Letters to the Editor 7/2

Lyme awareness

Thank you for your June 2 article, “Beauty in Pain.” I have struggled with Lyme and another tick-borne illness for four years.

People are unaware of how common, and serious, tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease can be. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the Lyme is under-reported, and spreading, with new cases ranging from 140,000 to 220,000 each year. Lyme is now the fastest-growing infectious disease in the United States, ahead of AIDS. California is one of the top 10 states for Lyme. You can get more information and prevention tips at www.lymedisease.org

“Under Our Skin” is a documentary film about the complication and medical controversy surrounding this disease. The movie will come to the Palm Theater from July 24 to July 30. It has won seven awards. It’s a riveting, provocative film enjoyed even among audience members who are not affected by the disease.

Go see the film. You’ll be thinking and talking about it for days.

Amanda Bern

Los Osos

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Aretha Franklin sang it many years ago, and it still holds true. It is easier to communicate with people if you show them some respect.

This is especially applicable to U.S. foreign policy toward North Korea (and Cuba, etc.) Since the armistice in 1953, the U.S. has adopted a policy of belligerence toward North Korea, which has been almost a nonstop series of threats and bullying. It has not been very effective in achieving our foreign policy goals, unless alienation was our goal.

Belittling the name or title of another country or its leaders is not a way to win friends and influence people. You don’t have to agree with their way of life; civility does not imply acceptance.

However, screaming declarations of hatred do not enable reasonable communication. Our notion of a free press allows for such in the name of freedom of speech. When the State Department does the equivalent, it makes it difficult to negotiate.

We can do better. If Obama really stands for change, then reconsidering how we will relate to North Korea, without the baggage of the past, would be a real improvement in our relations with other countries.

Barbara Mori

San Luis Obispo

Double standard?

A column by Ellen Goodman (June 5, “The myth of the lone shooter”) repeats the news media’s ridiculous claim that Bill O’Reilly, among other conservator commentators, is responsible for the killing of late-term abortionist George Tiller.

John Murtha and others of his ilk have called our servicemen and women murderers because of events in Iraq and Afghanistan. Does the news media’s logic then make Murtha responsible for the killing of Pvt. William Long at the Arkansas recruiting center?

Based on the thundering silence of the news media, apparently not. Double standard? Bias?

Craig Hunter

San Luis Obispo