To the editor: In a recent letter, the writer inferred that I "must be a very rich woman" and thus should write a check to fund Attleboro's pools. If she only knew how little this gal gets by on financially, I'm sure she'd never want to change places with me. She goes on to suggest that kids can always use a hose in the backyard to cool off, forgetting, I guess, that many kids grow up with no backyard and no hose. Then she goes on to suggest that public pools are a luxury. So what are kids supposed to do? Watch TV in a hot apartment and sweat?

Most people I've heard from are rightly concerned about how to open the city pools. They know that swimming is an important part of growing up, physically and socially. Learning to swim gives children a sense of mastery that takes them beyond that one accomplishment. They gain confidence to take on new challenges, such as in academics come fall.

Remember the sheer fun of swimming? The camaraderie at the pool, the buoyancy and freedom of the water? Swimming strengthens muscles that spent long hours behind a school desk. Have we forgotten the importance of fun in life? Go and watch a pool full of exuberant kids if you want to remember what fun is. You might then realize what a shame it would be to have a "silent summer" at local pools.

I'm tired of "letters" like this writer's, where the sole objective seems to be how best to demolish the other person in print. The same people crank out the same type of negative letters, rearguing the same tired issues. How about some new letter writers offering something constructive: suggestions, ideas, or new perspectives? To all you would-be writers I say, "Come on in, the water's fine!"

Gretchen Robinson, Attleboro Abortion and murder equal atrocities

To the editor: We, the pro-lifers protesting in front of Four Women, Inc. respond to the editorial June 4, "Narrow the divide in the abortion debate." This is indeed the country's most "contentious debate!" Planned Parenthood and the National Organization of Women have developed a huge following and spent tremendous sums of money in putting Obama in the presidency. They are working very hard to put a pro-abortion judge in the Supreme Court. And most important, they are fighting us right here in Attleboro.

This editorial in today's paper is the first real step towards getting the issue out in the open where it belongs. To deliberately kill any human being is wrong! A human fetus no matter how tiny has its very own DNA! If it is deliberately destroyed, a human life is taken. It is just as much of an atrocity as the shooting death of a Kansas doctor who did late-term abortions. "Thou Shalt Not Kill!" is the fifth commandment and means that all human life, no matter how young or old, is sacred and answerable to God alone. Our American way of life has made a few exceptions over the years in time of war or insurrections and the death penalty when imposed by our court system have been accepted as was thought necessary.

"This shocking crime does indeed represent an opportunity that ought not be missed in the local area." The worst shock of all that should be seen by the public is that this killing of the tiniest human beings is legally allowed by Roe v. Wade of 1973 and is strongly supported by much of our American population and by our local newspaper! This violence is wrong! Those of us who protest this killing of the innocents on Saturdays show no horror-provoking signs whatsoever. For your readers' information, approximately 60 abortion are performed here every week..

I ask you to tell me and the public: who are the bad guys here?

Donald A. Girard Sr., Plainville