Sound Off!: January 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Clear House

Subject: The Culture of Corruption in Congress

While I don't always agree with your views I want to take the time to thank you for the Sunday article in The Daily Progress. As the poll ratings indicate, politicians have earned that rating in spades. Curiously, it was always the low rating of President Bush that was emphasized in the media except for Fox News. Why do you suppose that is?

It is my earnest hope that such a factual account of Congressional misbehavior could be published in newspapers across the country and make it's way over the Internet to millions of readers. This is the kind of movement that is needed to "clear house" and begin anew with the best interest of our country in mind.

Personally, I think that there should be a Constitutional Convention with the objective of setting term limits for the Congress as it is for the President. What should follow would be limitations on benefits, retirement pay, and other perks that serve no useful purpose other than politicians seeking lifetime congressional employment.

I retired from military with over 26 years of service having served during the Korean and Vietnam wars. It was not the pay that prompted me to devote most of my working life to this endeavor, but the satisfaction that I was accomplishing service for the country.

It is a shame indeed that our country is represented today by self-serving politicians whose primary objective is getting reelected. Thank you again, Mr [Whitehead] for your honest appraisal of these people and having the courage to make your views public.--David C.

Inspiring Articles

Dear Mr. Whitehead,

I wrote to you some time ago chastising you for an article you wrote about the Bible. I respectfully suggested that you stick to constitutional law, something you actually knew about. Today, I am writing to thank you for your articles "We are heirs of the first revolution", "What kind of revolutionary will you be?" and your latest, "Congress' culture of corruption". These are wonderful articles, and I have saved them to read again. I believe it was Jimmy Carter that said, "the American people deserve a government as good as its people". It is frightening to believe that the values of the American people have fallen so low as to accept as normal the corruption that is so rampant in our government by politicians who are reelected time after time by an apparently apathetic constituency. I look forward to future columns on how those of us who love and treasure our constitution can work to see that it is preserved for our heirs.--Mary Lou C.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Few Can Duplicate Eisenhower

Subject: Will Obama Be a Peacemaker?

In the past few years I've increasingly became interested in President
Eisenhower, he's probably one of the more unique Presidents in that he
was a military man but seemed to have theological convictions or at the
very least, influenced by people who are. Question Mr. Whitehead; was he
influenced in some way by Niebuhr?... Personally, and I definitely could
be wrong, but I don't think there are any presidents who can duplicate
Eisenhower's foreign policy, remember he was a part of the military
establishment and he had the ability, because he was an insider, to work
on the side of peace internationally. I think the closest person who
somewhat resembles Eisenhower is Colin Powell. He is not a warmonger and
wields a lot of influence at the pentagon.... Remember what happened to
Kennedy when he took on the joint chiefs? He was constantly being
sabotaged throughout the negotiations with Vietnam and couldn't get
anything done. And if Obama keeps it up, there going to send in a hot
little intern to cool his heels. They did it to Martin and they'll do it
to him if he doesn't observe the status quo.--Thomas

The Culture of Corruption in Congress

Subject: The Culture of Corruption in Congress

John Whitehead for something; this guy is brilliant. As always, this was an incredible article worth more than the time it took to read it. --PW

Friday, January 16, 2009

Was Martin Luther King an Extremist?

Subject: Was Martin Luther King an Extremist?

He was a real scmbag communist trained rabble rouser pushing for socialism. He and all of his cohorts like jackson and sharpton and now the upcoming president are one and the same.--K.

Thank You For Standing Up For Veterans

Subject: We Remember the Dead by Helping the Living

After reading John Whitehead's article regarding the National Park Service in D.C., I had to write and share an experience my husband and I encountered at the Viet Nam Wall many years ago. But first, I would like to thank him for bringing this matter to the attention of the public, and explaining the purpose and meaning of the Buddy Poppy.

My husband was in the 3rd Batallion, 4th Marines, when he was in Viet Nam in 1968. As such, we often travel to D.C. for reunions. One year, prior to placing a wreath at the Wall, we assembled nearby for prayer. A park service employee came running over to us, interrupted the prayer, and demanded that we get off the grass. He said we had no right to assemble there. I couldn't believe what we were hearing! Most of the individuals taking part were missing arms, legs, eyes or other body parts, all lost in the course of defending our country - and the very grass upon which we were standing. Many were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, which were never effectively treated (and from what I see, they are still suffering). I thought there was going to be an all-out war that day, but they graciously backed off - in spite of being deeply offended. Complaints to the Park Service got us nowhere.

We are also members of the VFW ... A couple of years ago, we were in attendance at the Washington, D.C. conference for our students who won our Voice of Democracy (oral essay contest) competition. There were students from every state present. While touring the Capitol Building, they could not curb their enthusiasm, and began singing the National Anthem. They were promptly admonished by the Park Service, saying they were not allowed to sing! Our National Commander took the Park Service to task on that one, but I don't think they ever apologized or said it was okay.

Anyway, I want to thank you for standing up for veterans when nobody else will. People need to read and hear what you have to say. You can make a difference because you have the means to do so. It is a great show of respect for America's veterans. --Mary S.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick

Subject: Will Obama Be a Peacemaker?

Appreciate the thoughts on the need to be a peacemaker and think them appropriate but for the sake of a more fully nuanced answer it appears to me most helpful to remember that the peace overtures/actions of President Eisenhower were given against the background of a General associated with the defeat of the Axis powers and the reality of the US military might. Thus the actions were not in a void and it is helpful in the discussion to realize Eisenhower was in a position to live out an earlier presidential dictum—“walk softly and carry a big stick.” --Everett K.