Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 11

DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, ROCHESTER. N.Y.. THURSDAY. MARCH 1. 1990 HA '55 yir mi lence on TV, murder on our streets, murder in abortion clinics, and abuse of children.

This has occurred because unacceptable things have become acceptable in gradual steps so as to not cause major alarm. As each condition becomes acceptable, the next step becomes easier. After a while we have progressed such a long way that our consciences are no longer bothered. No wonder the critics are raising their voices. During World War II, the Nazis used the hair of concentration camp victims for their submarines, used the inmates for gruesome involuntary medical experiments, and even in one case used the ta-tooed skins of inmates for lamp shades.

All done with the purpose of utilizing the body parts of people who were going to die anyway. We have already justified abortion in the name of choice. Now we are trying to justify the use of the body parts for medical applications. How ironic that the result of an inhumane act is used to justify a humane one. Has the American holocaust entered the next phase? Where will it end? The longer Pandora's Box stays open, the more the unthinkable becomes possible.

Richard G. Barned Greece An abortion industry? I DISAGREE with the editorial (Feb. 12) encouraging the use of fetal tissue. This editorial was consistent with most advocates of fetal tissue experimentation and transplants, who think we should do something good with aborted babies. In fact, most abortions done today would not provide a fetal tissue source.

Ninety percent are done in earlier stages of pregnancy by suction aspiration, thus destroying body parts. tissue demands close between the transplant teams and abortionists perhaps further im petus for an organized industry. Some researchers have openly defended the practice of taking organs from live aborted babies. The National Institute of Health funded $12 million in fetal research in '87 and has not required research ers to make sure babies are brain-dead before tissues are taken. Also, anacephalic babies born in Loma Linda University Medical Center have been kept alive on machines, waiting for recipients of their organs.

k) The rationale being used here is the same that prevailed in the Third Reich: The Jews are going--to die anyway, so why not use them for a good purpose before they die? ,0 The editorial states, "How can we say no to people in pain, peo-A pie who will die early without our help?" This kind of reasoning will help justify and produce even more abortions in this country. When will we be begin thinking of these babies as "people in pain, people who will die early without" our Ann Savage Pittsford Find a better way I READ with horror and dis- gust your editorial endorsing the '1, use of fetal tissue for Parkinson's disease research. It brought to mind the inhuman medical research perpetrated in the name humanism by the Nazi regime 1 during World War II. Yes, I agree that Parkinson's is'' a tragic disease. Hopefully, one day a new treatment will be covered.

But the use of "fetal tissue" (as you refer to an unborn child of God) is so abhorrent that' it is no wonder our society has become strongly humanistic. God considers all life sacred and so should we. Therefore, an aborted child should not be thrown into an incinerator or used for medical research as your editorial states, but given a respectful burial. There has to be a better way to-discover the correct treatment for' Parkinson's disease. May Almighty God show us how! Julia M.

Randall Fairporl Give babies a chance I WAS not surprised by your editorial (Feb. 12) encouraging support and funding for research on the use of fetal tissue as a possible cure for Parkinson's disease. The lack of research is not necessarily a death sentence for those suffering from Parkinson's disease, since it is yet unclear whether it would le a feasible treatment. Perhaps the editorial writers need to be reminded that we are all under a death sentence; none of us can live forever in our physical bodies. I find it paradoxical that sufferers of Parkinson's, who did lead healthy and happy lives previous to the onset of the disease, are willing to accept a possible cure from such a source as aborted babies.

These same aborted preborn fybies will never have a chance to iekperience and enjoy life after .1 am sympathetic to the need ivt more research to detect the jfc-auses of the disease and development of better treatments. But that need cannot justify the use of Jetal tissue reaped from the trage-rfy of abortion. Gayle Brooks Brighton A sinister idea COULD not believe what I read in your editorial, "How can we say no?" You were very sympathetic toward those with Parkinson's disease. I share the feelings of helplessness of those who are trapped with this disease and its ultimate outcome. However, I am appalled at your close-mindedness.

You endorse using fetal brain tissue from abortions because it contains the chemical dopamine, which seems to eradicate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. How can you endorse such a sinister idea? Is it because our education erases our need of a conscience? Or perhaps we've been brainwashed into thinking that because we evolved from nothing, and will return to nothing, we can do what we please. Certainly we can research other techniques that will produce dopamine without having to involve the abortion industry. Doesn't the blood of those being murdered cry loud enough now? Richard A. Data Chili Respect rights of child YOUR editorial misleads in giving the impression that tissues from all aborted fetuses might be used to help suffering people.

I don't think transplanting brain cells is that simple. Consider that most abortions are done by a suction method that tears apart the unborn's body. Would a neurosurgeon risk brain surgery on a patient to implant dead, damaged cells? If your purpose is to rally support for using aborted human fetuses for research, why not describe the transplant procedure realistically? Also, you do not mention the necessity of consent for this human experimentation. The pregnant woman choosing abortion rejects her responsibility to her unborn child. Likewise, the obstetrician, the ordinary caregiver to both patients in pregnancy mother and child disregards his responsibility to the child when he becomes the abortionist.

Can either of them legitimately be given the privilege of guardianship after abortion? Instead of coveting the tissues of disenfranchised human beings who are deliberately killed, medical researchers should proceed carefully, respecting the rights of every individual involved. Perhaps parents of a miscarried, immature child, unable to sustain life, might legitimately give proxy-consent to a transplant of tissue upon the child's death. Whatever the answer may be, longstanding principles of medical ethics regulating human experimentation deserve every consideration. People who have accepted the principle of legalized killing of unborn human beings to solve socioeconomic problems would have us discuss this without getting into what they would term "anti-abortion arguments." Sorry, but the discussion, whether it involves the morality of directly killing an innocent human being or the use of that being's body for medical research, still involves our respect for and obligation to another member of our human family. There is no way if I Library Gannett Rochester Newspapers could offer hope for victims of Parkinson's disease.

Salt poisoning also renders the body organs unusable. Thus, the only productive method is the use of Prostaglandin, which induces hard labor. The baby is usually killed, but is sometimes born alive. Advocates would encourage mid- and late-term abortions so that procedures used would leave bodies intact. The need for "fresh" use of fetal tissue for medical applications is another case where our society has become either de-sensistized or accustomed to violence that was once unthinkable.

Over the last few decades we have become accustomed to vio D. Sweeney Irondequoit say no? to the editorial say no?" we not say no? The How Cyomnio nodes the ireal By John B. Daly 0 ne newspaper headline reads, "Governor increases budget only $1.5 billion or 4.5 percent less than rate of inflation." Turn the naee and vou read. "Senate I o- Republicans assail Cuomo budget increase of $4.4 billion or 9.3 percent largest in the history of the state." Are we reading about the same state? Is the increase 9.3 percent or 4.5 percent? We certainly work hard sometimes to confuse people. When a crisis comes, the issues get intentionally clouded and the voters befuddled.

WE CAN all agree that the amount of increased state spending is paramount in judging whether the governor's budget is LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Fetal tissue a good one. So we should know exactly what is in the document. First let's level the playing field. There are truly four parts to the state budget. The main portion is the general fund, which is the segment the governor refers to when he claims an increase of 4.5 percent.

This portion appropriates about $31 billion for 1990-'91. The governor ignores three other significant parts of the budget in his basic statement: the special revenues budget, the capital projects budget and the debt service budget. These three total and additional $21 billion for 1990-'91 an increase of $2.9 billion or 16 percent over last year. It is the total of all four budgets that we in the Republican majority of the Open your eyes, mind IN response to Robert F. Vance (Feb.

21), who described artist Wendell Castle's airport clock as a "disjointed ice cream cone in a Jello Ice cream cones are popular with travellers (you can see that if you walk through any large airport). Millions of packages of Jello are sold per day in the U.S.A.. Molds just make the Jello fancier. So, fortunate indeed will be the traveler who comes to the Greater Rochester International Airport and sees the Wendell Castle clock. I viewed the clock model.

It is dynamic, graceful and simply beautiful. When you get to see the real sculpture, look up, open your eyes and mind, and relish the beauty before you. Mary Lou Swicklik Irondequoit were of interest; the rest were insensitive, inappropriate and served to rob Xuan Hoa of her dignity. I refer to the photos of her having her diapers changed and her soiled clothes being washed by hand. Most readers, I daresay, could have visualized these activities when reading about them.

Brenda Lederman Pittsford Liberate 'Money' section I HAVE been reading the Times-I for many years and have always questioned the priority given to different sections of the newspaper. Each is important in its own light, but vvhv are business issues given the last page of the sports section? around it! Jeanne Why not IN response "How can we Why should bydgeft crease in the general fund budget? Because the governor quietly moves items out of the general fund portion and into the special revenue budget. This enables him to say to an anxious public, "Look how frugal I am increasing the budget only 4.5 percent." Let's be more specific. In his budget message this year the governor said 31 new accounts will be created in the Miscellaneous Special Revenue Fund. He gave two examples the Thruway Income Account for administrative costs of the Thruway Authority and the Department of Labor Fees and Penalties Account for staff funding.

Another concrete example is in funding of state schools for the handicapped at Rome and Batavia, which have ended up We invite him to Canadice, the garden spot of western New York. Here our taxes go to snow and ice removal, fire and police protection, welfare for the deserving and health care for the indigent. Here our school taxes educate a fine crop of youngsters who will adorn our country in years to come. Here we respect the aged, nourish the young and practice good neighborliness. True, Canadice is restricted.

We're zoned against spite, hate and whimpering. Life in Canadice is too short and sweet to waste it on complaints. John T. Hopkins Hemlock Sibley's can be the center THE closing of Sibley's possibly could be the best thing that happened to downtown Rochester in recent years. We have an opportunity to come up with creative ideas to best use this empty building.

Just having more people living here will not provide the economic base downtown needs to survive. We need people who live in the surrounding towns as well. Give all the people in our greater Rochester area reasons for wanting to be downtown. Those of us who visit restaurants downtown and attend performances at GeVa and the Eastman theaters know how pretty Rochester looks at night, but many more people could enjoy the city day and night if there were more activities in a central location. I can picture Sibley's being turned into such a center with perhaps an attractive atrium and several levels of retail space, office space and restaurants.

I can also see the Sibley Tower building next door becoming an apartment complex with enclosed parking facilities for the residents to ensure adequate parking and safety. Helen M. Dennis Penfield increase; in the Special Revenues Fund. So we see a practice here which becomes deception if you are making a big1 public claim of holding the state budget" increase to only 4.5 percent. In fairness it must be pointed out that while the budget increase in all its vari- ous parts is 9.3 percent, this is adjusted to 8.2 percent when federal aid is fac- into the revenues section.

But that's the bottom line an 8.2 percent boost in monies which the state must raise. It seems that we will raise it" through many new and often harsh taxes and fees, under the governor's plan. Daly, R-Niagara Falls, represents western portions of the Rochester area in the state Senate, Fix the sidewalk IN response to "Lemmings on East Avenue" (letter, Jan. 18): The concerned "jogger" of 18 years found it odd to see his fellow joggers migrating like lemmings in the traffic lanes, i.e. running in the road toward oncoming traffic.

jm I found the writer to be short-sighted and his attempt at humor would have been better directed by asking why art? these people running in the road? The answer to the question is so sim- I pie. The "lemmings" were in the road because the sidewalks on East Avenue between Culver Road and Alexander Street' (south side) are in horrible condition. I find it ironic that some of the finest homes, churches and museums in Roches ter have sidewalks that are dangerous to those walking or running on them. Add to this the heavy snows, glacier-like buildup of December and lack of proper maintenance by homeowners and the city, and you have the reason for runn ning or walking in the road. I haven't nor.

ticed many people using the road in the summertime. I urge Rochester residents to shovel and use salt in front of their homes dur-ing the winter. Many people depend on exercise, both walking and running, to maintain mental and physical health. I also ask that next summer the city repair or replace the deteriorating sidewalk. Derek Frechette Rochester' WHAT DO YOU THINK? Your original letters about current is sues are welcome.

Include your and daytime phone number for verified tion purposes. Please be brief. We re- Ji serve the right to edit for reasons of space, clarity and fair play. We have once-a-month rule so all may be heard. Mail to Letters to the Editor, Gannett' Rochester Newspapers, 55 Exchange Rochester, N.Y., NHLI.

filAf hen a ww crisis comes, the issues get intentionally clouded and the voters Senate talk about when our membership assesses the governor's spending at $51.3 billion in the next fiscal year, or 9.3 percent over the $47 billion in the current spending plan. Why is the increase in this "off -budget" spending so much larger than the in Cutout of Castle with clock model. The reason could not be due to the lack of information or stories about the business community of Rochester. Perhaps it would be beneficial to readers if more emphasis were placed on the Money Section. Christina J.

Triggs Penfleld Come to Canadice AFTER a three-dog night, I awoke to a four-coffee morning and a letter from your petulant reader who cried, "I don't want to subsidize other people's children." (Robert Brydges, Feb. 15). He complained about taxes, the "dummies" in Albany, school busing and the cost of medicine. He threatened to move to get away from his burdens. I pjf pji! 0 Diaper less train more i I'VE been concerned about the growing I use and disposal of disposable diapers isince long before it became fashionable.

In the time it takes to go out and buy diapers, a three-year-old could be drained to use the bathroom. Three-year-olds don't enjoy a wet bottom any more than anyone else and are not babies. Anyone who enjoys changing diapers could get plenty of practice in an old folks' home, where the users don't have any choice. At least there the waste doesn't end up in landfills it's usually incinerated. Human waste does not belong in landfills, plastic diapers do not belong in landfills, and three-year-olds do not belong in diapers! Janice McNeil Williamson Liberty, not democracy DEMOCRACY has been described as two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have lor lunch.

Individual liberty is a better deal for all people, especially minority groups of various types, no matter how small in number. For more information write: Societv for Individual Liberty, P.O. Box 10224. Rochester, New York 14610. John C.

Sproul Rochester Photos were insensitive YOUR article Times-Union, Feb. 15) iiliout Do Dinh, a Vietnamese refugee and her severely disabled daughter, Xuan Hoa, was one of great human interest. Some of the accompanying pictures.