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Don't be deceived by game of war; protest is patriotic

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 3, 2007

Big blue recruiting tool April 1, story 

This story exposes the bias rampant in this country due to the propaganda efforts of the war profiteers. It's patriotic to be prowar. It's patriotic to drive by a peaceful war protest and flip off people or scream obscenities out the car window. It's not patriotic to peacefully assemble and protest.

This past weekend I, along with a few veterans and others who support the soldiers but not the quagmire their commander in chief has gotten them into, stood with signs and banners not far from the gates of MacDill Air Force Base. My banner displayed a peace sign with a yellow ribbon on it, and said, "Bring our troops home now" and "Military Families Speak Out," which is an organization of more than 3,000 families nationwide who totally support their loved ones, but don't support the war/occupation.

I consider myself a patriotic American. My son is a 24-year-old Iraq combat vet. I am baffled by the fact that the life or death experiences my son had in Baghdad have been reduced to a video game/theme park ride used as a recruiting tool aimed at giving "civilians a taste of street-level combat in Iraq."

For those who got worked up enough while playing the video game over the weekend that they signed up to fill the empty boots of one of the more than 3,200 soldiers killed: When they do their third or fourth tour of duty and realize they were deceived, and they end up at Walter Reed, wounded and not feeling like a war hero, I hope they realize I was out there to do my part as an American patriot to honor our soldiers and their commitment to serve their country and get them home where they can get back to the duty they sign on for in the first place - defending our country.

Carol Korreck, St. Petersburg

On the wrong side 

Senate supports plan for Iraq withdrawal March 28, story

The congressional Democrats, with their plans for Iraq withdrawal, have now become partners with al-Qaida and worldwide terrorism. The majority of Democrats who initially gave the president approval for war with Iraq now have abdicated their responsibilities to support the protection of the American people with their approval of a pork-ladened, cut-and-run defense appropriation bill.

It has now become the Democratic Congress' war to lose.

Dayle Stevens, Largo

I-375 exit

A dangerous intersection

Despite what the "experts" say, the signs at the left exit from Interstate 275 onto I-375 are far from sufficient, or safe!

My wife and I have traveled south on I-275 many times and still feel confused at that exit. Just recently, my wife mistakenly took the exit, and once I took it, but managed to stop before I was totally committed and moved back over to I-275. But it was a dangerous situation, with high-speed traffic right behind me!

It is definitely a highly confusing and dangerous intersection. Needed are flashing warning lights, reflectors, large signs, exit lane markings that are more clear, and possibly minimal "speed bumps" to warn you when you cross over from I-275 to I-375 well before the intersection. The "experts" should come up with something better.

As to the statement that there are not many accidents there: That's because drivers have the sense, once they make the mistake, to just keep going and rectify their mistake further on (just as my wife did). This may be what truck driver Ronald Kennedy tried to do but failed and lost his life. It also cost what will be in excess of a million dollars in damage and repairs.

John B. Kelley, Clearwater

Bad road design

I can't believe that anyone who has some sort of an engineering degree would even consider building a left-hand exit.

I travel for a living and it's dangerous out there, but to make matters even worse, every so often I go from a passing lane with a 70 mph limit to an "exit" lane. I see people caught in this situation all the time, and when they do figure it out most of the time they try to cut back onto the main highway.

Please don't tell me that the highway department has never witnessed this. Brilliant design. Have the people who are responsible for the designs of our highways ever traveled out of Florida? Do they know it's dangerous? I'm a layman and I can figure it out.

Who's in charge?

Steve Forrest, St. Petersburg

Overworked drivers

Is it me or is there a regular pattern of fuel tankers crashing and burning? I drive large trucks and I know these men are professional drivers. To what do we owe all of this carnage?

Could it be that these men are grossly underpaid and overworked? Maybe the fuel companies might want to rethink their pay structure. I think they are making some profits.

I'm self-employed; I own my truck. There are times when I'm in the seat for 12 or 14 hours and, believe me, I'm fatigued. To have to do that on a steady basis is suicide. These men are taking all the hours they can get because they are underpaid.

There needs to be a restructuring of the wages and hours for drivers who transport hazardous materials. There should be fewer hours and more drivers to cover the loads. Florida isn't cheap to live in anymore but Florida wages are still very low.

Because it is a right-to-work state there are no unions to help the working man. He's alone, at the mercy of the big- money people who couldn't care less.

Now Dorothy Kennedy is a widow.

Daniel Orsello, Tampa

Applause for VA care 

VA care fails March 31, letter

I also served in the U.S. military but from 1965 to 1969. I was also stationed in Southeast Asia for one year but came home safely.

I enrolled in the VA health care program in 2005 at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center and during my first visit I was diagnosed with leukemia. Treatment is ongoing. My lab work is always on schedule with no cancellations. My prescribed medication always arrives on time. My primary doctor is exceptional and I can make an appointment quickly, sometimes within two days.

The care received at the VA center is excellent. In response to the letter writer's suggestion to contact my elected U.S. representative, I may do just that but not to complain. Instead, I would applaud the services of the VA medical system.

Patrick Jordan, St. Petersburg

Mocking Easter

Once again a Christian holy day is the focus of greedy merchandizers entreating the public to purchase goods for Easter.

Not everyone embraces the Christian traditions, so it is time for the ones who do to take a stand. Christmas and Easter are very special to some of us as are religious teachings to those of other faiths.

So I urge all of us to return to our beliefs and refrain from making a mockery of these special occasions.

D.G. Murray, New Port Richey

[Last modified April 2, 2007, 23:30:42]