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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Medford police arrest fugitive in manslaughter case ... Mt. Ashland copes with large crowds; Ski Hopper bus starts Friday ... Stan Smith, 'Mr. Raider,' remembered ... Medford police arrest fugitive in manslaughter case ... Mt. Ashland copes with large crowds; Ski Hopper bus starts Friday ... Stan Smith, 'Mr. Raider,' remembered ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Dec. 27 Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Why draft women? Evil deeds are best accomplished under the protection of darkness and, yes, the White House takes cover (delays timing) when a controversial position is to be announced. Columnist Kathleen Parker enlightens us with a stunning piece ("Sending women into combat invites tragedy," MT, Dec. 14). She writes, "Already there's discussion about requiring girls to tender themselves to the Selective Service Bureau on their 18th birthdays." — a controversial position indeed. I ask, why contemplate legislation to draft girls when already there is in place the Bill of Rights (Second Amendment) which allows for "A well regulated militia (civilians eligible by law for military service) being necessary for the security of a free state," which does not preclude girls (18 and over) from being available for armed combat. Also from the Second Amendment, "The right of the people (i.e., everyone — men, women, boys, girls) to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." It must be concluded, therefore, that the intellectual capacity of Washington, D.C. lawmakers was in absentia for even considering an outrage such as drafting those who are responsible for being the mothers of future generations. Any such armed force of young women should consist of volunteers only. Raymond Steinbroner Talent Bergdahl paid price If Bowe Bergdahl gets sentenced to prison, America should be ashamed. He may have deserted his unit, but to be held by the Taliban for five years, to me that is more than enough punishment. Who knows what can happen in a young soldier's mind under some the circumstances to which they are exposed? He left part of his life back there that he will never get back. This is only my humble opinion and I am sure there are people who will disagree with me. I have two grandsons in the service and if they were in the same circumstances, I would feel the same way about this situation. I have high regards for any young person serving this country and they should be applauded for it. Ruth Davis Medford Must have missed it One year ago natural gas sold for $4/million BTU. Today it is less than half that. I must have missed the news that Avista and the PUC lowered prices accordingly. Gary Roberts Ashland Approaching monsterdom When Adolph Hitler campaigned to be Germany's leader, a major tactic of his campaign was to promote hatred toward and persecution of the Jews, a religious minority with little political power. When I was growing up after the horrors of World War II, Hitler was no longer regarded as a leader, or even a dictator; the description I heard most often was "evil monster." Currently Donald Trump, and to some extent other Republican candidates for president, are using the same Hitlerian tactic, substituting Muslims as objects for hatred and persecution. Religious freedom is a founding principle of American democracy, and so far the conduct of these Republican candidates is "merely" un-American. Although these Republicans are not monsters yet, they have been demonstrating a willingness, even eagerness, to take steps down the road to monsterdom for political gain. Dana Milbank's Dec. 20 column reproduces examples of letters from Trump supporters in response to a previous column in which he was very critical of Trump. The hateful and vicious bigotry in these letters is perhaps not surprising, but horrifying nonetheless. Trump is attracting the same kind of vicious and hateful bigots that helped elect Hitler to monsterdom. Victor Mlotok Phoenix MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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