Many women in Pennsylvania are thankful that the Pennsylvania House had the foresight to pass House Bill 1948, a common sense piece of legislation which bans brutal dismemberment abortions and changes the legal cut-off for abortions from six months to five months.

A statewide poll last year found 64 percent of Pennsylvania women support a dismemberment ban, which forbids babies being torn, limb by limb from their mothers' wombs.

A group of ob-gyns noted that banning dismemberment abortions will actually improve the health of women, since late-term abortions are particularly dangerous.

For the sake of both women and their children, the PA Senate should take swift action on this important bill.

Sincerely,

Maria Gallagher, Leg. Dir., PA Pro-Life Federation

Of the three religions born in the Middle East; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, one has been as much of a scourge to its adherents as it has been to its antagonists. That faith is Islam. As we shall see, its holy book, the Koran, condemns it as such.

Islam is touted as the religion of peace. However, the word, “Islam,” means “to submit.” Failure to accept Islam meant death.

It is estimated that since Islam's inception in 610 AD, 270 million who did not submit were killed in the name of Allah, the moon god. In accord with the Koran, the killing of nonbelievers continues to this day.

“As for those who disbelieve, we shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned,” Koran 4:56.

“Seize them [disbelievers] and kill them wherever you find them,” Koran 4:89.

“Certainly I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides [of disbelievers], and certainly I will crucify you all,” Koran 5:33.

No one suffers as much as the women in Islam. Their treatment can only be described as barbaric.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is widely practiced in the Middle East, notably in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, in accord with Muhammad's words, Book 41, Kitab Al-Adab.

Young girls are physically restrained while their clitoris is excised and vagina is sewn together except for a small opening at the bottom. This makes intercourse an ordeal, and basic hygiene impossible.

During childbirth the vagina is cut open, the baby delivered, and the vagina is sewn together again.

It is estimated that 200,000 girls and women in the United States are at risk of FGM and that number is growing. The 2000 census found that between 1990 and 2000 the number of females threatened by this procedure increased by 35 percent.

Sharia is the legal system of Islam. It is a body of law that oversees public and private behavior as well as personal beliefs. Sharia is the most intrusive and strict body of legislation known.

Worldwide there are 1.6 billion Muslims; 1.1 billion of that faith agree that Sharia should supersede the national law in whatever country they dwell. This poses an irreconcilable conflict in host nations where Muslim enclaves are an inassimilable source of strife.

Sharia is especially restrictive regarding women's conduct and dress.

Under Sharia, there is no minimum age for marriage. Girls are married as young as 12. Muhammad married a six-year-old when he was 51. He consummated the marriage when she was nine.

Wife beating is permitted. Testimonies of four male witnesses are required to prove rape against a woman. Yet a woman who has been raped may not testify in court against her rapist(s).

Neither may a woman who is alone speak to a man who is not her husband or relative. Even simple freedoms such as driving a car are denied.

In some Muslim nations, a berka is required dress for women. A berka is a veil that covers the entire body and face with a mesh window across the eyes for vision.

Strict segregation of the sexes is part of Islamic culture. Muslim males have no contact or even basic knowledge of females. When they reach puberty, experimentation with younger boys begins. Perhaps this is why homosexuality is common even though is it a crime under Sharia. Bacha bazi is an example of how Sharia is honored in the breach.

Bacha bazi translated means “playing with boys.” The boys dress as women and dance at a private party before a group of men. The onlookers bid for a night with one of the boys. Like many practices in Muslin nations---and for that matter in our society, too---it is illegal but flourishes nevertheless.

The Department of Homeland Security cautioned against using words like “Sharia” or “jihad” (holy war) that might offend Muslims. Ironically, three days after the DHS advisory a Muslim gunman shouting “Allah Akbar” (Allah is great) opened fire and killed 49 people and wounded dozens more.

Not a few would argue that it is Islam, itself, that has been an offense against mankind for the last 1,400 years, and it continues to be so. Since 9/11 there have been 19,000 worldwide recorded jihad attacks.

Isn't it time for the West to man up and declare a jihad against Islam?

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

There's a lot of disgruntled people around right now. Allow me to give you advice on how to deal with your various malcontents:

-- Against abortion? Then don't get one.

-- Against same-sex marriage? Don't marry someone of the same sex.

-- Hate all the sleaze on TV? Turn off the set!

-- Oppose assisted suicide? Then don't kill yourself. Go ahead and suffer extreme pain. Or spend your last days as a diaper-wearing vegetable.  I don't care (as long as you're not uninsured).

-- Think kids should pray in school?  Well, they've always been able to-- privately, between themselves and their God.  Even in voluntary groups of kids (in non-classroom time). Just don't expect the teacher-- a representative of government-- to lead the class in the "official" prayer. Government cannot favor any religion, and you shouldn't expect them to.

-- Want a wall on the border? Good news: we have 650 miles of one so far. Of course, it can always be tunneled underneath. And millions of illegals have arrived by plane, so if you really want to waste money on walls ...

You see, the problem with you, the disgruntled, is not that you aren't able to live as you please. What annoys you is how OTHERS are living their lives, and that you're blocked from forcing your ways on them. To do so would be to violate their rights; and under our social contract their rights are equal to your own, with respecting those rights being the price of your own. So if you ever hope to become "gruntled", you need to let go of your urge to control other people. Live and let live!

Of course, another big reason you're discontent is that your standard of living hasn't improved in a long time. For this you're angry at the government. Even though the government is not to blame for this-- your employer is. And you are, for being so submissive to the economic elite. For allowing them to rig the game to steer all the benefits to themselves. For not using the government as your tool to advance your economic interests. For rejecting the party (Democratic) that would help, in favor of the party (GOP) that serves the economic elite.

No, you're far too easily gulled by the wedge issues that cynical elites put out to distract you. And you know what? Though they like to praise your "wisdom" and "goodness" whenever they want your votes, in actuality they think you're a bunch of stupid slobs. Chumps. And frankly, I find it very hard to disagree. Prove me wrong, by attacking the rich for a change, instead of racial and religious minorities.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA