'Evil' does not lead to 'evil'
Editor, OBSERVER:
I just read Connie Schultz's column (Oct. 27) in the OBSERVER. I disagree with her line of reasoning.
Is it purely partisan? I don't know.
The Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in the state of Indiana, Richard Mourdock, did not say that rape was good or that it even was an acceptable evil. Just because something is evil, does not mean that everything that results from that evil is also evil.
Here are two examples of what I am saying. First, the Roman Empire was evil. One of the things that resulted from the Roman Empire were the languages that evolved from Latin had letters and numbers that were the same. That made it easier to learn one of the other languages. Compare that to Chinese, for example.
Second, slavery is evil, not only wherever it existed in the past but where it still exists today. Slavery based on race here in America was not the only place where it existed. Conservative columnist Walter E. Williams column, published Oct. 26, pointed out the following. "I answered that slavery is a despicable violation of human rights but that the enslavement of my ancestors is history, and one of the immutable facts of history is that nothing can be done to change it. The matter could have been left there, but I volunteered that today's American blacks have benefited enormously from the horrible suffering of our ancestors ... the standard of liberty and personal liberty of black Americans are better than what blacks living anywhere in Africa have.
Walter E. Williams was right. My first example was right. Connie Schultz was wrong. What did the poor innocent yet-to-be-born baby do that carried with it the death penalty?
Don't judge Richard Mourdock, Mitt Romney, or any other candidate as believing that rape is not the evil that it is just because they oppose abortion.
GEORGE MEYERS,
Westfield
Justice to work for 'betterment'
Editor, OBSERVER:
This letter is to encourage the election of Constance Johnson for Perrysburg town justice. Constance formally served nine years in this position while also working full time, first directly with consumers and then as a Medicaid service coordinator at the Western New York Developmentally Disabled Service Office and then as a licensed social worker for the state Department of Correctional Services.
While completing my master's degree in social work, I had the honor and privilege to intern with Constance serving as my field educator. We worked closely for eight months in the largest specialized program of its kind in the state at the Gowanda Correctional Facility. During this time, I was often astonished at the vast knowledge Constance possesses of our legal system, deep respect shown by her peers and her ability to handle hardened criminals with ease and professionalism.
Constance is very mindful and conscientious that each judicial decision she makes may greatly affect a local family. As an educated and seasoned social worker, she has great knowledge of available services that can help offenders to rehabilitate as well as be penalized. She has been very creative in the sentencing of offenders to help them to become better citizens for the betterment of society.
In her prior service as judge, Constance was effective in making meaningful differences in the lives of families even though she was also working another full time job. Now that she has recently retired, she will be able to devote her time fully to the position of Perrysburg town justice.
AMY HILLIKER,
Collins
