Letters to the Editor:

We need to find creative solutions, rather than legalize abortion

As an emergency medicine physician, I am blessed with the opportunity to care for persons presenting with any problem imaginable and participate in bringing the resources of the community to bear in helping to restore integrity to the whole of the human persons in our care. This is quite a community effort and something that we can all be proud of in that we as a community affirm the worth of each human person in this endeavor.

I frequently care for pregnant mothers, especially those in the first trimester — sometimes determining if they are having a miscarriage or possible ectopic pregnancy. Occasionally, the ultrasound shows evidence of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. In these cases, a surgical or medical intervention may be needed which is never an elective abortion but a medically indicated procedure.

Proposition 3 seeks to undermine a fundamental truth about our very selves. It undermines who we are and what we are capable of. I have the blessing of daily watching dedicated persons work at finding ways to creatively care for our family members with limited resources that make us all better in the process.

Proposition 3 seeks to state that we are not capable of helping those in our communities who are in need and that the best that our imagination has to offer is to establish in our constitution a right to destroy innocent human life when we find that life challenging to us individually and as a community.

Proposition 3 goes far beyond Roe and seeks to establish a fundamental right to abortion for persons of any age that is above all other rights. Fundamental rights in law supersede other rights including parental rights. Proposition 3 could include abortion in the third trimester. We are better than this.

Michael Page, MDHolland

How to know if you should vote Republican

Why should Christians who live in a democracy participate? … As we participate in that democracy, we prayerfully follow biblical guidelines that God has given us to recognize true leaders. People will disappoint us, they will not keep their word to us! (We have witnessed that repeatedly recently just watching the current administration and legislative representatives’ actions.) However, in a democratic society, we have freedom to demand that they keep their word and that they follow through on their commitments. (When they don’t, we must make other choices in who we want to represent us.) — Taken from MyFaithVotes.org, “Voting Guide, Think, Pray, Act”

Let me encourage you. We live for such a time as this. We must look at the issues confronting us and pray. We currently have two main parties and, in the past, I would not look at the party affiliations as much as at the individual candidates. Today, they are so closely aligned, it makes it simple.

If you want continued rising inflation, empty store shelves, gas prices doubling again, your 401k losing value, and more economic problems, vote Democrat.

If you want millions more illegal immigrants and drugs flooding our southern border, vote Democrat.

If you want to have your business or school or church shut down again if there is another declared pandemic, vote Democrat.

Or if you’d like to see America begin to be restored to a place of greatness, and Michigan to a place of leadership in the nation, vote for the Republican candidates and vote "no" on all three proposed constitutional amendments.

Sally EdwardWest Olive

Nobody likes abortions

The topic of abortion conjures up many feelings. None of them positive.

There is fear of personal invasion, of pain, of physical injury or even death. Psychological stresses are overwhelming, making this very problem difficult or even impossible to explain to others. Then there is the added strong social negativity over abortions. A woman fears that even their closest loved ones may condemn and reject them.

So why do so many women still have abortions? It is definitely not because these women are mentally unbalanced, thinking irrationally or forced into it. It is because: THE ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION ARE MUCH WORSE. There are so many alternatives and some so severely life-changing as to make not a few women risk their lives — or lose their life — getting one.

As a retired Holland obstetrician/gynecologist with a concentration in infertility, I understand how complicated and very personal these decisions are. I realize making life-changing decisions concerning stroke, heart attacks, cancer, divorce and financial collapse need experts for guidance.

Experts don’t force women to do things. They help the woman to decide herself. It is called the freedom of choice. I have never heard of anyone with these life-altering decisions consult their local politician. I hope I never will.

I also question the motive of those who disapprove of all forms of abortion on the grounds of saving lives/humanitarian issues.

If they are so adamant about decreasing abortions, they should work to avoid unwanted pregnancies by supporting sex education and birth control. They have done just the opposite. Look what they have done to family planning clinics and sex education classes! If they are so concerned about saving lives, shouldn’t they be all over all any basic Universal Health Care package? THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING — except oppose the concept.

Finally, funding programs for single moms, underprivileged children and homeless families should be the center stone of their humanitarian message. How deep is that void in their program?

Craig Bade, MDHolland

Michigan on the move

Under the astute leadership of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan is on the move! Without raising taxes, Whitmer has invested in our state and brought prosperity to business, workers and families. For the first time in 10 years, Michigan’s bond rating has been raised. Roads and bridges are being repaired throughout the state, new factories are being built, jobs are being widely advertised, green energy facilities are being expanded and innovative medical institutes are springing up to advance health care.

As a retired Michigan school teacher, I never dreamed that schools would have their funding equalized in my lifetime. To my astonishment, Gov. Whitmer has equalized funding to public school districts across the state, passed record school aid budgets and initiated programs to promote post-secondary study. Her aim is to assist young people to obtain a skill and thus earn living wages as working adults.

Whitmer’s Future for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect programs have offered thousands of high school graduates funds for technical and community college study. Recently, the governor signed the Michigan Achievement Scholarship to provide funding for college students up to $5,500 at a public university, $4,000 for a private college and $2,750 for a community college.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is dedicated to strengthening Michigan for business and Michigan residents. Allow her investments to continue! Re-elect Gretchen Whitmer for governor in November.

Sue MaturkanichWest Olive

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: We need to find creative solutions, rather than legalize abortion