I was disturbed to hear of the Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision not to air ABC'c Nightline April 30 in which the names of the war's dead were read. Sinclair is essentially saying that any public recognition of the fallen soldiers is a political act against the war in Iraq. That trivializes the sacrifices these men and women made for us. Honoring the dead is not a partisan act.
In a news environment often focused on celebrity and pop culture, Nightline's willingness to take time out of their usual schedule to pay tribute to the dead is a great service. Civic-minded journalism like this should be encouraged, not censored.
-- Brian Hammond, Tampa
A poor example of democracy
Sinclair Broadcasting Group refused to air the April 30 edition of Nightline on many of its affiliate stations, calling it antiwar. Honoring our veterans by recognizing the supreme sacrifice is the least a country can do and I fail to see that it is antiwar. If we plan to keep our own democracy while hoping to establish one in Iraq, open reporting is a must and all broadcasters have a duty to air it. What were they afraid of?
-- Anita Marshall, Safety Harbor
Outrageous censorship
It is outrageous that Sinclair Broadcasting Group prohibited its ABC affiliates from airing Nightline on Friday night. Censorship does not hide the facts of war. This broadcast was meant as a tribute to the brave men and women who have lost their lives. Next we will have to cover up the Vietnam memorial wall in Washington, D.C.
-- Sue Hatton, Gulfport
Two wars, one justification
Why is there so much confusion in this country about the wars we are fighting? Maybe a lot of people simply do not realize that we are fighting in two wars.
One war is being fought in Afghanistan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden and his terrorists. They were responsible for the 9/11/01 attacks on our country.
The other war is being fought in Iraq. We have succeeded in capturing that country's leader, Saddam Hussein. However, the reasons we are there are not clear.
Maybe we would not have this confusion if some of our leaders would not justify both wars because of the 9/11 attacks. Of course, if they did that, they would then have to admit one of the wars was a mistake.
-- Tim Harman, Tampa
Who's lying now?
Re: Don Wright's May 1 cartoon.
Don Wright's political cartoon defines a lie as, "If I say something you know is not true." Really? According to the Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus, a lie is "an intentionally false statement."
A lie is not defined by whether the hearer knows if the statement is true or not but whether the speaker intends to deceive. I for one do not think President Bush intended to deceive the American public regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Nor do I think the president's advisers intended to deceive him in postulating the existence.
Long before the arrival of the Bush administration, prior administrations also believed weapons of mass destruction existed in Iraq based on their own good or bad intelligence. I think the people involved in the decision to invade Iraq were acting on the best information they had. That the information was not accurate (and this has yet to be finally determined) does not render their explanation of the decision "a lie" as Mr. Wright would have your readership, of which he is clearly contemptuous, believe. It is Mr. Wright, in fact, who lies by intentionally misdefining the term "lie" and assuming we ignorant readers will swallow his intentionally deceptive definition.
-- Terri Hearne, Lutz
Cheney has no standing to attack Kerry
Re: Cheney, Kerry trade war-themed attacks, April 27.
Of all the present administration's staff, Dick Cheney should be the last person to talk about John Kerry's war record. Cheney dodged the draft and has never served in the military. Yet, he is a commanding force behind the Iraq war and pushing our young men into battle and harm's way. John Kerry, on the other hand, has fought bravely for his country and volunteered to place his life on the line and received kudos from his superior officers for his bravery during the Vietnam War. He received three Purple Hearts for injuries sustained in battle and won the Bronze Star and the Navy's Silver Star, which is the third highest medal presented by the Navy after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.
The worst thing about Cheney's derogatory remarks regarding Sen. Kerry came during his speech at Westminster College. According to the referenced article, although Cheney had informed the college's president that he would talk about foreign policy and issues concerning Iraq, he used much of this time to resort to Kerry-bashing. It is understood the president of the college was so dismayed by this turn of events that he has asked Sen. Kerry to also speak so he can respond to Cheney's remarks.
No, Mr. Cheney, you have absolutely no grounds whatsoever to bash Sen. Kerry's war record. In fact, you take a back seat to all of our young heroes who are currently serving and dying in this war.
-- Billy Cox, Clearwater
How dare they question his patriotism?
It seems to me that the Republican attack machine has sunk to a new low. President Bush and his minions are now attacking John Kerry concerning his protesting an unpopular war that ended 30 years ago. That's fine, it's part of politics to look into a candidate's past. Where I have a problem is none of the senior members of the Bush team, with the exception of Colin Powell, served in Vietnam. In fact, they all went to great lengths to avoid it. John Kerry served in Vietnam, and in my opinion as a veteran, earned the right to protest it and stick up for his beliefs. How dare they question his patriotism? Maybe if they had gone, they might have a different perspective of what war is about.
John Kerry is not the one who gave "aid and comfort to the enemy" when he protested. Maybe it was Bush and company when they slithered out of it!
-- Jeffrey J. Zines, Port Richey
Imagine if the records were reversed
Re: War records.
The Republican Party is crucifying a war hero and his "medals." Wouldn't they have a ball if John Kerry had the same war record as our president?
What a bunch of hypocrites.
-- Donald F. Kelly, St. Petersburg
Consider their service
If Sen. John Kerry only spent one day in Vietnam, that would still be one day more than George Bush did.
-- Raymond W. Snow, New Port Richey
Don't overlook nukes' deterrent value
On April 24 your newspaper ran a column by Daniel Ellsberg wherein he lionized Mordechai Vanunu (Cultures of secrecy should be revealed). Ellsberg released the classified Pentagon papers to the media in 1971. Many felt at the time that Ellsberg's motives were scurrilous at best.
Vanunu, an Israeli, was just released after serving 18 years in prison for giving the London Sunday Times secret photographs he took at Dimona, the Israeli nuclear weapons facility. Vanunu's trial was held in Israel. Ellsberg states, "More people like Vanunu are urgently needed."
Ellsberg wants all nuclear weapons discarded - in the United States, Russia, England, France, China, India, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea. He writes, "The culture of secrecy in every nuclear weapons state has endangered humanity."
Despite countless nuclear weapons possessed by the aforementioned nations, not a single one has been used since 1945. Yet we've seen many major conflicts all across the world since then. Isn't it probable that the very awareness that nuclear warheads exist is a worldwide deterrent? Perhaps Daniel Ellsberg should calm down.
-- Laurence Veras, Clearwater
Misleading movie ad
Your readers may have seen an advertisement promoting what appears to be a lawyer's services for divorce cases. In reality, these ads are promoting the new "romantic comedy" Laws of Attraction. As a lawyer, I can tell you that after seeing the ads for this movie, I am not laughing.
The Florida Bar takes its responsibility of regulating the conduct of lawyers very seriously. Florida Bar members must follow rules and restrictions for conduct and advertising that are among the strictest in the country. These ads would not comply with Florida's lawyer advertising rules if used by a Florida Bar member. The producers were not required to meet these rules and have, in fact, used a marketing ploy that many people will unfortunately find very misleading.
The great majority of Florida lawyers are outstanding professionals and active members of the community. I am proud to be a lawyer and regret the distasteful depiction of my profession in these ads.
-- Miles A. McGrane, III, president, the Florida Bar, Coral Gables
Critic's frustration is understandable
Re: Hillsborough officials plan to banish vocal gadfly, April 22.
I have heard Mark Klutho speak at meetings of the Pinellas County School Board and present a passionate case on the government's lack of interest in changing the way it does business in relation to approving highly energy-wasteful construction. This is a subject that officials teach and preach but don't practice.
I, like Klutho, find it insulting that our leaders continue to do the people's business the way it has always been done - nothing better, just more of the same. That is not leading; it is following the people who sat in the seat of leadership before them, merely keeping it warm, until a true leader comes along who is capable enough to do the job with a vision of a better way. We, the people, elected them to lead, not just have a seat.
I don't condone anyone insulting another. We, the people, should always keep a higher standard of tolerance than the leaders of our government. I do, however, understand Klutho's frustration in not seeing a government respond to his insight.
I met Mark Klutho at a school board meeting and told him that I appreciated his efforts in policing waste in government. He proceeded to tell me of the energy that was wasted on air conditioning because of people wearing suit jackets like the one I had on. I stood in need of correction. He offered me some at no cost to me and, as a result, I have changed my behavior to the benefit of all. I thank him for leading me in the right direction, for taking his time and interest in helping me to be a more thoughtful person. I wish our government leaders would follow his lead and do the same.
-- Matt Sullivan Sr., St. Petersburg
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