Letters to the editor: 03/06/03

Arrogance and power

To the Editor:

Our president has unilaterally created a global crisis through his simple-minded ignorance of foreign affairs coupled with his unparalleled arrogance towards the rest of the world. There is nothing more dangerous than a privileged, cocky Texas cowboy with the most powerful military in the history of the world at his fingertips.

Our founding fathers feared the consequences of a monarchy and insisted that only Congress declare war. Bush, afraid and aware that the opinion of the world and his own people is against an illegitimate invasion, declares he is so righteous and omniscient that he does not need the permission of anyone but his own misguided conscience.

It is sometimes difficult to remember that Iraq had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks due to the incessant propaganda spewing out of Washington like a backed-up sewer. Saddam Hussein has been effectively contained for more than a decade, and that containment can obviously persist into the foreseeable future even though such a strategy might put a dent in Bush's machismo.

I grew up to understand that the United States of America would only fight a just war to defend itself or its closest allies from attack. President Bush casually ignores the fact that Iraq has not currently attacked any country.

President Bush has a blind lust for power, but he soothes the American people by repeatedly explaining that he and his American followers are good, and those Muslims in the distant desert sands are evil. Bush appears to believe that God chooses only to bless the United States of America, and not the rest of the unwashed second-class world in the Middle East who will soon die in droves. Bush has claimed that by fighting an unprovoked war that he will make peace in the Middle East, and he was apparently serious when he made those remarks.

For a man who purposefully has never seen combat, President Bush cannot wait to start a war and let the blood begin to flow. Rest assured that none of the hard-liners running our government will be sending any family members into harm's way.

When did a lust for warfare become an emblem of patriotism in America? Hasn't an unthinking belief in nationalistic superiority caused enough loss of life throughout history to teach us anything?

Unfortunately for America, Bush has never been much of a student of history. Our nation and the world will soon pay the price for choosing a president with no foreign policy experience and with no desire to understand the intricacies of diplomacy.

Iraq is no more a current threat to America than any one of many countries in the world that despise us such as Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria and Cuba. Starting a war where one does not exist is not only immoral, but it is cowardly.

Based solely upon the speculation that Saddam Hussein may one day find a way to harm an American, Bush vows to bomb, invade and conquer a foreign nation. Of course, this corrupt doctrine of preemptive strikes against the bad guys only works if the world agrees on who is good and who is bad, and who is good enough to have weapons of mass destruction in their own arsenal.

Bush claims he will be liberating the Iraqi people, but I suppose that only applies to the survivors. No matter how well the invasion proceeds, we will surely create even more long-term instability in the Middle East, and the "liberation" will undoubtedly create even more vigorous anti-American hatred for our children to confront.

Osama bin Laden sought to create a global conflict of Islam against America through mindless terrorism, and Bush has fallen for that ideological bait with simple-minded ferocity. Either Bush cannot or he will not see any recourse short of bloodshed. For a man who wears the self-proclaimed breastplate of goodness and righteousness, he arrogantly ignores the true peaceful teachings of Jesus Christ.

The United States must refuse to let the extreme fanaticism of Bush and his cadre of believers take the ideals of this country from us. The world is a tremendously complicated place with many problems that belie simple solutions. Bush sees only visions of an American flag over Baghdad. Meanwhile, he has mistakenly and purposefully offended and arrogantly ignored the growing crisis in North Korea. I simply wish we had a president who woke up every morning desperate for the cause of peace rather than hungry for the taste of war.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Melrose

Cullowhee

Crime report would better service citizens

To the Editor:

Regarding the N.C. Sheriff Association's voluntary program reported last week, funds may help the Sheriff's Office stem the crime wave somewhat, but a more logical and cost-effective approach would be to publish the crime report every week in The Herald. Citizens would then become informed of who to look out for and can help solve crimes.

Western Carolina University's student newspaper published a crime report in the past, and the information was a great asset to businesses and individuals.

Yes, citizens want a direct hand in crime prosecution because they are the victims, and the Sheriff's Department should encourage them to participate. Other cities have citizen crime watch groups, and Jackson County would benefit from the same, first by opening the files of criminal offense to let the public know what's happening.

Kenneth Lee

Sylva

Women in Black call for peace

To the Editor:

I am writing to let you know about a group of women worldwide who are committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to war and other forms of violence. They are called "Women in Black."

Women in Black Sylva will begin to meet Wednesday, March 12, at the foot of the steps to the old Jackson County Courthouse. Each Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m., Women in Black will gather in silence to call for the resolution of conflict through wisdom and understanding, not through force.

All women whose hearts cry out for a world in which hatred and violence are surpassed by compassion and justice are invited to join us.

Thank you,

Rose Smith

Sylva

What's going on at Webster Enterprises?

To the Editor:

Webster Enterprises has provided a humanitarian service to the developmentally-challenged citizens of the area for the past two decades. It has also been one of the largest employers in Jackson County.

Three years ago, it had multi-million dollar revenue, a large medical product customer base and two manufacturing plants. Today, there are barely enough incoming funds to keep the doors open. One of the plants closed in 2001, and the other struggles to get enough business to keep even a few people busy.

Nearly all the staff was laid off the last two weeks (until March 3) due to lack of work. Some management members reportedly had to have their pay deferred.

All of these problems have been blamed at one time or another on the offshore exodus of surgical drape business, a non-supportive board and - sometimes - on me.

The fact of the matter is that the business world is always changing, and top management is responsible for making adjustments to these changes. I once led a company making products similar to Webster's, and we had to change our entire product base and sales strategy four times in only 12 years.

The current management team at Webster has had three years to adjust and hasn't done it.

With change, these adjustments can be made, and Webster can return to its position of prominence in serving the needs of the developmentally-challenged citizens of Jackson County.

Bud Boynton

Sylva

Town manager clarifies statement

To the Editor:

Thank you for your recent article titled "Sylva asks TWSA to help fund sewer project," which appeared in the Feb. 27 issue of The Herald. The town certainly feels the importance of this project warrants front-page coverage, and I appreciate your reporting of this critical community project.

However, I would like to make a clarification for readers who may have misunderstood my explanation to the TWSA board about the importance of TWSA assisting the town in funding the Moody Bottom sewer extensions. The article quoted me as saying, "If the town pays half and TWSA pays half, then the taxpayers won't have to foot the bill."

In my opinion, this interpretation would lead most readers to question my understanding of public service. Of course, the taxpaying citizens pay for such services, regardless of whether those funds arise from local tax dollars, state sales tax monies, or federal or state grants. In some form or fashion, taxes always fund the projects folks often take for granted but support the basic needs of a lawful, clean and healthy society.

I actually made it a key point during my presentation that should the town be forced to fund the project alone, this would likely require the town to pursue a loan for approximately $300,000. If this is the case, the taxpayers would have to bear the additional cost of interest on the principal amount.

My argument was simply that such an additional expense (and burden on the taxpayers) could be avoided if the town and TWSA cooperate in funding this project.

Again, I wish to make this clarification for the benefit of the citizens of Sylva who may have questioned my reasoning and judgment behind the statement reported.

Richard McHargue

Sylva Town Manager

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