Published Sunday, September 07, 2008 6:05 AM

Letters for Sept 7

Associated Press

Media disrespect is earned

Is it any wonder that John McCain is appealing for support from "media-hating conservatives?" (Page A1, Sept. 4, The Eagle). This quote refers to a "news" story on Page A7 by Associated Press reporter Ron Fournier, which goes on to say a McCain senior adviser "prodded conservative Republicans to do what they do every election cycle -- blame the media."

The mainstream media (of which The Eagle is included), has been so blatantly biased in its election coverage that it is sickening.

Your Opinions page of the same issue with its disgusting stork cartoon and guest editorial comments from the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune merely reinforces this distrust of the media.

Maybe there's a reason that Brazos Valley voters always seem to vote diametrically opposed to the recommendations of the Eagle's editorial board.

JAMES W. CARTER

Bryan

Honesty is priceless

On Aug. 29 I bought some shelves at Wal-Mart and inadvertently left that package on the bottom of the cart. Hours later, on my way home, I realized my error.

Hoping against hope, I stopped at Wal-Mart and found that someone had returned the package.

Whoever you are -- thanks. In 95 degree weather you retrace your steps sand went back to return the package.

The value of the shelves was important to me but more important was the realization that some dear person did the right, honest thing. Thank you.

MRS. CARL VARGO

Bryan

Road closure creates hazard

The city of College Station and the College Station school district have imposed a traffic arrangement that is hazardous and enormously inconvenient by closing Williams Street in front of College Hills Elementary School.

As a result, in the morning everyone must turn from Francis Street into the school grounds, drop off their children and get back onto Francis Street. In the afternoon, they must repeat the process to pick up the children.

The resulting traffic jams are horrendous, inconvenient, waste peoples' time and are hazardous.

To make matters worse, many people are now walking long distances with their children. Other kids ride their bikes. Some are very small. No crossing guard is provided at Ashburn, which must be crossed by many.

In addition, many have decided to avoid the congestion at the school by turning onto Ashburn, parking and walking from there. This creates an additional traffic hazard.

These hazards and inconveniences were bad last week, when the weather was ideal. They will be unimaginably worse during cold and rainy weather.

Practically all of the hazards and inconveniences could be eliminated by one simple change. Open Williams Street for an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon. Close it for the rest of the day if that remains desirable.

Surely the contractors could adapt to this arrangement at infinitely less cost and inconvenience than is imposed by closing the street at all times.

ROBERT M. HOLCOMB, Ph.D.

Professor emeritus, civil engineering

College Station

Church ideology unwavering

Teri Metcalf made the same mistakes in her letter about abortion [The Eagle, Aug. 30] as Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.

The first mistake is equating a political sound-bite to a rational argument. The second mistake is trying to make a historical and theological argument with a little bit of knowledge without having the firm grounding to do so.

Just because individual Catholics have disagreed with church teaching does not mean the truth of the teaching is up for grabs, even if one of those persons is declared a saint. Nor does it change the authority with which the Catholic Church speaks. Like it or not, the Catholic Church is not a democracy, it is Jesus' kingdom and he is in charge. The church has consistently taught that abortion is wrong. Trying to explain away this truth with poor history and even worse theology is stepping into a realm where Pelosi, Obama and Metcalf have no expertise. If you want official Catholic teaching, then the Catechism tells us, "This teaching has remained unchanged and remains unchangeable."

Augustine also believed that males were vivified at 30 days and females at 90 days. I am going to guess that Metcalf doesn't want to cherry-pick that argument. By the way, Augustine still believed abortion was murder, regardless of the timing of ensoulment. I would suggest that Augustine is not the source these abortion advocates want to use because his thought doesn't fit in a tidy sound-bite supporting their position.

MARCEL LeJEUNE

Assistant Director of Campus Ministry

St. Mary's Catholic Center

College Station

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