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Why do we let government get away with deceiving us?

Re: How did Pat Tillman die? March 26.

Isn't is sad that the U.S. military deems it necessary to cover up the truth about Pat Tillman's death? What is even more gross is that the government finds it must stretch the truth to the citizens about its actions in the military, and the actions of its legislative and administrative people. Sad is the day that the ordinary citizen has to question all information released by the government.

Should not truth be demanded by the citizens? And if they don't get it from the elected and appointed officials shouldn't they then force a change in those people who find it so expeditious to forget to tell the facts, but must rely on "spin"?

The media are not perfect, but if not for them, the truth would often be buried and forgotten. When the media do uncover the deception, government officials seem to understand that if they make excuses and then blame some poor underling, and take no responsibility for their actions, the people will just forget about it and the officials can continue doing it all over again. The old saying "the truth is stranger than fiction" seems to be that they don't think the people can believe the truth, but are better at accepting the fiction.

Why must government spend its precious time spreading falsehoods, when just facing the facts would be so much easier in the long run? That is, if they didn't think that the people were so gullible that they will accept the "trust me" word of the politician.

The irony of the Tillman case

Re: How did Pat Tillman die?

Every time we ask how, exactly, Pat Tillman died, we confer on his story an irony he probably would have found appalling: He left a life of celebrity to serve as a common man, and his death is being scrutinized in a way that defines cause celebre.

Investigating how Tillman died may tell us exactly that: how one man died. But what besides his celebrity insists his death be accounted for, and that of others not? What, that is, except our own gnawing awareness that as long as we make a production of getting to the bottom of his death, we don't have to take responsibility for the more than 2,300 Americans who have died in a war we didn't have to start, and do something to keep that number from growing?

Jimmy Carter shines again

Re: 20-year effort may soon end an ancient plague in Nigeria, March 26.

This New York Times article told of another humanitarian accomplishment of Jimmy Carter's. His foundation's effort to eradicate a disease, longstanding for generations in Nigeria, is proving to be successful. The invasive Guinea worm, which has killed, maimed and caused much suffering to thousands, has practically been eliminated.

Jimmy Carter, in my opinion, is one of our most moral, honest presidents, consistently working on behalf of the disenfranchised in all parts of the world. Men of his caliber deserve to be honored and thanked for representing our country.

A glimpse of fallibility

Re: In need of discipline - dog and master, by Philip Gailey, March 26.

I am shocked. I am confused. What is going on at the St. Petersburg Times editorial board?

Every weekend when I read the musings of the editorial staff I shake my head, my blood pressure rises and I wonder how anyone can be so wrong, ignorant - you name it.

Then I read the above article. I call my wife. Miracle of miracles. This writer is a mensch. What a wonderful article. True, I am biased since I am the proud parent of a golden retriever whom I have adopted as my son and is in my will.

I think a lesson can be learned from this article. Would it not be wonderful if all of your editorial writers once in a while would show their humility and fallibility instead of strutting their intellectual arrogance? Just a thought.

Demographic dangers

Re: The dangers of religious fervor in politics, March 26.

Robyn Blumner's analysis of fertility rates among parents likely to vote Republican thwarts the pendulum swinging back toward a progressive American society. Slow-to-non-breeding enlightened people may recognize affluent human overpopulation is the source of destructive environmental forces. Fast-breeding people may not recognize this fact and/or believe the Bible-based apocalypse is inevitable.

The demographic trends Blumner outlines may produce a ruinous self-fulfilling prophecy if American leadership is lacking to first slow, then decrease Earth's human population. Our beloved democratic form of government may not serve our planet's future well-being if unenlightened Americans control detrimental policies. I would rather live under an enlightened dictatorship if that's what it takes to save us from ourselves.

Abortion rights and results

Re: The dangers of religious fervor in politics.

Hmmm. I wonder why so many children of Democrats, who are "cosmopolitan, progressive, individualistic and supportive of women's equality" . . . "will have never been born."

Could it have anything to do with their advocacy of abortion rights?

A bold solution

In Sunday's Times beside an article titled Students in need of civics lessons, you write, "Would you pass? Take a shot at five questions we asked students to see how you do. 13A." I turned to 13A to see how I would do and found five multiple choice questions. But how am I supposed to tell how I'd do when you printed all the correct answers in bold print?

Maybe all our failing public schools could take a lesson from this. When printing the FCAT, use bold print for the correct answers, and I'll bet scores would improve.

A fortunate find

Re: The endangered joy of serendipity, March 26.

What a wonderful article - and how lucky (?) I was that you put it on the front page of the Perspective section, and that I had a chance to look through the paper last Sunday morning!

Serendipity was one of the first "big" words I learned when I was young (thanks, Mom!) and I've always tried to give it the space - and time - it deserves. Whenever I've followed its dictates, the rewards have been well worth any time or energy that may have been spent otherwise.

I've already sent the article online to many of my friends and family, and I'll send it to more. But the original will go into the box of special things I save for my granddaughters.

[Last modified April 2, 2006, 01:23:12]