Sunday, December 07, 2008
Gaza is suffering human-rights abuses from Israel
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Gaza is suffering human-rights abuses from Israel
Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip has worsened, with Gaza's borders sealed since Nov. 5. John Holmes, U.N. undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, has said that Israel's blockade of vital supplies in retaliation for rocket attacks "amounts to collective punishment and is contrary to international humanitarian law." Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention forbids collective punishment.
A million and a half people, 56 percent of whom are children and the majority of whom are 1948 refugees, are kept in concentration camp-like conditions. Half of these Palestinians are younger than 15 and are showing serious signs of malnutrition. Fuel and medicine cannot get in, and hospitals are barely functioning. Water and sewage operations are failing. Foreign journalists and human rights workers are not allowed in to document the situation.
Dec. 10 celebrates the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which resulted from the horrors of World War II. Both the Jewish people and the U.S. supported this document and accompanying law. Where are the Israeli government and the U.S. government in relation to the human rights of the Palestinian people? It is past time for people of conscience to demand the end of the siege of Gaza.
Out with 'Agnes,' in with 'For Better'
I agree with Brian Hiner ("'Peanuts' reruns should go, too," Dec. 1 letter) and Frankie Land ("Just bring back 'For Better' comic," Dec. 3 letter). "For Better or For Worse" should be returned to the comic pages of The Roanoke Times. Thanks to Land, I can now read this strip online.
If you feel that there isn't enough room for another strip, there are some that could be eliminated, starting with "Agnes." There are several strips that don't entertain me at all. I just don't read them. There may be others who feel the same way. Maybe it is time you did another survey of your readers.
Critic twisted Christ's words
I am a Christian who is in agreement with Dan Brown that Christians have at times behaved in very un-Christ like, very unfortunate ways while claiming to be acting in the name of Christ ("Christianity's uncivilizing effects," Dec. 3 commentary). However, I take issue with Brown's brazen misrepresentation of Christ's words when he quotes Jesus from Luke 19:11-27, the Parable of the 10 Pounds.
The words that Brown included in his commentary ("But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me") are those related by Jesus in the parable to be the words of a "harsh man," not the words of Jesus himself. Jesus never said or taught any such thing.
I realize that this commentary was Brown's, not The Roanoke Times', but when you publish such easily verifiable falsehoods you don't do anyone a service.
Invest now in clean energy
Virginians have spoken: We want a cleaner, more prosperous future based on a clean-energy economy. Harnessing the wind and sun, as well as tapping into our efficiency capabilities, are critical to solving the economic crisis.
Investing in a clean-energy infrastructure will provide four times as many jobs than investing in the oil industry. In Virginia, investments in energy efficiency can create as many as 10,000 new jobs by 2025. One recent study projected that a transformation to a clean energy economy could bring more than 56,000 jobs to the commonwealth.
And renewable energy can be done right here. Virginia's coasts have great potential to produce wind energy. Cumulative benefits of 1,000 MW of wind-power energy would amount to $1.2 billion. If every suitable rooftop had solar panels in Virginia right now, about 3,600 homes could be powered. Virginians can make this happen.
Our economy and environment demand that we switch to an economy powered by clean, renewable energy. Environment Virginia calls on Rep. Bob Goodlatte to support clean energy in the upcoming Congress.
Environment Virginia
Tell readers who, and where, you are
Tom Taylor's commentary "The state should pray in Christ's name" (Nov. 30) gives convincing evidence for his premise. Additionally, he alerts citizens to alarming departures from serious tradition, legitimate practice of vital religion, intelligence and common sense.
But a reader cannot thank Taylor because he remains unidentified. What we need for the New Year is an editor's rule to provide full names and complete addresses. If not, let writers impose upon themselves a New Year's resolution to identify themselves. In America these days, this is no time to hide, either by editorial policy or by personal druthers.
It is the newspaper's policy not to provide to the public the addresses of letter writers.
