‘The War’ gives any viewer a new sense of history

‘The War’ gives any viewer
a new sense of history

EDITOR:

“War Is Hell.” Such is the often used phrase to describe such global conflict. Never has that been more eloquently depicted than in the recent Ken Burns PBS documentary, “The War.” For anyone who missed this landmark film, they missed one of the most important films of our time.

Growing up post-World War II, I heard many stories about the war from family, acquaintances and while going to school. I have spent countless hours in research on the war for use in theatrical scripts that I have written and subsequently produced. But none of that mountain of information could have prepared me for this unbelievable 15 hour film by Burns. It was raw, it was happy, it was sad, it was emotional, it was frightening. It was the war. And Burns has the exquisite ability to be able to place you in every battle, on every ship, in every plane and on every battlefield as you feel the horror of war press in upon you.

None of us can really appreciate what true battle is like unless you experience it. But you came away from “The War” feeling a true sense of pride and appreciation for the U.S.A. and for the men who fought the diabolical terror launched by Germany and Japan. A terror which not only consumed Europe but also had its sights set on the United States. A terror which lives today and necessitates the same sacrifices as those men gave for freedom.

Burns said he made this film, in part, because recent surveys showed that scores of high school seniors are graduating with the belief that we fought with Germany in World War II.

J.E. BALLANTYNE Jr.

Youngstown

A belief backed by no proof

EDITOR:

Your front page last Sunday quoted a breast cancer survivor as believing that “hormone-driven cancer might be related to hormones added to meat and dairy products.” No source for that belief is cited, and the claim, however sincere and well-intentioned, can hardly be considered unbiased when it comes from someone who makes a profit from selling “hormone-free and antibiotic-free” meat.

This question has been the subject of numerous studies. In fact, there is no credible evidence that hormones given to food animals affects the risk of cancer. The quantity of hormones present in the meat of treated animals falls within the range normally found in untreated animals. (So much for the claim of “hormone-free” meat.) Moreover, that amount is a but a tiny fraction of the amount of the same hormones manufactured normally in healthy people.

The same front page space could have been used by The Vindicator to inform readers of the benefit of screening mammography for women between ages 50 and 70, an intervention of proven life-saving impact.  That would have been a greater service to readers than misinformation about a cancer cause.

ERIC CHEVLEN, MD

Diplomate, American Board of Medical Oncology

Youngstown

The inside story on tips

EDITOR:

Can you stand one more letter from a frustrated server?

I am making a plea in behalf of all the servers out there who rely on their tips as their income. Here are some things we would like to tell all of you who eat out :

We do not make minimum wage. When the wage went up in January, we did get an increase, from $2.13 to $3.30 an hour.

Employers who staff tipped employees are only required to pay up to 50 percent of the state minimum wage.

Please tip me on my service. If I have given you excellent service, the tip should reflect it. (Yes, 20 percent is the norm for great service.) You are renting my workspace, so if I have made your stay worthwhile, please show me.

In some of the upscale restaurants, (I work in one of them), 3 percent of my tips go to the busboy, hostess and bartender. So, if I receive a 20 percent tip, only 17 percent goes in my pocket.

Please do not calculate the tip to even out the charge on your credit card, this is insulting.

if you are not satisfied with your meal, please let me know. I really do care and will do everything in my power to make it right for you.

Those of us in the service industry appreciate having kind, generous customers. It makes our job more enjoyable and profitable, and makes your dining experience a good one.

JOANNA KEIPER

Struthers

Nurses live by a promise

EDITOR:

I have read several pieces regarding the possible sale of the Women and Infants Pavilion.

First, I would like to address the most recent and deeply disturbing letter from the young mother who had such a horrible experience at Northside Hospital. As a retired nurse and a graduate of YHA, I am truly appalled. I believe it is a holy calling to be a nurse. There is a commitment to serve in faithfulness with compassion. I am so sorry that a young mother would feel that she was treated so poorly.

There can be no excuse for such behavior, however, I would humbly ask her not to believe that all nurses at Northside would be so unprofessional. I trained in that hospital, graduated from that hospital, and my career in the neonatal intensive care unit began in that hospital. I pray this was an isolated incident.

I believe the nurses at Forum Health are true professionals working under incredible stress. Nurses, remember these words: “I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully.” This is a promise to those that they serve with complete devotion.

Finally, it would be a travesty of major proportion to sell the Women and Infants Pavilion and Beeghly Center. If you are a woman living in Youngstown, you should be gravely concerned. It is not just about mothers and infants, it is about woman’s health in its totality. Do you care about breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteoporosis? Women, I plead with you to unite, to support our doctors and our health care professionals in this most urgent matter. I urge you to call the Attorney General’s office and take a stand on this serious issue.

J. KATHLEEN HIGHAM, RN

Youngstown

GM work is hard, never stops

EDITOR:

I have worked at General Motors for 29 years. I would not work there without my union. The work is mind numbing and back breaking and monotonous. We earn every penny we make, and we deserve decent health care benefits to take care of our prematurely old, work ravaged bodies when we are done.

There are no easy jobs at GM, anywhere. Also, it should be mentioned that no one stopped any assembly line for any length of time to let employees watch our local hero, Kelly Pavlik, fight. The line kept running and we heard he had won.

KEVIN CAMPBELL

Canfield

Abortion is an issue

EDITOR:

Reading the two letters concerning abortion last Sunday made me realize that elections are nearly upon us. Therefore, I would urge all anti-abortionists, along with me, to begin contacting the appropriate political candidates to get their views on this important issue. Let’s try to keep the pro-abortion people out of office.

I don’t know how long our world will survive, but in the future historians will be forced to write that the United States was known as a country that killed her children. What a legacy.

There will be a payday for the proponents and perpetrators of this crime.

JAMES DORN

Salem