The Burlington Free Press du lieu suivant : Burlington, Vermont • Page 11

Zht ftorlington fm press Forum Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Wednesday, May 26, 2004 Editorial Page Editor David Awbrey 660-1888 or (800) 427-3124 Page 11A MY DAUGHTER IS NOT A RUNAWAY; BRIANNA WAS ABDUCTED ie MY TURN sure the crash happened against her will. Now, think about a person in your family, a cherished one who you think the sun just rises and sets on. Maybe the parent who taught you about life, the spouse that's been there through thick and thin, or your trusting child with the brightest smile.

Now, imagine them gone, swept away without any trace except the longing in your own heart. So, how many resources should be limited in regard to their lives? Things need to change! Kellie Maitland lives in East Chances are, the creeps who took my daughter are not going to be standing along the road holding up an "I did it" sign. Why, if this had truly been some form of accident, had the car traveled beyond the house then reversed at enough speed to launch it up onto the building's foundation? My daughter would have been too terrified to do this herself, but it would have been a powerful scare tactic used by her abductor. My mother's heart knows this for a fact. Bri's car was one of the few things that came to her from her deceased grandfather, whom she adored.

I am i it The background Click on the Brianna Maitland link at www.bur-lingtonfreepress.com for news coverage of her disappearance. The Web site, www.bringbrihome.org, has additional information about the search. I am writing in regard to my daughter's abduction, and to inform you that it was exactly that: an abduction. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind. We had a close relationship, while we did respect one another's privacy.

Although she lived with a good friend, whom she had known since the third grade, we got together to enjoy each other's company every few days or so. People at my work, even some customers there, can attest to that. We were having a great day on March 19, going out for breakfast together, stopping off at the Community College of Vermont for the last of her GED exams, and then on to shopping for her work clothes and browsing over Easter decorations. We were both excited over her new jobs, and the way things were generally looking up for her in her life. It was approximately 3 p.m.

she had pleaded for instead of glasses? Medication, or heaven forbid her hairbrush? It is even stranger that two of her paychecks were found within her crashed car. If you were a teen on the run, wouldn't you need money to buy food and gas? Wouldn't you take your car to get around in, instead of crashing it? (Which from the photos, I believe Bri was incapable of.) What was there in Brian-na's life to run away from? She was guiding her life by choosing to live with a friend of her choice. She was rejoicing over her new jobs, and looking forward to managing her own income. So how on earth can she be classified as a runaway? That's just absurd! If what I've written above doesn't indicate any "foul play," then specifically what does? Things certainly can't be right as rain when someone disappears under the above circumstances. Kellie Maitland My daughter, like most teenage girls, was appearance-conscious.

That's why it is extremely strange that things she considered to be utmost necessities were left behind untouched. What teenage girl would leave behind her clothes that she loved, or cosmetics? Contact lenses, which when I dropped her off at her friend's home where she was staying. She had to get ready for work, but she did remember to leave her friend, Jillian, a note stating that she would get together with Jillian immediately after finishing work. As we now know, Brianna never made it. Splurge MAY 26 27 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 20 Off ALL CLOTHING SALE HOURS 10-7 health care: It's about a desperate attempt to breathe life into a failed party.

What he really has his eye on is not elected office, but the $100,000 of taxpayer money that will fill Progressive Party coffers as a result of his candidacy (under the terms of a statute passed at the urging of the Progressives themselves). The Progressives are advancing this course even though it will jeopardize the ability of legitimate candidates to advance the liberal causes Progressives insist are paramount to them. This is because the Progressive Party elite care more about their own preservation than important issues of policy. This is cynical politics at its worst. JAKE PERKINSON Burlington additonal 20 off permanently reduced items downtown that will provide much needed housing and parking.

Additional retail space on lower College Street would also help further the city's goal of tying the downtown and waterfront areas. These are exactly the type of projects we should be encouraging in Burlington, and the sort that will be vital to the city's future. MATT MAHONEY Burlington Cynical politics Steven Hingtgen touts his doomed bid for lieutenant governor as a vehicle for focusing on health care, but the only thing this folly reveals is that he cares more about his own political interests than any other issue. If Hingtgen was really interested in promoting an enlightened health-care agenda in Vermont, launching a spoiler campaign for lieutenant governor is the last thing he would do. Hingtgen's candidacy doesn't pass the blush test and is a sad echo of the ill-considered thinking that put Bush in the White House: that the personal agenda of a weak candidate touting an issue already addressed by more competent contenders should trump the greater good of the community as a whole.

Hingtgen's campaign isn't about 58-4050 115 collect it, ttydty- MS 4 (35 Thursday Friday VHa i i Vermont's attractions In Northern Vermont, halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, next to good neighbor Quebec, where many residents are bilingual, and the Willoughby, Barton and Black River flow north and the Clyde River flows west from Island Pond to Lake Memphremagog, winters are long and summers are short, which makes the growing season for flowering plants and garden vegetables short. Old hands advise gardeners to wait until Memorial Day before setting out tomato plants to avoid frost damage. The sugar maple trees have finished their sweet spring ritual and will grow their leaves during the short summer. Their leaves will mature and turn from green to shades of red and yellow, then fall to the ground to be raked and disposed of. It's one of Vermont's outdoor garden attractions.

EDWARD S. DOUBLEDAY Newport Change needed George Bush is right about abortion: Abortion is murder and should be outlawed. In this regard, he is pro-life. But in just about every other area he is pro-death. Think of all the people, Americans as well as Iraqis, who are dying in the Iraq war.

The war is a terrible quagmire, and it is sowing the seeds of more terrorism instead of making the world safer. Think of all the people Bush sent to Texas' death chamber while he was governor of that state. And he favors the rich and big business over the poor. And he is trampling on peoples' civil liberties. And he doesn't care about the environment.

And what about health care for those who now can't afford it? He claims to be a Christian, but his supposed Christianity is hypocrisy. Liberals need to have a change of heart and stop supporting so-called "abortion rights." Conservatives need to have a change of heart also, and become wiser and more compassionate. Both need to embrace the consistent life ethic: no abortion (except for procedures needed to save the life of the mother, even if such procedures result in the destruction of the fetus); no capital punishment; no war (except where absolutely necessary for defense); no active euthanasia; no stem cell research or human cloning; protecting the Earth's environment (which we depend on for our survival) and in general, decency and compassion for all. HAROLD M. FROST IV Burlington A good project As a long-time downtown resident I have a hard time understanding my fellow inhabitants' concerns about the proposed 10-story building on the corner of College and Lake Streets.

At a time when the county is trying to curb urban sprawl we have a commercialresidential structure planned in the heart of (UJp IT Inventory reduction sale 2 days only. Entire stock reduced by up to 70. All sales are final, no returns or exchanges. Cash and carry on all items, delivery is extra. Sale prices on in-stock items only.

W(o) Office Furniture Exchange is overstocked with new and used office furniture. For two days only we will offer savings up to 70. This is our first advertised sale in three years of business. See some of the items and prices below. it 1 wm few Used 2-5 drawer vertical files THE NEW Lit IBS New 2 and 4 drawer vertical files 109 Used 2-8 drawer lateral files 199 Used DeskTask chairs New DeskTask chairs Used Bookcases 30" to 84" high New wood veneer Bookcases high Used metal wood desks all sizes 237 South Champlain Street Ana many more items in our 1 2000-square-loot show room.

Burlington, VT 802-658-6929.