Letters to the Editor

News Virginian
Published: May 22, 2007

Iraq war isn't worth cost in lives, suffering

Do most of us really know what war is- Did we ever see anyone get shot through the temple and fall dead at our feet- Then a minute later, as one of your friends falls beside you, look down and see that his chin is blown off- You carry your friend, who is bleeding profusely, away from what is left of his face to an aid station. He is one of the lucky ones. He has made his payment for our freedom and is going home.

Another friend has his arm blown off; he doesn't say much about it, though. His only concern is how he is going to work on his farm. How many of us have seen the providence of God when a mortar shell lands beside your head but fails to go off-

I'm a World War II veteran and, like FDR, I hate war; it should be avoided if possible. The price of war is high. I've seen it; I've felt it. I have scars, both internal and external. For the cause of that time, I answered, and for that cause I would answer again today.

The Iraq war is another matter, though. This war is based on mistakes made from its outset. The reasoning for it evolved from weapons of mass destruction into liberation of the Iraqi people.

For liberation to be truthful, one must want to be liberated. The logic of the current administration is to say that if you aren't for the war, you are against the troops. What action would be better for our troops than to remove them from a war that was started from political mistakes- Why should our troops pay for these mistakes- Let's get our troops out now, and let the Iraqis earn their own liberty, as we did.

If you agree with this war and want to stay the course, then the recruiting office is open and ready for business.

William Deel Jr.

Locust Grove

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Let the people vote on Wayne Theatre proposal

The City Council's decision to use taxpayers' money to fund a "questionable," and a private group's, project is totally absurd and causes me to loose faith in their ability to properly manage our tax dollars. Mr. Lucente seems to be the only councilmember who appears to have a sincere concern for the "average" citizen's needs, and their ability to absorb the cost.

When you include the cost of this project with the recent increase in our property-tax assessment, it compares to an "aftershock" following an earthquake.

I feel this venture will be of little value for our "average" citizen and the majority of our taxpayers. Mainly, because of the lack of interest in the types of programs I understand will be presented and the "average" citizen's willingness to pay the cost of attendance.

I have heard some of the councilmembers elaborate on the support they have received for this project, but from what I have heard and the many people I have talked with, I believe there are more who disapprove than approve. The only fair way this can be determined is through a referendum vote. I urge the Council to postpone a final decision on this issue until a vote can be taken. However, I do not expect this will be done, since some members of the Council seem bound and determined to approve this project, regardless of the public opinion on this issue.

Phillip L. Pleasant

Waynesboro