'Expelled': intelligent film

To the editor -- No intelligence allowed is the basic conclusion of Ben Stein's documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." I for one thought it was an eye-opener. In its first week, it had already become one of the top 25 attended documentaries of all time.

Three things amaze me. First, the movie shows that scientists can accept the possibilities of aliens causing life to begin or that life originated in the cells on the back of crystals. This they can believe rather than accepting the possibility of "intelligent design." Second, opponents of the film have attacked the producers, the star, the music and even the film itself. I read in Christian News that one of the suits being filed seeks to "ban free speech through preliminary injunctive relief," which essentially means that they want to expel "Expelled!" Third, very intelligent scientists at many prestigious universities are being persecuted if they in any way conclude in favor of the possibility of "intelligent design." So much for freedom of speech!

TOBY JOECKEL

Yakima

Needed: leaders with vision

To the editor -- The U.S.A. Titanic desperately needs visionary leadership!

Where's the vision in the war on terror? Where's the vision when soaring debt (national, foreign and private) undermines our economy? Where's the vision when oil and food prices soar and poor people starve? Where's the vision when numerous other problems have been unsolved, from failed experiments and neglect and Band-Aids for decades! I haven't found much visionary leadership in any political party.

I also haven't seen much visionary leadership (statesmen or knowledgeable voters) being produced by any religions. Proverbs 29:18 (King James Version) states "where there is no vision the people perish." Isn't there any religion that perceives a responsibility to produce visionary servant leaders?

Doesn't God challenge us to serve with our time and resources and physical abilities and our brains (intellectual stewardship)? If we diligently serve, including intellectually, and pray for guidance (because God knows how we can serve best and where to find the information we need beyond scriptures), then Christianity could produce many visionary servant leaders (and discerning voters) to challenge all the diligent (Satan inspired?) blind misleaders (including misleaders professing Christianity).

Will diligent visionaries or diligent misleaders rule? (Proverbs 12:24). Anybody diligently care?

JOHN FROMHERZ

Yakima

Review 'Three Strikes'

To the editor -- While we all agree that crime of any kind is bad news, second-degree robbery and some second-degree assaults are not violent crimes. A second-degree robbery does not involve any weapons nor any injuries while second-degree assaults can mean a brawl or something as simple as shoving someone out of the way. These low-level crimes are the most common triggers for life imprisonment under Washington's "Three Strikes" law.

Several years ago, according to information from the commission, the Sentencing Guidelines Commission recommended that Robbery 2 be removed from the Three Strikes law, but the Legislature has not acted on it.

Of about 280 people presently incarcerated under "Three Strikes," which was meant for the "worst of the worst," 200 are serving life imprisonment because of these nonviolent crimes, according to information from the commission. Everyone should be responsible for their actions and society should be responsible for how it responds to criminal behavior. Of those who do not deserve life imprisonment, many have already paid for their offenses and are struggling to keep hope alive and to survive this injustice. I hope the Legislature revisits this issue.

SHIRLEY WHITE

Yakima