Editor, Times-Union: It is with great interest that I always read your columns advocating free trade such as the one which appeared in your Wednesday edition. I would offer one small word of advice, when you tell of the great benefits that the exportation of jobs such as those in the service sector will bring to the U.S., you need to spell them out right then and there for all to see. I admit along with millions of other Americans that I need help fully appreciating these "benefits" that await me in America's future.
I am a staunch conservative without a political party and a small business owner in the manufacturing sector. While the bulk of my business is from the local orthopedic industry and somewhat protected from economic forces, our general machine shop and tool and die work have been devastated by current economic policy. For the last four years our business has received an average of four auctions a month of shops large and small that have not made an economic recovery. I full well understand changing economic times and forces, but that is not what we as the working class of our nation are witnessing.
Try as you might to explain it away, every free trader I have read admits that within 10 years we, the United States of America, will become a net importer of agricultural products. As a purveyor of the written word, a staunch supporter of the First Amendment, ponder just how you would phrase that concept to a founder of this great nation. You would be speaking to a man who fought a war on this nation's ground first-hand, not an ocean away sending others to die for his beliefs. Tell him how you support policies that will for the first time in our history make us unable to feed ourselves, not by blight like the Irish suffered but by choice driven by the economic gain of a few. Then go on to explain how industries from shoes and textiles to motors, magnetics and steel were allowed to slip from our shores. Imagine that you stand before him 20, maybe 30 years down the road when suddenly you need those industries to defend this land. Imagine China has finally made its long-awaited move and you stand alone in the path of an army 500 million strong, unable to even clothe our own soldiers, let alone feed or equip them for a long fight.
You may know nothing of how things in the world really get done and I may excuse your ignorance to a point but only to a point. Steel mills are not built overnight and while some have been mothballed, most are disassembled and gone. Many industries require very specialized people and machines to make them work and as the jobs leave so do they. Twenty years from now my guess is you won't be able to find anyone with skills or the facilities in this country to design and make the machines to make the machines to recreate the industries we are in such a rush to cleanse from our shores so our children never have to experience the horrors of manual labor. Just like those industries as the line of succession is broken as family farms collapse lost is generations of knowledge of working the land. A sad time it will be should world events leave us to defend ourselves and we find just like those first brave souls of long ago our soldiers are left cold, hungry and ill equipped to fight for freedom. Rest assured those heroes of the future will find warmth and fulfillment within themselves knowing that this time it was by our own leaders' choice.
Mike Yazel Medtool Inc. Mentone, via e-mail
Moral Values
Editor, Times-Union: There seems to be a lot of confusion on this issue. The other day one person asked, "Who decides what moral values are correct and right for this country?" Well, if you are talking about marriage, it would have to be God. That would be due to the fact that marriage is a religious based union between a "man" and a "woman." A union ordained by God that is acknowledged by our government. Not something created by our government that can be changed just whenever or however you want.
So, if anyone has a problem with being told who they can or cannot marry, well I guess they will just have to take it up with God. And if you don't belive in God then you will probably do whatever you feel is best, and just make up the rules as you go because it won't matter much in the end anyway.
Darrin Kitson Warsaw, via e-mail
Defending Rights
Editor, Times-Union: OK, Mr. Perry, I'm a loose cannon and dumber than a dog. I can live with that. Most people have considered me that most of my life anyway but don't tell me "ENOUGH," Mr. Perry. I'll tell you when I feel I've done enough in defense of the rights of the common man.
I'm very sorry the intent of my letter went over your head, Mr. Perry. In the future I'll try to speak more slowly.
Harold L. Kitson Warsaw, via e-mail
Homosexual Rights
Editor, Times-Union: I would like to respond to two letters printed on Monday March 8th. The first being " Hidden Agenda" submitted by Alice Nabinger. Did anyone happen to realize this is the same letter, word for word, also submitted by Meredith Sensibaugh on January 13th? I did because I wrote in response to Meredith's letter "Marriage Concerns." I'm curious, is this a form letter provided by the TVC for people to submit who have difficulty expressing their own opinions on this issue? Or, perhaps Alice copied the letter and signed her name to it. Maybe someone is using the same letter and submitting it under different names. Just an observation.
The second letter was from Rebecca Surface. I would just like to say that it would not be necessary for the homosexual community to "broadcast" their lifestyle to the world if it were not necessary for us to fight for rights that should be given without question. You and others may believe homosexuality to be "morally wrong" and "forbidden in the Bible" but the Bible is not a legal document meant to be a guide for legislation. If it were, then judging others and promoting hate and intolerance would be illegal and those who practice this could be accused and then prosecuted simply for their choice to follow this doctrine. Regarding the issue of domestic patnership benefits, we would not be getting preferential treatment, we would be settling for less than equal in an attempt to smooth over the fact that we are being denied equal rights under the law. If the homosexual community were given the right to marry and also allowed to get patner benefits if unmarried, then the heterosexual community should yell discrimmination" and I would be yelling right beside you because I believe in equality regardless of religion, race, family status, sexual orientation,etc.
Gay marriage is not a religious issue, but is being made so in an effort to help promote political candidates support. It is only a religious issue for those churches and their denominations to decide whether to recognize these marriages in their particular communities. For the government, it should be a legal and civil rights issue. The Constitution was founded on freedom and equality for all citizens and should not be amended to suit only those who follow one specific set of beliefs. The Constitution should not discriminate against those who have differing religious beliefs, or those that do not subscribe to any religious belief at all.
I would just like to say that as an American citizen who is homosexual, regardless of whether it is my choice or a genetic disposition, I am and should be protected under the United States Constitution. I am just like any other productive member of my community. I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I work, pay taxes and help maintain a home. I am a spiritual person who deals daily with the joys and struggles of life in this country. Should I really be penalized because I love and am committed to another female?
Cheri Heath Warsaw
Madison Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union: Dear friends of Madison School,
The Madison PTO would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations that helped make our annual carnival a success. There are so many people involved but at this time I would especially like to thank the very special community businesses that saw to it that our needs were met. Thank you to St.Anne's Episcopal Church for being our "neighborhood church" for your willingness once again to step up to the plate and lend a loving hand. Also to Wendy's, Wal-mart, Trinamic Printing, Owen's, Mutual Federal Savings Bank and so many organizations who donated to the silent auction. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Madison School for their time and talents. Hats off to all of you! We couldn't have done it without you!
Madison Elementary PTO via e-mail
Bush Accomplishments
Editor, Times-Union: The Facts The following appeared in a local paper as a letter to the editor in Arizona:
Some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war. They complain about his prosecution of it. One person recently claimed Bush was the worst president in U.S. history.
Let's clear up one point: We didn't start the war on terror. Try to remember. It was started by terrorists on 9/11. Let's look at the "worst" president and mismanagement claims.
FDR led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.
Truman finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,333 per year.
John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.
Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year.
Clinton went to war in Bosnia without U.N. or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
In the two years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Lybia, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people - Saddam Hussein.
We lost 600 soldiers, an average of 300 a year. Bush did all this abroad while not allowing another terrorist attack at home.
Worst president in history? Come on!
I had two grandchildren in the war, one went to Iraq. And I still believe in Bush. I wouldn't want 9/11 again in our country. God bless the good people in Iraq.
