March 19, 2024

Letters 08-25-14

Aug. 24, 2014
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Save America

I read your paper because it’s free and I enjoy the ads. But I struggle through the left wing tripe that fills every page, from political cartoons to the vitriolic pen of Mr. Tuttle.

What a shame this beautiful area of the state has such an abundance of Socialist/democrats. Or perhaps the silent majority chooses to stay silent. The Northern Express goes on and on about wind power salvation, the evils of fracking and man-made global warming, the nasty GOP, and elevates Emperor Obama on every page. Your heroes are Al Gore and Mike Moore. Do your readers only watch CNN? Does the truth no longer matter?

There has never been, nor will there be again a more corrupt, conniving, self-serving group of dishonest politicians in our White House. I have only a few short weeks left to order the bumper stickers displaying my feelings: "Dump the Dumocrats this election and save America."

Don Turner, Beulah

Doom, Yet a Cup Half Full

In the news we are told of the civil unrest at Ferguson, Mo; ISIS war radicals in Iraq and Syria; the great corporate tax heist at home. You name it. Trouble, trouble, everywhere.

It seems to me the U.S. Congress is partially to blame. Their inability to put aside personalities, stonewalling bipartisanism, along with all the TV blather, sets a restless and anxious tone. Throw in Hollywood, producing entertainment full of blood and guts and killing everyone in sight, deadens sensitivity of right and wrong, and who we really are. Our great nation is portrayed to the world of what they call us: "the evil ones." I am referring to the terrorists who hate us.

Doom and gloom? Not so fast. Remember, in times like this, there were always times like this. We dare not bury our heads in the sand. We need to view a variety of news sources to stay informed. What we can do is carefully discern our politicians and their views and promises. We can ask them to pledge, when elected, that they really will work to enact legislation to solve problems together.

A good example of togetherness was the recent decision by Walgreens to re-think and cancel their move of corporate headquarters offshore to avoid unfavorable U.S. corporate taxes. Public opinion against this was successful. Fix the tax codes now. Our votes are always a privilege as well as a necessity. We must turn out and cast our ballots if we really want change. Be positive; the cup is half full.

Thomas E. Hagan, Empire

Uncomfortable Questions

defending the positions of the Israelis vs Hamas are far too narrow. Even Mr. Tuttle seems to have failed in looking deeply into the divide. American media is not biased against Israel, nor or are they pro Palestine or Hamas. That does not make the actions of Hamas excusable. The question not asked is why does Hamas elicit support from every day Palestinians throughout all Palestinian territories?

The child bullied becomes a bully, the child abused often becomes an abuser. Zionists control the U.S. government and the media with money. Hamas might succeed at ending Zionist dictatorship with media money and not with a military war. How many films of children slaughtered or imprisoned, homes destroyed, or lands seized could U.S. citizens watch and not demand change? How many films of every day human rights atrocities would it take before the U.S. government would finally admit this is South Africa and a repeat of WWII German regime? Too many Americans support worldwide atrocities with their wallets, never wanting to look too closely; few have the courage to do in-depth reading of how Israel really came into existence. Cowardly people fear truth and questions.

Bravely turn to organizations whose publications will at least cast a different light on the Middle East crisis. In the search for balance, try "Against Our Better Judgment" by Alison Weir. Read what is available at jewishvoiceforpeace.org. For the very brave, live with Palestinians for more than a tourist visit.

Will peace for the every day Jewish and Palestinian ever come? Perhaps not, but accept your own role in creating this tragedy.

Truth and possibility will only come when uncomfortable questions are asked.

Barbara Young, Bear Lake

The Evolution of Man Revisited

As the expectations of manhood evolve, so too do the rules of love. In Mr. Holmes’s statement [from "Our Therapist Will See Us Now" in last week’s issue] he narrows the key to a successful relationship to the basic need to have your wants and needs understood, and it is on this point I expand.

We as males are exploring an unknown world when it comes to love, encouraged by the desire to treat our woman as if she were a contestant on the Bachelorette, and at the same time hindered by the unshakable feeling we should be out wrestling a bear, far from buying scented candles and roses.

It seems society is sitting timidly at a crossroad, somewhere in between accepting a new, sensitive, male figure, and clinging to Clint Eastwood identity. And through this purgatorial state of confused identity a new hybrid of man is emerging.

This hybrid state can create unique challenges in a relationship, there aren’t any black and white instructional videos teaching us how to act together and so we are left to walk into relationships molded by dated parental instruction, impractical Hollywood romances, and failed previous attempts at love.

This new frontier of love provides us with unparalleled possibilities and just as many perilous probabilities if not handled with care. Know what kind of man your woman wants and needs, and let her know what woman you want and need. We are changing from a cookie cutter world and so in turn we too must change, protecting what we can of our identity. Mad Men beware.

Bryan Wallraff, Petoskey

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