It's not the hormones

In response to Dr. Silver's letter of Sept. 1: You of all people should know that rapists do not rape because of a hormone! They do so for power, pure and simple. To degrade, hurt, humiliate and sometimes murder their victims.

If it were a hormone the woman emits, explain to me why little babies and children of both sexes, as well as grown men, get raped.

You need to pull your head out of whatever book you are reading and go have a little sit down with your psychiatrist colleagues and maybe a few police detectives and ask why men rape. I'm quite sure they will tell you it is for power over their victims. Your statements just placed women back into the dark ages. With the rapes being the woman's fault. I am appalled at your letter. It is degrading to women.

This state doesn't need to be in the brothel business. We don't need state-run brothels attracting young women to prostitution and the dirty money of sick perverts.

The government is busy enough already, telling us how to raise our children. Passing out condoms, birth control pills, teaching sex education in schools, and giving abortions to whoever wants one. Without the parents consent.

Sir, the one thing we do need, is to bring God back into this country and our families, raising Godly children. Instead of allowing the few to dictate how and what we teach our children.

In my opinion all rapists, child molesters and murderers should be put away, never to see the light of day. They have nothing good to offer society anyway.

Marie Little, Albany

A loophole for rapists?

This is in response to Allan Jay Silver, MD ("A matter of evolution," Sept. 1).

I have so many things to say that it is hard to put together a short response to what is tantamount to nothing but hearsay, conjecture and a bunch of unfounded statements. It seems to me that you are trying to lay the groundwork for some rapist to have a loophole to excuse the inexcusable.

Rape is an act of violence! How you drew a direct line from legalizing prostitution and reducing the number of rapes is mind-boggling. Most studies in rape prove that a person that rapes isn't looking for sexual gratification, but is looking for a way to dominate, control and oppress their victim.

You state, "One cannot justify rape, but scientists can understand male behavior being influenced by this secretion." And I would have to ask, first, how does anyone "understand" this type of behavior? Second, what secretion are you referring to and what data or proof are you basing it on? And third, in all reality who cares?

In no uncertain terms does any individual deserve or ask (consciously or subconsciously) to be raped? Even if for a moment I gave credence to your very loose hypothesis that women secrete a pheromone designed to attract males, it in no way excuses the male from controlling his actions or reactions.

You stated that "… scientists have not yet developed a hormone, nor do they intend to, that counteracts this essence," and my response would be thank God! We do not need another pill or drug that supposedly fixes people. Each individual needs to take responsibility for his actions and quit looking for something or someone to blame.

I sincerely hope others respond to your letter as I have with complete repulsion and utter disbelief.

Rhonda Felde, Albany

A doubter in Obama country

It is time to do some deep thinking. I realize that Oregon is an Obama country but for the life of me I cannot figure out why. Racist ministers as mentors, terrorists as friends, crooks as friends. Does this not mean anything? Can they really be overlooked in a person who is seeking the highest office in the land?

For those of you who are voting for Senator Obama because he is black and you will be a part of history making, you are foolish. For those of you who are voting for him to prove to yourself and those around you that you are not racist, you are proving the exact opposite.

The Democratic cry now is that Senator McCain's running mate is not qualified to be president and that is asinine. Senator Obama is not qualified to be vice-president and he is running for president. Senator Clinton, President Clinton and Obama's running mate have all stated that Senator Obama is not ready to be president.

The other thing to think about is that if Senator Obama does become president and the Congress and Senate are majority Democrat, then this country may hit a low that we may not climb back out of.

It may be the demise of the Democratic party. The last four years have proven that the Democratic majority cannot solve any problems, big or small, and blaming that on the president is a joke.

But the most important thing to remember is that if Senator McCain becomes president, at his age he probably will not run again in four years and then we can all be a part of history in the making. Senator Clinton will raise her head once again and we will have a woman versus a woman running for that cherished spot, the leader of the greatest country in the world.

If Senator Obama gets elected we may just be another third world country in four years and Senator Clinton will not want it.

Larry Crompton, Scio

A family's sadness

A month ago, we lost two members of our family to a car accident. Garrett and Kegan Lukesic who had only reached the ages of 6 and 3. Their father, Chris, was also lost. We are deeply saddened by this event; it has changed our lives forever, more than we could have ever imagined. We have been amazed at the amount of support, prayers and assistance that we have received. There have been so many businesses and individuals involved that we cannot name them all. We will be forever grateful for your kindness in our great time of need. Thank you.

Family of Bendina Hibbert, Albany

By the numbers

I read with disappointment the article in Monday's issue describing the "academic emergency" declared by Lebanon's School Superintendent Jim Robinson. The quoted figures of 47 percent of students failing algebra 1 with another 21 percent squeaking by with a D are dismal on their own.

To add insult to injury, today I was reading an online edition of the London Times describing two modified math tests given in Japan with passing results of 89 and 69 percent. Now I realize we've gotten used to seeing test results showing Asian students excelling in math. The sad thing is that these two tests were given to Asian elephants in the Tokyo and Kyoto zoos, respectively. Apparently the Kyoto zoo workers were not as adept in "teaching to the exam."

According to that article, some experts theorize that this counting ability may come from the herd lifestyle of these animals in the wild.

This would be a pachyderm version of "No Calf Left Behind."

Ted Salmons, Lebanon