Listening to negative voices can be a positive experience

Listening to negative voices can be a positive experience
EDITOR:
A vehicle's engine will not function if its battery is without a positive and negative post. Likewise, if everyone thought the same, without any negative dissent, we would have a civilization akin to a mass of robots. It would then be an easy task to govern and manipulate these robots (people).
In a world society there has to be dissent to temper the positive. Dictators in history tried without success to coerce the masses to their way of thinking -- Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon, Mussolini, Castro, Saddam Hussein and many more. The point I am trying to make is that U.S. representatives and senators supported the war in Iraq, with two notable exceptions, Sen. Byrd and Sen. Kennedy, who adamantly opposed the invasion. The United Nations was also reluctant to reach approval, as was France, Germany and Russia. And other nations also opposed this action. This resulted in a weak coalition, which put the burden on the good old U.S. of A. This was done without listening to advisers who from experience could see the aftermath of war. Our military men and women encounter danger every breathing moment of each day.
We must learn from past conflicts such as Pearl Harbor, the Korean War, Vietnam, Kuwait and now the mess we have in Iraq. We cannot afford any more irrational, ill- advised decisions. It is time to listen to sage advise from veterans who have seen the terror of war. I was a member of the finest division in the whole U.S. Army -- the 3rd Division, which fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and now in Iraq. In Korea, it was a police action but we never wore badges.
This Christmas we must pray for our loved ones at home and in foreign lands. Life is short and our destiny is not on earth. Pray: "Grant us that peace which the world cannot give, peace with thee and peace with our selves." Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
PERRY DiPIETRO
Boardman
Chamber has improved efforts to attract business
EDITOR:
Pardon me for whatever included herein is "old hat." Perhaps "old hat" may sometimes serve as a welcome reminder.
A few years ago, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce noted in its annual report that the region fostered $300 million in new business, but failed to report where the $300 million came from or where it went. Recently business growth has received better coverage in the annual report, which, of course, is good.
The Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber has employed 15 to 20 development personnel and has had approximately 35 to 40 board members. These high numbers have not seen poor business strategy, as one might expect. In fact, the chamber has been performing quite well. (An example of past poor performance -- as late as 2001 -- the Youngstown-Warren Chamber of Commerce was not even listed in the publication "World Chambers of Commerce.")
There is a recognition that medium and large businesses are to be sought so as to prevent another "dinosaur" like the steel industry. Along with such medium-large industrial development, there should be consideration given to housing development (apartments, town houses, and condominiums) and the importation of labor (from states such as Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and California).
Finally, the use of federal government and private publications can aid in locating new sources of business and industry (examples, the reports of the American Iron and Steel Institute and the report of "Synthetic Organic Chemicals," which covers production and sales of toys, plastics, gasoline additives, etc.)
All in all, congratulations are due the very positive work of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber in recent years.
LOUIS N. DeTORO
Youngstown