Letters on responding to enemies, ISIS jihad, football fight, Orman, new navigator, handicap violations

Find new way to respond to enemies

A letter writer admonished us to “learn history” (Sept. 12 Letters to the Editor). I would like to endorse that plea. Indeed, knowing history keeps us from repeating the same often-fatal errors.

The letter seemed to be an appeal for a strong military reaction to the crisis with the Islamic State group. The writer recalled the military prowess of America under President Reagan as an example of the power of a strong military deterrence to any threat. I’d like to recall a few of America’s strong military responses.

In 1950 we sent Americans to defend South Korea from the evil communist North Korea. In that effort we lost some 35,000 Americans and achieved no victory, only a truce. Then in 1964 our young folks began a deployment to protect South Vietnam from that commie North Vietnam. Eventually 200,000 were deployed. In 1973 a cease-fire was signed, and in 1975 the communists conquered Saigon, South Vietnam. Our boys finally came home, but 58,000 returned in flag-draped coffins. In 2003 our troops invaded Iraq in retaliation for the destruction of the World Trade Center by 19 fanatical young Muslims. To date, about 4,500 have died in that incursion, and about 2,100 more have died in Afghanistan.

Could we possibly find a new way to respond to enemies, instead of compulsively turning to violence, death and destruction of not only the enemy but us, too? You’d think by now we’d have learned that violence only begets violence, vengeance only more vengeance, and death only more death.

For me, history shouts the need for something other than needlessly sacrificing our youths.

Start of jihad

Regarding “Obama: Destroy Islamic State ‘wherever they exist’” (Sept. 11 Eagle): I wonder if President Obama has ever heard the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

I don’t know how the American people will take this, but I am relatively sure how many Muslims in the Middle East will. This will be recorded in history as a jihad, the start of a holy war.

We may not know where the Islamic State exists, but I’ll bet every wannabe terrorist knows where America is. Brace yourselves for ISIS-backed terrorists headed this way, coming by land, air and sea. And remember who started this war: We did.

What learning?

It was a shame to hear about some adults beating up a youth football coach at a practice at Linwood Park (Sept. 10 Eagle). Things could have been a whole lot worse, with the coach’s wife having fired a gun in the air to stop the vicious attack. But what is especially troubling is that all this occurred while young kids were present.

No kid should have had to witness this melee. What are these kids learning when they see this type of behavior by adults? Is it that when you have a problem with someone, instead of talking to him rationally you just use your fists?

It would have been nice if cooler heads had prevailed on that dreadful day. With things getting out of control the way they did, the chances were extremely high for a child to be seriously injured or even killed, and that would have been terribly sad.

Don’t be fooled

Don’t be fooled by the so-called independent candidate for U.S. Senate, Greg Orman. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In the past he has been a Democrat, supporting President Obama and his policies. Six years ago, Orman declared as a candidate for Senate as a Democrat but pulled out.

Which senators would Orman caucus with if elected? Obviously it would be with Democrats and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. We cannot trust Orman.

New navigator

Maybe we need a new navigator in today’s world. Our path is rugged and without direction. We want our way.

We are demanding, all the time forgetting that others also have rights. We look to earthly things that either pass away or wear out, all the time thinking this will make us happy. We jump to this or that. We have tunnel vision. We need to get back to our core values.

It seems that we have forgotten God. Could prayer, taking time to read the Bible, and seeking a course that God directs be the answer? Man will always fail us. God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Men are weak. God’s directions are always waiting for us. We can trust Him.

This is just a suggestion that will work if we try.

Flagrant violations

Since I have been diagnosed with cancer and had successful back surgery to extend my life, I have become increasingly aware of the inattention paid to enforcement of handicap laws. I must use a walker now, and the difficulty walking up curbs, on sidewalks, in buildings (including medical buildings) adjacent to handicapped parking areas is tiring and dangerous.

Most of these violations are flagrant but known to owners and tenants of these buildings. Though I’m not a person to sue anyone, I would in such a case, because of the outright disregard being shown to disabled people of all ages.

Much funding is spent by the city on various “important” projects, but I never see our money being spent to protect the most vulnerable of our citizens. The city needs to communicate to residents just how and when this pathetic situation will be addressed.

This story was originally published September 18, 2014 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Letters on responding to enemies, ISIS jihad, football fight, Orman, new navigator, handicap violations."