Sunday, May 29, 2016
Remember real reason we celebrate Memorial Day
As our nation com- memorates Memorial Day, many of the 16,000 members of the Ohio National Guard will be supporting events in their communities this holiday weekend. They will march in parades, serve as honor guards at wreath- laying ceremonies and pilot aircraft in flyover tributes to fallen heroes.
The holiday serves as an important time to pause and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country. Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 25,000 Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed to combat zones.
With dedication, selflessness and courage, they have answered the call of duty. Fifteen of these brave heroes lost their lives.
While Memorial Day is a day of solemn remembrance, it is also a day to celebrate our men and women who gave all so that we might continue to enjoy the freedoms and benefits of this great nation. Each of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen we remember today have my heartfelt gratitude.
Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Columbus
Maj. Gen. Bartman is Ohio adjutant general.
West Point Cadets caused no harm with the gesture
If we, as a nation, are going to take every single bodily gesture and turn it into a political statement, then shame on us.
Our freedoms are meant to be just that – freedoms. Too many times these days we find people/groups pitching ones’ “freedom” against another’s. Only in America do we truly have the equal right to agree to disagree, but sometimes it goes to extremes.
I’m extremely glad that those young West Point Cadets will not be punished. In a moment of shared joy at their accomplishments, someone has to take a joyous photo and turn it into a media nightmare. Can “We the People” ever get along ?
America is special and always will be. We are the most diverse nation and growing. Think of where all our ancestors came from. Throughout our growth, each of these nationalities was shunned or harassed at some time or another, but we are all family. It’s what makes us Americans.
Congratulations Cadets as you graduate, and thank you for serving our great country.
Sharmon Lesnak, Youngstown
Poor caliber of candidates reflects back directly on us
I read with interest columnist Thomas Sowell’s piece in the May 19 edition of your newspaper titled “Grim Choices in Presidential Race”. Sowell bemoans the upcoming general election with phrases such as “This year’s general election will offer a choice between a thoroughly corrupt liar and an utterly irresponsible egomaniac” and “But it would be hard to find someone worse than either Hillary or Trump”.
How did the American people end up picking between two candidates viewed most unfavorably in recent polls? We only need to look in the mirror. We have seen the enemy, and he is us.
America was often described as a melting pot. A land where people of numerous faiths, ethnicities, languages and national backgrounds came, settled and assumed a uniquely singular identity as Americans.
Yet we have seen a profound change in this paradigm, especially in the last 50 years. We no longer identify as Americans, but we now often are portrayed in the media, the polls and by politicians as Latino Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Muslim Americans, LGBT Americans, middle-class Americans, poor Americans, Asian Americans, white Americans, ad nauseam. Consequently, we have not, as a nation moved away from segregation. By labeling ourselves as anything other than just plain old Americans, we further segregationist attitudes. We must not tolerate such labeling.
And which candidates do we support for president? We ask those candidates who most vociferously articulate policies and promise to vigorously pursue legislation that promotes the well-being of one class of Americans over that of other Americans. How often do we hear of candidates courting the Hispanic vote, the White vote, the Jewish vote, etc? What happened to candidates pursuing policies that are good for Americans, all Americans and not well defined, segregated segments of our great country?
When you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. Let this election cycle be a lesson for those who value “me, myself and I” over “we, ourselves and us.”
Steve Stoyak, Girard
Racism’s five ingredients
Webster states that racism is the belief that certain groups of people are superior and entitled. I can’t help but ask, “Why, in our great democracy, where it was written in the Declaration of Independence, All Men Are Created Equal, is racism still thriving?” Is racism, or as I prefer to call it, a “belief in inequality,” an economic, a moral, an educational, an attitudinal, or an enabling problem? I believe it is a result of all five.
Citizens cannot thrive and live a decent life supporting families without an economic environment providing well-paying jobs. This creates “inequality.” Morals and values appear to be diminishing from those of the past. “Anything goes” and “whatever feels good” are the mantra of many.
Outstanding education is certainly not “equally” supplied throughout our country. We can and should do better. Attitudes need to change, becoming more loving and tolerant of those different from ourselves and should start in the home and hopefully be reinforced in our religious institutions. Finally, our government through various programs, has “enabled” minority groups, thereby promoting “inequality”. It is similar to awarding an athlete a “handicap” during an event.
Unless these five problems – economic, moral, educational, attitudinal and enabling – are addressed and overcome in America, I fear racism will continue to thrive.
Shirley McMahon, Canfield