PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Lamenting War, Thanking Veterans

Posted: November 15, 2009 at 7:31 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — War was bondage of threads shredded bare and barren.

Souls were lost and lonely, sewn and treaded for one cause. Death was the norm.

And the normal were lost. Lost were the innocent in a sea of crimson, clay and mud. Dirty was the day. Night sweats they all wore in vain. Soldier and civilian alike were in bondage.

War was hell. Hell was everywhere. In their eyes, fear paved the streets that we took with us everywhere. No escapes.

I smell the wrath that wears the fury. That burns the soul that never forgets and that scars deep.

A shroud shall we wear?

Perhaps for my friend or foe’s coffin?

Do you see it in our eyes? Do you dare? We wear a shredded shroud of glory, a hint of duty, and a dose of hellish reality. And though our shroud is quite torn, shredded and barren, we stand tall knowing that freedom is not free.

Freedom shall prevail only one way - under one God, with liberty and justice for all.

America stands tall.

I think of the words of “The Star Spangled Banner”: “The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.” That song still gives me chills every time I hear it. I know it always will. I am so proud to be an American. On this Veterans Day, I salute youveterans of past and present.

Thank you for your service to our country.

REBECCA MCCLELLAN / Rogers

‘THE CHICAGO WAY’ AT WORK

The Los Angeles Times reports that a Democratic strategist, shortly after an appearance on Fox News, got a phone call from a White House official telling him not to be a guest on the show again. “We’d better not see you on again,” said the official to the strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to run further afoul of the White House. The suggestion was that “clients might stop using you if you continue.”

You’ve heard of “the Chicago way”? The dead fish wrapped in newspaper is next.

Can you imagine the thermonuclear reaction from the media if the Bush White House had pulled this against CNN? It would have been the apocalypse. The White House communications director would immediately have been sent before a firing squad, congressional Dems would hold 9,000 of their “Plame-gate” style witch hunts, presidential impeachment proceedings would begin, the entire GOP Congress would be imprisoned “for theirown protection,” Sarah Palin would have been burned at the stake “for general principles” and the entire mainstream media would go into one of their patented foam-at-the-mouth feeding frenzies and demand the sacrifice of all “first-born Republicans.”

But what is their reaction to this? Shrug.

QUINCY JACKSON / Rogers

(Editor’s Note: “Plame-gate” refers to the Democrats investigation of the outing of Valerie Plame, an agent of the CIA, an investigation some regard as over-zealous.)

PLEASE GET BEHIND HEALTH BILL

History has been made in the House of Representatives.

We thank the 220 loyal Americans who voted for the bill. We urge the remainder of the representatives to carefully consider who you represent and change your vote after the Senate passes their bill on health care.

We need to get health insurance and health care under the control of the people, not those who only care about the bottom line.

DON TEAL / Bella Vista

Who deserves health care most

The fundamental question is: Who deserves health care - the wealthy or the working?

I lived and worked in Northwest Arkansas for years, working construction, building homes and renovating public buildings throughout Siloam, Fayetteville and Springdale. I worked as a teacher in Springdale, educating our children. Iworked up to three jobs at a time to make ends meet. Yet I could never afford health insurance.

When the knife slipped, and I plunged it into my arm, I couldn’t afford to go to the hospital for treatment. When a coworker shot me in the stomach with a 16-penny nailgun, we pulled it out and kept on working, because we had no other choice. I saw a co-workerput a skillsaw into his thigh muscle, then insist on traveling from Springdale to Siloam, bleeding the whole way, just so he could see a friendly doctor who would knock the rate down a bit. I worked for years from before light until after dark, knowing the whole time I was one slip away from financial ruin.

America’s working men and women are struggling, and no one cared enoughto jeopardize their political career and take on the insurance company lobby.

So when President Obama says Americans deserve health coverage, I know what he is talking about.

And when Mr. Boozman voted against it, he lost my vote and my respect. This is our chance, people. Let’s see some change.

MATTHEW HOWELL / Siloam Springs

Opinion, Pages 10 on 11/15/2009

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