‘Shot over the bow’ is not warranted

‘Shot over the bow’ is not warranted

Chemical weapons are indeed evil. However, our definition of weapons of mass destruction needs re-examination. How are Tomahawk missiles armed with conventional warheads that destroy people and property en masse not WMDs? The only difference with one armed with sarin is that the chemical warhead destroys people and not property.

Yes, we’d like to contain every one of our enemy’s weapons. Why stop at chemical and nuclear weapons? Why is the red line only for so-called WMDs?

The American people, who have had enough of warfare, know that unless we wise up and stop building our economy around weaponry, we will always be in this fix.

Can’t our government ever act in our best interest? Syria is no great threat to us. We would actually be worse off if the rebels took over.

Wouldn’t it be in your children’s best interest if we worked with Russia this time to keep the dictator in power? Our goal should be to take WMDs out of the fight. We need to secure and destroy those weapons.

Our president says “a shot over the bow” is appropriate. No, it’s not. More politicking and manipulation. And to think I voted for that Nobel Peace Prize-winner twice.

JACK SPRAKER
SALEM

Too quick to judge those who need help

I was very offended by the letter that the poor are too lazy to work (“The poor just don’t want to work,” Aug. 25 Pick of the day).

Most of them do work. We live in a country where it is legal to pay people a non-living wage. If the minimum wage were $14 per hour and kept up with inflation, there would not be so many poor people who others think are too lazy to work.

Right now, my wife and I do not work. On April 22, we were hit head-on in front of our house by a driver who ran a stop sign and hit us at 50 mph. It almost killed me; my neck was broken in three places and my hip had to be replaced. My wife almost lost her left leg.

We cannot work, and get a hard time trying to get help.

I will never walk right again. I guess that makes me lazy.

TERRY HUXHOLD
ROANOKE

Weather Journal

2 days ago

1. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant

2. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke

3. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football 

4. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death

5. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win

6. Roanoke resource officer's quick action saved young girl

7. Roanoke County electrical short quiets 5 Wheeler radio stations

8. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd

9. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech

10. Blacksburg lawyer Painter’s bond revoked