Letters to the editor

Thank you

Operation Hope of Fairfield (OH) would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to a group of women that deserve special recognition for their efforts to help the hungry, homeless and at-risk this year. OH was honored to be the beneficiary of the 2009 Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival. What a remarkable organization the FCTF is and what a wonderful event they held at the start of the holiday season! We would like to recognize the countless hours they invested to make this year's festival a success. We'd also like to express our gratitude for their generous support of our work in the community.

We extend our immense gratitude to the generous underwriters of this event: Newman's Own Foundation, Cablevision, Elizabeth Pfriem, Robert & Cindy Citrone, Arthur & Mary Jane Crooks, General Electric, HSBC Bank, Royal Tea Company Henry C. Reid Jewelers and the Fairfield Community Theater Foundation, as well as the many individuals who participated as underwriters of this year's event.

The proceeds of the event will be used to feed our neighbors who are hungry and need a meal, provide shelter for those who are homeless and need a warm place to stay, and provide assistance to those who may need long-term clinical support. This support will directly impact our neighbors in need. The underlying belief in all we do is that no one in our community should go hungry or be without shelter. What started as emergency overnight shelter has evolved into an agency that provides services that meets not only basic and immediate needs, but also long-term solutions like affordable housing and clinical support. With partners like the FCTF, we can continue this effort.

This has been a year full of challenges for many. We anticipate that the increased need for our services will remain a new reality into the unforeseen future. But we feel certain that with help from caring people like those who run the FCTF, our staff and board can remain focused on meeting these expanding needs.

Again, we can't thank everyone involved with this year's FCTF enough ... it was a monumental task and it produced a charming, well-attend, very enjoyable weekend of holiday fun. The FCTF's commitment to helping non-profits who make our communities a better place demonstrates that together we can work towards a future where everyone has supportive relationships, a sense of dignity and hope, and a place to call home.

On behalf of the volunteers, staff, management, and Board of Directors of Operation Hope, thank you!

Carla Miklos, Executive Director,

Alexander J. Trembicki, Esq., Chairman Board of Directors,

Operation Hope of Fairfield

Supporting DeSanctis

Chris DeSanctis gave a fantastic speech on Feb. 1 to the Republican Town Committee regarding why he's a strong choice for state Representative and will bring some much needed change to the position. I like DeSanctis' idea of limiting government enough to create more economic freedom for Fairfield and our state. Our state government has grown too big and too expensive. DeSanctis' points on reducing the income tax and ensuring the democratic majority will never bring back the inheritance tax will win my vote.

Donamarie Oligino

Fairfield

Darwin selection?

This is in response to the press release written by the Southern Connecticut Darwin Day Committee pertaining to a Darwin Day Dinner that appeared in the Jan. 29 edition of the Fairfield Citizen. I am all for recognizing milestones, both positive and negative. Most people remember the day we were attacked at Pearl Harbor, even more recall the tragedy of Sept. 11, and countless other occurrences in history that foster thought and reflection. However, to see that Charles Darwin is being revered as some sort of messiah seems to me as a bit perverse.

Did he put forth some information due to his time in the Galapagos? Yes. Was he instrumental in developing certain hypothesis? Absolutely. But it should perhaps require a bit more acumen on this matter to begin "celebrating" him as a man.

The press release uses the phrases "last year's event was fun, this year will be even more fun," and a reverand from the Unitarian Church in Westort gloated, "We refer to him as a saint." Well , before we go printing prayer cards with Darwin's picture on them, maybe we ought to do a little research of our own. The actual title to "Darwin's bible" is very often left a bit short. After the origins of species part, it is followed by "or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life." My, how benevolent and inclusive.

To those who have not read his published works, Darwin often advocates the "human control of certain species." Darwin was, obviously, a big fan of eugenics. That in and of itself should be enough to castigate him. Let me be clear: I don't mean to come off as some kind of historical theorist, but weren't there a couple of other figures in history who followed that lead?

Many times he had made notations supporting the preservation of the strong blood lines, and, considering he married his first cousin, it is apparent he wanted to further along his. Darwin even went so far as to advise: "When a civilized nation comes into contact with barbarians, the struggle will be short, except where a deadly climate gives its aid to the native race." Yep, that's just the guy I want on our next limited edition postage stamp series.

There are those who believe that it all began here, or there on Galapagos, that life itself, beyond a doubt, brewed up from some primordial soup of proteins, and voila! Here we are. I don't. But that's fine. We should all be free to learn, explore and question our existence. That is healthy and thought-provoking. But when it comes to celebrating the contributions of certain "heroes," maybe we should be a bit more selective.

Joe Miro

Fairfield

Editor's note: The press release referenced above was submitted to the newspaper by an outside organization. Press releases that appear in the paper do not reflect the views of the Fairfield Citizen nor its parent company, the Hearst Corporation. Press releases are run as a service to the community, and all town organizations, regardless of belief or affiliation, are welcome to submit information.

Pre-game show

on Capitol Hill

Last Wednesday night President Barack Obama didn't flinch. It was a 10. David Gergen later said about the State of the Union speech and his address, "It was very good," and described Obama as "a premier politician."

Some have said it was bad. But many thought, all things considered, the ball went through the uprights.

The Republican response did not provide any emotion for health care reform or little intention for really working together to solve problems that affect us all. Let's hope that changes.

There were a dozen things on the list but I watched for the health care stance. For those who noted his not discussing health care till later in the address, would you have brought it up just as the rodeo hands opened the gate on a big Brahma bull? Even CNN sells a broad interest story as "coming up later" or "when we come back." We waited expectantly for the shoe drop and were not disappointed. It was a measured delay and perfect -- a veritable newscaster's dream. Some think the shoe turned.

He said in no uncertain terms "for a hundred years and now we are so close." He really said, "I am not going to run for the hills, I want you guys and gals to work something out, and I expect a bill on my desk."

There's no question that he will seek to get health care back into the ER or OR and work on its nose and chin and that something will come out that will please a lot more folks. Let's hope again.

The talking heads missed the point that the West Point Speech had already covered the defense part of the address. That by the way was PBO's training wheels for handling a complex set of due diligence issues, making a decision, and handling organization change. Let's see if some of the process rubs off on health care.

Lastly, you could see it on their faces. Toward the end of the speech everyone in that chamber was riveted and knew it was a game changer for many contentious things. To paraphrase Mark Shields on PBS, "a lot of things moved into the Red Zone" -- the last 20 yards to the goal.

Many people saw this pre-game show, are watching the end zones, and want to see our Congress make some goals for Team USA -- foremost that's you and me and not the special interests.

Ken Camarro

Fairfield

Dancing around the issues

Early last year and behind closed doors, the Gov. M. Jodi Rell reached a concession agreement with the coalition of state employee unions, known as SEBAC, estimated to save the state approximately $702 million between May 2009 and June 30, 2011. In return for those concessions, the Rell agreed to no layoffs for two years. Rell said she got the best deal possible -- under the circumstances. "In any negotiated settlement like this, both sides probably wish they could have gotten better or more," said Rell, noting that the unions were not obligated to reopen their long-term contracts and agree to concessions. "But I am pleased with the results. ... If others could do better, it would be nice, but I'm the one doing the negotiating."

This revised contract is a reality -- and a very significant one at that -- yet it was never mentioned in Gary Jeanfaivre's account of the recent LWV legislative breakfast titled "Legislators: Cuts or tax increases only way to close deficit" (Fairfield Citizen, Wednesday, Jan. 13). In addition, as I have mentioned many times before, Connecticut's debt service represents 12 percent of annual state spending -- and won't go away on its own -- and the state retiree pension and health benefits fund is one of the most underfunded in the nation. Given these and other factual constraints, don't you think it is time for Representatives Tony Hwang, Tom Drew and Kim Fawcett and Senator John McKinney to address the budget situation honestly instead of doing political dances around the issue?

Jim Brown

Fairfield