Voinovich was class act who accomplished a lot

Voinovich was class act who accomplished a lot

I first met George Voinovich at a ribbon- cutting in the mid-1990s for the new Ohio Turnpike exchange at GM Lords- town. At the time he was Ohio’s governor, and I was an intern. Despite being in charge of one of the largest and most consequential states in the country, he still made time to say hello to interns.

Sometime later, I remember reading about the new Voinovich Government Center in Youngstown. It didn’t matter that both Trumbull County, where the Lordstown plant is, and Mahoning County, where Youngstown is, are strong Democratic constituencies. Gov. Voinovich was about economic growth and giving people an opportunity to lift themselves up – it didn’t matter how they voted.

Gov. Voinovich was a class act. Many politicians would do well to take a page out of his book and move away from the hateful rhetoric and slash-and-burn politics we are seeing today. He got things done and didn’t condemn those with conflicting beliefs. My congressional district is a better place because of his work, and his career is an example of how we can renew the political dialogue and change course from the negativity that has paralyzed America.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, Washington

Democrat Tim Ryan of Howland represents Ohio’s 13th Congressional District that includes much of Mahoning and Trumbull counties

War & peace ignored in presidential election

Perhaps some- one could tell me why in the heat of a presidential clection, the existential issue of war and peace has been back-burnered, while hot-button social issues important for turning out the vote are the fashionable order of the day?

Here in St. Petersburg, formerly Leningrad, Russians at least are scratching their heads wondering what NATO will do next. I’ve been visiting some of my Russian faculty colleagues at the Forest Technical University here, and the latest news of NATO’s exercise “Anaconda 16” looks to many Russians like another tightening of the noose in the former Warsaw Pact countries. Imagine, 31,000 NATO troops including 17,000 U.S., with heavy weapons actually “practicing” the seizure and occupation of Kaliningrad, a small port of Russia on the Baltic coast. What would it look like if Cuba was practicing the seizure and occupation of Guantanamo? (Oh, maybe that’s the way to close it!)

Here’s a country that was overrun by the Tatars 1,000 years ago, by Napolean 200 years ago, and again by Hitler 80 years ago, and nearly every Russian family concerned with their personal space being secure as a result, and we wonder why they are so paranoid in their perception of the West’s “peace initiatives” in expanding NATO from 16 to 29 countries since the end of the Cold War, after we assured them we wouldn’t? Wake up, folks; we’re mobilizing to war with a dangerous, nuclear armed superpower and playing war games while the media are fiddling with their campaign agenda. Shouldn’t we at least talk about it?

Howard Mettee, St. Petersburg, Russia

Dr. Mettee is professor emeritus of chemistry at Youngstown State University.

Why fast at Ramadan?

Many are con- fused as to the exact purpose of why Muslims fast in the holy month of Ramadan. Those in the appropriate conditions, such as proper age and health, get up every day before sunrise to eat a meal, and then refrain from all food and drink until after sunset. Many are confused as to what exactly is the purpose of this fast. As I will explain, the philosophy behind fasting paves the way for a powerful moral revolution that can take place within the person.

The abstinence from basic physical needs is a metaphor for the greater purpose of fighting the inclinations to all evils and indecency. It is a test of discipline and sacrifice, and thus gives man the strength to combat sin. This is also why the Prophet Muhammad taught that there is no need to fast if the individual does not attempt to curb any vices they may harbor, such as name-calling, lying and quarreling with others.

Over the course of the month, Muslims also are now able to improve the quality of prayers as they begin to turn themselves wholly to God in humility and worship. Thus, they use the act of fasting as a tool. Muslims create a power within to improve their moral state and find their beloved God in the process.

Labeeb Ahmad, North Canton

Ahmad is vice-chairman, Muslim Writers Guild of America.

Only few will have say on health insurance

The Vindicator reported on an area city dealing with group health-insurance costs. Suggestions were made, cost savings were projected, and so on.

One commenter suggested coordinated benefits to remedy a mostly unfixable flaw in group health insurance. Employers pay for health insurance for other employers’ workers. But coordinated benefits are easier said than done.

Establishment opinion and its enablers have fenced health care debate into two tiny corrals: “What’s my co-pay?” and “Oh, my, whatever are we to do?” That’s why years ago I heard a woman bang on that her $10 office visit co-pay meant, by gosh, she paid for health care. She was triply insured, her husband doubly insured, both together to the tune of about $36,000 a year. They paid about $2,400 of that.

The upshot? The president, a few Cabinet members, and congressional leaders will have total control of major health care change. Local opinion need not apply, because local opinion doesn’t exist. Local civic and business leaders ought to look for unusual signs that something’s irrevocably wobbly with health care, and that big change is coming.

Jack Labusch, Niles