did what was right in his own eyes."
Third, the Court based its opinion on the basis of international law and opinions of international courts. It was my understanding that the United States Supreme Court was to rule on laws based on the United States Constitution. This country put together a rule of law based on a constitution voted into existence and amended by United States citizens for United States citizens.
