Published: February 28, 2008 09:53 am      

Letters for February 28, 2008

Support our local farmers

The Feb. 18 article titled "200 hear ideas to promote local food" prompts me to commend the Environmental Work Group for organizing the Farmers' Speak-Out. As an advocate for, and consumer of, local farm products, I appreciate The Daily Star highlighting the issue. Let me also note some state efforts to promote locally grown foods.

Since 1988, families enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children Program and low-income senior citizens have been able to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets throughout the state.

Although food stamp benefits can be used at farmers' markets, it's not happening. That's why we're promoting the use of wireless technology at farmers' markets so food stamp/EBT participants can take advantage of farmers' markets.

Farm to School legislation authorized the purchase of New York farm products by schools, universities and other educational institutions. It's been instrumental in ensuring that local farm products reach our school cafeterias, benefiting children and farmers alike.

I was able to secure a Senate grant last year to help provide heat for Cooperstown's farmers' market so it could sell fresh, local products during colder months.

There's more to be done, and I would even encourage people to use a portion of their federal rebates on locally grown foods.

That's good for farmers, families and our local economy. Good job, Environmental Work Group, for bringing the issue to the fore.

Sen. James L. Seward

Oneonta

Seward represents the 51st State Senate District.

Soldiers aren't `gangsters'

I am going to get straight to the point ... "Unverifiable accusations of behavior?" I count three in a recent letter from James "Jim" O'Leary in Delhi. I'll get to the most unverifiable in a second. Let the anger build, please. One million dead, 2 million displaced, James? What, did you set up a turnstile at the Iraqi border? Go to all the morgues and start counting? Thanks for rounding it off; though, it does add effect. While this is no argument to the fact people have died in Iraq and people have been displaced, I do think your numbers are a bit "unverifiable." I understand this is an opinion section so please don't cloud it with unverified alleged facts.

My real disgust is with your "gangsters of capitalism" blast. The job of the brave men and women of our armed forces is not to make policy. The armed forces is an all-volunteer force that proudly protects your freedoms. Without them, James, your letter would be written in some mix of German, Japanese and English. The men and women of the armed forces serve not for the policies of a mixed-up government but so that people such as yourself can take propaganda you have read on the Internet put it into a letter. You object to the war, good! No one likes to see people die, but to call the young men and women who gave their lives serving this great country "gangsters" is weak and cowardly.

Next time you see Old Glory flying above, you bow your head and think not about any war but, about the men and women whose blood made those stripes red.

Ryan Bauman

Oneonta

Research more on sharia law

Kathleen Parker is as entitled as anyone to her opinion (Wednesday, Feb. 20). But one would hope that a nationally syndicated columnist would base that opinion on fact _ not on popular misconceptions.

Honor killings are not part of sharia law. Thugs, terrorists, bullies, CIA-backed and/or self-made strongmen, dictators and warlords, bearded schoolboys with big guns, various street hoodlums and misogynists are not religious authorities, spokespeople, representatives or exemplars of Islam.

If Ms. Parker wants to be taken seriously, she really needs to get beyond this myopic and immature understanding. There is plenty of information available about Islam for a serious-thinking person to build credible support for her opinion without relying on ignorant hearsay. If she would do her research, she might discover that sharia is arguably more fair than constitutional or common law in that extenuating circumstances are routinely considered and that witnesses are usually (if not always) required when there is no admission of guilt. I remember a question in the catechism about the man who stole bread to feed his hungry children. A Muslim judge (qadi) might have a different and interesting slant on the situation.

It is said that the severity of punishment in sharia is to prevent people from choosing a life of crime in the first place, as opposed to burdening society with supporting millions of criminals behind bars. A discussion of this point would be a more intelligent conversation than what Ms. Parker offered.

It really is tiresome to see the same, old, lame talking points about Islam spouted time and again by people who are given a platform from which to speak and influence readers' thinking.

Meryem Brawley-Fuat

Sidney Center

Brawley-Fuat is a member of a Sufi community in Sidney Center.