Safety Valve: Letters from readers

4 free views left!

Safety Valve: Letters from readers

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Medical research needs support

As we head into this next election season, I want to suggest that everyone learn more about the role our government has played in funding medical research and what funding levels are likely to be in the future.

I am a cancer patient receiving treatment within the scope of a research clinical trial at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, I was treated using new procedures developed over the past 10 years. Current medical research has put my cancer into remission.

My clinical trial does not include a big pharma chemo drug. Instead, the primary drug, fenretinide, was developed by the National Cancer Institute i.e. a drug that you and I helped create. Also, this clinical trial was in part paid for by U.S. government grants to researchers at cancer institutes around the country. I am a supporter of such grants. I think it’s a great investment in a healthier future for everyone. If we don’t keep learning about cancer and viable treatment options, then we can easily predict what our options will be.

Regardless of where one receives their cancer treatment, research benefits all. Until we get a Department of Cures, it’s up to us. Please consider lending your support for medical research by calling your representatives and share how important it is to you to continue funding medical research. Thank you for taking this vital step to communicate your values. Thanks!

Karen Allen

Wenatchee

Old Glory stolen

We have flown the same American flag in front of our house since we moved in three years ago. We keep a light on it at night and respect all etiquette towards the flag. As this old flag started to fade and show wear we decided to properly retire it with a ceremony which included my two young daughters so they could learn respect for our country’s flag. A new flag was hung out to replace the old one. I sewed a strip of canvas along the back edge and installed a couple of grommets so it was displayed properly. This new flag was only out for a couple days and someone came up in our yard and stole the flag and it’s pole. There has been some crime and vandalism in the neighborhood lately. We can only hope the thief can someday learn for themselves and teach their children repect and etiquette for the American flag. At this time we placed a very small inexpensive flag out in place of the missing one and haven’t decided if we want to chance having another larger one stolen again.

Brian Moir

Wenatchee

The science of homosexuality

A number of researchers have sought to find a biological cause for homosexual attraction. The media has promoted the idea that a “gay gene” has already been discovered, yet none of the much publicized studies have been scientifically replicated to show that this is the case. There is no credible scientific evidence that homosexuality is genetically determined.

This is born out in identical (monozygotic) twin studies, separated early in life, in which one twin was gay and the other was not. If genetically determined, both twins would be gay. The histories of the twins revealed environmental factors which adequately explained the development of different orientations in genetically similar children.

If there is no credible evidence that homosexual attractions are genetically determined, why has the idea received so much publicity? Several studies have suggested that when people believe that homosexuality is genetically determined and immutable, they are more likely to respond positively to demands for changes in laws, legal protection and religious teaching.

Natural law, dignity of the human person and free will are all tenets of faith in our Christian world view. Genesis teaches that God created man, male and female, in his image and likeness. Sexuality was designed by God to be enjoyed by a man and his wife in holy matrimony for the good and perpetuation of the human race. Healthy psychosexual development leads naturally to the attraction of the opposite sex. Persons should not be identified with their emotional conflicts or sinful inclinations, as though this were the essence of their identity. In the debate with the secular world view, we hold to natural law in that human beings have an essential nature, either male or female, and that since sinful inclinations, as homosexuality, are constructed, they can be deconstructed and forgiven.

Dale T. Peterson, MD

Wenatchee

» Recommend this story.

» 14 comments on this story

Want to comment on this story? All Wenatchee World members are invited to comment on stories, by using the form below. Please know that we at wenatcheeworld.com hope our site is useful, entertaining and civil. So we'll delete comments that are obscene, abusive or way off topic. We appreciate it when readers use the "suggest removal" button to flag inappropriate comments. For more about interacting with the site, see our Use Policy.

Faedrus 1 year ago

Dr. Peterson, you don't need to do a study.

Rather, just ask yourself whether you, presumably a heterosexual, have any interest in sleeping with a man.

No?

There's your proof. You're not wired for it. Homosexuals, however, are. It's not that hard to figure out.

Suz 1 year ago

To Old Glory owners. I'd go with the smaller version. It still provides a source of inspiration to you and your daughters without annoying the neighbors with a lighted pole 365 nights a year.

LTM 1 year ago

Re: Science of Homosexuality

We all have a right to an opinion about how others should behave, but conveniently choosing quotes a la carte from a religious document like it was gospel is not entirely honest. Wait a minute, it IS Gospel, but still, this is bronze age stuff and if we play by Old Testament rules, then there is a death sentence waiting for homosexual behavior (Leviticus 18:22), and I don’t think anybody really wants that either. Genetic evidence or not, gays are not likely to change in deference to conservatives, and should not be treated like they answer to a lesser god.

Annsboy 1 year ago

LTM, neither should we be expected to look the other way at what amounts to a weakness. Do we look the other way at alcoholics? no we expect them to get control of their behavior. Do we look the other way at adulters? no we frown on that behavior. But somehow we are to all approve of a deviant behavior that if the whole world practiced would depopulate the world in a single generation. Faedrus, that is not relevant. He was pointing out that through enviornmental factors and early experiences homosexuality became tolerable then desired. I have heard Shick/Shadle treats alcoholism with aversion therepy, so can homosexual tendencies be treated and eliminated if one desires change.

Norm 1 year ago

"neither should we be expected to look the other way at what amounts to a weakness."

Of course that depends on what you mean by look the other way.

"Do we look the other way at alcoholics?"

Yes, we do. As long as they are not putting others at undue risk (by driving while intoxicated, for instance) or committing some other crime or infraction, people are free to be alcoholics.

"no we expect them to get control of their behavior. Do we look the other way at adulters? no we frown on that behavior. But somehow we are to all approve of a deviant behavior"

No, you don't have to approve of anything. You can frown on it all you want to. You can expect them to change their behavior. You can say whatever you like about it. The only thing I object to is when you want to use the police powers of the state to coerce others' sexual behavior.

"that if the whole world practiced would depopulate the world in a single generation. Faedrus, that is not relevant."

Yes, your comment about depopulating the world is both ridiculous and irrelevant. If the whole world became potato farmers, there would be nobody to make shoes. This does not mean that we should outlaw the practice of becoming a potato farmer so that we don't run out of shoes. Not everybody wants to be a potato farmer and not everybody wants to be gay. I know that I don't.

"I have heard Shick/Shadle treats alcoholism with aversion therepy, so can homosexual tendencies be treated and eliminated if one desires change."

Your evidence does not even begin to support your conclusion. But supposing for a moment that your conclusion is correct, so what? You seem to be assuming that you have the authority to control other people's sex lives. You don't. If people who aren't infringing on your rights in any way don't want to change their private behavior to suit your will, you have no right to force them to do so. It is absolutely repugnant to the idea of a free people that their government should have the power to dictate their private sexual behavior.

Suz 1 year ago

Dr Peterson is a urologist. This doesn't make him an expert on homosexuality. He is also an extremely conservative Christian in his seventies which explains more about his opinions than his medical degree.

Norm 1 year ago

He's also a dedicated humanitarian. He's donated his services to the people of Haiti, the poorest people in this hemisphere, for decades and done much work for the poor here locally. I have great respect for him, even if we seem to disagree about this issue.

Annsboy 1 year ago

Norm, Norm , Norm. Is there anything you will stand up for that is decent? or do you simply waste your life defending perversion and America Haters?

Faedrus 1 year ago

Annsboy, I think some of those who comment in the WW who are a bit more moderate, tend to support the general idea of tolerance.

I mean, what if the general population weren't willing to be tolerant, for example, of those on the extreme Right?

Where would you all go to complain about "America Haters", or express other extreme views on the Right? :)

Norm 1 year ago

"Norm, Norm , Norm. Is there anything you will stand up for that is decent?"

Ask Tim.

"or do you simply waste your life defending perversion and America Haters?"

I'm not defending perversion, I'm defending freedom, which is the essence of America. In the USSR, people were perfectly free to praise their leaders and their government. But that's not freedom. Freedom to do only what the government wants you to do or even what a majority of the people want you to do isn't freedom at all. Freedom is the ability to do what you want to do, even if others think you're wrong, as long as you are not infringing on their rights.

It's not the government's job to punish people for sinning; that's God's job, and He's quite capable of handling it without our help. It's the government's job to punish people who violate others' rights.

Tim 1 year ago

"Ask Tim."

He had compassion for the Swezeys.

On this topic though...Did you ever watch A Beautiful Mind, with Russel Crowe? I think it makes a very poignant statement that once you know the truth you can overcome. When you know who the enemy is you can battle it. Scriptures teach us, the truth will set us free. Truth in Christ can free us from anything that enslaves our minds.

Annsboy 1 year ago

And Tim our point being, the so called Gay community or at least the fringe neo-gays do not think what they are doing is wrong and their demand is for the rest of society to not only tolerate, but embrace it. Whether it is adultry, fornication or homosex all are weakness to be overcome. Sure I tolerate their weakness as I hope they do mine but I won't make excuse for mine simply because it is hard to resist.