New airstrip and more letters...

Nothing wrong with

MCAS operations

I could not believe the letter from B.J. Cook suggesting a new airstrip be build away from town for MCAS. Every day we hear about the government wanting to close down another base. Do we just call them up and say come build us another airstrip?

I wish we weren't in this war but since we are, we owe it to our military men and women to give them the best training possible. The Yuma area desert is the training ground. All of those people training in Yuma also drop a few dollars while they are here.

Those planes flying overhead sound pretty good to me. Just knowing they belong to us means a lot. Come on over our house anytime, loaded bombs and all.

I saw a car accident the other day. Does that mean I should tell the city don't let anyone drive on this street anymore? Each day we take many chances in everything we do. I see trucks going down the freeway with hazardous materials, but we still use the freeways. We're sitting on an earthquake fault line so "the big one" can hit us any day - maybe we should all move to the moon.

No matter where your house is located, you had a choice when you bought it. You also have a choice to sell it and I doubt that being in the flight pattern will make any difference in the selling price.

Anyone who lives in Yuma lives with the Marine base and most of us thank God for It.

I'd say an angel was flying with that young pilot and I'm so glad it was - we need these brave young people.

FRAN MEYSEMBOURG

Yuma

Not at peace

following murders

I'm 12 years old and I am not at peace.

I live on the block were the family was killed. It sickens me to look down the street. The only way I will find peace is to know why this sick man did this to them. My opinion probably doesn't count much, but I still am not at peace.

SAVANNAH LEE HANKINS

Yuma

Too much water

isn't the problem

This letter is in response to the article in The Sun on June 27 headlined "Drinking too much water can be dangerous: Doctors." Reading the article shows that the problem is not too much water (most people are dehydrated, especially in dry climates or with strenuous exercise), the problem is insufficient sodium. For centuries humans have known that some salt is needed with whatever water is drunk.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, author of the book, "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" or "You Are Not Sick, You Are Thirsty" explains why sufficient water intake, with small amounts of salt, will correct or avoid many current "illnesses." The human body is about 75 percent water (brain is 85 percent) which is the solvent. The chemicals, or the solutes, are only 25 percent.

Humans have developed many indications of dehydration, beyond the usual "thirst sensations." From the development of life in the oceans, through amphibious and fresh water forms, to the animal and human life of today, these many indications of dehydration have become exceedingly complex, the doctor notes.

Modern medicine attempts to "treat," not cure, such conditions by just changing the chemicals in the body, rather than recognizing the lack of water is a prominent cause. (Not sodas, juices, liquids, coffee or tea - just water).

Batmanghelidj believed that water is best not drunk with meals, which dilutes digestive juices, but that the salutary effects of many medicines are the result of water taken with them.

By changing the paradigm of medicine from the solutes in the human body to the solvent, water, it might alleviate the staggering costs of medicine today, and be of inestimable value in third-world countries. The cost is minimal, and the treatment harmless.

STUART H. JONES

Yuma

Being shot in the

backyard is deadly

Quote from a story in The Sun: "Luis Rios, 35, was found shot numerous times in the backyard." Yep, shoot someone in the backyard and that sure will kill 'em. Your English teacher must have been a lot gooder than mine for you to write so accurately and clearly.

J. GALBREATH

Yuma

Why did police

wait so long?

Regarding the recent mass murder in Yuma, how many of the victims could have bled to death while the police waited outside for 2-1/2 hours thinking it may be a hostage situation?

The same thing happened at Columbine High School. A teacher bled to death while the police waited behind their cars for four hours. One student crawled through a broken window to get help.

I know it's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and hindsight is 20/20, but come on!

ROY GRUBBS

Yuma

Yuma Habitat group

needs your cans

In our quest to raise more funds to build more houses, Habitat for Humanity of Yuma received some really good news. The Aluminum Companies of America, the sponsor of our aluminum can recycling program, has informed us that they will match all money received from our aluminum can sales during the month of July.

Once again, we appeal to the good people of Yuma to put your aluminum cans into our many convenient collection sites. Each can will be worth double value. Thank you, Yuma!

FRANK SHIPE

Yuma

Indians fought

for own freedom

It was like a slap to the face when I read the letter to the editor headlined "Freedom extends to tribal lands." During the time of Indian wars, various treaties were signed after we Indians were forced onto lands of insignificant value. Still to this day we fight to return to our lands with our dignity intact after individuals refuse to recognize treaties signed by the United States giving us our sovereignty and our right to protect ourselves from possible exploitation of tribal lands, oil and minerals and destruction of sacred sites.

Our casinos are ecologically friendly forms of generating revenue which is used to alleviate the financial burdens the United States is experiencing funding federal programs on our behalf. I'm sure the United States appreciates your "donations" at the casinos: I know I do.

Tribal lands were once considered useless, so why so much interest now? Too late, it's ours - always has been, always will be. Make no mistakes about that!

The United States never fought for our freedoms. Long ago my people did at the cost of almost being wiped from the face of the Earth. Now we are still fighting for our rights. We have even fought alongside the United States soldiers in good neighborly faith to show no animosity, with dignity and obtained higher honor.

But to assume tribal lands are United States soil is incorrect. We were forced to be neighbors to be exact. Remember the forced signing of treaties? But we are still trying to coexist with everyone without infringement of others' ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious upbringing. We expect the same now that we are symbiotic neighbors. Just because we are neighbors doesn't give you permission to tromp through my garden or swim in my pool.

A.C. NORIEGA

Yuma