Letters for Nov. 9, 2006

By:
Disapproving gays is not ‘homophobic’
To the editor:
    I have wanted to write on some interesting phenomena occurring recently in our public schools for some time now, but as most parents, haven’t had the time.
   But after reading the recent HHS newspaper "The Voice," I have been prompted to let another voice be heard, especially with our kids in mind.
   Specifically relating to the article entitled "That’s So Gay" written by an HHS student in the October issue. I have noticed that "gay" is not the only word being thrown around the high-school.
   The word "homophobes" is also a common term used to describe people who disagree with the homosexual lifestyle. This word by definition denotes some kind of fear. I think the people who are using it to describe the average "straight" person, as is a common place term as well, are mistaken.
   Most people who disagree with the homosexual lifestyle are not afraid of it — they simply disagree. A lot of those people may be Christians who disagree based on deeply held religious convictions, or just people who feel a family should be comprised of one male and one female with children.
   Because after all, families as we know them, could not proliferate or exist with any other combination, except through artificial means.
   With that said, I would ask that the people offended by the term "gay" used in a negative sense, should also be reminded that they are offending others by calling them "homophobes." I have never joined the masses that make fun of, or dislike someone because they are homosexual.
   But at the same time, I will voice my opinion on the subject when asked. Some people, like myself, will never accept homosexuality as normal sexual behavior. That is not to say that everything else about that person is not normal. The sexual behavior between a man and women is scientifically obvious and anatomically makes sense. No other combination does.
   Whether you’re a person who disagrees based on religion and what the Bible says, or you’re a person that just disagrees with homosexuality — that doesn’t make you fearful of it. I would ask the people who do no want to hear the word "gay" used to describe something negative or bad to stop calling others names as well — we are not homophobes; we just disagree.
   Some people will always disagree with the homosexual lifestyle and that cannot be changed. That is part of being in this free society — to believe whatever you feel is right based on your conscience or your teachings — but we are all free to disagree.

Laura Burshnic
Hillsborough

Halloween visitors were a treat
To the editor:
    Having just enjoyed our second Halloween since moving to the southeastern area of the Belle Mead section of Hillsborough, we have appreciated how pleasant the children have been.
   This year there were more trick-or-treaters than we were prepared for. Our choices were to shut the lights and end the night or go out to get more treats. Because of how much fun it was seeing such polite and enthusiastic children in such great costumes, we rushed out to the store to restock.
   I know Hillsborough is a large town and that we only witnessed a small fraction, but I want to thank the children themselves as well as the parents and teachers of these children. Every child said "thank you," and when we had our 1-year-old daughter "helping" to give out the candy, they all were very patient which allowed her to have a good time of her own.
   I’d also like to extend two specific thank yous … one to the talented girl dressed as the Oompa-Loompa who entertained us with a verse from "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," and the other to the bright boy who sparked a conversation about wakeboarding.

Billy and Robin Bender
Hillsborough

Some costumes were offensive
To the editor:
    This letter is addressed to the kids I saw in my neighborhood this Halloween, who were dressed up as Jews.
   I’m sorry I didn’t stop and talk with you to find out more about you and why you chose those costumes, because, as a Jew, I found your choice disturbing.
   Why do people choose Halloween costumes? The costumes may represent someone they admire, a hero, or they may represent something the person thinks is scary, weird, or funny.
   If you are Jewish, perhaps you chose to wear tallises and long, bushy beards to honor your tradition, or perhaps this was an ironic statement to mock neighbors who had exhibited anti-Semitism.
   If you aren’t Jewish, and you chose these costumes because you admired our culture, traditions, and ethics, good for you.
   However, if you chose these costumes because you think pretending to be a Jew is scary, weird or funny, please think about how this might make your Jewish neighbors, or neighbors of races, religions, or cultures feel.
   Even better, I would urge you to find out more about our culture, tradition, ethics, and history. Talk with someone you know who is Jewish, a neighbor, friend, classmate, or teacher. Go to the library and read about Judaism.
   Call the temple and speak with a Rabbi or teacher at the school. And, if you are not willing to do any of that, please think about what mocking others who are different from you says about you as a person, and about our community.

Vicky Schwartz
Hillsborough

Donated meat may add injury to insult
To the editor:
    Donating deer meat to the needy is irresponsible and potentially dangerous.
   First of all, this meat is not USDA regulated, inspected or certified. The meat that is donated has not been grown and fed in a "controlled" environment like store bought meat and does not meet stringent guidelines designed to protect the public.
   The deer that are killed graze on lawns and plants that have been treated with dangerous chemicals.
   According to a study by Purdue University in 2004, these pesticides and herbicides are known to cause cancer in certain breeds of dogs.
   Earlier research conducted by the National Institute of Health found elevated rates of canine lymphoma in dogs exposed to lawn chemicals.
   Deer that ingest these same poisons are then killed and their meat distributed to the poor. This doesn’t sound very appetizing or safe to me.
   If this isn’t bad enough, scientists at the University of Kentucky released a report in January 2006 about finding infectious prions in deer meat. It had been thought to be only in nervous-system tissue. The infected prions are what cause Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal form of brain degeneration.
   Like "Mad Cow Disease," and the human form of the disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob, are all caused by aberrant prion proteins. Cooking the meat does not eliminate the risk of contracting CWD.
   Even though there haven’t been any reported cases of CWD in New Jersey as of yet, this does not mean that there aren’t any deer with CWD in the state.
   New York has reported cases with captive white-tail deer, but recently a wild deer in Oneida County was discovered with CWD according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Affected deer from New York can find their way across state lines. How long before New Jersey will admit to or report finding the disease.
   Other diseases in deer which makes eating their flesh an unsavory proposition are, Bovine Tuberculosis and Hemorrhagic disease. In some states metal cadmium has been found in organs of deer, which is considered a heavy metal and poisonous. Deer in North America have been known to act as intermediate hosts and to have suffered clinical effects of toxoplasmosis.
   Not to mention numerous parasites and organisms that live in deer.
   NORWESCAP is an agency that runs charities that feed the poor. They can’t get their appropriated funds from the state unless they take the deer meat — soup kitchens and welfare mothers don’t have a choice.
   In reality, many charities don’t want the deer meat and it is thrown in the garbage. As one legislator said, "the hunters just want the antlers; why not give the deer to the poor?"
   Is this to suggest we give the deer meat to the poor, assuming they’ll eat anything? It’s already an unfortunate situation for the local needy that they rely on handouts and donations to survive — must they be given food that could make them fatally ill as well?

Ester Shields
Scott Drive

Poachers threatening neighborhood
To the editor:
   Hillsborough Township has provided ample open-space land available for additional hunting. Why then is there a need for poaching?
   Poaching is the illegal killing of any wildlife animal. The kind of poaching I am referring to can be during the day or night, with firearms or bow and arrow, and at anytime during the week or year, using flashlights, fireworks and whistles.
   Safety is the issue here, discharging any weapon as close as 50 feet from my house is dangerous for all my family members. In New Jersey, hunting is not allowed on private property without permission, nor is it allowed within 450 feet from an occupied building.
   I wonder if there are other Hillsborough residents that have to deal with poaching around their homes. If so, then I would like to talk with you.

Rose Reina-Rosenbaum
Hillsborough

GOP credibility lost with misquote
To the editor:
   
It is painfully apparent Carl Suraci and Bob Wagner would do anything to get elected. This is clearly demonstrated in their campaign piece entitled "Election Alert!!" which I recently received.
   In that piece they "quote" one of the Democratic Candidates as saying "I will aggressively use my educational and professional experience to advance a platform of controlled growth, increase efficiency while seeking to maximize revenue collections …"
   They use this quote to justify their next comment "Are they crazy?" and make it the basis for their saying Democrats will raise property taxes.
   The very next words in the complete quote, which they maliciously and intentionally left out are " …from a source other than property tax." These words (which clearly are on the Hillsborough Beacon Web site, Christian Mastondrea made the statement) completely undermine their contention.
   Candidates who so blatantly misrepresent the words of their opponents are arrogant, feeling that no one will call or catch them in their lies.
   This complete perversion of the truth is not "just politics" as no doubt some will try to portray this and thereby justify as usual. In reality this type of campaigning undermines our democratic system of government and pollutes the electoral process.
   Clearly, Mr. Suraci and Mr. Wagner think winning is so important, they are willing to give up their credibility and sacrifice their civility, to achieve it.
   The election will be over Tuesday evening, but they will have to live with this deceit.

Michael Goldberg
Hillsborough