Letters to the Editor - Lakeville Journal - 9-20-18

A turnaround after a medical procedure goes wrong

Last January, I had a routine colonoscopy, my first one. There was nothing wrong with me, but at age 52, it was recommended by my doctor. I am strongly committed to my health and wellness, so I agreed.

The procedure resulted in a perforation and a painful and horrifying chain of events that almost took my life.

That’s not, however, what this letter is about. This letter is to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Joseph Catania and Dr. Mustafa Ugurlu at Sharon Hospital. Together, they did an emergency colostomy surgery and months later a reversal surgery. If that wasn’t enough, I later developed a huge hernia, which they repaired as well.

Today I feel wonderful. I am creating my art and enjoying my family. The brightness is back in my eyes and I can laugh again.

Right here in our little corner of the state, we have brilliant surgeons and by the grace of God, they were mine. Thank you!

I don’t want to discourage anyone from having a colonoscopy, in that they do save lives. But know the risks. Do your own research and make your own decision. Going forward, I will be very cautious of anything called “routine.” 

Again, with gratitude.

Treasa Pattison

Cornwall Bridge

The Federalist Society exposed

President Donald Trump is on the way to an all-time record number of appointments of federal judgeships — all picked from lists of candidates vetted and promoted by the arch-conservative Federalist Society. He is thus packing the federal courts at every level with like-minded conservative ideologues who will be with us long after Trump has exited the political stage.

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, as it is officially known, claims to be dedicated to nominating judges that are “committed originalists and textualists,” particularly in interpreting the U.S. Constitution. Presumably that means committed to what the framers of the U.S. Constitution originally meant and the words they actually wrote.

If there are two things the Federalist Society is definitely not, it is “originalist” or “textualist.”    For example, the Federalist Society is fundamentally opposed to what they call “El Welfare,” that is, social programs in any form, from food stamps and minimum wages to public health and public education that benefit “ordinary” Americans. This is despite the written assertion in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution  that the very purpose of constitutional government is “to promote the General Welfare.” Can there be any doubt about the clear meaning of these original written words?

If the Federalist Society were “originalist and textualist,” they couldn’t possibly assert the false concept that corporations are “Persons” with all the rights of flesh-and-blood human persons, including having “religious” beliefs, or equating payment of money with free speech. Nothing in the text of the Constitution or in the writings and original thinking of the framers suggests any such thing. There is no mention of corporations or capitalism. By “Persons” the framers meant and wrote “Persons,” the original meaning of which was human beings, not artificial constructs such as corporations.  

Furthermore, if the Federalist Society were “originalists and textualists,” then the Second Amendment right “to bear arms” would be subject to safety regulations  and the declared need of a “well-regulated Militia.” The Society wouldn’t tolerate human rights violations or align itself with those who deny suffrage, that is, the equal right of all Americans to vote. 

The Society would have nothing to say about gay marriage or a woman’s “right to choose” (the litmus test of Roe v.Wade),  because the original written U.S. Constitution has nothing to say about that level of moral or political controversy. On every one of these issues, the Federalist Society and the candidates they propose are on the wrong side of constitutional democracy.

The truth is that the Federalist Society has embraced “judicial activism”on steroids, but they just call it by a different name. The candidates they put forward for judgeships are no doubt “qualified” in the technical sense, but they are potential participants in a long-festering right-wing conspiracy against constitutional democracy in America.  Whenever the Federalist Society promotes anyone or any thing, you know you have a challenging problem:  How to save democracy in America.

Tony Piel 

Sharon

Kavanaugh allegation: Who’s the victim here?

The 11th-hour charge of sexual misconduct 35 years ago against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh seems too predictable, too pat.

The woman, Christine Blasey Ford, then 15 years old, claims Kavanaugh, then 17, drunkenly groped her and tried to remove her clothes at a teen party. She even says he might have killed her.

Killed her? Really? Well then, he obviously shouldn’t be on the court but on trial.

Ms. Ford wanted to be anonymous, but with time running out, she came forward. The “neutral” press backs her all the way by publishing scowling images of Kavanaugh over the story, and lecturing us that any questioning of Ms. Ford’s motives or character is “shaming” the “victim.”

Sorry, but if Kavanaugh’s character is under question, as Ms. Ford alleges, then so is hers. For one thing, she’s a Democrat who admittedly doesn’t want him on the court. For another, her uncorroborated story was saved as a last minute Hail Mary if all else failed to halt Kavanaugh’s nomination.

But unless something provable comes to light, he should be seated. His conduct as an adult says more about his character than an alleged incident at a teen drinking party.

In recent years, the Obama administration helped railroad many males who were falsely accused of campus assaults. Hillary Clinton insisted that women should automatically be believed in such cases.

No they shouldn’t. Cross examination of the accuser is both proper and necessary, despite what Hillary and Anita Hill say.

Our sainted news organizations are labeling Ms. Ford a “victim.” That is grossly unfair pre-judging. All the more reason to make Kavanaugh a justice so he can show them what real judging looks like.

Mark Godburn

Norfolk

Don’t miss the WWI exhibit in Salisbury

The current (newly opened) World War I exhibit at the Salisbury Association is excellent.  Lou Bucceri’s talk at the Scoville Library on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 15, provided an insightful look at what was involved in ferreting out the connection Salisbury has with World War I.

The exhibit thoughtfully tells what life was like during this period, and how the town’s many community organizations supported the war effort. Lou Bucceri deserves our gratitude for taking on and organizing this endeavor. He enlisted the help of some very talented community members to assist him.

More than one visit to the exhibit will be helpful to fully appreciating how much the people of Salisbury came together to aid in the war effort.

Thank you, Lou.

William Kellett

Salisbury 

Some reasons to vote for Horn

I will vote for Maria Horn for the 64th District of the Connecticut state House, because she is not endorsed by the NRA, although her opponent is.  While the NRA once promoted gun safety now it promotes gun sales.That doesn’t improve school safety or public safety.

In 2016, her opponent’s campaign was backed by independent spending from a PAC supported by Sheldon Adelson, of gambling fame. Mr. Adelson was Donald Trump’s largest campaign donor. Why should he, who doesn’t live in Connecticut, have influence over our local government through advertising? I find this distasteful. My vote is not for sale.

Brian Ohler voted against an act (HB 5421) that would have the president elected by the national popular vote, and not the Electoral College, an act which passed the Connecticut House. The Electoral College is a remnant of our slave-owning nation and not relevant today. I disagree with Mr. Ohler’s vote on that matter and others.

Maria Horn is a well-educated woman with banking experience and a law degree. She is an excellent listener. She has been a federal prosecutor and has successfully defended the rights of disadvantaged persons.

We need more women, mothers and Democrats in our government, in my opinion. Maria is all of those. Let’s put her in the General Assembly.

Malcolm Brown

Sharon

Greater support needed for victims of abuse

For all the professionals and lay people who have been aware of abuse in all its many miserable forms but did not know what to do or chose to “do nothing” or felt “it wouldn’t make it better or have an impact,” there were  some who tried to get the word out that “abuse is not okay and you should tell someone and keep telling until someone believes you.” 

That is a healing message. However, it’s not that simple. Every decade has its dynamics that allow people who want to break boundaries and laws, see what they can get away with, and even more, “blame the victim” or say it was a mutually involved situation.

There needs to be much more national and statewide education and outreach on the many facets of violations of one’s boundaries — socially, physically, sexually, financially, legally and more. The book, “Courage to Heal,” by Ellen Bass and Lauren Davis would be a helpful resource for every library to have. The ways for a person to heal may differ in terms of whether and what they disclose to family, friends or authorities. The recent talk at Kent Presents (with Lisa Bloom), and which will be online, shared that most victims know their abusers and even maintain some interaction with them due to proximity and social connections. She also shared that a very small percent of rape cases ever result in a conviction.

Sharing any information about abuse in terms of disclosing the name of the victim needs to be carefully reviewed in terms of having their legal consent to do so and considering the backlash they may receive. Some experts have suggested that until the proper systems are in place to address the responses of a minor’s family or other social repercussions, that “just telling” may not be the best strategy. 

The late Karen Kisslinger created one of the first videos in the USA to encourage disclosure called Critter Jitters. She and I were interviewed about that in the 1990s in a lengthy piece in The Millerton News in New York state.–

I have always tried to encourage more practical education and outreach along these lines for people of all ages. People from all parts of the society need to work together on such matters, whether within town or county or even wider interstate efforts (so people can learn of the various approaches to help people legally but also practically.) 

Most cases likely won’t be disclosed, so offering help in a variety of settings and reminding people “at every corner” on the road and in life about their rights and ways to stay safe in many ways makes sense. 

I promote such outreach on my blog “livfully,” where resources and ideas for prevention and comprehension and healing on many levels are shared. I can be reached at cathpalmercares@gmail.com to discuss more ways we can network and address concerns.

Catherine Palmer Paton

Falls Village