Comments by Speicher / LJWorld.com

Speicher (Daniel Speicher)

Last login: Monday, April 22, 2013

Comment history

Five years later, organization still keeping its 'promise'

Family Promise is by far and away one of the most amazing models of how to run a successful, goal-oriented program for the homeless. As a volunteer that loves working with this organization, I cannot tell you how much I love Dana and the volunteer staff and how much I appreciate what the organization has done for the needy in the Lawrence community.

As far as the Open Shelter, it is apples and oranges. No, they do not boast the numbers that FP boasts... But, that is due in great part to the difference in clientele. FP caters to families wishing to find practical ways off the street and back into society. Open Shelter caters to individuals (and some families) who perhaps are on the waiting list for an organization like FP or are not ready for a program like FP or are simply uninterested in a program like FP due to the strict restrictions, nomadic lifestyle or the fact that it is run through religious organizations (although the program, itself, is not religious in and of itself.) The Open Shelter also caters to those who are both mentally ill (therefore unable to gain lasting access to services or occupations) as well as those who are, sadly, just a bit less honorable and give those who are homeless a bad name by simply being lazy and making a "living" by grifting.

Nonetheless, both organizations are necessary. Just because a person might be mentally ill or unmotivated does not, of course, mean they should be left out in the extreme Kansas elements, left to go hungry or forgotten altogether. The latter of those people may be abhorrent, but they do not deserve to die.

Bottom line, however... I love FP because it looks to take those who are ready to get back in the workforce and back on their feet, a place to best prepare to do just that. Love you guys! Keep up the good work!!

--Danny Speicher

April 22, 2013 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lawrence nurse to become full-time missionary

As with most missions organizations (especially in poor nations), the operating costs of the organization (in this case, the hospital) is left up to the volunteers who give their time. In order to go, she likely has to pay for the month-to-month operation of the hospital as part of her ministry overseas. My assumption would be that is where the high price tag is coming from.

April 14, 2013 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lawrence police officer killed in one-vehicle accident at Sixth and Wakarusa

You're the one that made the analysis. The burden falls on you to prove your point. I, frankly, am not sure you have any basis for such a remark. Speed limit at that location on the road, I believe, is still 45mph. Given the icy conditions and the liklihood that the vehicle could not be slowed down adequately, I would imagine a Nissan Altima going at 45mph could easily cause the damage to that light structure that is seen. Maybe not. But, then again, I'm no expert. And, as oletimer pointed out, you likely are not either.

I do not know what the fascination is with ordinary citizens attempting to "take a crack" at guessing what happened in a tragedy where there is limited information to go off of. The most responsible thing for us, as a community to do, is mourn the loss of a man who did nothing more than serve his community dutifully and thank him for such service by keeping our mouths shut on speculation. It is, literally, the least we can do to repay him for his service.

Rest in peace, Officer Klock.

--Danny Speicher

January 3, 2013 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas doctor wants license back in abortion case

I, for one, don't disagree with you. I believe the doctors (as well as the girls and women, themselves) believe they are doing what's best. It's a difference of opinion as to when life begins. I don't fault anyone for having it done or those doing the procedure. Having said that, my opposition lies in this...

If I am correct and life does begin at conception (or even earlier than the allowed timeframe in which abortions can be performed), than we are killing innocent humans by allowing abortions to occur. This is where my dilemma lies.

September 17, 2012 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas doctor wants license back in abortion case

:) What does this have to do with anything?

September 17, 2012 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas doctor wants license back in abortion case

((continued from previous))

Even though I believe we have. And, even though I believe that life begins far before "viability", I still don't condemn. But, I do question this. And, really, this is the question I hope some of you answer. If we knew that at least some of those fetuses were viable humans... Would we still make the choice to abort? Even if it meant having to carry the fetus to term... And go through the headache of the adoption process... Or, mothering (and fathering) the child and giving up some of our dreams to give them the chance to dream... Would we make a different choice if we knew they were actually alive?

Maybe not. But, the way I see it and the way I have seen it thus far... Is that if even one of those 50 million fetuses were a human life, than we have made a grave error in putting one life as more important than the other. We wouldn't put a gun to the head of a one year old because it was inconvenient for a parent. We wouldn't cut the throat of a two year old because they reminded us of a person who violated us. So, if we believe that even one of those fetuses was a human life, why is it okay, then, to abort a fetus because it is inconvenient or causes emotional strain?

I ask these questions, still, legitimately wanting to find at least a common viewpoint or something I can understand. Whereas my heart breaks for those who have gone through tragedies such as rape, I do question how two wrongs, as it were, makes a right... If we can agree that killing an innocent party is wrong and that the fetus within may very well be a viable human and, therefore, the very definition of innocent.

Thanks for reading. Please don't judge me harshly for the questions I ask... And, please don't mistake me for someone who dismisses the emotional agony of those who have experienced rape, for I am neither. I just want to know where the common ground lies.

--Danny

September 17, 2012 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansas doctor wants license back in abortion case

I understand the argument for fetal viability. And, I can definitely understand why this has become the status quo for the scientific community's view of human life. And, while I appreciate the well-thought out answers by you, ag... I want you to understand where I'm coming from as well, so bear with me as I tell you where my mind goes when I think of abortion.

First off, I'm not a religious zealot... I don't support condemning young ladies (or even grown women) who make the choice to abort their baby (or fetus). I believe there are only a handful of women each year who flippantly make such a decision. Most women struggle with this decision before pulling the trigger and doing what they feel is best for them and their family. Even if they make the decision flippantly, even then I don't condemn, because I have a hard time believing they would make a decision so flippantly if they believed that was a human life. And, as such... It comes down to that. Whereas I believe it is a human life, they do not. And, as it is a simple difference of opinion, I can't very well stand in judgment, as I would hope that no one would stand in judgment of me when and if I practiced something that was entirely legal that was abhorrent to the beliefs of others... Especially if that decision was for the benefit of my family or my success.

Having said all of that, do I oppose this practice being legal? Yes. And, it is for this reason and this reason alone: Life. For what it's worth, I understand that every religion (or lack of religion) has a different view on the beginning of life. I recognize that. But, what disturbs me about these differences is that science, to this day, cannot tell me when life begins... Not with any certainty. Even the wiki link you sent, ag, stated, "There is no sharp limit of development, age, or weight at which a fetus automatically becomes viable." The link even goes on to talk about this story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6...) which talks about a baby born at 21 weeks and six days. The baby not only lived, but is, as far as I could find, not only living, but THRIVING (http://www.growingyourbaby.com/2008/1...), or at least was at two years old in 2008.

So, I say all of that to say this... It is a guessing game, at best, is it not? By all accounts, under current regulations, could baby Amelia not been aborted at the time she was born? And, in theory, if her mother had chosen that, would she not be ending a human life? No, not every 21 week old is viable... But, if that is our measure, how do we know which fetuses would have and which would not? Is it not reasonable to say that, even if we don't agree when life begins, we can agree that life CAN begin much earlier than we once assumed? And, the 50 million fetuses aborted were, at least in part, also viable human beings? And, if that is true... Have we not killed them, unknowingly?

((continued below))

September 17, 2012 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )