When troops are spread too thin, bad things happen

When troops are spread too thin, bad things happen
EDITOR:
As a mother of a son who has served in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, I feel compelled to express my opinion about spreading our troops so thin. Recently, The Vindicator published a list of countries involved in Iraq, current number of troops that are serving and the amount to be reduced with dates. The United States is not only involved in Iraq but also Afghanistan, and Bosnia. The list that was published, to my knowledge, only addressed Iraq. Do these other countries have troops in other places?
There's discussion about sending my son to war for the third time. He will have my blessing if he is on the same plane as Barbara and Jenna Bush. If President Bush is committed to these conflicts, why hasn't he encouraged his own children to enlist? It seems to me that he is willing to sacrifice children but not his own. Is that called selective patriotism?
Some of the military people that are being tried for "war crimes" are very young and have been to Iraq two and three times. I would never endorse crimes against innocent people but what part has stress played in the actions of these young people.
If we take military action against North Korea or Iran, I want to sign a petition for Jenna and Barbara Bush to lead the troops.
JANET M. CARPENTER
Youngstown
Ask what you can do for your country, your neighbor
EDITOR:
If you read or listen to political and religious pundits, America is on the way out. All you hear is gloom and doom and long lists of "the problem with America." I'm not saying that we don't have troubles and weaknesses -- America is not perfect. But, I think that these lists of problems really break down into only a few, one of which I wish to write about today.
Rising crime rates, rampant drug use, 50 percent divorce rate, and many of our other problems (in my opinion) are all symptoms of the same thing. We have grown selfish. What makes otherwise reasonable people scream for blood at their children's' athletic events? What moves people to rob and murder others? What is it that allows business people to cheat, lie and steal from their customers, stockholders, and the public? The answer may be too simple for most philosophical observers of America -- it is an inappropriate love of self. The same thing has led to the ugly series of political election campaigns which we have witnessed and endured for the last several years.
There are still plenty of Americans who truly understand John Kennedy's injunction to "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." There are many people of all ages who volunteer and give of themselves to help others. But, the concept of the Golden Rule has changed from "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" to "me first."
A little bit of compassion goes a long way. Americans have always responded and still respond with money for those in need. The problem is that not all problems can be solved by throwing money at them. We need to volunteer our time and talents as well as our treasure. That is the point of this letter. America this is a wake-up call. Get out and help. Teach a kid to read. Read to the blind. Visit the sick and elderly. Work in a homeless shelter. Take one day a week and do something for someone else. If we all do so and taught our next generation the importance of love of others as well as love of self, we could reduce and begin to eliminate many of the problems of our country.
RUSSELL A. NALEPA
Hubbard
All potential causes of autism must be explored
EDITOR:
Autism is an epidemic in this country. A once rarely diagnosed neuro-developmental disorder (1 in 10,000 children 20 years ago) is now being diagnosed once in every 166 children. Boys are affected 4 times more than girls, so roughly 1 in about 80 boys is being diagnosed with autism. This is of very serious concern, and we need to figure out why this is happening. Better diagnosis can't account for this huge increase.
Currently, a Senate bill the "Combating Autism Act" (S843) is being reviewed by the U.S. Senate's HELP (Health Education Labor and Pensions) committee. Ohio's own Sen. DeWine is a member of this committee.
This bill potentially will do many things to help with the autism situation. However, a very important component of the bill is at risk of being removed: the specific language that would require funding of studies to determine the role vaccines and vaccine components such as Thimerosal (a mercury preservative) have played in the huge increase in autism. Compelling research has already drawn suspicion to vaccines and more research needs to be done.
To truly combat autism, is to investigate even controversial areas such as vaccines. The Combating Autism Act must stand up to its name and pursue research into every possible angle.
I urge you to contact Ohio's Sen. DeWine and request that he and his fellow committee members retain that vaccine language. It is of vital importance into determining the cause of the autism epidemic.
More information is available on the Web at www.a-champ.org.
ANDREA KELLER
Canfield
Beware of land use plans
EDITOR:
How ironic it would be if Columbiana County's military young, in providing freedom to terrorized people in foreign lands, were to come home to discover that they had lost their own unique land rights to land-use plans and planners.
If such were to occur, it would be due to the folks on the homefront having been snookered by a very small group claiming to be a "landowners driving force" that has obtained $10,000 in federal funds to help them along.
Until my letters to the editors exposed "The Plan," they had been operating in virtual secrecy. Only they knew.
Three times I have asked county commissioners to put land use on the ballot for a voter decision (which should include our absentee military voters).
As the driving force of the land use planners is only a handful of folks (plus HUD's $10,000 out-of-county woman and her unnamed miraculously pro bono attorney who will visit 18 boards of township trustees to push the plan) I believe my landowner's driving force is more than equal to theirs. I asked the commissioners for $10,000 to level the game board, but they just laughed. I'll try again.
BARBARA KREIE
Lisbon
Traficant is one of a kind
EDITOR:
In early 1990, Congressman James A. Traficant brought out plans to use military to protect our borders against illegal drug traffickers. He presented the plans to Congress, but it was turned down before it got to the floor.
During the 1990 Jackson Day Democrat dinner I met Rep. Traficant. I gave him a copy of my idea of how to stop drug traffickers from entering our country.
My plan was to use the Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard to protect our borders and shores. I stated that by using all our services it would give them better training. Better prepared to fight a war. They would actually be seeking out an enemy like war games. Search and destroy.
Only Rep. Traficant was interested in my plan. He was so impressed with my plan, that he gave me his White House lapel pin.
I would like to say again that I cannot understand why the people of the Valley aren't working to get him a pardon.
FRANK SKRABA
Rittman
Help needed to fight gangs
EDITOR:
The Vindicator has been doing a good job with printing the stories on gangs in the city and drug users. The pictures have been good also. Here on the South Side, the area is certainly notorious for the gangs, and daily shootings and kids out after curfew.
It's not just the upper South Side. Where I live, the South Side Soldiers left their calling card on street poles a few years ago. They used the letters C.B.S. on poles at Rush Boulevard and Gaither Avenue, also on Emery Street. Most of the activity is on East Pasadena between Rush and South Avenue. There is a house on Gaither which has been set on fire many times. Around the areas of Gaither, Rush, Pasadena and Emery it's like a motor speedway with the noisy cars and daily gunshots.
Sometimes we have police patrols on a daily basis, but they rotate. We have a informal block watch program in the area, but people get discouraged so it's not a formal group. Now that there is no Weed and Seed program in the upper South Side, crime has gotten a lot worse.
It's certainly been good reading in the paper that a lot of the South Side people care about the crime rates. The South Side can always use more police help. Maybe the law abiding citizens could have their own groups. We could call our self the Gang Busters. When the fine people of Youngstown unite, more gets done.
JOHANNA MORRISON
Youngstown