They write letters....

One of my closest friends and I each had letters published in the Fresno Bee today!


'Put America first'

(Updated Saturday, September 2, 2006, 5:44 AM)

My son took a train from Portland, Ore., to Fresno. It was nine hours late! I have read with interest the letters pleading for adequate rail service. We should have a reliable conventional rail system from San Diego to Seattle, at least.

Yet, Republican stalwart Michael Der Manouel Jr. advocates endless war against Islam ("Insane fascists" July 19). I doubt if he is raising cannon fodder for that Apocalypse Future. With economic conscription and no draft, the wealthy can avoid that gritty duty. If we weren't involved in a war in Iraq based on neo-con chickenhawk lies, wasting taxpayers' money and precious lives, we could have our railroad. I'm sure the dead and maimed would rather be building a railroad, if they had a choice.

With our National Guard collapsing under combat pressure, with our brave soldiers killed for lies, I have nothing but contempt -- polite words -- for those gung-ho about war without serving a day in harm's way.

Maybe some would apply "insane fascists" to the present administration. This combat zone veteran says, "Put America first!"

Dirk Van Gelder

Fresno


And here is mine.....



Smoke screen

(Updated Saturday, September 2, 2006, 5:47 AM)

I was puzzled to see your headline Aug. 29 trumpeting the fact that "Karr fails JonBenet DNA test." Given that he was exonerated by the DNA analysis, wouldn't it have been more correct to state that John Mark Karr "passed" the test?

My guess is that the only people who viewed this as a "failure" were the manic members of the mainstream media who were frothing for more of the tabloid pablum that gives them an excuse not to cover the many reasons for impeaching Vice President Bush and President Cheney -- or did I get that backward?

Jeffrey W. Eisinger

Fresno