Crohn’s disease help appreciated

Regarding Frank Gray’s column “Biker hits road to raise Crohn’s disease awareness” (July 1):

Thank you to Gordon Given for his generous heart and selfless dedication to the fight for Crohn’s patients. Gray described how Given is riding his motorcycle to Alaska to raise Crohn’s awareness as a result of witnessing the effects of the disease on his co-worker.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease four years ago at age 22, but I was already familiar with the disease – my mom, two uncles and an aunt also have Crohn’s. Most people have never heard of the disease because most Crohn’s patients are too embarrassed to talk about it. Even family members have difficulty understanding its tremendous physical, emotional and psychological effects. It’s hard for people to understand that when there’s a flare-up, the patient is not just being lazy but is genuinely exhausted.

The column about Given brought tears to my eyes, and speaking with several Crohn’s patients, I know they felt the same way, too. It’s touching to know that someone really does care and understands that although the disease is not usually fatal, it is a life-altering disease that we will bear for as long as we live.

AUBREY DETTMER Huntertown

Help Mexico fight drug cartels

If you have been watching the news lately, you have heard President Obama talk about the immigration problems. But you haven’t heard him discuss the problems with the Mexican cartels that have taken control of our borders and sent tons of drugs into our country.

If the billions the U.S. has spent on Iraq and now in Afghanistan were spent helping our neighboring country, Mexico, solve its problems, particularly the drug cartels, possibly the citizens of Mexico would be happy to stay home and not cause the United States to have an immigration problem.

Possibly, President Obama is expecting to receive the Latino vote in 2012.

TOM HEINY Fort Wayne

Spoofing president part of culture

I couldn’t help but chuckle at David Kolhoff’s letter, “ ‘O’llama’ character disrespectful” (July 1), complaining about the Barack O’llama character with the Zooperstars at the Midwest League All-Star game on June 22.

I attended the game as well and sat in the section in which O’llama danced. The performance was mildly funny but certainly not “unpatriotic, un-American, shameful and embarrassing” as Kolhoff described. I heard a couple of scattered boos, but it was unclear to me whether the boos were intended for O’llama or President Obama. I did hear a few folks softly chanting, “We want Sarah.”

Poking fun at the president is a long-standing part of American culture. Just ask the writers at “Saturday Night Live.” Kolhoff should lighten up. It was a baseball game, for crying out loud. My momma always told me, “No matter what you do, somebody will always be mad about it.” She was right.

HAL ATKINSON Huntertown

Make public officials accountable

Regarding the op-ed column by the Rev. Bill McGill, “Police officer with many suspensions should be fired” (July 5):

I challenged an op-ed column by McGill in January because he did not present a fact-based case. But this time he addressed the specific example of a police officer with a horrific record of 14 suspensions in a 20-year career. Once again, the Board of Public Safety has chosen to retain rather than discharge the officer in question.

McGill’s position is that the officer should have been discharged and, having failed to make such a decision, members of the board should themselves be replaced. My response? McGill has it exactly right.

I don’t know whether it is the power of the union or the loyalty of the “blue brotherhood” that is responsible for such injustice. Regardless, lack of accountability in public officials and employees at all levels must no longer be tolerated. Our country is in a world of hurt. Credibility and accountability of public officials and the employees they oversee would go a long way toward healing the divide that has developed. Let it start at the local level.

BILL COLBY Fort Wayne