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Letters to the Editor
November 11, 2009
Let’s Recognize WWII Heroes Before They Die
Today, I encourage all Texas residents to seek out and thank a military veteran for their service to our country, especially those who fought in World War II. It could be the last chance to meet a genuine hero.
For these men and women, this day honoring the sacrifices of the nation’s armed forces grows only more poignant with each passing year, because those who fought that war for us are leaving us.
In 2000, there were 316,042 WWII veterans in Texas, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates. This year, there are 134,642. In 2019, just 22,139 will be alive. Across the nation, we lose 900 WWII veterans each day.
It is urgent we honor these heroes now, while there is time.
That is why completing The National World War II Museum in New Orleans is so important. It holds their memories and is a monument to their valor, but also a place where all Americans can learn the important lesson of World War II — freedom is not free.
The museum tells the story in the words and voices of those who fought the war and faced its horrors.
As a member of the museum’s board of trustees, I hope that, as we observe this special day of remembrance and thanks, the nation recognizes the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation to the preservation of this country’s founding principles and the strength of the American spirit.
Cappy Bisso
New Orleans, La.
Unacceptable Way To Treat Veteran Reservist
As our nation observes another Veterans Day while many of our sons are serving this country overseas, I’m outraged and appalled by recent actions from management at the well-known Houston hospital where my sister, a registered nurse, has worked there for many years.
She is also an Army reservist, has served our country with pride and honor, and is preparing for her second deployment.
She submitted her leave request, was told all systems were “go” and her supervisor wished her well. She completed her civilian duties Oct. 30, which gave her about a month to prepare her household for her deployment, as she has dependent children and grandchildren.
Imagine the surprise of a dedicated, decorated Army captain when her civilian employer threatened termination unless she immediately reported back to work.
Imagine serving your country — I’m talking about the nurses who are at military hospitals all around the world ministering to our wounded sons and daughters.
Why on Earth would anyone want to interfere with that? What would possess a giant in health care to stoop so low?
Isn’t it enough that our country is experiencing the worst nursing shortage in history? How does this health care giant think the community will react to that?
Donna Ortiz
Texas City
A Pledge To Act Like Ignorant Sheep
A YouTube video titled “I Pledge” has Hollywood and other personalities saying “I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama” and “I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind,” not to America or Americans. In the 1930s, Germans swore a pledge to der Fuhrer and not to Germany.
Obama is trying to become president of health care, banking, volunteer service, auto industry, energy, etc. Again, this is reminiscent of 1930s Germany.
Apparently, we no longer listen to the wisdom of our Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson said: “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
There are just too many Americans who like the idea of the government taking care of them from cradle to grave. They don’t know the difference between security and freedom.
Jefferson also said: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”
Our ignorance of history, science and politics is horrendous. How many states can the average American name? How many presidents? What kind of government do we have?
How many make a decision based on cherry-picked information without even trying to seek out all the factors pertinent to that decision?
In other words, how many Americans are sheep? Ignorance is not bliss — it’s a corrupter of freedom.
Robert Hart
Hitchcock
News Wrong To Print Atkins Guest Column
Interest in Ivana Atkins’ guest column “Americans don’t know the meaning of socialism” (The Daily News, Oct. 17), concerning the meaning of the word “socialism,” just seems to go on and on.
If it were a news story, we’d say it had legs.
From the beginning, it was obvious The Daily News would receive several go-back-where-you-came-from responses; however, I have a different take — I wonder why The Daily News printed the article at all.
The newspaper must have been wowed by the fact that the author was someone who had lived abroad and was, she said, a language expert.
The premise of her article was that people here in the United States didn’t know the meaning of socialism.
Did your company happen to notice that she never defined it for us? I guess that’s the difference between a language expert and a communications expert.
Also, why would The Daily News print her hateful comments wherein she called certain conservatives idiots and lunatics?
I have read the Word on the Street page for many years. This is the first time I have seen examples of name-calling of specific individuals.
As the newspaper, you are the editor. This could have been deleted.
Janice Geer
Texas City
Taylor Was Wrong To Promote Prop. 9
I was disappointed that, in his editorial “Compelling case for Proposition 9” (The Daily News, Oct. 16), Heber Taylor urged readers vote yes on the proposition.
I agree with him that the public should have access to all of Texas beaches, but he obviously is not a West End resident.
After experiencing Hurricane Ike as one myself, I know definitively that the state’s general land office does not have the best interest of any property owner in mind. According to the Open Beaches Act, it’s not the GLO’s role.
The Act provides for access and also the ability to change course if the public sees fit. All the amendments just make for a diluted constitutional document.
It should have been left alone. The OBA is sufficient.
The proposition didn’t have to be in Texas’ constitution and it will only further the erosion of property owners’ rights.
Tom Empey
Galveston
No Economic Growth From ACORN Gifts
Somebody needs to tell the president that it’s not economic “growth” if money is taken from those who produced it and given to the more politically favored who did not produce it.
For example, taking money from a hardworking business person or a successful corporation and giving it to, say, the Association of Community Organizatiions for Reform Now, is not economic growth.
The continuing high jobless rate demonstrates this all the more. There can only be economic growth when new wealth is created.
Wealth is not being created in America. It’s being taken from those who have earned it and doled out to those who haven’t.
Capitalism creates wealth. Socialism moves it around. By now, America should have learned the difference.
Michael Hurd
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
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