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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels July 29, 2004 'Spam' derides letters to leaders I take issue with something I read in the article about "Senators and congressmen add hurdle to e-mailing." Here is a paragraph from that article. "Spam is also a driving the new forms. 'Rather than e-mailing just their congressman, [people] e-mail all members of Congress with their concern or issue and so the members look at this as a tool to help organize the sheer quantity [of letters],' said Angela Wilhelms, press secretary for Rep. Walden." The Tidings correspondent refers to the emails generated by citizens contacting all members of Congress as "spam." People choose words to describe processes/actions based on the way they mentally or emotionally conceive of those processes/actions. Spam is generally considered to be unwanted email offers to buy prescription drugs, refinance your mortgage, view photos of naked teens, purchase bootlegged computer software, etc. The word spam is a derogatory term. When a newspaper article describes emails sent by U.S. citizens to elected political representatives as "spam," the choice of word shows that the author is (probably unknowingly) equating this fundamental right of American citizens to express their viewpoints to their elected representatives with unwanted solicitations to buy Viagra at 99 cents a dose. Part of the job description of our elected officials is to be available for, and to consider, the opinions of American citizens. It grows increasingly difficult for many citizens to feel that our elected representatives even care about our opinions. Increasingly, everything is party line - a party attempts to convince citizens that citizens should accept its viewpoint. And, increasingly, the party viewpoints are based on the wishes of the organizations and individuals who make the largest contributions to that party's treasury. The electronic revolution offers the individual citizen practical ways to make their opinions known to our elected representatives. Can we please not refer to that process as spam? Steve Wolfson Ashland Ashland is the naked exception A comment on nudity: From years of reading the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC I have the impression that all human groups have sociocultural mores guiding behavior, except perhaps Ashland? Margaret Gelatt Ashland Council decision opens nude door To the Ashland City Council: I know the police chief wanted a city-wide ordinance against nudity but you instead made it only for parks and downtown. Now, our children are being exposed to this outrageous display of indecencies. As you know, Garfield Water Park was in eyesight of the nudists. Mayor DeBoer said he was glad his granddaughter was not there to see them, but with all the honking, etc. the children wanted to see what was going on. Well, they saw a lot!!! The Police Department said they have received many calls and they suggested we contact the Council directly with our complaints. I am asking everyone to do the same. Take the high road and protect our children and community from these exhibitionists by expanding the ordinance. Charleen Braunbeck Ashland Imperfect glory rightly on display Ashland's recent ban on nudity is ridiculous and just adds fuel to America's eight billion dollar pornography industry. Whenever nudity is deemed "taboo," it becomes easier and more profitable to exploit. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the same people who are appalled at public nudity have no problem going online to get their "fix." What we need are more honest portrayals of the human body, not fewer. Confining nudity to the domain of pornography creates unrealistic and unhealthy body images. I say the human body should be free to roam nakedly, in all of its sagging, bulging, "imperfect" glory! Chris Ammon Ashland Middle ground: OK winter nudity I saw the nudes at the civic center on July 20. The event looked like another "Taste of Ashland." It was a relief to learn that the ordinance still permits displays of breasts and buttocks. The protestors would like the ordinance to be revoked. Perhaps a compromise would permit total nudity in December, January and February. Maynard Telpner Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams