Just the ticket for those who don't honor U.S.

Just the ticket for those who don't honor U.S.
EDITOR:
The article titled "Spurred by attacks, more states require pledge," makes a person wonder.
Why in the world is this an issue? Why is this not taken for granted? What is the big deal? What has religion got to do with it?
The Mahoning County school board proposed a policy that would allow students to sit during the pledge. The Mahoning County Technical Center will address this issue at its December meeting. Don't these people have anything better to do? With all the problems the school system has why don't they focus on the real problems?
If the words "under God" are a problem for an individual, all they have to do is be silent at that point. They don't need a board or any legislation to tell them what to do.
The pledge recites an allegiance to our country. If a person doesn't want to honor this country all they have to do is go to any veterans organization and say so. I am sure that the veterans will gladly buy them a ticket to any place in the world they want to go. It will be a one-way ticket only. Don't try to come back. We won't miss them for one second.
If a person goes to any sporting event they will see the following: When the National Anthem is played, most stand and sing -- with their hats off. Their respect shows. But you will also see some running and shouting with their hats on and half naked, they could care less. They have chosen to be show offs. Who needs them?
The last Veterans Day is a good example of what an elected official should not do. A ceremony was held in the courthouse on the Friday before veterans day. Why? Could it be that their long weekend would not be interrupted by such things as honoring those who gave them their freedom, heaven forbid. Could it be that they work so hard that they needed their rest? There were some who attended. It was noticed. Thank you. To those who had their long weekend I say phooey. You should be ashamed of yourself. Someone needs to tell you where your freedom came from. Let's hope that your weekend was not interfered with by such things as patriotism.
ROBERT THORNTON
Austintown
Think before you sign
EDITOR:
Recently Austintown has been at the center of much controversy with regard to home rule, Centerpointe, strip clubs, and the efforts of the Austintown Growth Foundation. It is a great thing to see a community experiencing growing pains and people very concerned about their family's future. That people still care is an important thing.
The efforts to overturn something by petition are sometimes important also, but please, please, know what you are signing! Don't sign anything that, in the long run, can work against Austintown Township. With your signature goes a commitment to know the issue first, and then form your own opinion. Recently on the home rule issue, the people with the petition admitted to me that they were not against home rule. They were against the fact that our trustees signed it in without their vote. They failed to realize that we did vote for our trustees and with that vote, gave them the power to guide our township in the best interests of all its residents. Our trustees knew what home rule could do for Austintown.
By voting it down, our township now stands to lose a lot of money in the future -- possibly as much as $400,000 in both Workers' Compensation and future gas taxes. I'll bet you weren't told that by the petitioners.
I understand that another petition is being circulated regarding the rezoning for Centerpointe Business Park. Again, Austintown, we stand to lose a lot of money -- not only in property taxes, but jobs! Please think about it before you sign. I think Mr. Levy has been very willing to work with the residents surrounding the development site. If it does revert to agricultural, what would stop a pig farm from moving in, or low-cost housing. It would be totally legal then, and it would be totally too late.
For the sake of our community, make sure you know what you're signing.
CAROL FYE
Austintown