Letters to the Editor

Why limit personhood to fertilized eggs?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I was gratified to learn that the Virginia legislature will soon consider legislation that would bestow the status of personhood on the fertilized egg. This promotion is long overdue, but it does not go far enough. While each fertilized egg has a unique genetic makeup and the capacity to develop into a unique individual, it is also true that every sperm cell in the male and every egg cell in the female have unique genetic components.

I therefore humbly suggest that the legislature consider granting "pre-personhood" status to every sperm cell and egg cell within the borders of the commonwealth. While I appreciate the efforts of our Republican state representatives to extend legal protection to Virginia zygotes, we should not fail to extend similar protections to commonwealth gametes.

E. Darryl Barnes, MD.

Henrico.

Nothing can be done to stop abortions

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Anti-abortion advocates listen up: I don't know anyone who likes abortions, but women in all walks of life always have and always will have abortions for many different reasons. Nothing anyone says or does will stop it — not ridiculously unnecessary and costly building standards under the guise of health and safety and not sonograms. What's next? If they want to usher in another era of back-room abortions, they should keep it up.

It is unbelievable that the legislators would vote on this issue on the party line. Will they not stand up and be counted?

Dottie Vye.

Henrico.

The rich create the jobs, so ease up on them

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Over the past few months, many Democrats have come out in favor of class warfare and taxing rich people because that is what the majority of their party can agree on. The most recent example of this is the letter "Congress listens only to the 1 percent" from William M. Young.

Wealthy people create jobs. America has one of the highest federal corporate tax rates in the world and one of the highest individual tax rates. If it is about being fair, how about the 47 percent of Americans who don't pay any income tax? If it is about paying your fair share, how come wealthy Americans have to foot the bill for almost all of Obama's and the Democrats' wasteful spending over the past three years?

As for the wealthy supporting Republicans: If you are rich, who are you going to endorse for office? A Democrat who says the rich are evil people who want to drown America in their greed or a Republican who believes that the rich are job creators and want to give them tax cuts?

And, only in the U.S. do some CEOs receive salaries and benefits exceeding $1 million a year because only in America do people have the opportunity to make it that big.

Dimitri Y. Dragonas.

Chesterfield.

National anthem should be a grand performance

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I was thrilled to read your editorial, "Butchery," about the national anthem. I have felt this way for years. It is too special a piece of music to be sung as any solo. No one can do justice to that piece of music, and when one adds his own interpretation of the song, it makes my flesh crawl.

I didn't hear Steven Tyler sing (thank goodness!) but I've always thought there should be a law against a solo — a chorus maybe. I agree that it should be an orchestra presentation or nothing. It is a fantastic, moving piece of music and in today's time should be honored even more.

Isabel Fitzgerald.

Richmond.

Obama wants only the best for us

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

While reading Carlton Moody's letter, "We need a leader — not a burlesque act," I chuckled and wondered what this guy was listening to during President Obama's State of the Union address. One could argue each and every issue that Moody attempted to point out but that would be a waste of time.

Read the president's recent Op/Ed column, "Our nation's future" objectively and let all decide. The decisive and dishonest comments are Moody's. Does he truly want an America that is built to last? There is a difference between a leader and a burlesque act.

Clarence Wilson.

Richmond.