Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

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To the Editor:

This war in Iraq will be more dramatic in scale than any in history. The war to remove Saddam Hussein will not last long, but its positive effects will be felt for decades.

The positive effects started immediately for those Iraqis who are being freed from a reign of oppression, torture, and terror, and the world will be a safer place in which to live.

The leftist intelligentsia and uneducated movie stars have combined to castigate President Bush and all of us who believe in the principles on which the United States was founded (life, liberty, freedom, safety) and who believe those principles apply to all peoples of the world.

President Bush has the vision to see that a new strategy, a strategy so bold and vital that we have not yet begun to grasp its full import, must be used to insure the safety of the United States and our allies.

He has accepted that it is no longer enough to wait for enemies to attack first. The risks of unconventional weapons are simply too great. He has accepted our unique responsibility to intervene abroad in the cause of global security and human rights.

Yes, France and Germany and Russia oppose us. But, how credible is their opposition? Those who now accuse us have been the aggressors of history and bear the weight of millions of corpses of men and women who wanted little more than to lead quiet and peaceful lives. The graves of 10,943 young Americans lie row-on-row on the French coast at Normandy as witnesses to the United States' commitment to world freedom, specifically the freedom of those who now oppose us.

This war is one of those rare events that mark the end of one era and the beginning of another. Much attention has been paid to the new technologies we will bring to bear in this conflict, some of which I had a hand in their early development, but our convictions will leave the greater legacy.

The cost of this war may be high, but the cost of continuing to give in to the politics and corrupt behaviors that constitute recent diplomacy is far too high for us to pay. The price will not come near the costs foisted on this country by terrorists on 9-11, nor will they approach the costs of a chemical, biological, or nuclear terrorist attack on our country.

President Bush chose principled action, and the American people overwhelmingly support his choice, in sharp repudiation of your recent editorial.

When Saddam ignored our president's ultimatum, he chose his own destiny. It was Saddam who made war inevitable. He made the wrong choice, but he has been treated with much more regard than the thousands he has butchered, and infinitely more than was given by the terrorists to those who died at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and that hallowed field in Pennsylvania.

AS FOR ME, I support a principled president over a ruthless dictator!

Col. John Miller, USAF (Ret)

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To the Editor:

I congratulate and thank you for your March 19 editorial. You have shown more courage than any other paper in Oregon.

The cabal of which George Bush is the mouthpiece has quickly turned this country into a place I cannot recognize, and they will continue to do so.

It is said in today's news that 76 percent of those Americans polled are in favor of this so-called war (although our lame Congress no longer calls such actions War).

If this is true, then this is definitely not the country I grew up knowing. I am 75 years old, and can remember many wars, police actions, invasions, -- you name it, but never anything as cruel and blatant as the present people in power are now embarked on.

Like the Romans before us, we will be hated worldwide until we face our own downfall and let the world sort out its problems without us. For those among us who say they do not mind being hated as long as they remain well-off I can only hope they get their desserts while I am still around.

The monies we attempt to bribe others to our side, the dollars spent to hold up the present Israeli government -- all this is only a reminder of how badly off we already are.

With 40 million uninsured in this country, with states unable to pay their bills, with schools being cut back on funds, this government has decided to let the people fall where they may so long as the power structure which today exists is allowed to prosper.

This is not the United States I once was proud to be a part of.

Megan Sweet

Camp Sherman

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To the Editor:

Once again we are subjected to another piece of left wing pessimism from The Nugget editorial staff.

I take issue with Mr. Cornelius. It would be helpful to the readers if Mr. Cornelius said "in my opinion" somewhere in the article.

He speaks as if he is some sort of authority on these matters or has some sort of inside information the rest of us don't possess.

This could happen, that could happen. Of course anything is possible. Has he considered that he may be wrong?

This move by the United States, on it's own behalf, will benefit not only itself, but the rest of the world.

Let's be honest and admit that economic considerations are a big part of any foreign policy.

The French, German, and yes, the Russians all have strong economic ties to Iraq in the form of very lucrative drilling and equipment contracts.

This was never discussed openly. France, a country with very little moral fiber suddenly becomes the moral conscience of the U.N. Please!

However, guess who will be there with their hand out for some of that reconstruction money.

The bottom line is we can become involved in these type of issues because we possess the wherewithal to do so. I don't believe we have any intention of stealing Iraq's natural resources, but I do firmly believe that we should take all the oil we need to pay for liberating these people and reconstructing their country, because we have the will and the courage to do what's right, with over 250,000 of our nation's finest laying it on the line for these people.

I also believe the time has come for some one else to foot the bill for the United Nations. We have carried a disproportionate share of the financial, military, economic, and charitable functions of this largely irrelevant institution for half a century.

Perhaps it is time for France to pick up the ball for 50 years or so.

Finally, where were all the liberals when President Clinton was lobbing cruise missiles into Iraq as a distraction for the American people from his oval office hijinx with Ms. Lewinsky? I think the problem lies with the fact that many people just don't like the fact that they lost the election.

I, for one, much prefer a man who is decisive, has strong moral character, expresses openly his belief in the God of his own understanding, upon which this country was founded and doesn't make a mockery of his office.

For eight years I was embarrassed for the Presidency.

However, this is just my opinion; I may be wrong.

Terry Burke

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To the Editor:

Thank you for your continuing voice of sanity and reason in these difficult times. I do not feel so alone.

Phyllis Berger

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To the Editor:

As a student at Sisters High School, I am appalled and disgusted at some of the prejudice and hatred spewed out of the mouths of my fellow classmates.

I imagine that some of their views are that of their parents and not their own.

My father was born in the Middle East. He is not a "rag head," "diaper head" or "sand nigger." These are ugly terms used by ugly people. He is an American citizen and it is diversity which enriches our country.

Let me remind you that we are all immigrants. The native Americans were the first to inhabit this country so who are we to say who belongs here and who does not?

War is sad for our soldiers and families, but let's not forget the Iraqi women and children and families alike.

I sat awestruck at comments verbalized in my own classroom. Yes, you are entitled to your opinion but slander and bigotry are harmful and damaging. It does not matter whether the comment is directed towards you or not; it hurts just the same.

I care about the future. Think about this: Did you choose where you were born, the country, the color of your skin, your religion or the social-economic background you were born into? Do your children have a choice?

We are a free country but until we are free from racist, narrow-minded views we are small and limited. Until we are free from this blind hatred the blood of all people will still be shed.

Sarah A. Zazoulin

Sophomore, Sisters High School

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To the Editor:

Recently, I had an experience with a Deschutes County Sheriff's deputy that left me wondering just what is happening within this department and if the recent events that have happened with the ex-sheriff Greg Brown have not had a demoralizing effect on the rest of the department.

I had been in a store that is situated on a side street. Upon leaving and walking to the street I had to walk between two vans that hid me from view to any vehicles coming down the street.

Luckily I heard a vehicle coming just in time to stop and wait for it to pass. The vehicle went by not two feet away, going much too fast for this street and it was a Deschutes County Sheriff's car.

I yelled at the car to slow down and continued across the street. This Sheriff's vehicle went past and then stopped, backed up into traffic and the window came down. The deputy then commenced to yelling at me in a tirade that to me appeared to be about something other than someone giving him some good advice.

If it had been anyone other than someone healthy and with good hearing, say a child or someone older, something bad could have happened.

This deputy's conduct was very unprofessional and I believe a symptom of something perhaps wrong with the department. They should understand that we do not hold the entire department responsible for the ex-sheriff's mistakes and that we do support the rest of the department.

David Soares

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To the Editor:

Heartfelt thanks to family and friends since my recent accident. We have such a wonderful community, people pulling together when one is in need.

In addition, a special thank you to my husband Fred who has been there 24/7. I love you.

And in closing, God Bless America.

Sincerely yours,

Teri Ast

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To the Editor:

Over this last weekend and continuing into this week, we will be completing an addition and extension to our kindergarten playground.

This is particularly significant since it was predominantly funded by our Sisters School Foundation and our SPTC parent group and their fundraising; e.g. Cookie Dough Sales, plus other resources.

The SPTC group and other kindergarten parents also are completing the installation and fencing. I am really pleased with this fun, new, developmentally appropriate and safe/state-of-the-art addition.

This once again demonstrates the ability and resourcefulness of this community to pull together and make wonderful things happen, even during some of the most difficult and trying times.

Special thanks to Darryl Tewalt for the provision of our gravel for this extended play area.

Our kindergarten students and staff will be the most direct beneficiaries of this effort, but we all feel a shot in the arm with this school improvement effort and accomplishment!

Thank you, Tim Calmettes, project chair, Ellen Wood, staff project facilitator, and all of the rest of the parents and staff members who supported this accomplishment!

Tim Comfort

Principal, Sisters Elementary School