Leaders who put nation first should be example for others
When I read Steve and Cokie Roberts’ column Saturday I was struck by the section on Bob Dole and Danny Inouye. These two men who were/are stalwarts of their respective political positions shared such a close bond. When I compare that to the vitriol so often heard from both the left and the right I am appalled. How did they manage to work together in spite of their differing principles?
Simple. They put their country first. Not their party, not their supporters, not their party caucuses and not their leadership positions. Their country. Don’t most of us wish the current leadership would do the same?
Perhaps it was their shared military service and their shared sacrifice. I don’t know. But what I do know is that when our country was faced with a major problem, these two men led the way to meeting somewhere near half way. This is called compromise, a dirty word in some quarters today. This is called doing your job, doing your duty, not a concept very well understood in some parts of Congress or indeed some parts of the country.
For example, look at the past few weeks. House Speaker John Boehner and the president were close to making a deal. Could they have closed the gap? Of course they could have. Instead they broke off negotiations; Congress went home for Christmas; the president went to Hawaii, and the country moved ever closer to the fiscal cliff. Our son spent his Christmas at Kabul Air Base, en route back to the Pakistan/Afghan border. No Christmas break for him or his troops. They just went on, doing their jobs, serving our country while the politicians went on vacation!
Perhaps Senators Dole and Inouye will become the example Congress and the rest of us need, of putting our country first.
I hope so, but I’m not optimistic.
— John P. Burke
Salisbury
Gallagher’s a good sport
Regarding sports editor Ronnie Gallagher’s “Christmas letter”:
It was the funniest one I’ve ever seen — definitely not the usual. I laughed as I read it — laughed again as I shared it — and again as I thought of it!
There’s nothing wrong with his sports columns, but I think he might do this for a second career someday!
— Betty Waller
Salisbury
Poor choice of words
I enjoyed reading about all of our athletes at the local schools. I really think the wording on the Sunday sports page, “Twin killing,” was a bad choice of words for a title. W ith all the killing in schools and such , could you not have said something like “Martin Brothers unstoppable” or “Powered by the Martins.”
This isn’t the first time you have used bad headlines in describing sports. Please attempt to be more tactful in choosing a headline.
— Leah Fry
Woodleaf