More Letters to the Editor: Where Have All the Heroes Gone?

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Audie Murphy? Joe Foss? The image of John Wayne tall in the saddle? The ideals they represented -- honor, duty, loyalty, integrity, commitment, honesty. What has happened to their America? When did we start caring more about ourselves and money and less about our neighbors, our communities, and our country?

Yes, we have brave soldiers and those in public service. They get it. They care. I am referring to Americans. The spirit that built this great society. The ideal that each American is responsible for every other American. That we stand with and beside those who are in trouble, those in need. Even at our own physical expense.

What happened to the concept of hard work? Starting with school in order to land a decent job and continue to work hard and rise through the ranks. Now its a "me" generation with an instant gratification mindset. Now Americans feel "entitled" to a job and a decent pay with benefits. Do as little as possible for the most reward.

My name will be forever associated with my words and deeds. I will always strive to honor the name my father and mother gave me, and honor myself. I will always be honest. My duty and loyalty are to my family, community, and my country. My integrity will never waver. I will come to aid of those Americans in trouble, help those Americans I see needing help. I will take care of my family. I will take care of my community. I will take care of my country. Because I am an American. A.L. Shear. Richmond.

Should Kids Opt Out Of Algebra, Too?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: One of the most puzzling aspects of the recent flap over President Barack Obama's first-day-of-school remarks is the vehement reassurance from various school districts that parents would be able to opt out if they preferred their child not hear the president's address.

I stare at these assurances, honestly baffled. Is there any logic at work here? If so, it surely should extend up and down the curriculum. Perhaps principals shouldn't address students until parents have either opted in or out. After all, what if something controversial or sensitive is said? Perhaps parents should be given the right to opt out of algebra. After all, algebra was developed by an Islamic in what we now call Iran, and you know what those people are like.

These children are, presumably, American citizens. I'm not sure which is worse -- the fact that schools worry parents might say, "I don't want my children listening to the president!" or the fact that some parents actually say it.

Go ahead, you schools, you parents. Keep choosing avoidance and fear. Keep opting out instead of listening and discussing and learning. Let's see how far that takes us.

Bo Wilson.
Chesterfield.

The above would be absurd were it not for historical precedent. Readers familiar with the late Alexander Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago know about Article 58 of the 1934 Soviet constitution. This article defined counterrevolutionary activity. Under Section 10, anyone engaged in propaganda (i.e., speech) to weaken the authority of the Soviet Union (e.g., discrediting the leader) was guilty of treason. Many who thought dissent to be a form of patriotism suddenly found themselves in the Gulag.

The criminalization of political activity is nothing new and its consequences are not trivial. So there you have it from a former president. We have been warned.

Thomas J. Kunsitis.
Richmond.

Diradour unapologetically admits that he doesn't live in the 7th District, and that he has no intention of moving, as it is not a requirement for office.

Is this the best the Democrats can do? If so, it is embarrassing. One can't even legitimately call him a carpetbagger, since he didn't move before announcing his campaign!

I also see that Diradour says that, yes, he does live outside the district, but he lives "in a community being underserved by Eric Cantor." I'd say that sounds about right, considering the community in which he lives, and the surrounding neighborhoods, are not in Cantor's district!

If he believes his community is being underserved, I suggest he contact his representative, Rep. Bobby Scott.

Barbara Taylor.
Culpeper.

Then he ended by saying, in part, "Now we must reform our health care system, time to fix it."

Yes, we do need to improve our system -- change the tort laws, allow the purchase of insurance across state lines, make it impossible for insurance to be canceled if a person becomes ill.

We don't need to destroy what we have and install a government plan, in order to correct the obvious faults of the plan now in place.

Quentin Alcorn.
Richmond.