(The following letter was submitted two days after an apparent suicide/drug-abuse overdose, and a week after the author had submitted an article addressing potential holiday suicides/drug experimentation)

November 25, 2007
Letter to editor
Altoona Mirror
301 Cayuga Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602 FAX to OPINION PAGE
814-946-7540
Dear editor:

Your Sports page article of last Tuesday, Nov. 20th, about the death of Joshua Hayes, son of coach Hayes and his wife, Victoria, was interesting. He just up and died, is all I can gather from your story -- no illness, no accident -- just spontaneous death. The reporter raises more questions than he answers. I'm guessing that it was either suicide or drug overdose -- topics that are politically incorrect to talk about in the local news. Anyway, who is the Mirror protecting, the family or the readership? (probably both.)

Questions of why people fear, or why young people take their own life, piques my curiosity. I recently sent a two page list to Neil Rudel, of items addressing possible causes concerning these all-too-often human failings (especially during the holiday season). I thought my ideas might make some impact on a newsman, but I have yet to receive a reply, or see them printed. The list didn't even make the Religion Section where metaphysical news usually appears. Probably Rudel thinks my list is too off-the-wall to be taken seriously; but then, how seriously should anyone take the Religion Section? Sometimes, news pertaining to religion is included there -- but there's very little of that. Even if my views on religion amount to babble, I would be in good company on those pages -- just the flip side of the coin. The Mirror would be more credible if it were more inclusive.

What I'm trying to say is our youth are conflicted: about what they see and experience in the real world, as opposed to what the clergy defines, with infinitesimal exactitude, a heaven up yonder -- beyond the reach of thinking people. Wouldn't it be better to have dialogue in the community -- to confront our dilemma instead of shelving, hiding, and ignoring same?

Ron Stauffer

(The list referred to in the above letter appears on our WORLD PEACE Page, entitled "A New Reformation." This is just another example of the box humanity has put itself in. A box with no way out! It used to be that the news media were our eyes on the government and the betterment of society. Today, the media is more fearful of its bottomline -- be damned to society's betterment)


Altoona Mirror'CLE Letters
July 4, 2005
RE: News worthy reports
7-03-05 Daily Mirror'CLE
Dear Editor:

WOW! First time in print -- and it happened here in Altoona, PA. But it does seem a stretch of the imagination, even here, that the impending civil war in Iraq will be eminent (header on front page of "B" section). Eminent in what way? I guess it will be eminent because Iraq Muslims will be killing other Muslims, resulting in less Muslims to resist the Christian proselytizers that are sure to fill the vacuum. Of course, this might be a typographical error, like another article that referred to the FAA as the Federal Aviation Association, or the sentences missing words in yet another article. What really are the facts in yesterday's paper-- as it seems George Bush's dumbing down of America is really takin' holt? Not twicet but three times (maybe more) big errors have krept inter de Mirror'CLE!!

Following is a selection of erudite stories the Mirror'CLE maybe should follow up on:

U. S. STUDENTS LEAD WORLD IN STAR WARS KNOWLEDGE,
Department of Education Hails New Test Scores

RUNAWAY BRIDE STRAYS INTO WHITE HOUSE AIR SPACE,
President Unharmed

CREATIONIST CHALLENGES THE TEACHING OF WATER'S FREEZING POINT
"It's just a theory," Mr. Heebee says

GROUP SEEKS BAN OF 20TH CENTURY FROM KANSAS SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS
"Are we really, really sure that it happened?" Spokesperson Heebee asks

THE EARTH TRULY IS FLAT!
Recent Studies From Kansas Confirm

Reading some commentary in recent editions of the Mirror'CLE, it is evident that a veil of feel-good rhetoric is being espoused about the non-vulnerable existence of the Ten Commandments on local public lands. Since the ruling of the Texas case cited numerous other examples of legal and State history in the same venue, where are these other examples of diversity at City Hall or the Clearfield Courthouse? It indeed would be a MIRACLE if they suddenly appeared. But then, to hope for government neutrality in the Ten C issue may still be too much.

Tryin' to be helpful,
Ron Stauffer




Altoona Mirror'CLE Letters
P.O.Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603

RE: Bob Herbert's
2-4-05 column
Dear Editor:

Bob Herbert's mention of examples how the First Amendment of our Constitution can be utilized in satire was excellent. Satire, after all, is the non-violent expression of one's, or a group's, dissatisfaction with what is generally accepted or promulgated, whether it be political correctness, religious zealotry, or any abuses in between. Thomas Jefferson once defended the First Amendment and whatever one might say, thusly: ". . . neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

Between compliance/complacency and physically violent action lies the universe of ideas and the degrees of agreement of any policy. Many of these ideas might seemingly be negative ones because they are represented so as to hurt the feelings of others--to make an impact! But 'hurt feelings' is not measurable and cannot be ascertained to any degree of bodily harm beyond the target's ego or vulnerability. I think that many in the news media are ultra-sensitive to their own vulnerability because of their over protection of the 'feelings' of their subscribers.

A case in point is Kimberly Douglas's letter in Friday's Mirror. Her statements are an obvious reaction to how her feelings were affected by Rhonda Holland's letter defending objective teaching of facts to school children. Her word "Malevolent' is a bit strong to use against someone citing facts to support one's philosophical position, but it is certainly admissible as long as it can be reasonably rebutted. After all, Jesus has been dead two thousand years and she hasn't gotten over it yet.

Ron Stauffer


December 30, 2004
Altoona Mirror'CLE letters
P. O. Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603

RE: Miracles

Dear editor:

On Christmas Eve, I bought a dozen green bananas (St. Patrick's Day green--that's all they had) and the next morning they were yellow. Is it a miracle if I didn't pray for the color conversion? (just trying to get a handle on this miracle thing).

I suppose it wasn't a miracle that the death toll in the Indonesian earthquake / tsunami didn't stay at 10,340 as your Monday headline reported. Now that the death toll has topped 120,000 in that disaster, will we be hearing about any more miracles like the random baby found alive while its parents are dead or still missing? From my larnin', miracles are heaven sent good, right? Now, if the parents are gone, does that mean that God wanted that child to have better parents or no parents? (just asking)

I can't help but remember your front page article, about a month ago, how dumbfounded the coroner was when she observed the undisturbed picture of Jesus hanging on the wall where two men died in a boarding house blaze. "It was a miracle," she said, and you reported it as a newsworthy observance! Some miracle that was, when obviously the god picture was posted by His followers to ward off evil--and they were struck down anyway.

I s'pose it would be too much to ask your newspaper to refrain from such speculative analysis, and just report the news objectively (and let us decide)?

Happy New Year,

Ron Stauffer


Oh, did I send this letter to the right place or should I have sent it to the Religious pages? Please be assured I won't hold my breath to see which place it appears, but Hey! I had a few extra minutes to salve my soul with this exercise of futility.



November 26,2004
Altoona Mirror'CLE letters
P. O. Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603
RE: FEAR & morality
Dear editor

Congrats to Charles C. Mowry that his candidate won the election after the most negative presidential campaign, possibly ever. His, and Tom Forr's, inference that George W. Bush was the morality candidate is highly questionable if not downright comical. The priorities of the Republican Party are strange, indeed, bringing sadness and devastation to thousands in Iraq, the loved ones of our own troops, and the jobless and poor in what used to be this great land, while the billions and billions and billions of lost fetuses--feeling no pain, unlike those REAL people mentioned above--have been swiftly removed to their God's heaven amidst the wailing consternation of nosy, fearful, and controlling losers that dominate the red states (and counties).

Why is life wasted on the Republicans and ALL fundamentalists anyway? They hate this life (that's why they have to believe there's a heaven) and want to make everyone else in it as miserable as they are. Among other things too numerous to mention, they like their women to have the mentality of a cow (consequently, they get laid about as often)-- that's why all the long faces.

For Mowry's and Forr's and Ken Brubaker's info, morality is man's humanity to their fellow man, not to their god! They seem to believe that God needs their help--more than their fellow man--at least that's the impression of a few of us 'elite' liberals that find it unnecessary to have 'faith' in a puffy white cloud. Religion, that much to do pastime that rattles on about nothing, is all about worshipping that supposed God. And THAT worship is predicated on FEAR, not any thankfulness because they are not thankful at all for this wonderful world we live in. If they respected this world, they would be more courteous to it and toward other people who live in it.

For too many, Christianity isn't a religion at all but an unwashed security banket of excuses for failure and wanton bigotry. Failure at living, certainly the fear of dying, and the failure of achieving unconditional happiness sticks in their craw, as it should.


Sincerely,



Ron Stauffer

P.S. Lest your editors, Steve Clark and Rush Limbaugh have forgotten: the Tories of Revolutionary times were the conservatives!




August 21, 2004
Altoona Mirror Letters
P.O.Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603

RE: Marianna Ashburn letter
'Mother Nature is boss' (8-21-04)
Dear Editor:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you inferring that Marianna Ashburn's God is a woman? Wow! Is she, not to mention other Christians, Muslims and Jews of this area, going to have difficulty with a non-male deity suddenly returned to the mix.

I know, I know, you, as editor, just labeled Ashburn's letter with a metaphorical descriptor (Mother nature). I should have known better when I saw 'nature' instead of Nature. But it is refreshing to this Atheist that Mother Nature still has a chance in the pantheon of deities. Maybe someday soon we might even hear some local radio station play John Lennon's 'IMAGINE' again .

The crux of Ashburn's letter is that the Interstate 99 pyrite mountain can't be moved. I'm surprised that she did not admonish PennDOT for having so little faith. Certainly enough prayer could have facilitated the movement of same (at least the fundamentalists would have claimed). Like many other "acts of God," God allowed a killer highway to be built in the valley, then he allowed the pyrite to block construction of a safer road. Other acts of God (which some may be negative) include: famine, storms, earthquakes, pestilence, droughts, politicians and cults. She infers engineers and politicians should do a better job in anticipating God's creations. But they, like preachers, rabbis and imams, are not perfect.

I would think God should shoulder some blame, but then, how can you blame someone who hasn't even been proven to exist? Some religious people say that we Atheists "hate God" (please refer to the B.C. comic strip of two Sundays ago). Not so; how can one hate something that probably doesn't exist?


Ron Stauffer



May 7, 2002
Altoona Mirror
P. O. Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603

RE: Two related articles in the 5-05-02 MIRROR
"In scandals shadow . . ." and & "Lawyer: Settlement rejection . . ."
Dear Editor:

Another broadcast through the secular press from the pulpit of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to the ongoing pedophilia cases: The Rev. Angelo Patti is quoted as saying, "They [media] should report that these are very rare cases, and there are still many good priests." With the number of priests and bishops cited for child abuse across the nation in the hundreds, "very rare" is hardly acceptable as a correct description of affected clergy. Given: 1) the Church has under-reported cases of child abuse; 2) the Church has shuffled known abusers to other unsuspecting precincts; 3) the Church has stone walled prosecutors and the media [Boston Globe] by threatening to call on God to smite the Church's enemies.

The priests' trust is that of representing (the hands of) Christ. They are above the law because they are supposed to be the moral root of all law. It is subtle intimidation through fear of supernatural spirits that maintains their aloofness and aura. It is a trust like none other, representing God no less! When that trust is abused it is like a sword against unarmed innocents. Such behavior is not tolerated among us mortals, and now it is time to reign in the privileged and pampered clergy for they have shown us how dismally mortal they can be too.

And now the Catholic Church in Boston (or was it Rome) has found it convenient to renege on an already agreed upon settlement of claims against several priests in the Boston area. As an Atheist, this chaos and mumbo jumbo I would find to be hilarious if it were not so very sad. Dick and Jane and Spot watch Cardinal Law get a one way ticket to Vatican City to escape prosecution and help choose the next pope.


--A SAMPLE NEWS PAGE DISTRIBUTED AT THE 2003 KEYSTONE COUNTRY FESTIVAL--

HALLELUJAH!
Government and Religion Merge!

In an effort to guarantee high moral standards in the City of Altoona, Council voted Wednesday evening to add a cross to the top of City Hall. The building will be renamed the Altoona City Church. Work is expected to be completed by April of 2004, in time for the observance of Easter, now an official city holy day.
Henceforth, according to Councilmen Mayne Hippocrite and Breath d'Fishe, Altoona residents will enjoy reduced taxes, a lower crime rate, better health, happier marriages and greater prosperity.
Residents may stop by the Code Enforcement Office for their free miniature crosses. Note: Non-Christian talismans are not available. Phylacteries, four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, rabbits' feet, pentacles and other charms (if not forbidden by ordinance) must be obtained elsewhere.


Artist's representation of the cross to be added to the newly christened "Altoona City Church."
Council members chose this model after hours of prayerful consideration.

Don't miss
the upcoming Debate:

C R E T I N I S M
v s
E V I L U T I O N

Watch for details in
The Altoona Mirror'cle
_______________________
LOTTERY & OTHER GAMBLING NEWS:

Evil Demoncrat, Governor Ed Rendell, pushes for slots in the state. God-fearing Christians won't stand for this!

Your daily number: 666
(It's okay -- benefits seniors!)

Don't forget: St. Michael's Basilica Bingo! Purse is $8,000 for Wednesday. Only $50 per card!

(Proceeds benefit the Diocesan
Pedophile Priests Defense Fund.)


ADVERTISING POLICY

- Churches welcome!
- No heretics will be permitted to advertise.
- No godless (pre-1954) currency accepted! (Atheist money is worthless!)

At the Altoona Mirror'cle,
- In God We Trust! And we beg:
- God Bless America!
- God Damn Nonbelievers!


MANAGING EDITOR CHOOSES NEW LOGO!

After several months of brainstorming among the editors of the various departments of the Altoona Mirror'cle, a decision was reached late yesterday in the selection of an official logo.
Because of the Mirror'cle's longstanding policy of ignoring those facts of life which it finds unpalatable (and hoping they will "just go away"), it was decided that the ostrich best represents its philosophy.
Watch next week's papers for details of the NAME THE OSTRICH CONTEST.

-- The First Place Prize will be an expense-paid trip for two to Disney World, where the winners can compare Walt's idea of Fantasy Land with that portrayed daily in their hometown newspaper!

-- The Second Place winner will receive four non-transferable tickets to S&M Preacher Mike L. Robberson's glued-to-your-seat "Torture and Death of Jesus" monologue. (Parents: This is rated PG13, but violence in the name of Jesus is perfectly acceptable.)

-- The Third Place winner will receive a one-month newspaper subscription.


PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS, APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NIXONS!

Washington (AP). With a few strokes of his pen, President Bush today will be remembered by generations to come as the leader who reduced the prison population, reinforced the Faith-Based Initiative and brought health care to all Americans.
Bush, upon hearing of the plight of Altoona's own Dennis and Lorie Nixon, granted them an immediate and unconditional pardon for the death of their 17-year-old daughter, Shannon. The Nixons are members of Faith Tabernacle Church (motto: "We love our children to death!"). In his announcement, Bush said, "This deserving couple is the obvious choice to head PILL (Prayerful Intervention Leads to Longevity), the government's new, if not exciting, health care program."
[Direct prayers will not be answered. You must be enrolled in this government-sponsored plan. Applications may be requested by e-mail at deathsdoor@pill.gov.]

Ron Stauffer
250 Snyder Creek Road
New Enterprise, PA 16664
(814) 766-3343
July 2, 2001
Altoona Mirror
P. O. Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603

Dear Editor:

Commenting on Cal Wiedemann's letter of June 29, Jesus is grand for those who find comfort in his pastoral message. But those championing Wiedemann's religion are very casual about monopolizing the word "truth" Webster's Collegiate also describes truth as: "the property of being in accord with fact or reality." There is nothing factual or real about religious spirituality except for the self-delusion it creates! No wonder there are so many teen suicides--kids trying to differentiate reality from delusion in their thinking process.

Indeed, all religions (33,800 Christian denominations alone, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia, 2001), proselytize their own version of truth. It doesn't require a mind capable of designing rockets to be suspicious of why there are so many differences of opinion (OPINION, not truth, I dare say).

The real hope for the world is education, less fear and more understanding. Enlightenment through science (the great equalizer--having no agenda BUT veracity) diminishes the shadows of superstitious fear and delusion. To paraphrase a popular movie about Marines: I don't believe religious zealots can handle the REAL truth.

Concerning our flag (Robert C. Miller's letter of today), how can anyone presume the value of a symbol in another person's mind? Is that not one of our freedoms? The flag is viewed by each of us in probably different ways and not necessarily in lock-step sameness. Even the act of burning the flag (a symbol) should be considered as an escape valve to the violent alternative of destroying life, limb or property.

Sincerely,

Ron Stauffer