Don’t like ‘torture’? Here’s an alternative
I’m certainly glad that Tim Rutten of the L.A. Times has decided that water boarding is torture (April 23 column). Who needs the Supreme Court when we have a “constitutionalist” like him? So let’s get on with the Truth Commission to find all the villains. And who better to organize it than Sen. Patrick Leahy? He was kicked off the intelligence committee for leaking classified information, a true patriot.
Never mind that. I can help Rutten and Leahy with some truth we already know. In addition to Bush, Cheney and their minions, we’ll need to round up all the leaders of Congress ó Democrat and Republican. That includes the intelligence committee chairs and ranking members, who were all aware of and approved the “torture.”
Let’s not forget the joint chiefs. Virtually all members of the special forces, along with soldiers who undergo training for possible capture by an enemy, are water boarded ó or worse ó in their training. This barbaric behavior started before 2001, so I’m afraid Clinton and his underlings are guilty. It’s still being done; so Obama is torturing our soldiers even today! But at least we’re closing Gitmo ó don’t you feel safer?
So how will we deal with “manmade disasterists” (aka terrorists)? Fortunately, Obama has already given us the answer. Like after the first World Trade Center bombing, the police can arrest the suspects and put them on trial. Or in the event of the planned attack on the Library/ U.S. Bank Tower in L.A., they could have rounded up the body parts along with those of the thousands of victims. Now that’s change we can believe in!
I have a better idea. Let’s treat the “disasterists” with complete respect under the rules of the Geneva Convention. Those not in uniform when captured (all of them) can be taken outside and shot ó dead.
ó Tim Messinger
Salisbury
Vandals rip down sign at Gold Hill Park
It is such a shame to see that someone vandalized the beautiful Gold Hill Park sign to the children’s playground. These seven children or youth were all precious in God’s sight and their loving families. I personally knew Dean Aaron Hammill, a handsome, kind, friendly, loving young man. The little Treece boy and Collins boy drowned, and when their precious bodies were found, they had died hugging each other. I am so hurt that big, strong people could do such a horrible thing as to demean a loving marker that honored such sweet children. I pray that God will touch their lives and change their ways. I will pray for these vandals and ask that everyone involved in pain in this incident can do the same. Jesus (and God) loves the little children, all the children of the world.
ó Pam Walker
Rockwell
Guess I’m another of those ‘extremists’
Dear Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security:
I am an American veteran. I am a white, conservative, pro-life male who has a love for Jesus the Christ. My world view is shaped on the belief that the Bible is the holy inspired word of God and it means what it says.
I firmly believe that the government’s role, as defined by a “literal” interpretation of the Constitution of the United States of America, is limited in scope and authority. At one time, I took an oath to uphold that Constitution from threats outside and within, and I took it seriously. I took it seriously enough that I was willing to die to defend it.
According to your extremist alert, you should fear me. I might be dangerous.
On this we agree. I will be voting in three and one half years. So will many of the other extremists who love freedom. That is, unless, you decide that the federal government’s role supersedes that right.
Just in case, I hear Texas will be allowing conservative immigrants who also love the freedoms that the Founding Fathers were willing to lay their lives down for.
ó Matthew R. Haney
Salisbury
Jake saved our lives, and we’ll miss him
On Aug. 4, 1999, the Salisbury Post’s Jennifer Moxley (now with News 14 Carolina) reported on a dog whose frantic barking roused a sleeping Owen family and saved them from death in a house fire.I knew that dog well. He was my dog ó a big, jet-black Goldie Lab with a white star on his chest, like a golden retriever dipped in ink. Escape was available to him that summer morning, but he acted for us all.
His name was Jake. Jake was our dog for 11 wonderful years. To paraphrase Harper Lee, Jake gave us delight, devotion, protection ó and our lives. Only cancer could subdue his unbounded spirit last week.
Many of you reading this well know the depths of emotion our family feels.
ó Steve Owen
Kannapolis
Capping carbon has many benefits
I just want our leaders to know here in Mount Pleasant that we support bold action on climate and energy, including a cap on carbon pollution. Nothing else is acceptable!
Capping carbon pollution will ignite the transition to clean energy, help end our dependence on dirty fossil fuels and put America on a path toward economic recovery! A cap on carbon pollution will create tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.
Consumers and businesses will benefit from stable energy prices, and with greater energy efficiency, we can get more from the energy we have, which will mean lower electricity bills.
Now is the time for action. The economy can’t wait. The climate crisis can’t wait! If not, we all die!
ó Emory Moose
Mount Pleasant