As we celebrate the Easter and spring season, we must not forget to give thanks for all the blessings, protection, guidance and leaders of our nation.

We have given into griping, fussing and talking about what is wrong in our nation but at the same time forget to pray for all leaders to have wisdom, understanding, sacrifice, discernment and not just personal agendas. As we give thanks for our leaders, past and present, may we also take time to correct our faults from within and to reach out to others.

Lorraine Fette, Finneytown

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All embryos have moral right to grow

It's a sign of the times that mention of ethical problems connected with sex-selection techniques failed to list the basic moral issues of depersonalized conception and early abortion. Holy Week is a good time to be reminded that laws of morality govern these issues.

It is the teaching of the Catholic Church that babies have a basic human right to be conceived only through the marriage act of the spouses. Further, the destruction of "excess" embryos conceived in a glass dish (in vitro) is a form of direct and deliberate killing of human lives at their earliest stages of life and is morally abhorrent. The same judgment applies to the killing, for reasons of gender selection, of babies at any stage of their development.

John Kippley, Westwood

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Cincinnati losing ground to N. Ky.

How many slaps in the face must Covington and Newport deliver to Cincinnati before it gets its act together and actually sees some substantial development along the riverfront? I don't just mean two stadiums that are empty most of the year, nor a museum that does not appeal to a younger generation looking for a night out on the town.

The latest blows to our self-esteem come in the form of two historical Cincinnati attractions possibly abandoning the city. With the announcement of the Maisonette considering sites in Covington, and now the latest news of Newport's interest in landing the local mooring site for the Delta Queen - along with the aquarium, Hofbrauhaus, Newport on the Levee and other attractions already in place along the Northern Kentucky riverfront - what else is honestly left on this side of the river that could possibly be moved over to Kentucky?

If the Banks project had been planned for the Kentucky side of the river, it would have been done a long time ago.

It is embarrassing to live on the Ohio side of the river, knowing that when people want to visit the area, they all head over to Kentucky. What does Cincinnati have to do to get something done on this side of the river?

Robert Adams, Hamilton

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Ludlow school vote hurt students

March 30 was a terrible day for the students and faculty of Ludlow Schools. The community voted against the "nickel growth tax" that would have been used for basic facility and technology improvements.

To those who voted against this tax increase of a mere 12 cents per day (on average): You should be ashamed of yourselves. How does one vote against improving education in his/her community? Many of you claimed that you support education, but were still against the increase. This is not only a lie, but also a complete cop-out. Thanks to a small group, this election became a personal attack, full of lies, against school faculty and administrators. The kids of Ludlow are the ones who will suffer most. As a faculty member of eight years, I am deeply saddened by this. I feel the Ludlow Independent School System is truly the center of this town, and I am frustrated by the lack of support by many.

To those of you who voted for the tax increase: Thank you! I know we can count on your continued support.

Jenny McMillenBurlington

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Guns can be a civilizing presence

Regarding the letter to the editor "Concealed-carry law raises doubts" (April 3): Firearms are tools. They are neither good nor evil; that distinction is determined purely by their use. According to FBI statistics, fewer than 2 percent of all firearms are involved in crime.

The letter writer believes it is uncivilized for a person to want and be able to defend themselves against criminal attack. When did it become "civilized" to be a victim? Our writer pays brief lip service to the Second Amendment, but then laments that someone might be sitting next to you with a gun. The focus should be on the criminal, not the tool.

Firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens save more lives and property than are taken by armed criminals. So worry next time about whether or not the person next to you is a criminal, not if they do or don't have a gun.

Matt Briedis, Withamsville