Editor, Times-Union: Well, let me start out by saying the reasoning utilized by some folks in my hometown of Warsaw astonishes me from time to time. I refer to the letter to the editor where this quote may be observed. "And let me add another point to his case. If we have police officers spending time to enforce seat belt laws, we probably have too many police officers. This is a poor use of our tax dollars, indeed a waste of our tax dollars. I, for one, believe that expenditures to protect me from others is a legitimate use of my tax dollar, but to protect me from myself is not something that I care to pay the government to do."
For those of you who do not know me, I am a Marine Corps Military Police officer. When I am not assigned to a field unit, I perform normal law enforcement duties aboard the base that I am stationed on and one of those duties is to enforce the "Click it or ticket" policy that is enforced nationwide and even at the federal level with us.
Now that the introduction is out of the way, here is my opinion. If you feel that there are two many police officers employed because you have a blatant disregard for the laws of our nation, state, city, etc. Then I feel your views needs to be re-evaluated prior to making public notices of them. Indeed, you have the right to voice your opinion about all manner of things, in that same regard, so do I.
However, going back to my original purpose for even taking the time to respond to such an absurd comment in the first place. Laws are constructed to safeguard the people of the nation, city, state, etc. Whether it be seat belt enforcement, DWI/DUI enforcement, etc., they are developed to keep you and others safe. One of the many purposes of a seat belt is to keep the driver and passengers in an accident in their vehicles. As I alluded to earlier you are much less likely to become a projectile if you are utilizing a seat belt. If you don't wear a seat belt, are involved in a traffic accident and are ejected from your vehicle, you now pose a threat to any motorist traveling down that same roadway. For example, if you are ejected from your vehicle, you could very well could go into oncoming traffic, causing those motorists who were not originally involved in the initial crash to have to avoid your body by evasive driving, subsequently causing them to have an accident or cause damage to themselves, their vehicles and other property.
So in conclusion, the laws are made to safeguard others. The quote above shows a mentality that certain people in our communities seems to be leaning toward, and that is an "Everything revolves around me" mentality. So for the person who took the time to make this statement about protecting you from yourself, if you choose to not obey the law and not wear your seatbelt or whatever the instance is, then grow up, suck it up and deal with the consequences. Petty comments and complaining that police are "out to get you" or "there are too many of them so they must have nothing better to do than write me tickets" will get you no sympathy from me or another law-abiding and self-respecting citizen. So as I have pointed out, the seat belt law is not about protecting you as much as it is designed to protect others from you.
Cpl. Jerry D. Wilkins USMC, Military Police Patrol Supervisor via e-mail
Kerry
Editor, Times-Union: Ref: "Kerry Claims" by Donald E. Guard, May 3, 2004.
Mr. Guard, you are really something! You condemn John Kerry because his medals don't "match up" to yours. You have your medals, Kerry has his, I have mine. Of course yours are "better" because you say so. You say so by first telling everybody, and second by saying you are not a hero. You should lower your "standards." Don't you know every soldier, fireman and policeman are heroes today? A Purple Heart is awarded for a wound, not combat, not for the degree of the wound. I would have thought a former Marine would have known that. Us former NCO flyboys do. Maybe it was because some flyboys held LDOs. (Some of us had degrees but stayed in the enlisted ranks.) Your
"Topic 1" is 1000 percent on target. You should never run for president. Regarding your "Topic 2," I for one would like the president replaced. (So I'll vote for what I term, "the lesser of the evils.") Not because he's a Republican, but because he has taken our country to (what I term) a "Dictator Democracy," and is jeopardizing every American by blowing billions on everything but Americans. I have respect of everyone's rights including yours. I have no problems with any particular party. I do have problems with certain people when I believe they are wrong, and should know better. Nobody is perfect. That means you and me included. Not that I expect you to take my advice...
Dennis G. Lundgren Warsaw
Clueless Senator
Editor, Times-Union: Sen. Kennedy, I consider myself an American. A loving, caring, freedom-loving, God-fearing American. This is the United States of America and you don't seem to be a part of that.
How dare you compare "me" and your commander in chief to barbarians? When I saw the photos of prisoners, I was sick and embarrassed as an American. When I heard what "they" did to Nick Berg, I was horrified. He not only was murdered, he was tortured and dismembered. He did not die instantly, he suffered as he cried out. I hear his screams everytime I close my eyes, and I did not know him. He was a fellow American and I am insulted by your attitude. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in Mr. Berg's place. You have no clue.
Diane Saldivar Pierceton
Young Tigers
Editor, Times-Union: Information sent out about Young Tiger Football led to believe that the Richardson DuBois Park on East Market Street was going to be renamed the David Fribley Field. this was incorrect. The park will continue to be called the Richardson DuBois Park and the football field, that is being put in there, will be called the Fribley Field.
I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Carl Sowers Board of Young Tiger Football, Warsaw
Wildcat Softball
Editor, Times-Union: The Lady Wildcat Softball Team would like to thank the area businesses, parents and community for supporting us with all the generous help and donations that were provided. We would also like to thank all the people that came to eat at our pancake and sausage breakfast. Thank you again for all your support. Don't forget to come see your Lady Cats in action.
Whitko Softball
Missed Vote
Editor, Times-Union: Good going Mr. Kerry! You complained Mr. President Bush was not doing enough to help the American people by extending the unemployment benefits an additional 13 weeks.
Well, Mr. Kerry, it was voted on May 11 and one vote was needed to pass. Guess what? You weren't there to cast your vote. I guess you really aren't interested in the American economy.
You just lost a vote -Êmine.
Diane Saldivar Pierceton
Compliments Police
Editor, Times-Union: On May 13, after leaving the doctors office I was headed towards home and couldn't get there. A terrible accident had happened on Detroit Street. I want to compliment the Warsaw Police Dept. for their handling of the traffic situation. I saw Capt. Perry Hunter directing traffic and I understand that Chief Foster was also out there directing traffic. It was good to see the "boss men" out there and thanks to all of them, the situation being as bad as it was, they did a very fine job. Thanks!
P.S. Some of our local officials might think about slowing the traffic down on Detroit Street to 30 miles per hour, then maybe they will only go 40.
Shirley Petro Warsaw
Shocked By Iraq
Editor, Times-Union: I am a typical American who has been shocked by the profane pictures that have come out of the prison in Iraq. It makes me extremely sad for the vast majority, everyone excluding the six rogues, who are doing great things in Iraq and never have those pictures shown by the press.
How is it that CBS can get their hands on a top secret document and feel compelled to show the images and not show images of the good that is being done in that society? How is it that CBS, CNN, MSNBC, ABC and NBC only will report on the bad, the gunfire, the explosions, the deaths, and not report on the rebuilt infrastructure of electrical systems, health care, education, roads and ample food supplies? Why don't they report on the scandals out of the United Nations in the oil for food program for Iraq? The present presumptive Democrat presidential nominee wants the United Nations to administer peace in Iraq. Why don't they report on the foolishness of that premise? Why don't they focus on the good of the increase of jobs in this country following a collapse of the technology industry? Why do they focus on the negative of 5.8 percent unemployed and the premise that the presumptive Democrat nominee will create 10 million jobs, a premise that is mathematically impossible in this country? How is it that a presumptive nominee can have such an approval rating without showing any plans for change and receive approval from the major networks?
It is time that the American public begins to demand news from Iraq that shows what our precious tax dollars are going for. It is time that the press becomes accountable for their anonymous sources. It is time that the press becomes accountable for publicizing top secret material that jeopardizes our country's best in a land that is foreign to them. If the press, who is doing exactly what they did at the end of the Vietnam War to discredit the men and women in uniform, wants to display to us the negative of what is happening in Iraq they also need to show us the images of why we are there. You know, the images of people jumping out of buildings after they have been hit by airplanes, American ships after they have been bombed, embassies that have been destroyed, oppressed women in Afghanistan and Iraq and the grisly pictures of unearthed tombs of those terrorized by Saddam Hussein.
Curtis C. Miller Warsaw
Cinco De Mayo
Editor, Times-Union: We at Hacienda had a great "Cinco De Mayo" this year. First and foremost, the management staff would like to thank this great community. Without you, we would not have had such a successful fiesta.
Last but not least, we would like to thank our staff. Without them we would not be able to be your favorite place to fiesta. We have just celebrated our sixth year here with you. We hope to continue to be your first choice of casual Mexican dining in the years to come.
John McCarty General Manager, Hacienda
Thanks For Veteran Stories
Editor, Times-Union: A whole-hearted thank you to Teresa Smith for the great stories she is writing about our World War II servicemen and women. Many of those she has featured I already know and admire; the others I am privileged to read about.
I am also a proud World War II Navy wife, remembering the 21 months my Bill spent in the South Pacific.
Thank you again, Teresa. Jeanne E. Jones (Mrs. William T.)
