Editor, Times-Union: Once again I find it impossible not to write in and respond to the harsh and bigoted comments of everyone's favorite Neo-Conservative beach-blanket bimbo, columnist Ann Coulter.
Her vitriolic hatred spews forth across the pages in the usual extremist and inflammatory manner. Although I can agree that nothing seems more ludicrous than to riot, burn and kill over a ninsulting editorial cartoon, it is equally ludicrous to call out for the invasion of another sovereign state in retaliation. Regardless of her reference to NATO and the obligation of European states to join us in her proposed non-unilateral war on Syria, it is typical of warmongers to call out for action when they personally would not be adversely affected by that action. If she is so thirsty for blood, perhaps she should sign up for a hitch in the infantry and do a tour of duty in Iraq herself. Perhaps after a little battle hardening she could then channel her hatred into personally leading the attack across the Syrian border.
I share her fatigue at constant efforts to placate the extreme radical factions of Islam, but delving into extreme radicalism ourselves only serves to exacerbate the hatred that is being demonstrated towards us. We should take the higher moral ground and not run off bombing indiscriminately until we are absolutely sure of our targets. We should remain calm, rational and understanding of the cultural difference that separates us from the average Muslim person. Continue to try to understand that most Muslim people just want to go to work, raise their babies and be left alone, just like we do. It's the hatemongers, the ruthless leaders and religious zealots that are fanning these flames. It's the Ann Coulters of the Muslim world that twist the half truths and exploit the media to meet their own personal motives.
Something to bear in mind, when militarily invading any Third World nation full of tribal factions, impassable terrain and little infrastructure, there will never be a clear victory and occupation is nearly impossible. We encountered this in Vietnam and are regretfully relearning this in Iraq and Afghanistan. It doesn't matter if you control the central government, most of the indigenous people in these nations don't rely upon infrastructure to live and most likely don't recognize any governmental authority. You're not going to come in and wipe out thousands of years of ethnic hatred overnight or even in a matter of a few years. We are currently seeing an escalation of violence between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. The inevitable destabilization of this area has already begun and the call for starting a conflict in a neighboring state is not only insane, it is very stupid and irresponsible.
Ted Carter Leesburg, via e-mail
Referendum On Toll Road
Editor, Times-Union: Senator Meeks: I received the fact sheets on the toll road. I keep missing something. Your fact sheet has some interesting items in it such as:
No. 5) How will maintenance on the Indiana Toll Road be affected by this lease?
Answer: The Indiana Toll Road does not have the resources necessary to fully maintain the highway.
Question: Why not? If SMP plans to spend in the next five years, $400 million for improvements, where is their money coming from? Out of the sky? No, from tolls and etc.
No. 7) Wouldn't the state be better off keeping the tolls?
Answer: Currently, all tolls are used to maintain the toll road. The lease agreement provides for this maintenance and generates funding for the major moves program.
Question: If the lease agreement makes all this money, why can't we keep the toll road and do the same thing and make more. This whole thing smells to high heaven.
Come on, people, let us make the decision. We want a state referendum. Let the people of Indiana decide this with a vote and keep the politicians out of it. If this goes through, someone is making a lot of money and it is not the working Hoosiers.
Jack W. Klinefelter Sr. Warsaw
Funny?
Editor, Times-Union: To help Vice President Cheney get over the trauma of his recent hunting accident, he should be allowed to go hunting again. This time, he should go with John Kerry, Edward Kennedy and Harry Reid. Kerry will be over by the fence, telling the animals in the next field how he won the war in Vietnam. Reid will be balled up on the ground with both feet in his mouth (learned from Howard Dean). And Kennedy will be standing at the end of the field next to a bridge with a bottle of Scotch in one hand and a sweet young thing on his other arm, waiting for darkness so that he can cross. Cheney can hunt without fear of shooting anyone.
James Fleagle Warsaw
Pierceton Hypocrisy
Editor, Times-Union: I have just a few questions for the town of Pierceton that no one seems to be able to answer:
1) Why is the city police department ticketing cars on private property that are duly licensed and are being used? This happened to a neighbor recently. The only answer they got from the police officer is that they park it (on their property, not on the street) in the same spot daily. Now my husband and I go on vacation for weeks at a time. Does this mean that we will be ticketed for leaving one of our vehicles in our driveway?
2) If the town is going to start ticketing cars (and I know that there is an ordinance on junk cars, that's not what I'm speaking about) that are not being moved to different parking spots daily, why is the town not ticketing cars sitting along side a couple of homes here in town that are being sold? There are several cars that are not licensed at two homes here in town and they look as if they are running a used car lot.
3) There is also a minister in town who for some reason has the right to switch his license plates from one vehicle to another vehicle and the rest of the town people are not allowed this exception.
4) Also, there is a vacant house on West Market Street that has been torn apart for remodeling and now the owner has abandoned the work. The house is open for anyone to walk into (and several children have been observed going into this home). This house has an opening to the basement which is covered in weeds. Is it going to take a child falling into this opening and getting hurt before the town takes a look at this house? The flooring in this home is rotting and all the walls have been removed from the house and it only has two-by-fours holding up the ceiling. Someone is going to get hurt or worse could be crippled or killed. The neighbors around this house take great pride in the upkeep of their homes and this house is not only a danger, but a real eye sore.
I am not expecting any answers, I'm just expecting the town to stop, look, and listen to what's going.
Peggy Biltz Pierceton, via e-mail
No Mercy
Editor, Times-Union: I would like to open this letter with a reminder of what President Bush said in 2001 pertaining to our fight against terrorism.
He said to the American people and the nations of the world, "you are either with us or against us." That said a lot to me then and it still does today.
Why have four years and five months gone by with our political leaders allowing our enemies to unite and get stronger while being hidden behind the false peaceful beggings of Islamic groups that themselves have done nothing but talk and then hide. They have left no doubt that their goal is to kill (murder) all that are non-muslim, especially Jews and Americans. The Islamic terrorist group Hamas has by election of the peaceful muslim people acquired the control of the Palestinian government, and with the aid of other muslim nations, continues to state that Israel has no right to exist. Can you not see where this is heading?
Now let me have my say about the USA allowing Islamic-Arabic countries to own, operate, and/or have full access to several of our nation's sea ports. Don't do it!
If we give them a direct avenue like this to deliver weapons of mass destruction in large quantities to our soil, don't think for a moment that they won't use it at their convenience. I am not a paranoid person. I am, however, deeply concerned about the realities that we must deal with while we still have the time. This "War on Terror" is really not that at all. It is that the nations of Islam have very softly but whole-heartedly declared war on all non-muslim nations and have started their offensive strategies (terrorism), while their defense is hidden behind a massive number of non-violent muslim people and the mute clergy of this massive muslim religion refusing to unite and speak out against these terrorists because some condone these actions, and some out of fear for their own lives.
I say God nor any of his true prophets would never require murder as a requirement of faith. Only a man-made religion would do such an ungodly sinful thing. Any group of people, no matter how many that condone this belief, are not followers of God. We must deal with these terrorists as they are dealing with us. No mercy seems to be what they preach and practice.
