Editor, Times-Union: The purpose of expressing an opinion is to persuade someone to see your point of view. Young opinions contributors seem incapable of grasping that concept, so let me see if I can simplify it for you.
Just for the sake of illustration, let's say you write an article in which you want to persuade me that your mother possesses the world's best chili recipe, but you're in such a hurry to see your name in the paper that you forget to write the ingredients down.
Can you feel my rage? You see, boys and girls, recipes and opinions are similar. They both contain ingredients. These ingredients simplify the process of assembling the recipe, and if all the ingredients are included that makes the recipe taste better, too.
Ingredients of recipes need to be measured whereas ingredients of opinions need to be weighed before they are expressed. How else can the persuasion process take place?
If you want me to believe your mom's chili is the world's best, but you exclude the ingredients, then the only thing I'm left to assume is that you want me to believe your mother's chili is the best because you said so. Why does that leave such a nasty taste in my mouth?
When you include the ingredients of a written opinion, that makes a reader consider your opinion and you may even convince them to change theirs.
You see, unlike a bowl of chili, I'm not going to swallow an opinion unless I know the ingredients in it.
Now I know that's a lot of work, but unless you engage in the time and effort it takes to do that, I'll always have the ability it takes to convince you that your mother's (opinion) chili [is no good].
Steven R. Frantz Warsaw
Low Morale
Editor, Times-Union: Recent disclosures of low morale among forces in Iraq because "we were lied to." Such comments are fueled by the liberal media.
I'm certain such comments are from only a less than handful of troops.
To those very few, I would say: If you want to know of low morale and being lied to (promised aid never arrived!) talk to a survivor of the Bataan Death March. Talk to a survivor of the torpedoing of the USS Indianapolis. Talk to a survivor of the battle at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, November to December 1950 (we were told we would be home by Christmas!). Talk to any survivor of the "Hanoi Hilton!" Ask any veteran of WWII how many years he spent overseas!
Finally, ask each to remind yourselves of the oath you took when you volunteered for service: "and solemnly swear to obey ..."
This matter could be settled by the unit sergeant major taking each malcontent by the stacking swivel, staring eyeball to eyeball and stating: "This is how it is! Any questions? No? I didn't think so! Dismissed! Carry out your duties!"
The liberal Bush-hating media shoved microphones in the faces of a few tired, confused, frustrated fighting men, asked loaded questions, then gloated over the answers.
Final comment: To all who think 16 words in State-of-Union speech will prevent our president from being re-elected - dream on! George W. Bush is the best president since Ronald Reagan!
Donald Guard First Sgt. USMC (Ret.) Leesburg
Crowded Schools
Editor, Times-Union: I have concern about the overcrowded conditions in our Warsaw Community School buildings. Much is being done about the future with talk about adding buildings. However, this does not take care of the current or near future problem. I believe the current problem can be helped by having the sixth grades be transferred to the middle schools instead of waiting until they are going into the seventh grade. The children can adapt to the change at this time as well as if the change were one year later. Children can handle change very well. Some parents don't like it, but we all must look at things as they are. Heck, I had to change schools for the second grade, and had to do it again for the third grade. Two of my lifetime best friends came as a result of these changes.
