|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
February 2, 2006Letters to the EditorKeeping prices downI guess it's about time to say something good again about the Grapes family, owners of Gilbert Oil Co. and Mutual gas stations. I can't count all the times this company has kept the price of gas down in Traverse City, but I sure can say that I appreciate it. Just a week or two ago gas prices went up, and with their perseverance, they kept it down again. The sad thing is that on the day or days the gas is down everyone is lined up to get the low price. But loyalty is short lived. As soon as the other gas stations go back down, they go back - sad but true. I buy gas at Mutual and pass five stations to get there every time. When I seen an employee working at a place like this for many years, I certainly think it must be a good company and good owners - a tip of the hat. Don Lappo Sr. Kingsley President is not a king Isn't it fascinating to see all these Republicans flip flop on the critical issue of the rule of law in America? Remember the words of James Rogan, R-Calif., during President Clinton's impeachment: "National security is not more important than the rule of law, because without it, there can be no security, and there is little left defending." To listen to Republicans currently attack Democrats for not wanting to wiretap al Qaida (although not one Democrat has said this) diverts voters from the central issue of the rule of law. President Bush is not a king. He is a citizen of the United States and is subject to our current laws. If he wanted the power to wiretap without a warrant, there is a process using the legislative branch to change the law. Instead, he chose to ignore current statute. The words of Michael Ledeen, writing about Clinton's impeachment, show us the way out of our current quandary: "Nothing so effectively reminds the people that America is a 'state of laws, not men,' as incarcerating a powerful man who believed he was above the law." Amen! Bob Heflin Williamsburg Present or not guilty? I served my country at the beginning of the Vietnam War and came out of it with a 30 percent disability and was spit on by my fellow man when returning home. I served my country in the first Gulf War as a civilian on an American war vessel. I felt it was my duty to protect our freedom and the freedom of Kuwait and came home a hero. Today I am called anti-American and unpatriotic for criticizing Bush and Company for electronic spying on our own citizens, having prisons for torture in other countries, requesting information from Internet search engines. What is next for those who disagree, the Postal Service reading our letters? Concentration camps? Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, said that to announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. It's shameful when they call the roll in the Senate and the senators do not know whether to answer "Present" or "Not Guilty." John Lawrence Beulah Martyr is honored This is in response to Jason Dargo's letter, "Holiday not celebrated." I don't know if he has children in the school system here or not, but I have had two children go through and two still in the schools. Every year for the entire week the children learn all about Martin Luther King Jr. and all his accomplishments, not just one day. Just because they do not stay home from school that day does not mean they are not learning about him. I think they honor him even more by spending that time together talking and learning about all he's done rather than having an extra day to stay home and goof off, which is what would happen if they had the day off. Stephanie Dean Grawn A challenge offered To all those who purport to care so deeply about the welfare of the unborn, I offer this challenge: For every dollar you donate to anti-abortion causes, donate a dollar to a homeless shelter, a daycare center, the Boys and Girls Club, a free clinic, or any other charity that cares for those our society has abandoned. For every hour you spend demonstrating against abortion, spend one volunteering at a safe house for abused women, relieving someone who cares for a disabled child or being a Big Brother/Big Sister to an unwanted child. For every conversation you have condemning women who choose to have an abortion, spend a few minutes talking to someone who is struggling to raise her grandchildren, or a girl who would love to go to college but will more likely spend her life cleaning toilets in the hotels you stay in. Jesus never said anything about abortion. But he had lots to say about people who pray on street corners and who bind others with heavy burdens and then will not lift a finger to help them bear them. I challenge everyone whose name appeared on those expensive full-page ads on Jan. 22 to read Matthew 23. Tina Ulrich Traverse City Speech was double talk The President's speech at Kansas State University on Jan. 23 shows a new side of his personality hitherto unknown: his persona of the "Philosopher King." While every day we are at war he is shouting, "To arms. To arms." Today, it seems, he would rather lull the American public into a false sense of security. I cannot believe these two things at the same time: 1. A call to arms and, 2. You are in good hands, nothing will go wrong now. I've got everything covered. It's all under control. Go back to sleep, business as usual. There is nothing to fear. The enemy is mine. A sucker's born every minute. Paul Wichert Suttons Bay For real election reform When is enough, enough? When lobbyists like Jack Abramoff contribute $26.9 million in one year (2004) to members of Congress and business interests contribute $1.5 billion in the same time frame? Or when 250 of our former Congressmen and 34,750 of their aides use their employment at taxpayer expense as stepping stones to $300,000-plus-a-year jobs as lobbyists? Or, on a local level, will we have had enough of pay-to-play politics when Michigan Congressman Dave Camp accepts over $95,000 from corporate donors for his 2004 re-election campaign? Since Congressman Camp was running for his 8th term against a little-known political novice in one 13-county Michigan district out of 15, what on earth was all that money for? I, for one, have definitely had enough. Let us tell our legislators that we want real election reform that limits all private campaign contributions, that provides public funds that enable a broad base of candidates to run for public office, and that ensures an elected government that really is elected by the people and works for the people. It's called Clean Election Reform, and it's time. Betsy Johnson Empire
|
|
