End of religious pluralism

End of religious pluralism
EDITOR:
The week of June 5 marked the end of religious pluralism and tolerance as we've come to know it for more than two centuries in America. The recent confirmation of Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owens and William Pryor to lifetime appointments on federal circuit benches was an act of despicable hostility to the American people, the American judicial system and our Constitution. Amazingly enough, our very own Senators, DeWine and Voinovich, voted that it be so.
But the loss of religious liberty and the continued respect for separation of church and state is only part of the gruesome story yet to unfold in our republic because of these appointments. Threats to environmental laws, civil liberties (particularly reproductive rights), labor laws, privacy rights and the loss of commonly accepted safeguards from corporate abuse will soon become all too commonplace as these judicial extremists and theocratic conspiracists take their place in the judicial hierarchy.
It was a sad week for the people of the State of Ohio as well as the nation. I pity this country.
AL BLAZO
Youngstown
Student apathy is a problem
EDITOR:
I am a 14-year-old freshmen attending Jackson-Milton High School. My school hours begin at 7:30 and end at 2:10. But that's not the problem. Many of the people at my school get failing grades on their tests, and they tell me they don't care. I believe that America's education is going downhill.
Many teens are too worried about their hair and make-up, and they just don't care about grades. I took a survey of a couple of students in our school and they told me that they do care about their overall grade but don't care about their tests or any homework. One of my teachers told the class that you can do all of your homework and fail all of the tests and still pass. Now, I think one D or F in a report card is enough to fail a kid and set him back a grade. Because then he/she will be forced into caring about grades.
When I was younger I knew what it was to not care about school. But then I started to think about my future as a vet or a doctor. I looked at my past report cards (the ones I didn't care about) and thought about what my life would be like if I never got good grades. Some people might think that one or two F's are O.K. as long as their child knows the basics, but where are the basics going to get you in life? Will you go to college with just the basics? Will you be satisfied with your income? Will you be satisfied with life? Will you get a job that you like? I don't think so, and I don't think that you'll grow up being successful with just the basics.
Student apathy is what is destroying today's education. It's not the buildings; it's not the teachers -- it's the students who simply don't care.
JOSEPH CASTRO
Lake Milton
What's wrong with people?
EDITOR:
Seeing Diane Less Baird of Angels for Animals on the morning news talking about the number of kittens dropped at the shelter that had to be euthanized, again raised the question, "What is wrong with people?" As hard as the staff of Angels tries to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering, it is sad that there is still such an abundance of heartless, ignorant people who either don't understand the concept of spaying and neutering or just don't care.
Each of these precious living things that had to die, had their own unique personality, and capacity to love unconditionally -- wanting only in return to be loved and cared for. Unfortunately, there aren't enough homes to go around.
Trailing the heels of this sadness was the evening news and footage of the emaciated, sick red fox roaming in Boardman. According to the news report, the Division of Wildlife was contacted but said they would do nothing -- let nature take care of itself. If that be the case, then why do we need a Division of Wildlife? It is terrible that this animal, wild or not, should be left to pose a threat to individuals or other animals, let alone be left to suffer such a horrible death.
SHERRY ROSS
Boardman