Letters to the Editor

10.30.13

COVER STORY,  OCT. 23: 
"WALMARTIANS"

ARE THEY OUT THERE?

SFR helps me stay on top of news that isn't even considered by the others. The Walmartians story is a decent look inside something I've wondered about for years.

 PABLO
SFREPORTER.COM

NEWS, OCT. 23:
"INSURGENCY"

DEAR DAVID

I could support this guy [David Clements]. It would depend on how he answers this question:  Do you support Sen. Ted Cruz and his attempt to defund Obamacare, and would you be willing to shutdown the government and cause fiscal default to accomplish it?

ROBIN FRANKE
SFREPORTER.COM

COVER, OCT. 16:
"VAPOR TRAIL"

CLARIFYING

I think you did a great service to all by opening up the debate about the e-cig. Some interesting opinions are expressed in the opinions page. I think it's worth clarifying, directed at Richard Dean Jacob [opinion, Oct. 23: "Over The Top"], that the e-cig is an excellent alternative to smoking, and a great way to quit. But a different point is being made by dad Will McDonald [opinion, Oct. 23: "Hot Topic"], that giving kids a "safe way" to get into smoking is not doing them any favors, only the companies producing and selling the devices.

NICOLLE JENSEN
SANTA FE

E-MOVEMENT

Great article! We at Vapor Werks are proud to be part of this movement. Thank you SFR for shedding some light on this subject. It's amazing how some of our customers have had life changing experiences with e-cigs.

LELAND TITUS
SFREPORTER.COM

COVER STORY,  OCT. 9: 
"RED TAPE: ABORTION ACCESS UNDER FIRE"

YIKES

Oh! My! God! I was absolutely appalled by [the last weeks] cover picture of a naked woman sitting in the spotlight with her hands bound. I thought it was such a poor choice in image. Being a feminist (which now-a-days needs to be clarified as not a "man hater" which so many erroneously think), and a firm believer in the need for a new women's movement, I found the image to be extremely offensive. The image depicts a woman naked (not necessary), bound (disempowering) and slouching in the spotlight (as if a sex slave) with what looks like spectators circling her. The article itself was a great exposé on the continuing threat to women's rights, especially of our bodies. However, the cover art was, to me, more akin to pornography (which is itself a perpetuation in the objectification and disempowerment of women, and now even girls) than it was of a woman and her body literally and figuratively (attempting) to be held hostage by the ridiculously out of touch right wing.

With more and more people today being positively and/or negatively influenced by what they see and hear in the media, it seems ever more important to be oh so careful with the images chosen. Yikes! Poor, poor taste in this one. Provocative? Yes. But to this 42-year-old, educated, kindhearted and fair-minded woman, it was negatively so.

LISA CANFIELD
SANTA FE

BACK IN TIME

Being almost 70 years old, I have to relate the story of living in California 50 years ago, being 18 (or there about) and getting an abortion in Tijuana, Mexico. I damn near died. Not only was it grossly painful, the abortionist didn't get it all out. Consequently, for about two weeks after, I bled huge lumps of matter, went into kidney failure and was put into the hospital for a month.

Cortisone came out about that time and it saved my life. Women did die of abortion during those times, quite needlessly. Which is my main concern with this issue. These overzealous groups are not going to stop abortion. They are merely hindering the safe process of a legal abortion.

Abortion does not cause depression, cancer or infertility when it is safe and legal. And my thoughts are this: I fervently hope and wish no one of my sex ever has to go through what I went through so long ago, but it looks like we are heading that way again.

ANGEL DIXON
TESUQUE

DIFFICULT DECISION

What a relief it was to see the recent letter from Anonymous [opinion, Oct. 23: "That's Life"] and to read such a well-thought out and logical response to previous shaming and blaming that others have attempted to relate to us all.

Of all the women I have ever known, even before abortion became legal in 1973, I've only talked to one who did regret her decision to have an abortion (when it was illegal) and it was because, as it turned out, she never had any children. She admitted that it was the right decision at the time however, and was strongly pro-choice.

I believe this reiterates the personal decision and how difficult the decision is for any woman, whether she has never had a child, doesn't want children or has four children.

There was a bumper sticker that said  "Against Abortion? Don't Have One." I actually prefer to wear my button that says "Every Child A Wanted Child" which I gave to my older daughter not too long before she gave birth to my granddaughter.

What it comes down to? Each woman, along with her partner, family, doctor and her faith, should be able to make this very personal decision.

The insulting, unlawful, shaming and uneducated 20-week abortion ban to be voted on in Albuquerque next month should simply remind us how dangerous a fanatical segment of a misguided group can attempt to have the power to demean women who might possibly have to make a difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy when extreme abnormalities are present.

Women simply do not consider an abortion at 20 weeks unless there are very, very serious complications or abnormalities. The bill does not include rape and incest, so voting against it would leave the present law in place.

To help the pro-choice community in our state defeat this unnecessary bill contact RespectABQ
Women.org.

DANA MIDDLETON
SANTA FE

RESTAURANT GUIDE 2013: 
"TOP TEN RESTAURANTS"

PEAS AND LOVE

We are extremely honored and thrilled to be selected as one of SFR's Top Ten restaurants! The last few days our customers have been congratulating us and we've been seeing many new faces at Sweetwater, due to your pick.  Please accept our most sincere appreciation! We are even more motivated, and hope to serve the Santa Fe community with healthy and yummy food for a long, long time.

FIONA WONG
SWEETWATER HARVEST KITCHEN

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