Letters to the Editor for Monday, December 1, 2008

Fred, my friend, you are wrong only in making conclusions from flimsy evidence.  Our disagreements are in how we look at things.  When people argue about “Right to Choose” and “Right to Life”, the Choose side is talking about the mother’s rights, and the Life side is talking about the baby’s rights.  There is a lot of yelling and name-calling, and insults and conclusions, but it is as if the two sides are facing in the other’s direction but are two miles apart horizontally!  When we talk about Iraq, we see different things.  I concede there is terrible tragedy in war, but to me the important thing is the freedom that has been brought to those people.  I think that to you the tragedy of lost lives is the over-riding concern.  We look at things differently.  So, that gives you the right to call me stupid, ignorant, indoctrinated, and anything else you like.  I hold no such view of you, my friend.  You are a fine person, and involved, and I only wish we could be more civil to one another.  Do you understand?

Randolph,

I thought you told me several times that you were proud of the American involvement in Iraq. I am wrong?

I seem to remember sending you that list of all the terrible things that resulted from that aggression. That apparently did not change your mind. Why exactly should I call you savvy? You are so indoctrinated, you can’t even think for yourself.

fred, you are an incredible moron. There are a good many people participating here that agree to disagree. Many diverse backgrounds and opinions, that is what makes it worthwhile in the long run. I learn something here everyday, sometimes I shake my fist in frustration, sometimes I learn to accept other points of view. But I can honestly say you never fail to show your incredibly low iq and needy attitude, you never learn a thing. You are a waste of time.
But hey, at least your consistent.

jedihunter,

Americans had absolutely no business going into Iraq.

According to you, we should rejoice because the “Iraqis are beginning to do a nice job of standing up for themselves and develop a functioning, albeit rudimentary government.“ You could have added “a totally corrupt government”. When Iraqi inspectors started reporting cases of blatant corruption, they were dismissed. Billions have vanished and nobody seems to know, or care, what happened to them.

That is all you have achieved and at what cost: more than 4,500 American soldiers dead, tens of thousands wounded, many maimed for life. Why don’t you watch the documentary “Body of War” or is it too disturbing for you? Over 300,000 head injuries. Unconscionable lack of physical and mental care for returning soldiers. Over half a million Iraqis killed. How many injured? Their country destroyed: supply of water and electricity at levels lower than pre-war ones. Millions of Iraqis displaced. Iran more powerful than ever. In addition, the war will cost upward of 2 trillions that we will have to pay for years to come while Bush enjoys his pension and Secret Service protection for life.

Ignorant Americans like you (that includes Randolph) call it a success; rational people like me call it a disaster of biblical proportions.

You should give my comments a great deal of credibility because I was not indoctrinated like you in the “we are the best, our country the greatest” dogma as well as being bombarded with religious hocus-pocus from a tender age. I can safely say that I am more capable of objective judgment than the great majority of Americans (and that certainly includes you).

eye, you are absolutely right I forgot to mention Max Cleland, he definitely didn’t deserve to be labeled in such a way.
Fred I don’t need to borrow the textbook. In this country, when called to serve in time of war, personal belief in the conflict takes a backseat to doing your patriotic and civic duty. As a citizen of one of the most embarrassingly cowardly and morally decrepit nations on the planet, you couldn’t possibly understand.