(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to Hicksville Public Library Director Carol Ahrens. It is being printed here at the writer's request.)

Upon receiving and reading through my current newsletter, I was quite surprised to find that both subjects for the "Today's Issues with Howard Shurdut" were quite obviously liberal-focused topics. Since I am an RN, I will not be able to attend these Wednesday presentations of questionable subjects and voice my opinion as to how my tax dollars are being used by my library. However, I would expect that in the coming months, I might see Mr. Shurdut also having discussions on "The Really Inconvenient Truths" and "Expelled."

As an RN, I would like you to know that all U.S. hospitals are obligated to serve all patients who come to us - not make people wait four weeks or more (as in Canada) to see a specialist or three weeks or more (as in England) for a biopsy on a woman who is 50 years old. Cuba has a disgusting system and I wonder why there are more than 10,000 foreigners coming here yearly from all over the world for medical care? I doubt they are all filthy rich. We also have five of the world's top drug companies and they spend the most money on research than any other country in the world. Perhaps the convenient truth that should be known is that malaria is now the #1 killer in Africa - not AIDS - thanks to the environmentalists who pushed to have the pesticide banned that used to have this disease under control.

Granted, we have our waste both at the local and state levels when it comes to medical coverage, but I seem to think that is in every area of government - especially in Washington.

Michael Moore and Al Gore have been laughing all the way to the bank.

Kathi Secko, RN-BC