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Voters should send political incumbents packing

There are a number of broken systems in our country: the financial system, health care system, infrastructure, to name just a few. One institution that has become critically broken is our national legislature, a corrupted state that complicates efforts in solving our other problems.

Congress members are relentlessly pressured to accept graft. No, not hard cash exchanged under the table, but graft that is perfectly legal and more sophisticated, delivered from vested interests through the lobbying system to the campaign chests of those seeking re-election.

This graft promotes greed wherever possible and is, for all practical purposes, ubiquitous. For example, our health care system is in need of an overhaul, but the industry will spend millions to protect its current excessive profits. Any wonder why public confidence in our representatives scores in the low to mid-20s?

Can Congress solve the problem? Probably. Yet expecting it to do so is equivalent to counting on the fox to upgrade the security system of the chicken coup.

Elected officials are merely public servants serving two- to six-year terms. We, their employers, have the power to replace them -- and in most cases should.

An irony-filled plea for tolerance

I am baffled by the column written by Don Assaid ("Where is the tolerance for Christians?" June 28). At best, his argument shows misguided assumptions and inadvertent ironies and at worst the ramblings of a rabid xenophobe. His affinity group appears to be all conservatives and/or Christian, not realizing that not all Christians are conservative, and not all conservatives are Christians.

He and his group apparently suffer at the hands of "wimps" with "mealy-mouthed consciences" without giving any examples other than that the latter espouse a worldview different from his own. He feels his group is the only one offended by "profanity and debauchery," without realizing how egocentric that appears.

In one breath, he supports the First Amendment and freedom of religion, and in the next shows indifference to someone of a minority faith attending a public meeting where the majority faith is favored.

Since he is seemingly unable to understand the nuances of public discourse, Assaid should cling tighter to the tenets of Christianity. That person who believes differently from you is not your enemy. He's your brother.

No such thing as free health care

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see the cost of health care when it is free.

Kennedy's speech contained a gaffe

In the June 26 Extra section in "History highlights" it is stated that on this date in 1963 President Kennedy declared to the residents of Berlin: "Ich bin ein Berliner," translated "I am a Berliner." What Kennedy really said was "I am a doughnut."

"I am a Berliner" (a person from Berlin) is "Ich bin Berliner" (no "ein"). German enjoys a precision not present in English through its stylized use of the indefinite article. Thus, an English-speaking American who wanted to tell us he was from New York might say "I am a New Yorker." A German would say "Ich bin New Yorker." If he said "Ich bin ein New Yorker," he would be telling us he was a magazine. These two different meanings are not distinguishable in English.

It is incredible that there was no one on Kennedy's staff who knew German well enough to correct this error and says something about American ineptitude in foreign languages.

Korean War gets

no remembrance

Here we go again. An anniversary has gone without notice in the paper concerning a conflict that The Roanoke Times and, perhaps, many others would like to forget.

On June 25, 1950, if I may jog your memory, North Korea invaded South Korea and, thus, involved the United States in a police action to defend a nation and its right to freedom. Sound familiar? Having served in the so-called police action during 1952-53, I think our troops deserve attention to a conflict that took at least 33,000 lives during the Korean War. More may have expired after the armistice due to their wounds.

Simply, I think it's a moral injustice to forget any war in which we have lost any of our service men or women. As I write this, I think of the soldiers in my company, with whom I served, who lost their lives or were seriously injured in that conflict. There were also a few who were captured by the Chinese; I never did find out if they were released from captivity. Two were Americans and one was a South Korean soldier who served in our unit.

Missed cruising due to traffic

It has been a pleasure in past years to participate in cruise night on Williamson Road by driving my 1967 Chevelle Malibu convertible. The event that took place on Friday evening should be an embarrassment to the organizers and to city police.

Upon arriving at the foot of the Boxley Hill area on Williamson Road, it took me an hour to get to the top of the hill. I had barely moved about half of a city block. Seeing no movement in sight, I turned around and went home. What a disappointment.

Why weren't the police involved in handling traffic lights to move traffic down Williamson Road? I am sure it was fun for those who managed to get in on the event, but I never made it.

Rescue Mission draws criminals

Re: the June 24 story about a crime spree allegedly committed by a transient man downtown ("Multiple incidents land man in city jail"). How many times will incidents like this happen before the city realizes it has a serious problem?

Roanoke is full of transient, homeless men and women. Particularly troublesome is the library area, Elmwood Park and Campbell Avenue around the Valley Metro station. The common denominator is the close proximity to the Rescue Mission.

Instead of helping people who genuinely need aid, the mission has become a homeless hotel. This provides the criminal element of street people a place to sleep it off overnight and wake up ready to steal, rob, drink and be a drain upon society.

Don't believe me? Take a drive on Fourth Street Southeast by the Rescue Mission in the morning or around 6 p.m. in the evening. The loitering, panhandling, drinking, drug use and failure to move for oncoming traffic have ruined this neighborhood. Most people who contribute to the mission don't see this.

Free room and board, a place to loiter and drink all day, unsuspecting downtown residents and workers to rob. If you offer it, they will come, and come and come.