I just have to laugh! If I didn’t laugh I might cry at the ignorant position on chemical weapons disposal displayed yet again by The Star in its editorial on the anti-incineration, pro-neutralization rally. I have to laugh at the way The Star purports incineration as the quickest way to get rid of chemical weapons, at a time when the only two “operational” weapons incinerators are shut down because of worker exposure to nerve agent and release of nerve agent into the environment.I have to laugh at The Star’s weak attempt to counter demands for justice through use of the safest possible chemical weapons disposal technology. Not once has a delay in incineration resulted from anything but failure of the incineration technology. If the Anniston incinerator is delayed now, it is because it recently failed a surrogate trial burn, and because local citizens are demanding maximum protection. Only The Star could see those demands as unreasonable. Ha!
There is no need to “find” or “develop” alternatives. Non-incineration technologies proven viable by the Department of Defense are already going to be used at three — soon to be four — chemical weapons sites. Folks in Colorado are laughing with joy over the decision to use neutralization-based methods for their chemical weapons stockpile, a decision made the same day that Anniston folks were promised gas masks.
Thank goodness so many of your readers are smart enough to base their opinions on chemical weapons disposal on facts, not fear. The Star would be wise to do the same, and stop defending such a laughable pro-incineration position.
Elizabeth Crowe
Chemical Weapons Working Group
Berea, KY
Take a lottery at this
I recently read a letter in Speak Out saying that a lottery would exploit people with the most to lose. The writer obviously was mistaken because the people with the most to lose are our state’s children. In our state there are school buildings that lack educational necessities for the children.
If someone, maybe the great Bob Riley, would offer one suggestion other than the lottery to help the plight of our state’s educational system I would be the first in line to vote for him, but right now the lottery has been the only solution offered to us. Call me crazy, but I want luxuries like books, desks, and computers in our state schools.
Realize this, those who are actively campaigning against the lottery: If the lottery does not pass, then we move on to the issue of re-writing the state’s constitution. And I will guarantee, they will add new taxes to the constitution without a lottery.
Gunter Moon
Ohatchee
Spanish
Since Spanish people are among us, and I was once married to a Puerto Rican, I became interested in the Spanish language and learned to read and write it before I could speak it. I’ve taught myself with books and dictionaries and really enjoy being able to have a conversation in Spanish.It is hard to learn to pronounce (espanol) Spanish. A person must want to learn it, to do so.
I don’t think people should complain about whose language to use.
Lorene Thrower
Ashland
Open records
We should have a place locally that deals with environmental issues. This should be a non-profit organization, created by the people. I recommend we name it the Environmental Court Library. We could gather court records, pictures, documents, etc., that would be crucial to use in going to court or helping others to defend themselves.
We would be on guard at all times, ready to put a stop to any company or individual that could care less about our community. We should ask tough questions and demand the needed information. Thus, this would show these companies and individuals that they had better be on the up and up.
Also, this library would be open to the public and any and all records would be at your disposal. As taxpayers and citizens of this great community we would have a stronger voice and be more powerful; plus, we would have the ability to demand change and cleanup.
We should have a say about any and all business that are looking to locate in our community.
Overall, we have got to start somewhere and I, for one, say that it’s time for the Environmental Court Library. Citizens of Calhoun County, what do you think?
Wanda Chandler Champion
Munford
Diversity
The Star always brags about its desire to provide the community with complete and unbiased coverage for all residents. However, when I access photos of your editorial and reporter staffs, I don’t see any faces representative of the African-American or Hispanic populace. Are we to believe that your paper can’t find any competent journalists that could fill this void?
No wonder I constantly hear my neighbors (black) complain of a lack of sensitivity by your reporters and editorial staff.
Please consider this condition in the future.
Minzo Childs
Anniston
Road work
It seems that Del Marsh cannot put up so he should shut up. All anyone has to do is drive down the country roads to see how much has been done to improve them. Take for instance New Liberty Road off Roy Webb Road and Hollingsworth Drive. Part of New Liberty Road was resurfaced. This stopped a little over halfway through where you turn to go across the mountain to Hokes Bluff.
The rest of New Liberty Road has remained in the same bad shape that it has been in for the past 20 years. There are potholes big enough to bury a car in.
The county did finally come through and throw a little screening in the worse holes but is in as bad a shape now as it was before they even bothered to do it.
It may be that the reason this road was never redone was because the people that live on that end of New Liberty were going to Etowah County to spend their money. This may be true but they are still residents of Calhoun County, pay property taxes in Calhoun County, and buy their tags in Calhoun County.
Another thing that amazes me is that the elected representatives in Montgomery and Washington can afford to vote themselves raises and whoever else they want to have a raise, but can never ever do anything that will help our county residents, for they are supposedly broke all the time.
If they cannot do the jobs they were elected to do then vote them out, and vote in some new blood.
Mildred Lowman
Piedmont
