Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sexual orientation was irrelevant to George Washington
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Sexual orientation was irrelevant to George Washington
Re: "Moral war of attrition," July 22 commentary:
Star Parker asks what George Washington would think about gays in the military. We actually know something about that subject. Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton as his aide-de-camp after the Battle of Princeton, and later put Hamilton in charge of the federal troops that put down the Whiskey Rebellion.
As his letters demonstrate, Hamilton had a homoerotic relationship with John Laurens, also an officer in the Continental Army. John was the son of Henry Laurens of South Carolina, who was president of the Continental Congress.
It is impossible to tell whether Hamilton and Laurens became lovers, but in the words of a leading Hamilton biographer, Ron Chernow, "At the very least, we can say that Hamilton developed something like an adolescent crush on his friend." The relationship was well known to contemporaries, and must also have been known to Washington.
So, in answer to Parker's question, we can say that Washington knew an effective officer when he saw one, and regarded his sexual orientation as irrelevant. What counted was his ability to lead troops.
Col., United States Army (Ret.)
'Everyman' made for a good news day
When I read Shanna Flowers' column Tuesday morning, I was happy to see that an everyday person who does his job with respect and joy is noticed ("Roanoke mechanic more than everyman," July 29 front page).
Williams is just one of many in our communities of the Roanoke Valley. Far too often, we overlook these everyday people who promote their community and show how people have found their joy in their jobs and customers.
See? Good news can sell newspapers. Great story. I hope to see much more of the good, and maybe, just maybe, people will appreciate local businesses that are fair to their customers and do their job with the joy that God has for us all.
Goodlatte understands energy policy impacts
Re: "Vote for Rasoul, and green-collar jobs" (July 24 letter):
Listening to Sam Rasoul and his tiny, albeit dedicated, band of supporters toss around slogans like "green-collar jobs" and "woodchip energy" is amusing. Unfortunately, their rants against common-sense measures to lower energy prices do nothing to move us toward independence from foreign oil, help American families struggling with high gas prices or spur the innovation required to move our economy toward the technologies and energy of the future.
The 6th District has a strong economy and near full employment, yet Rasoul talks about creating 5,000 green-collar jobs here. I guess those jobs would be of solace to a few thousand fortunate individuals, but not the many thousands who would lose their jobs because of the sort of policies advocated by Rasoul.
Plans advocated by Rasoul, Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress would exacerbate the situation, weaken our economy and delay investment and research that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and traditional energy.
Aside from his other excellent service to our district, Rep. Bob Goodlatte will be sent back to Washington on this issue alone. He understands that energy independence starts here. Rasoul simply has no clue.
Obama can't do worse than Bush
I find it interesting how Ralph Johnston questions Barack Obama's ability to lead as commander in chief ("Obama lacks the experience to lead," July 24 letter).
While I respect John McCain's service to our country while in Vietnam as a fighter pilot, I can find no reference that he was in any way a flight commander or leader while serving. I do find where he was known as a party boy while in the Navy.
Four years ago, Republicans attacked John Kerry for the same thing that they laud McCain for.
Then you have our current president. What qualifications did he have when he was elected? His National Guard duty? That is, when he showed up. I hardly think that qualified him.
Obama could not possibly do the damage that George Bush has done, not only to our reputation around the world, but to this country, which we find in a mess today.
Honor the ethics of health care workers
The July 27 editorial "Don't let Bush restrict access to birth control," which denounces U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulations before they are even published, betrays a misunderstanding of medical science and professional ethics.
For obvious reasons, some abortion advocates portray a developing human embryo as something other than human and will not tolerate the accommodation of any view challenging their ideology. Yet many health care professionals and, undoubtedly, many Times readers recognize what embryology textbooks teach: that fertilization (the joining of sperm and egg) represents a new, genetically distinct human organism and marks the beginning of a new human being.
For 2½ millennia, the Hippocratic Oath has bound ascribing health care professionals to protect and not harm or destroy human life -- specifically forbidding abortion and assisted suicide. The Hippocratic Oath also has served to protect patient privacy and confidentiality and to protect patients from sexual exploitation. Patients benefit when physicians ascribe to and follow such objective ethical codes.
HHS regulations are urgently needed to uphold First Amendment freedoms, implement several laws passed by Congress and preserve the right of health care professionals and patients to honor these ethical standards.
Vice President for Government Relations
Christian Medical Association
Unless Amtrak improves, no thanks
To all of those sending letters concerning adding Amtrak service to Roanoke, you should try riding on the trains sometime.
I recently had the misfortune of spending two days on the train, riding from Houston to Covington (which is as close to Roanoke as you can get). The trains were dirty, the bathrooms were overflowing and many of the attendants were less than helpful.
All of the train stations in which we stopped were built in the '20s at the latest. The largest (Chicago) was filthy and unbelievably crowded.
You should also know that Amtrak takes a back seat to freight trains in the system, so you probably will be hours late getting where you are going. I, too, wish we had train service, but if it's not going to improve and clean up its act, it probably should just stay as it is.
We could be free of imported oil
I knew 10 years ago that gas would reach $4 a gallon, but expected it by 2006. If I knew it, surely someone in D.C. knew it as well.
The car companies have known about reinforced thermoplastic for 30 years, but ignored it for car bodies. They knew that a 1,000 pound plastic car, as safe as steel, would get 90 mpg (a hybrid, 130); we could already be free of imported oil and well on the way to H2 and electric.
President Bush and the Congress have done everything possible to prevent energy independence. Bush has strong ties to Big Oil. Many of the House and Senate depend on Big Oil and Big Coal for their re-election.
I recently asked Rep. Rick Boucher at a town meeting why he was not pushing for enough windmills to allow all coal electric plants to be shut down. He replied, "It is not practical." He refused to say why. Does the word "conspiracy" come to mind? Or do you really think everyone in D.C. is that stupid?
