NWA Letters to the Editor

Eisenhower instructs with lesson from past

In June 1944, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was the supreme commander of the Allied forces that were about to launch Operation Overlord, the invasion at Normandy. Foreseeing the magnitude of the battle to come, Eisenhower drafted a letter to be released in the event of the invasion's failure. When the tide of battle turned in the Allies' favor, Eisenhower tossed the letter in the wastebasket. It was retrieved by his aide, Capt. Harry Butcher, U.S.N., and is now in the United States Archives. It reads as follows:

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy, did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

What is so striking about Eisenhower, when viewed from the present time, is that he makes no attempt to hide behind the alleged failures of others. Were the invasion to fail, the blame for that failure would lie not with his subordinate commanders nor with the GIs who died on the beaches, but with him alone. Eisenhower's readiness to accept responsibility for a failure that would have been monumental expressed not only his own integrity, but also what was right about the country that he represented. We take pride in what he was prepared to do because we recognize that it spoke for what is best in us.

The contrast between Eisenhower's nobility and what we have today could not be more stark. Who we are, both as individuals and as a nation, is expressed in the choices we make. If our past is to have relevance to our present, then that must start by causing us to reflect not just with pride on what we once were, but also with shame on what, by our choices, we are allowing ourselves to become.

James F. Spellman

Fayetteville

U.S. better if Trump resigns presidency

The American people would be better off if Donald Trump would resign. Unfortunately, he is too narcissistic and self-absorbed to recognize his failures.

When is Congress going to put its foot down and say enough is enough? Boozman, Cotton and Womack -- we are waiting for you three to say enough is enough.

I have been waiting since the first day he took office for those guys to remove him from office.

So, will they take care of the problem child in the Oval Office now or never?

Ashley Rogers

Fayetteville

Stop congressional pay until they do something

Why should the Senate get paid while millions of Americans are out of work due to the virus? The bill designed to help Americans in this time of trouble is being held up due to politics. Why can't the politicians put aside their petty differences and help the American people who put them in office to be their representative.

I think they should not get any income of any type until they quit bickering like children and help the American people. They were elected by the American people to help the public, not themselves. All I see are politicians who put themselves first before the American people.

While they bicker and play politics, millions of people are being infected by this virus and losing their jobs due to the virus.

James Elliott

Rogers

Commentary on 03/26/2020

Upcoming Events