Promoting Creation Museum is worst kind of misinformation | Letters

The Earth is something like four billion years old. Dinosaurs died out nearly 65 million years before humans evolved. Our human existence spans about 300,000 years. The Grand Canyon represents a miracle millions of years in the making.

Creationism represents a dire retreat in critical thinking that will harm current and future generations. Children must be taught to think rationally, to discern information, and to distinguish between a story and a fact. Whether those who wrote biblical stories were motivated by the beliefs of the time, or were an attempt to explain the unknown, we simply know far more than they could have. We must acknowledge that, and move forward.

Alan Limke, Dayton, Ohio

Redistricting issue an effort by Democrats to elect more Democrats

Regarding, "Liberal donors give to Ohio redistricting effort," (Feb. 4): The article states, "A group trying to replace politicians with citizen mapmakers touts itself as a bipartisan solution. But most of its initial donors are liberal or left-leaning." Bipartisan solution?

The article reported that the group, Citizens Not Politicians, is aiming to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would create a 15-member citizen commission to draw statehouse and congressional districts and create stricter anti-gerrymandering rules. The group has raised $3.15 million toward its initial effort to make the ballot and most of that money came from six liberal or left-leaning groups as follows: $550,000 from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a liberal dark-money group administered by Arabella Advisors, which was founded by a former President Bill Clinton staffer; $550,000 from Article IV, a Virginia-based dark money group that backed ranked-choice voting in states like Alaska and Missouri; about $500,000 each from the American Civil Liberties Union, Ohio Education Association, Ohio Progressive Collaborative and American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

A real collection of Democratic heavyweights from Ohio and beyond. Bipartisan solution?

Chris Davey, a spokesman for Citizens Not Politicians, was quoted as saying, "Our leadership includes Republicans, Democrats, and independents." Who are the Republican leaders and what Republican organizations have donated to this effort? Mr. Davey didn't mention any. The idea of redistricting reform led by a citizen's commission may sound good, but let's call this what it honestly is, a group of Democratic organizations' efforts to elect more Democratic politicians.

Glenn Harmeyer, Colerain Township

Being 'overly patriotic' is not a bad thing

When singer-songwriter Toby Keith died of cancer, a number of left-wing media outlets couldn't wait to describe him as a "polarizing" figure and as "overly patriotic." I can understand the former comment because he didn't suffer fools, but the critics made the latter sound like a bad thing. I guess that goes along with the all-too-familiar theme of late that America is not, and never has been a great country. The naysayers might want to talk to all of the people who are lining up to get into our country legally and illegally to get their take on that subject or, better yet, see if they can enjoy life as richly in another part of the world. As for Toby, I'll be toasting him with a cold one tonight, because he was a patriot of the highest order.

Fred Nelson, Mason

Biden can solve border crisis by rescinding executive order

With all of the angst over the immigration bill pending in the U.S. Senate, I believe a junior high school student could solve the problem in an instant. All it would take would be for President Joe Biden to rescind the executive order he issued on day one of his presidency, and then enforce the laws that were on the books on that day. That would eliminate cries from Democrats that Republicans are obstinate and won't compromise on the border issue, and also eliminate criticism from Republicans that the Democrat plan of "open borders" is destroying our country. Simple.

Marvin Owens, Liberty Township

Polls not a true reflection of public opinion of candidates

It’s election season in the U.S., and for the next nine months, we will have a constant stream of presidential polls, Senate race polls and many, many more. In theory, they will give us a snapshot of public opinion of preferred candidates in the election. I disagree.

In our current media environment, we often have a dominant and polarized presentation of misinformation and disinformation full of smears and insults every day about candidates and their political parties. As a result, the political polling is really a reflection of the media source that we listen to. The political poll then measures the opinions of the distorted descriptions on their media feeds.

I would like to see a breakdown poll of opinions of presumptive voters for major races, broken down by their "primary source of news." I would suggest four main sources − listeners of BBC, of CNN, of MSNBC and of Fox News. Maybe this might help us get to work in our "democracy" of maintaining an "informed electorate" to help choose our leaders.

Bill Hirt, Dayton, Ohio   

No political party should interfere with a woman's right to choose

Donald Trump's position on abortions is clear and the impact is life-threatening. No one but a woman should have the right to choose what she does or doesn't do with her body. Any form of government or religion needs to step aside and let any female choose for herself (without any influence from) what she will do or not do with regard to abortion.

Trump's influence on the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court − with boastful acknowledgement of over turning Roe v. Wade − underscores the profound shift in the judiciary's dynamics. If, as a citizen of this country, we bow down to this kind of so-called political power, We give up our rights to choose anything in our lives. The right to make decisions on our personal well being should always be exactly that "private and personal." No, and I emphasize this, no political party should involve itself in the life of any female.

Gerald Young, Mount Healthy

McConnell isn't the same man who was reelected in 2020

Liberal Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said that he's never worked "more closely" with his counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell, than on the newly crafted immigration bill. Only the real insiders know why McConnell is selling out his party and his country so completely, but whatever the reason, he isn't the same man we reelected in 2020. Mr. McConnell, you no longer represent our values, so please give up your leadership position and then resign. You owe it to those of us who supported you for years

Nate Goodrich, Edgewood, Ky.

Vote for passage of Ohio redistricting ballot issue

Regarding the article about funding for the Citizens Not Politicians redistricting efforts, I encourage your readers to consider this: Who wants you to vote? Who wants you to have fair districts? Should politicians choose their voters or should voters elect their politicians?

As an Ohioan who wants their vote to count fairly and not be skewed by special interests or party politics, I hope your readers sign the ballot petition and vote for its passage in November. At the same time, consider who doesn’t support the power of the voter and why.

Dale Marie Pontz, Clifton Heights, University Heights, and Fairview

Symphony has audacity to ask taxpayers for money to replace Coney Island

I’ve been reading the Enquirer for a very long time and only once before have I been so motivated to actually write in. When I first read of the sale of Coney Island, specifically Sunlite Pool, I was heart sick but resigned that it was a done deal. My husband and I have been members for over 20 years, not because it’s nearby, it’s over a 30-minute drive, but because it’s such a special place to spend time. It’s a place for all ages and incomes, the common denominator is smiling faces.

What sent me to my computer was the audacity and greed of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It’s bad enough that with no transparency they purchased Coney Island to the shock and disappointed of many in the community, but they now want the taxpayers to help foot the bill. Shame on city council for supporting this. It feels like a betrayal. There are very few public pools left for families to enjoy. We are already blessed with a multitude of music venues. At the very least, find away to incorporate the pool into the plans or don’t expect us to pay for it.

Mary Lowstuter, Bridgetown

Death penalty not more expensive than life in prison

I understand letter writer Sister Carren Herring's compassion in condemning the death penalty and certainly don't condone an execution that is torturous in nature. However, she was way off base by saying that putting a person to death is more expensive than life in prison without parole and, more importantly, she has obviously never talked to the loved ones of someone who has been viciously murdered when she says, "putting a person to death shows no respect for life." The death penalty is one instance where I believe the Old Testament supersedes the New.

Larry Walton, Oxford

Trump loves drama and so do his MAGA supporters

A businessman by profession, a politician by practice and a thin-skinned fellow by nature, Donald Trump keeps the air blue with blasphemy when rivals like Republican primary contestant Nikki Haley do not bow to his wishes. He means to cut her funding by threatening her donors, not quite an auto-da-fe at the stake but an ultimatum that if her donors persist in crossing him, they will not share in the spoils of his victory in November. Absent a major judicial stumble or health emergency prior to the nominating convention in July, Mr. Trump will top the ticket, so why does he rend the air with meaningless menacing threats? Well, sir, MAGA cultists expect it and the buccaneer in him loves the drama. Ms. Haley is right, who needs the chaos?Paul Bloustein, Sycamore Township

Easy to spotlight opponent's mistakes while ignoring your own

The letter writer who chose the "bam, bam" approach ("Republicans driving nails into their own coffins") to suggest that, instead of right-wing advocacy, Republicans should move to the middle because "we're all in this together," would have gained some credibility if he'd mentioned our southern border disaster created by left-wing Democrats. It's easy to shine the spotlight on the other party's mistakes and avoid mentioning those that your own party has created. When you're willing to do both, then your argument gains some merit.

Arthur Zimmer, Loveland

Democrats try to play hero by fixing a problem they caused

Don't you just love how our present White House administration opened the border and now says that they are trying to fix the problem that they created, but their hands are tied? They are the best at creating major problems and then trying to look like heroes repairing the damage they caused in the first place.

Thomas Fester, Bridgetown

Does Congress want to secure the border or the next election?

It is time for Congress to decide whether the migrant crisis at the southern border is a problem to be solved or only a campaign issue. Does Congress want to take steps to secure the border or secure the next election? Multiple bipartisan plans to address immigration have been proposed over the past decades and all have been derailed by those seeking their own perfect solution rather than one that will at least begin to address the problem. As voters, we have an obligation to elect problem solvers and not people who don’t know how to compromise to get things done.

Kathleen Carlberg, Sharonville

Protect kids by mandating seat belts on school buses

Regarding the article regarding Ohio not mandating seat belts on school buses, of all the things in this world we cannot make right, we ignore this simple issue? According to the article, Gov. Mike DeWine felt installing bus signs, seat belts, illuminated school bus signs, cameras and LED lights were "too costly." Our children are our most precious insight into any positive outcomes we may looking at. Of all the enormous government waste that continues to go unchecked, we can't provide safety for our children going to school? What actually does Andy Wilson, the head of Ohio School Bus Safety do with his time? A recent incident involving a school bus accident killed an 11-year-old and injured 20 other students in Clark County.

Denise A. Rocklin, New Richmond

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Promoting Creation Museum is worst kind of misinformation