Match money to OCS services

The recent decision by courts regarding the child who was abused for almost five years while he was a ward of the state is a sad commentary on our social system. The fact that the Office of Children's Services was found to be only 7 percent negligent presents an interesting problem.

If OCS is not responsible for more than 7 percent of their services rendered, doesn't it stand to reason that their funding should be proportionate to their service delivery? During the state budgeting process, good service delivery should be a critical part of the criteria for funding. I would hope that OCS provides a much higher percentage of service to their clients and that the funding and percentage of care matches the dollars provided.

-- Pat Wendt

Anchorage

Patkotak left out an example

In her recent column ("Why can't we meet in the middle?" April 29), Elise Patkotak decries polarization. However, she neglects to include militant homosexuals among those who foster polarization.

Last November the gay lobby suffered a major setback when California voters soundly rejected gay marriage. The response by some militant homosexuals to this defeat was a campaign of vandalism, death threats, racial slurs and the mailing of fake anthrax letters to religious organizations.

Strangely enough, these hateful activities seemed to elicit precious little condemnation from the editorial pages of liberal newspapers. Perhaps, in their view, bewailing polarization is fine -- as long as one doesn't get too specific about who's doing most of the polarizing.

-- August Cisar

Seward

Great minds have faith too

The misconception made popular by secular fundamentalists is that common men or those of mediocre intelligence find faith acceptable. Historically some of the most brilliant, well-educated men and women of history have been those of faith in God.

I am proud to be in the faith company of Joseph Lister, Louis Pasteur, Johannes Kepler, Robert Boyle, Sir Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal, George Cuvier, Charles Babbage, Lord Kelvin, Gregor Mendel, Louis Agassiz.

Robert Boyle, father of modern chemistry, viewed nature as "a mechanism that has been set in motion by the creator at the beginning and now functioned according to secondary laws, which could be studied by science." He stressed that scientific research "helped to reveal the greatness of the Creator."

Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity, invented calculus and published "The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy," one of the most influential books in the history of human thought. In his later years he wrote more about the Bible than about science.

-- Grant Walker

Anchorage

Dr. Fortuine will be missed I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Robert Fortuine. My family met him 17 years ago when my brother was dying of cancer and in pain. Dr. Fortuine came to our home, assessed the situation, and had my brother resting comfortably by evening. Anyone who has watched a loved one suffer understands how grateful we were. My brother was comfortable until he died.

Later, Dr. Fortuine generously invited our family to an awards banquet for the WWAMI program each year and we came to know him as a warm, intelligent, caring man. It was a gift to know him. After reading his obituary, I became aware of just how far his efforts extended for the people of Alaska and came to see his life as a generous gift to us all.

When I think of a doctor, I think of Robert Fortuine.

-- Wyn Syren

Anchorage

Prevo's flock discriminates

It seems that Jerry Prevo really does have his flock believing it is OK to discriminate against people who do not believe as they do. The hate and fear that is so evident in any kind of discrimination is such a sad part of our culture. Prevo says that "one part of the community is trying to force its values on everyone", and that "it's an issue that the homosexual community is using to force homosexuality on the people." What?? That doesn't even make sense! He claims that most Alaskans don't want gays to have broader rights. What?? Why shouldn't all people have the same rights? He claims to speak for veterans, though he apparently is not one. He seems to have ignored, or is ignorant of the fact, that there is a provision in the proposed ordinance (to ban discrimination against homosexuals in hiring, housing and education) that would allow religious institutions to refuse to hire homosexuals.

Where is the love and compassion that one would expect a Christian leader to preach?

-- Diane Crawford

Anchorage

All voters deserve privacy

Hard to believe the letter from Hana Freymiller ("Act guards workers' freedom," May 17) with her concept that revealing how one votes, for or against unionization, is necessary to protect the health and the environment of our state.

Drivel, at best, and insulting at worst. What makes her think that union workers are any more skilled, trained, or qualified, than someone who is non-union?

I wonder if she would like how she voted published in her precinct on a local bulletin board for everyone to see. ... NOT!

Anyone voting for something as serious as protecting their rights and freedoms deserves the privacy in which to do it.

"You take the little paper, and you take the little pen, you go into the little booth, pull the little curtain, and mark the little box -- and nobody knows." -- Winston Churchill.

Going green, I might add, is not so simple. You need to educate then legislate to achieve workable solutions. Makes me wonder if dialogue has died in this great nation.

-- John Christensen

Seward

Gays serve our country too

I am a Vietnam-era Army veteran and I'm queer and have been for over 20 years. While I didn't discover who I was until after I got out of the military, there were gay soldiers dying in Vietnam and before that, gay soldiers fought in every war. Despite "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," there are still gay and lesbian soldiers and veterans, people who have served with honor despite discrimination and violence at home and in the military. If you're interested read "Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military" by Randy Shilts.

Rev. Prevo was wrong to say that veterans should be ashamed to be grouped with gays. It's easy to pick and choose what the Bible has to say to fit your agenda. Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." That is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:34-40. We could use more of that in our city.

-- Cameron Bonham

Anchorage

Bald eagles deserve respect

I had to respond to the article "Habituated bald eagle kills crane at bird festival" (May 15).

Bald Eagles were portrayed as somehow less than virtuous because of the fact that they were taking prey to feed themselves (and possibly chicks). I agree that sandhill cranes are elegant and no doubt intelligent birds -- but so are bald eagles. The idea that the bed and breakfast owner in Homer is concerned about keeping her property "safe" for the cranes -- and off limits, it appears, to ill-intentioned bald eagles, elevates wildlife management to a whole new level. Most of the time, the target of a predator (such as a bald eagle) is a member of a flock (of cranes, for example) that is either elderly or weak and thus more vulnerable to predation. This strengthens populations of wildlife, and the fact remains that bald eagles probably have a negligible impact on crane populations compared to harm inflicted from human causes.

Sandhill cranes, last I read, were not endangered -- however, bald eagles were until very recently.

-- Joan Harris