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Iraq will teach 19-year-old girl reality of war

Re: Her baby goes off to war, story, Aug. 15.

When I was 19, I had completed my Army medic training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. After some additional training at Fort Polk, La., I had my orders for Vietnam.

I was 19 and I believed the lies that I was told about why we were fighting in Vietnam. Today, I cry a lot as I hear similar lies and similar cries to "stay the course," "we cannot leave now," "too many have died to give up now," "we are spreading democracy," the enemy "are insurgents, and we will defeat them."

I feel a deep connection to Pfc. Denna Poucher. Sadly, she will find that being an Army medic in the center of a war is far more than "an exciting career challenge." After a year of holding the hands of dying soldiers, she will never be the same.

Being an Army medic in wartime is a traumatic, life-changing event. Her comment, "I love the Army; I joined because of 9/11 and the terrorists," leads me to believe that she believes the lies that the war in Iraq has a link to 9/11 or the "war against terror."

"I have no fear," Denna said in the article. That quote screams out how immature and naive a 19-year-old can be. No one who has watched the news on TV or has been reading newspapers in the past year could possibly have "no fear" about serving in Iraq.

I mean this in no way to hurt or insult Denna, but it is a disgrace for Army recruiters to be trolling our high schools and recruiting children to fight a war.

Recruiters deserve credit for their fast-talking skills

Re: Her baby goes off to war, story, Aug. 15.

Score 1 for the Army recruiter who hoodwinked 19-year-old Denna Poucher, who was only 17 when she enlisted in the Army. I'll bet that recruiter received one fat bonus check.

No one's "baby" should be going off to fight this war. When a war wreaks of mendacity, as does the war in Iraq, recruiters deserve credit for their fast talking as well as their sweet talking to young candidates. Being that they are so good at what they do, innocent teens are willing to put their lives on hold and at risk, all for Uncle Sam.

Apparently, Pfc. Poucher still has stars in her eyes, since she sees her deployment in Iraq as an "exciting career challenge" - although her outlook feeds right into President Bush's self-righteous attitude regarding the "noble cause" in Iraq.

Poucher's biggest challenge will probably be just staying alive. My hope is that she returns home all in one piece - both mentally and physically - with her same winsome smile. With that, she can take advantage of the education she was promised. Poucher will certainly have earned it. Godspeed.

Safety Harbor mayor apologized; can't we all move on now?

Re: Mayor not paying attention in class, editorial, Aug. 11.

All of this brouhaha about Safety Harbor Mayor Pam Corbino reminds me of a Bible verse about straining at gnats and swallowing camels. This nit-picky stuff is not only ridiculous, it serves no useful purpose. She apologized. Enough already.

Road work has cut museum attendance down to a trickle

The North Pinellas Historical Museum is a 501(c)3 organization that is run solely on dues from the Palm Harbor Historical Society, donations and a few fundraisers throughout the year.

Currently, the museum is open on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday and Saturday. Due to the road work on Curlew Road, visitation is down to a trickle. The museum desperately needs sponsors to sustain it during this period and to continue the same support after the road work is finished to keep it open. Any group, business, etc., can be a sponsor.

All donations to the museum are tax deductible.

Send checks made out to the North Pinellas Historical Museum to the PHHS, P.O. Box 1888, Palm Harbor, FL 34682.

For further information, call me at (727) 789-0478.

Inspirational article shows everything's possible here

Re: He took the Subway to America, story, Aug. 8.

Thank you for a truly inspirational article on a hard-working young man, and congratulations to him for reminding all of us that everything is possible in our great country. Most of us had ancestors who came here to make their fortunes or at least a better life for their families, and it's nice to know not all newcomers are here to tap into our welfare system.

I hope a lot of parents showed this story to their children as an example of what hard work and determination can accomplish. Well done, Anton, and welcome!

[Last modified August 16, 2005, 01:29:18]