Letters To The Editor, June 16, 2009: Fan of James River enjoys weekly articles
Fan of James River Enjoys Weekly Articles
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Reading this newspaper has been part of my daily routine since I moved here in 1985, and I feel fortunate to have the news delivered to my doorstep every morning. Lately, the loss of so many wonderful features has been disheartening and I'm sure it has been devastating for the newspaper staff. However, one thing I look forward to monthly is the James River Journal by Rex Springston. These thoughtful and informative pieces are a real asset to the paper.
I visit James River Park daily, and always mention these interesting articles to other park visitors who may not subscribe to the paper, but make a special purchase to read these fascinating stories. The articles make the Monday paper worth reading. Keep up the good work. Molly Dellinger-Wray. Richmond.
Blaming the U.S. Insults Our Military
Editor, Times-Dispatch: I appreciate and honor the office of the president of the United States. And even though I did not vote for him, the incumbent, Barack Obama, deserves the respect of the office he holds. Having said that, I cannot possibly support his remarks apologizing for any actions of the United States as it relates to our operations in any military actions that we have entered into in the past.
The bottom line is simple. The U.S. does not apologize to anyone, especially for military actions we have been involved in, or are in now. This shows a total lack of respect for those Americans who have lost their lives or were wounded or disabled in those conflicts. The president owes this nation an apology for trying to impress others with his remarks.
I am sure that the families of those who have lost their lives or were injured in the defense of this country will agree.
Frank Herrelko Jr.
Richmond.
Allen Entered Energy Game Too Late
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Former Gov. George Allen seems to be joining the energy debate late in the game. The House Energy and Commerce Committee already passed a comprehensive energy plan, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
The House bill includes a declining limit, or cap, on carbon pollution. A cap will spur investment into research and development of clean energy sources, which in turn will create green jobs. Allen's plan is to just keep using the same resources we're using now -- more oil, more coal. But Virginians know the status quo isn't working.
Like many opponents of a carbon cap, Allen tries to scare us by saying a carbon cap will make our energy bills go up. But we've been using his preferred energy sources for decades now, and our power bills have skyrocketed anyway. Plus, the most reliable study showed a carbon cap would cost the average household $98 a year -- or a dime a day per person -- not the hundreds of dollars a month that Allen claims.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act gives Virginia a chance to be a leader in the clean energy economy of the future.
Peter DuMont.
Richmond.
One Can't Complain If One Doesn't Vote
Editor, Times-Dispatch: When I went to cast my vote in the primaries, it was about 2 p.m. I asked the dedicated volunteers if the turnout was good. When they said I was the 31st person since 6 a.m., I was shocked. Voting is a privilege that I take very seriously. It doesn't make any sense that people don't make an effort to get out and vote.
The sad thing is that the people who complain the most about our elected officials are often the ones who don't vote. If one wants the right to complain, then one should get out there help elect the person he or she thinks is best qualified to do the job. My candidate may not win, but I know I at least tried.
Some people in my family say they only vote once every four years for the presidential race. Yet, we have elected officials in our own state who can affect the outcome of the presidential race.
There is also that famous line: My vote doesn't count. Of course it does.
I'm very disappointed that an important primary like this just doesn't matter to a lot of people.
Karen Delancey.
Prince George.
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Reader Reactions
Thank you Greta.
But if we accept that war is inevitable, can we not also accept that old age declining health and death are also inevitable.
And if Government can protect us from foreign invaders and even be proactive in prevention of conflicts and support such ideas as the “domino theory”....can’t we also agree that health care follows the same needs and patterns.
If the military can have public supported tax paid command and control centers ...why can’t my health care have sophisticated ways to detect illness that are supported by my tax dollars.
OR do you suggest we should get better military protection if we had fair and open competition between different private military providers. I guess there is some competion between the Marines and the Army and the Navy…they do each have football teams that compete every year. I ask you what is the difference? Ideology is all I see. Having a unified government military has not taken the profit motive out of the procurement of weapons systems. We still get the latest greatest weapons that protect ALL of America’s citizens and more…we help protect the world. Can’t we do the same for health care? Or are we all destined for eventual bankruptcy when we or a loved one gets a serious illness. That would like saying if you live in Hawaii you are destined to be killed by a North Korean nuke and we here in the mainland could care less…you should live somewhere else or you should buy your own fallout shelter (maybe not a bad idea).
That was very poignant Blackbird.
When the world learns to conduct its business without the need for armies and soldiers will be the day when man’s hardwiring goes haywire.
There will always be those who are never satisfied with what they have and will come for yours.
The sadness and futility and brutality of war cannot be laid at the doorstep of the soldier.
Wars will be fought for oil and rice and water and land and most of all in the name of Allah and Jesus and all the other Gods and even for the expulsion of those Gods from mans existence.
The Universal Soldier
He’s five foot two and he’s six feet four,he fights with missiles and with spears.He’s all of thirty-oneand he’s only seventeen,He’s been a soldier through a thousand years.He’s a Catholic, a Hindu,an atheist, a Jain,a Buddhist, a Baptist and a Jew.And he knows he shouldn’t killand he knows he always willkill you for me my friend and me for you.And he’s fighting for Canada,he’s fighting for France,he’s fighting for the USA.And he’s fighting for the Russiansand he’s fighting for Japan,and he thinks we’ll put an end to war this way.And he’s fighting for democracy,he’s fighting for the Reds,he says it’s for the peace of all.He’s the one who must decide,who’s to live and who’s to die,and he never sees the writing on the wall.But without him, how would Hitlerhave condemned him at Dachau,(note: There was a concentration camp, in german KZ, in 1945 )without him Caesar would have stood alone.He’s the one who gives his bodyas a weapon of the war,and without him all this killing can’t go on.He’s the universal soldier,and he really is to blame,his orders come from far away, no more.They come from here and there and you and meand brothers can’t you see,this is not the way we put the end to war.
“However when apologia becomes part of a nation’s psyche promoted by a leader obsessed with currying world favor it reaches the level of grovelling.”
Greta: I’m not trying to be a smart-aleck, but:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=dictionary&q=apologia
ap⋅o⋅lo⋅gi⋅a /ˌæpəˈloʊdʒiə/
–noun
1.an apology, as in defense or justification of a belief, idea, etc.
2.Literature. a work written as an explanation or justification of one’s motives, convictions, or acts.
Origin:
1775–85; < LL < Gk: a speaking in defense. See apo-, log-, -ia
Great point Greta! By the way, how many other countries are this obsessed with world wide apology tours? I am unaware of any other country, super power or not, that feels any obligation to apologize for their actions for anything on the international stage.
Apologizing on the international stage blurs the lines between kindness and weakness.
An apology and $.50 won’t get you a cup of coffee on the international stage.
“Apoligizing for wrongdoing” indeed does take character, strength and intelligence.
However when apologia becomes part of a nation’s psyche promoted by a leader obsessed with currying world favor it reaches the level of grovelling.
Other nations with far more blood on their hands and little or no history of world rescue involvment have a simple solution. They just rewrite their history books.
Instant absolution.
Apologizing for wrongdoing takes character, strength and intelligence, three qualities clearly at a premium in today’s America.
“Wars are about money. DONT JOIN THE MILITARY!!!! Suckers.”—Posted by ( FanTastic )
Being a Disabled Veteran, I take offense at FanTastic’s remark, & Frank Herrelko’s letter, as well. Enlisted Soldiers & Sailors do not make the policies of war; just as “the ones who call the shots won’t be among the dead and lame.” As citizens, we call the shots, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the defenders of our Liberty are not sent into a war that is not needed. And, we owe it to them to live our public lives according to the principal of Right Liberty being mindful of the equal rights of others and the good of the country.
As a nation our actions in the world are not always just; and I see no harm in owning up to it. During WW II & the Cold War, as the European powers divested themselves of their colonies, the U.S. became embroiled in proxy wars with the USSR throughout the Third World. As a result many innocent lives were lost. Not all of these tragedies were preventable; perhaps many of them were. As far as I can tell, Obama’s speech in Egypt contained a fairly accurate accounting of history. To acknowledge this is better than to ignore or deny.
***
Christmas in the Trenches (Poignant song based on historic events) :
http://www.worldwar1.com/sfcitt.htm
Each Christmas come since World War I, I’ve learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won’t be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we’re the same…
In “the August Madness” of 1914, Europe rushed blindly in to a war that would “be over by Christmas.” Few people shared Albert Einstein’s gloomy assessment that “Europe, in her insanity, has started something almost unbelievable”. In towns and cities across the continent, the various declarations of war in late July and early August were greeted with displays of patriotic euphoria.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/first_world_war/over_christmas.htm
***
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln, Gettysburg.
You write as though a war or conflict is a one sided affair.
I was in a place when the Americans came to the rescue. Don’t tell me about “suckers.“
Communism was and still is a very real threat. We are facing down North Korea as we speak.
You will probably be found sniveling in some basement when and if our own country needs defending.
There is a very unflattering name for citizens who calls their own country’s military “suckers.“
But feel free to sit back and throw insults around. That is also why the soldiers fight. So you can have the right to spit in their face and sleep safely in your bed at night…
We should all be appologizing. We all bear the shame of what was done under the flag of our country in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and numerous other hot spots around the world for the last 50 years.
In case you forgot, we DEVISTATED the nation of Iraq, carelessly slaughtering thousands upon thousands of men women and children to find weapons of mass destruction that never existed and to hold Saddam accountable for an attack he did not commit. What about that doesn’t warrant an appology?
We slaughtered thousands more in south east asia in order to stop the spread of communism (the domino effect). Besides being an incorrect theory, it was not our business and when that tiny little jungle nation eventually did embrace communism despite our best efforts to kill them all, NOTHING HAPPENED. There hasnt been a GI since world war two that has done anything to make us safer. Stop calling these boys heros! They are suckers.
Here’s the point.
Those who actually fought the Iraq war, fought against terrorism. Those who sent them, sent them for oil money.
Those who fought in Vietnam fought for capitalism and south vietnamese freedom. Those who sent them to fight, sent them to make money on the tools of the trade.
Confederate soldiers fought for states rights and freedom from northern oppression and agression. The men who sent them wanted to keep their slaves.
Wars are about money. DONT JOIN THE MILITARY!!!! Suckers.
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