Letters to the Editor, Sunday, May 2, 2004

Short skirt response embodies vigil messageI am writing in response to the comment about the candlelight vigil and the girl wearing the short skirt, Journal, April 30. I am the girl who was wearing the skirt. I don?t believe that it compromised the message we are trying to get across at all; if anything, it made it stronger. The lady who wrote in to the Journal brought up a good point that my sister and her friends have been trying to get across in their sexual assault awareness projects. No matter how a woman dresses, she is not asking to be sexually assaulted! No means no, and it doesn?t matter how you got into that position ? whether it was your clothes or something you said, no means no! So I thank you, Nancy Storz, for helping us promote sexual assault awareness. Rachel Linarez AuburnState of the American River: Cause for optimism, cautionAs the community celebrates the ?State of the Community? and all the great contributions and sacrifices the various people and businesses make to enhance the quality of life we enjoy in the foothills around Auburn, we hope the American River is not forgotten. The American River watershed contributes immeasurable natural and economic value to our area through the intrinsic ecosystem services that we take for granted.The Earth Day American River Cleanup on April 24 was a testament to the community?s commitment to its American River natural heritage. Volunteers from the community, schools, youth groups, businesses, corporations, foundations and government agencies came together to take action to clean the river. And clean it they did! It was a serious, repulsive job, but everybody managed to find camaraderie and humor, as reported and photographed so skillfully in the Journal, April 25.For now the ?State of the American River? is promising. It?s been cleaned of trash. Interpretive educational opportunities are on the rise. A motivated network of groups provides trail maintenance. The Mountain Quarries Bridge has found a place on the National Register of Historic Places. The river is being restored to its natural channel by the Bureau of Reclamation and PCWA. A wonder to celebrate next year? Interestingly, the people?s love of the river and their desire to live close to it pose the next challenge. Over-development along the canyon rim now looms as a serious new threat. The City of Auburn has authorized two new dense, large subdivisions along the canyon rim. Private speculators are gouging trophy home sites in the canyons. Consider that water flowing through the proposed developments flows down to the river, taking pollutants and sediment with it.It is more important now than ever, with the increasing population pressure, that more people will need to volunteer through one of the many river/canyon affiliated groups to take good care of our American River resources. Eric Peach Conservation chairman, Protect American River CanyonsAuburn Abortion industry ignores my hidden scars of ?choice?On Sunday, April 25, the National Organization for Women marched for women?s reproductive rights, coyly called ?March for Women?s Lives.? Please be advised that I am a woman, and NOW does not represent me. In fact, it does not represent the thousands of women who join me through the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. We regret our abortions. Abortion hurt us and our families. We have to live with the emotional, spiritual, and physical pain after the clinic released us. NOW cannot validate my regret because it advocates for a business. To do so would harm their agenda. The abortion industry has made a profit off of my choice, and will continue to do so if we continue to believe that abortion is a good thing for women. I am the reality of ?reproductive rights,? and I know the real damage lies beneath the surface of this safe, legal procedure. Nurses and countless other post-abortive women can testify to the enormous number of us who are rushed to the emergency ward to deal with excessive bleeding, botched abortions, and sloppy operations. Many of us lose the ability to bear future children or have complications during pregnancy. Abortion is not as clean as NOW would have it seem.We hurt inside, too. We grieve the loss of our unborn children months, years later and the NOW agenda leaves no space in the culture to mourn; it would threaten their agenda. I want women and men out there who might be hurting to know that there is hope and healing available to you. By the grace of God and the help of others I have had peace restored to me and found the relief of forgiveness from God. I know He wants to pour the same into the hearts of everyone who hurts from abortion. Visit the web site at www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org to find resources for help. Call your local pregnancy resource center, Right to Life office, or pastor. You are not alone.I am a somber, honest voice testifying against the rally cry: Abortion hurts. Don?t do it.Suzanne ReynoldsAuburn