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Posted: Saturday, September 07, 2013
Letter by:
Richard Rice
I�ve been asked my opinion about Syria. Syria is a difficult situation however, a no-brainer when it comes to what the solution should be. Sometimes when you see two bullies fighting it out, you leave them alone and let them fight. Syria and its rebels have been doing this for a couple of years now. Over 100,000 have been killed. Nobody has done anything because it is not our fight. But when one of those bullies pulls out a large weapon, like a gun, we step in and take away the gun to make the fight fair and to make sure innocent bystanders don��t get hurt. Syria recently used chemical weapons. And while those killed represent roughly 1% of the total amount killed, it��s an escalation in the weapons used to such a degree that we must step in. First, it��s not a fair fight. Second, innocent bystanders (and countries) might get hurt. Israel has been their target for years. After World War II, most Jewish people were moved from Europe to Israel to prevent further persecution. The world agreed with this move and promised protection to Israel. So we must. The President should have acted immediately. He has now given himself an out by waiting for Congress to vote. Time softens all wounds. The debate and vote is likely to fail, setting the stage for a future where America��s voice is disregarded. I am not a supporter of either side in the Syrian conflict. But suppose instead of chemical weapons, the government used nuclear weapons. How many would sit on the sideline then? The resulting action should be no different. And there is no doubt in my mind that whoever prevails in Syria will further continue to commit atrocities against the vanquished. While unfortunate, we can never allow chemical weapons or nuclear weapons to be used.
Richard R. Rice, Midwest City
Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Letter by:
Joe Leek
Regarding the Aug. 22 issue, I am so tired of people referring to Travon Martin as a child. He was 17 and Zimmerman was doing what neighborhood watch does. I don�t think Zimmerman planned on shooting anybody. And about racism, if the roles were turned around there would not be an issue and no trial. Yes and this is racism also.
Joe Leek
Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Letter by:
Kevin Wiyninger
You�re opening statement [a Grown man was following a child] �you used the word [child] each time you referred to �17� year old �Travon Martin. A child? At age 17, I was a father of two and married to the same women that I am married to today 42 years later. We bought our first home at age 17. At age 17, I was 6�2� and weighed over 200 lbs and at the peak of my physical prowess and very capable in physical combat against a man of any age. In contrast to so many youth�s today, I was gentle natured and respected my elders referring to them as sir or ma�am. Thousands of 17-year-old young men gave their lives in WW1 and WW2 . The media depicted Travon as a typical 14-year-old sweet looking well groomed kid with a friendly smile on his face. Why didn�t they show the 17-year-old Travon wearing his homie hoodie? When confronted by security, was he polite and courteous? Or did he display a surly and combative attitude? Did Travon initiate the violence? We don�t know the details,�but the jury did. One thing for sure Travon was no [CHILD]. As for racism, it has been my observation that blacks are far more racists than whites. ��
Kevin Wiyninger
Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Letter by:
Rob Thomas
I do not live in Eastern Oklahoma County and I was just passing through, when, by chance, I picked up a copy of EastWord News, out of curiosity. As I was looking through it, I stopped at, the �Opinion�, section and I first read about the Walmart in Choctaw, which I know from friends in Choctaw that is a much discussed project. And then I enjoyed greatly the letter about mental health from Mr. Jeff Plunkett, which was excellent and I saved it to show a friend. Then I turned to the letter from Mr. Daniel Bays, and hoped for some thoughtful perspectives on, �Race in America Through Media�s Glare�, with a local, regional view. Whew� scary! What I read was an anger filled rant about the, �race industry�, �American media�, �the American left�, �the usual suspects�, etc, etc. He evidently has a real angst about the, �race industry�, as he mentioned that, �entity,� five times. His last paragraph would only be logical, only make sense, to like mind people obsessed with the, �race industry�. Whew... really scary! If Mr. Bays wants to see the face of racism in America today, he need only look in a mirror. Granted, I have only seen this one issue of East Word News and it is the, �Opinion� page, but I noticed that there were two advertisers featuring blacks in their ads and I wondered why in the world they would advertise in a paper like the EastWord News? I cannot imagine any black reading your paper with inflammatory, race baiting opinions like that? It seems that the correct mast head for your paper should be, �Eastern Oklahoma County�s Aryan News Source�. You might lose a few advertisers, but I would think that others would be drawn to your paper and Mr. Bays.
Rob Thomas
Posted: Sunday, September 01, 2013
Letter by:
Richard Rice
The Trouble with Syria
I've been asked my opinion about Syria. Syria is a difficult situation however, a no-brainer when it comes to what the solution should be. Sometimes when you see two bullies fighting it out, you leave them alone and let them fight.
Syria and its rebels have been doing this for a couple of years now. Over 100,000 have been killed. Nobody has done anything because it is not our fight. But when one of those bullies pulls out a large weapon, like a gun, we step in and take away the gun to make the fight fair and to make sure innocent bystanders don't get hurt.
Syria recently used chemical weapons. And while those killed represent roughly 1% of the total amount killed, it's an escalation in the weapons used to such a degree that we must step in. First, it's not a fair fight. Second, innocent bystanders (and countries) might get hurt.
Israel has been their target for years. After World War II, most Jewish people were moved from Europe to Israel to prevent further persecution. The world agreed with this move and promised protection to Israel. So we must.
The President should have acted immediately. He has now given himself an out by waiting for Congress to vote. Time softens all wounds. The debate and vote is likely to fail, setting the stage for a future where America's voice is disregarded.
I am not a supporter of either side in the Syrian conflict. But suppose instead of chemical weapons, the government used nuclear weapons. How many would sit on the sideline then? The resulting action should be no different. And there is no doubt in my mind that whoever prevails in Syria will further continue to commit atrocities against the vanquished. While unfortunate, we can never allow chemical weapons or nuclear weapons to be used.
