Spring pollen and political fallout again are in the air. One is a respiratory challenge, the other a digestive irritant. Both portend change — natural flowering and social floundering.Editorialist David Gergen avers that “the unraveling we see in the world should give us pause to wonder whether we have the right balance in our approach to others.” He concludes that we like being the world’s superpower but not its leader.
Britain’s Blair must be painfully aware that the sun has set on much that was a powerful empire. America’s Bush must be smarting as our flag and the effigy of Uncle Sam are being torched abroad. Both must be appalled by the world’s thin veneer of civilization.
What can we do?
We can still pray and stop crying “My way or the highway.” “My country right or wrong but my country”?
YES AND NO. “Where we’re wrong make us willing to change, and where we’re right make us easy to live with!”
John A. Vanderford
Jacksonville
Neutralization
Not FEMA nor our county government nor The Anniston Star seems interested in investigating methods safer than incineration for chemical weapons disposal. Again The Star wants us to plunge ahead with incineration on the word of those who have been given a mission to complete at all costs.
Those of us who have lived our lives and contributed to this region are having our homes wrested from us.
I, for one, will not be issued a mask. Consequently I will probably find my life, my shopping, my recreation taking place north of Jacksonville, rather than in Anniston/Oxford.
How sad that neutralization, a proven-safer method, isn’t being considered as a viable alternative to incineration.
I will continue to watch the incinerator situation closely. How sad that my quiet retirement in the next few years is endangered.
Steven J. Whitton
Jacksonville
Cloning
I agree with The Star’s position on cloning. We can debate forever when life begins. That is rather philosophical and highly subjective. We can not let the importance of scientific discovery and promise disappear because of someone’s own biased ideology or agenda without knowing any facts.
I was wondering what Bush’s compassionate conservatism has been so far. I am quite surprised that being in a small town in Alabama, you would be sided with his agenda, but I am freshly surprised.
Yuri Ahn
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Not supporting Israel
As I sat glued to the television over the past few days, I felt horrified, disgusted, angry, sad and about five other emotions.Palestinians lay dead in the streets, mothers weeping over their murdered children, fathers and brothers dragged into concentration camps.
All too familiar? Remember the Nazi concentration camps? Remember what Hitler did to the Jews in the 1940s? Looks like the oppressed have turned into the oppressor.
I don’t know how many, or if any of you are willing to do this. I, however, will not purchase any product or service made or provided in Israel.
The only solution to this problem is the true realization that Israel must stop terrorizing and oppressing Palestinians by accepting land for peace. They need to understand that atrocities like the ones committed by the Israeli defense forces must stop now!
Remember the families of the victims, the rescue workers and the victims in your own prayers at night. I will pray for them every night.
Eddie Shahwan
Federal Way, Wash.
Habitat for Humanity
The Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners want to thank everyone in the area for the hospitality you have shown us during our stay in Anniston. You have done so much to make our Habitat building experience here rewarding — and fun! We will carry fond memories with us back to our home states and on to our next builds.
We especially want to thank the Calhoun County HFH affiliate. Their advance preparation and support were remarkable.
We invite everyone to visit the Habitat home sites and encourage you to support Calhoun County HFH. Together we can all help eliminate substandard housing in your community and in our world. Contact Bill Wright, (256) 237-3700 to find out how you can get involved.
Tim and Carol Bartel
Molino, Fla.
STRYKER support
While we are very proud of the STRYKER vehicle completed on the Anniston Army Depot by the partnering of General Dynamics and General Motors, I want to personally recognize an elite group of employees whose tireless efforts to this production were completely overlooked at the Roll Out Ceremony held on 12 April. This group of men and women work for The Defense Contract Management Agency-Birmingham (Anniston) and Defense Contract Management Agency-Detroit, MI.
Their roles in the assembly of the vehicle have been and will continue to be very crucial in every aspect of the production which ensures safety of our soldiers on the battlefield.
Simply put, without these employees, the vehicles would not be produced.
So DCMA, I salute you for your unwavering dedication and professionalism executed daily to make this vehicle a success for our defense and our nation.
Gail M. White
DCMA (Anniston)
Anniston
