Thursday, November 12, 2009
Political correctness aided tragedy at Fort Hood
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Political correctness aided tragedy at Fort Hood
There are 13 dead people and up to 30 injured in Fort Hood, all in the name of political correctness.
Nidal Malik Hasan had piqued the interest of the government long ago. He was suspected of Internet postings regarding suicide bombers and threats against this country. Hasan boasted of being "Muslim first, American second." It has also been reported that he equated suicide bombers to "soldiers that throw themselves on a grenade to save their comrades." Most disturbing was Hasan considered the war in Iraq "a war against Islam."
A man with these opinions, who already had alerted government officials as to his thoughts, was allowed to continue working on a military base, weapons readily available? He also made it no secret that he was angry regarding his upcoming deployment.
So why did no one step in and start some process to remove this person from Fort Hood? I am wondering if, in this PC world we live in, he was left alone for fear of a racial profiling charge, discrimination or an anti-Muslim complaint from the shooter.
Hasan was an open book full of clues and warnings. No one heeded them. Now look what has happened.
Obama and Nobel Prize deserve each other
I think President Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel deserved Obama. The Nobel is a farce and so is Obama. They go together like ham and eggs.
Support a rail stop in Roanoke
Jeremy Holmes' thought-provoking commentary of Nov. 7 contains a great many good suggestions for making downtown Roanoke living more attractive ("Downtown development needn't cause a parking nightmare").
However, one key initiative needs to be rail passenger service from Roanoke to the new Amtrak Lynchburg-Boston train that began Oct. 1. This would not only make downtown living more pedestrian-friendly, but tie Roanoke to the entire Amtrak network of more than 500 stations, allowing seamless travel from downtown to any other part of the country.
Please support this initiative, which could be a reality long before the vague plan to begin Roanoke-Lynchburg rail passenger service in the indefinite future after 2015. Some concerted political arm-twisting is needed by our political leaders from Roanoke to Lynchburg and even from nearby communities within easy driving distance of Roanoke. Our new governor may also be an ideal source of assistance if enough of us get behind the idea and keep pressing ahead with it.
Troop salute was a staged photo-op
Reading Herb Detweiler's letter, "President Obama's fallen hero salute speaks volumes" (Nov. 5), stirred only two words with me: staged photo. Why did the president's staff alert the press corps to catch this spontaneous moment? It is about image. The president wants to show Americans he cares about our soldiers fighting and dying for a "just cause" in Afghanistan and not dithering with extra troop requests from March.
There were times when George W. Bush visited wounded veterans and met with families of soldiers who paid the ultimate price. You never heard of these things. If Bush's staff had called the media for a photo-op, you would have never heard the end of it. I agree the war in Iraq was not necessary, but we need to support our troops wherever and whenever they are deployed. I wonder how many military families liberals have helped through these eight years.
Kool-aid drinking liberal Democrats despise the military. For examples, just check out youtube.com and search protests at military recruiting offices. Code Pink members don't vote Republican.
Jobless recovery is double-speak for crisis
Lately I'm hearing that the economic crisis is over and we are now having a jobless recovery. Excuse me, but isn't that like saying the operation was a success but the patient is dead? Perhaps more accurately this is like an economic canoe trip down the river but without the canoe.
The deliverance of bailout money to the finance banking sector might as well have been accompanied by an orchestration of dueling banjos. Now the uncomfortable implications can't be avoided by those on the jobless receiving end of recovery.
The symbol that defines this double-talk isn't an elephant or a mule: it's an ostrich with its head in the sand and its rump in high profile.
A pleasant experience getting driver's license
I received notice that my driver's license was due for renewal. To obtain a new license, I needed to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles. I needed to take an eye exam and have a new photo taken for the new secure driver's license. I thought, oh great. Another half a day wasted.
I went to the new DMV at the Valley Pointe business park off Peters Creek Road. The new facility and parking were great. The people working there were friendly, courteous and very helpful (although the clerk did laugh at my photo). The entire process took less than 20 minutes. Thank you, DMV, for your improved services.
County candidate made impressive effort
We're past Election Day, but I feel compelled to opine on a local candidate who ran for Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, namely Charlene Waybright. She went door-to-door introducing herself and inquiring about citizens' concerns as county residents.
Waybright took written notes of three specifics I shared, additionally providing a check-list/survey in case there were other topics of interest. She handed me a brochure detailing her professional biography and personal background.
I've lived here for three years and have never been approached nor asked by any sitting supervisor what my needs or concerns are as a resident of Roanoke County. I know board meetings are open, but it's not the same as personally being asked.
Waybright took a proactive stance and approached me, inquired about my needs as a county resident and made a commitment to seek solutions to the three concerns I addressed. Regrettably, Waybright did not receive sufficient votes to become a supervisor. Still, I heartily urge her to run again, and encourage Roanoke County residents to favor her candidacy in the future.
Transportation failure dates back
In his column of Nov. 8, "Virginia voted for gridlock on Tuesday," Dan Radmacher says that Virginia voted for gridlock because Bob McDonnell won the race for governor. Come on, Radmacher, do you actually believe that raising taxes and building another road is going to solve that problem? Don't you think we need a bigger solution than that?
You say that McDonnell's plan is a rehash of past failed ideas; isn't that exactly what raising taxes and building more roads is? That's exactly what we have been doing since the Model T, while we sat by and watched the world's greatest railroad system die. How do you think that has worked out for us?
My son returned from Europe talking about his train ride from Paris to London, how quick the trip was and how fast the train traveled, under the English Channel yet. We in the United States, at one time the richest, most powerful, most advanced nation in the world, are still trying to figure out where to build the next interstate.
