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On Your Mind is the Herald/Review’s telephone opinion line and is intended as a public forum for our readers. Comments represent the opinions of callers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper or any specific knowledge that we have. Readers may share their opinions by calling 458-0332, or by e-mail to svhoym@transedge.com or regular mail at 102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista AZ 85635. Please keep comments less than 90 seconds. Comments are edited.
April 12
The Herald’s April 11 editorial, “Assessing the status in Iraq,” was overly negative and possibly politically motivated. Did the Herald deliberately omit significant factors Gen. David Petreaus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker reported to Congress concerning the success of the surge? For example, the al-Maliki government has met 12 of the 18 benchmarks Democrats have always clamored for — an extraordinary feat, when you consider none had been met before the surge started a year ago! The Iraqi army played a valuable role in fighting against al-Qaida and insurgent militias. Far more agreement exists between Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds today (though sadly underreported in the media). Many Shiite groups now oppose Muqtada al-Sadr (living in Iran and fighting a proxy war for Iran) and his militia. In fact, al-Sadr may no longer enjoy complete control of his militia because of in-fighting. The Herald editorial mentioned Iran only in passing — although Petreaus and Crocker emphasized the U.S. is actually waging a proxy war with Iran in Iraq.
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I was surprised to read in the Herald that a Kurdish official had finally offered to provide troops to help fight al-Sadr’s Mahdi militia. This group of al-Sadr’s was the one about a year ago that was sniping at and ambushing our troops from their mosque sanctuaries. It seems we are not allowed to kill these people. I, for one, think we should ring the mosque and kill the dancing fools who taunted and killed our people. As for the Kurds who are supposed to have 150,000 troops, where have they been hiding while our 4,000 troops were being killed? If we are ever allowed to leave, I’m sure they will miraculously appear from their oil rich sanctuary. We will then have to endure another post-Vietnam type drama.
Chalmers Johnson has written a brilliant, fact-based book called “Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic.” Subjects include constitutional breakdown, military matters and more. Everyone should get a hold of this book, if only to read Section 1 and Section 7. At the very least read the first 11 pages.
I’m a World War II veteran who on only two occasions used a VA facility shortly after my service ended. Due to my financial status at that time I needed some assistance. I was given a case number by the VA dated 12/1946. It has been 46 years since I last needed VA benefits. I have been an American Legion member since 1946. I recently moved back to Sierra Vista and at the suggestion of a friend applied for a VA card. I do not at this time have a health problem. Due to many changes over the years I am no longer eligible. Even Sen. (John) McCain can’t help me. If for some reason they have to draft ex-GIs over 81 years old, I think I’ll go to Canada.
I have to tell everybody in Cochise County that the victim-witness program in closing down. I was talking to a friend of mine who volunteers at victim-witness. Because of the lack of use by law enforcement authorities the federal grant will be pulled probably in May. So, if any of you have been a victim or have used victim-witness, you might want to think about what they did for you. I know they did a lot for me.
April 13
I was dismayed at Sunday’s Herald column by Jeff Cohen titled, “Winter Soldier II.” Not only did the Vietnam Veterans Against the War discredit our servicemen and women in the Vietnam War, now their anti-war spawn is going after our warriors in Iraq and Afghanistan. How could you legitimize this delusional left winger by giving him front and center on your editorial page? The 1971 Winter Soldier hearings have been repeatedly exposed as a fraud perpetrated on the media. His testimony at the hearings came back to haunt John Kerry when he ran for president. In 1971, Cohen was 19, a non-veteran, and he swallowed whole the bogus “confessions” of brutality and bloodlust he heard at the hearings. Subsequent investigation revealed that many of those so-called Vietnam vets were phonies masquerading in front of the cameras for their 15 minutes of fame, or were anti-war protesters using the hearings to advance their own agendas. Go on the Internet and enter Stolen Honor. That is the title of a 45-minute video documentary produced in 2004 by Carlton Sherwood, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former Marine infantryman in Vietnam. Then you will know how the media got duped at the first Winter Soldier hearings.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you for your comments. Cohen’s viewpoint is his and not necessarily that of the Herald/Review. We shared the commentary for another viewpoint on the war.
I read the April 13 column by Jeff Cohen, “ ‘Winter Soldier II’ gets its stories out.” I researched Cohen’s background on the Web. I learned that FAIR, which Cohen founded, is a left-wing organization. Cohen is a former ACLU lawyer educated at radical, unaccredited People’s College of Law (California allows this school’s graduates to take its bar exam). He founded FAIR with money won in a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department. He is an admirer of the radical cult leader Noam Chomsky. He was the communications director for the 2003 presidential campaign of Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He aligns himself ideologically with Ralph Nader. He has a long history of attending civil rights and anti-war gatherings, for example, by the radical Socialist Workers Party. I think it is safe to say that Cohen is a radical, anti-war leftist. I have watched him on Fox News and can attest he is as far left as they come. I surmise the intent of his commentary is to arouse Vietnam-type anti-war hysteria, depicting America as the cruel, vicious enemy. I’m surprised the Herald printed this propaganda piece.
April 14
Jeers to the driver of a big red pickup truck on April 13 about 11:45 a.m. He tailgated me between Golf Links Road and Busby on Coronado. As we approached the four-way stop at Busby, the truck moved into the middle lane, passing me at well over 35 mph. As I stopped for the stop sign he completely blew through it, not even slowing down. I was shocked! But cheers to the Sierra Vista police officer who saw him speeding in the 25 mph zone on Coronado. The police officer followed the truck and as he turned left onto Fry Boulevard the cruiser’s lights went on. Unfortunately, the officer probably did not see the stop sign offense. That was one of the many times you see a traffic violation and wish there was a police officer around. Good job!
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said potential human life begins at conception (April 14, Herald/Review). Biologists are agreed that human life begins at conception. A human embryo is the beginning of human life that has the potential to become a human fetus. A human fetus is human life that has the potential to become an unborn baby. An unborn baby is human life that has the potential to become a baby outside the womb. At all stages of development there is human life. Is that what Clinton and Obama meant when they said potential human life begins at conception? They need to explain themselves more explicitly. Whatever their explanation, they cannot avoid the fact that abortion is the destruction of human life.
Interesting to read from a reader about golf carts running the streets. You need to be educated. Golf carts are legal to run on any street if they are licensed. I have seen these carts on St. Andrews and they are just as legal to run on streets just as you are. With the gas prices, you may be finding more and more of them on the streets. Another point you stated about golf carts running on the multiple use paths as motor vehicles. By your reasoning of unlicensed golf carts, disabled people with scooters would be illegal on these multiple pathways also.
I’m calling about the article on the front page of Sunday’s Lifestyle section about the aide de camp for Maj. Gen. Custer, Maj. McGriff. What a wonderful person she must be. She has such a sweet smile and such a sparkle in her eye. What an honor to be an aide de camp to a general. The story was fascinating and I want to compliment Bill Hess for it. He did a beautiful job. Good luck to Maj. McGriff wherever she goes from now on. She deserves a lot of credit and a lot of hand clapping. She is going to go a long way in this man’s army. I think the story was wonderful, and I wish her the best of luck. I hope Maj. Gen. Custer can find someone just as good as she is.
The last two Sunday mornings I have turned on the “Hour of Power” at 8 a.m. on Channel 13. I don’t believe my ears. They are attempting to recruit help and money, money, money to help people in China. How about the American poor? I’m appalled. Where have they been? This just blows my mind. These are real God-fearing, God-loving people. Why are they doing this? Help, somebody.
You can depend on people to pull the race card as if they were pulling a gun. Mr. Obama has the greatest opportunity of all to run for the highest office in the world. Where would this happen other than here in the good old USA? Sadly, racism and bigotry will remain with us in one form or another until the end of time. Blacks have no exclusivity in this arena in today’s world. The Jews are fighting for their very existence and in some countries in Africa there is wanton slaughter with that creeping cancer of bigotry and hatred.
Here we go again, with a recession under way and a possible depression forthcoming, we’re going to have to tighten our belts in many ways. To begin with there shouldn’t be a tax on food at grocery stores or restaurants, etc. During World War II we rationed gas, tires, sugar, etc. Let’s do it again and establish controls over prices on important commodities.
I can’t believe this state is going to spend $50 million to teach people how to speak English. We’re supposed to have large deficits in our budget and we’re teaching illegals to speak English? It sounds like we have a sanctuary state here. Anyone who is a citizen should be able to speak our language unless they are mute. If someone wants to spend their vacation time teaching them I’m sure we have enough young liberals here willing to teach them. The young illegal workers I’ve seen here are very good, conscientious workers and I believe we should be able to register and employ them. Let’s educate our illegal workers and their children because the youths back east don’t want to learn or work so those here are not taking their jobs.
I was wondering what happened to the good citizen award in Sierra Vista this past week. There’s nothing in the paper; no photo, no write-up whatsoever. Please tell us what happened with the citizen of the year in Sierra Vista.
In today’s newspaper there’s an article about Senator Obama and his minister. If it had been a white minister or a Jewish rabbi who said these remarks he would be called a bigot. I’m a long time voting Democrat. I will probably vote Democratic in the next presidential election. But a bigot is a bigot and it doesn’t matter what color his is. This person needs to understand those things.
I’m here visiting from Connecticut and I’m just amazed at the wonderful job the coordinator for this local mental health agency is doing, holding it together and running a big mental health agency. It’s just amazing they let people with mental health diagnosis run an agency, and she is doing such a wonderful job. Kudos to her. Keep up the good work. That just goes to show you with the right medication a person with a mental health diagnosis can do wonders.
Let me get this straight. In the history of all time, at one time there was absolutely nothing. Then along comes some imaginary being, and I stress the word imaginary, that creates everything we know out of absolutely nothing. Now there’s a word for people who believe in that stuff and it’s called delusional and they usually spend time in mental institutions. Or they think they’re so powerful that they create cults or think they are gods themselves.
April 15
Bisbee is a small community with only a few banks. I was surprised to find out that Bank of America no longer cashes “third-party checks” or any other check if you do not have an account with them. Now with the income tax refunds coming in, if a Bisbee citizen wants to cash their check but does not have a checking account with Bank of America, they will refuse. Is that considered customer service? Upon this inconvenient discovery, as a customer of Bank of America for many years, I have chosen to close out my account. Many times I receive third-party checks from others as payment. Of course I make sure the funds are in those accounts prior to accepting them. I, as a loyal Bank of America customer, am also being denied customer satisfaction due to this new policy.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you haven’t already, go into your local Bank of America branch and talk with the manager to discuss what alternatives you might have.
In March 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which was a work relief program for the unemployed following the Great Depression. In April 1935, President Roosevelt activated the Work Progress Administration (WPA), which provided meaningful work for the unemployed. What if we eliminated every “Welfare Program” on the docket and reestablished the WPA? Retain one welfare-related organizations to work with the mentally or physically disabled (keep the Supplemental Security income (SSI)). The new “WPA” would contract with businesses to hire unemployed people. The WPA would pay their salary and benefits for that company for one year (employers must offer health care and WPA employee must participate). Companies participating in the program could claim a tax rebate for the individuals’ unemployment insurance at the end of the first year. Companies not participating would pay an additional 5 percent unemployment Insurance to cover program costs. Federal agencies would also participate in this program (where applicable). In some cases, federal or state agencies might create a community work program, such as highway and public land cleanup, graffiti abatement, city/state roadwork, etc. Federal/state contractors would be mandated by contract to participate in the program. The important thing is to provide a meaningful and productive job for every able bodied American who needs to work.
I would like to apologize to Berg’s Heating and Air Conditioning for the raw deal they got in the bidding process to replace the chillers at Buena High School. As stated at the meeting, this is necessary because there has been no maintenance on these chillers for years. This is solely the responsibility of the assistant superintendent, the principal, and the facilities foreman because they have a HVAC tech assigned on site full-time at Buena High School. This man has not been doing the maintenance. It was brought to their attention, but they did nothing. Then they contracted out the maintenance for thousands of dollars rather than replace the HVAC tech who will not do the job. This would be a good story for an investigative reporter who would come to the high school and investigate further.
This is in reference to the rural folks in Pennsylvania. I’m reminded of a bumper sticker that says, “God, guns, and guts can make America free. Let’s keep them all.” Obviously Barack Obama has seen that bumper sticker and he doesn’t like it.
I just read the Herald article by Dan Ferguson on the AVTT Memorial. This sounds like an individual who is thinking more with his heart than his head. Prior planning alleviates confusion and enhances organizational capacity. Sounds like he bit off a lot more than he could chew and in the 11th hour asked for help.
April 16
In earlier campaign speeches, Barack Obama said words really matter. His recent comments, at a private fundraiser with liberal elitist friends in San Francisco, disparaged blue collar workers in Pennsylvania and the Midwest, as “clinging” to guns and religion because of their economic lot. Obama insulted ordinary people of faith, who take pride in worshipping their God in both good and bad times. Obama, unwittingly, repeated Karl Marx’s infamous dictum: Religion is the opiate of the people! He also insulted people who believe in 2nd Amendment gun rights. He showed himself really out of touch with average Americans. His belittling words exposed him as elitist and condescending. Yes, he apologized, but apologies have become a standard political procedure with Obama, whenever he’s cornered with contradiction. Through his words, Obama is showing us who he really is. Hardly the man who says he’s equipped to unite us all! Instead, a true liberal, who is elitist and condescending.
One of your readers made what I believe to be an unfounded stereotype racial remark in OYM on April 7 stating that he/she “learned” from Fox News that Sen. Obama admitted he won the Illinois Senate election because he is black. Funny that I watch Fox News daily, as well as many other network news channels, and have never heard that rubbish. I also Googled the Internet, in every way possible, searching for any comments or articles about that, and guess what? I found nada, zero, nothing! Would this reader have us believe the 13,355,209 of us who have voted thus far for Sen. Obama did so because he is black?
I would like to respond to the comments in OYM (April 16) regarding evolution who asked “Why do I need to produce proof for my beliefs …?” The answer is simple: Because the government takes tax money from me to teach your “beliefs” in our public schools. At least we agree on one thing: Both evolution and Christianity are “belief” systems. Each takes a tremendous amount of faith to believe all of their respective teachings. Why can’t we just agree to kick both of them out of the public schools and agree to only teaching “facts” in the classroom?
I’m calling about the mesquite trees at Tompkins Park. I know the park service has been planting some other type of trees and putting them on water systems. The mesquite trees have been allowed to die from the mistletoe. I think anyone living in Arizona longer than six months to a year would know that you just cut the branch off below the mistletoe. It’s not an infestation. It guarantees life to the tree. Let’s keep our native plants.
I just saw the article about the walkout at Bisbee High School. If the students want to organize something that’s fine. It’s part of the education process. For a staff member, and I believe that Mary Lou Herrera is an aide not a teacher, to organize students to walk out during class time is pretty much a slap in the face to taxpayers. They’re paid to each the children. They’re not paid to organize political protest during class time. Again, if the students wanted to do it, that’s an excellent educational opportunity. But for a staff member to encourage students to walk out of class is appalling and simply not acceptable. In fact, maybe her contract should be the next one not renewed.
I’m concerned with the annual postal drive that’s supposed to take place on May 10. Rumor has it that the post office does not want to participate in that and if the post office does the postmaster wants to send the food to the Tucson Food Bank. Could somebody get some information on that? As a member of the community and a concerned citizen in Sierra Vista, I’d like my food to go to Sierra Vista or to the St. Vincent de Paul food bank and not to a Tucson food bank.
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Sierra Vista Herald for this “On Your Mind” section. Sometimes we read it, and it seems as though all people (including myself) can do is whine and complain. However, it does allow those in our community to vent and say what we want to say without reprisal. Freedom of speech is what it’s all about, and I thank you for providing a forum for this to be exercised. Thank you.
I’m calling about the possibility of renaming Sierra Vista Middle School to Joyce Clark Middle School. To me it’s a no-brainer to give this person who taught 44 years in this district and devoted her whole life to teaching and helping students. It seems to me it would be an almost automatic thing to have this done.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you haven’t already presented your idea to the Sierra Vista school board, we encourage you to do so.
LOOK FOR more On Your Mind in Friday’s edition.
DC wrote on Apr 30, 2008 9:54 AM: