LETTERS

We can't bomb people into loving each other

I would like to voice my opinion on Mr. Clinton's war. As a 18-year-old, I remembered my call to duty and joined the military in June 1966. At the time, I had visions of God, country and Mom's apple pie.

I arrived in Vietnam in November 1968, well-trained and ready to defend America. I still prayed to God and loved my country, but I soon forgot about Mom's apple pie. All I wanted to do was make it through another day.

The Vietnam War was a war started by old politicians and the price was paid in young American blood.

Now we are in a war like Vietnam, started by a president who refused to serve his country and protested our involvement in a foreign land. I was probably in Vietnam when Mr. Clinton forgot his call to duty. I can honestly say that I did not inhale because all of us depended on each other for our lives.

We are waging a war on a sovereign nation which is in a civil war, like Vietnam, and for what? We cannot bomb people into loving each other! We bombed Vietnam for over 10 years and what did we get? Over 58,000 American dead.

Americans seem to think this is a video war, but soon they will see the fathers and the sons dragged feet-first and face-down from the battlefront, and I wonder how that will digest with our evening meals? When the body bags start arriving at Dover Air Base in sleek aluminum boxes, will America wake up and say, what are we doing here?

This war will be Mr. Clinton's lasting legacy. I will address Mr. Clinton as my commander in chief when he takes the lead plane or the lead of the first combat patrol.

To our United States Senate, the blood of our soldiers will be on your hands because you refused to defend our nation and its laws and have allowed Mr. Clinton to etch his name in history with that blood.

HAROLD CARROLL
Long Beach

This nation a-bombing is an abomination

It's interesting how initials alone conjure up visions of past leaders such as "FDR," "JFK," "RFK" and, another up and coming, "BJ" (Bill Jefferson) Clinton.

I believe that our country might willingly and justifiably support a NATO air/ground campaign designed to eliminate ethnic cleansing whether it be in Africa, Yugoslavia or elsewhere - (still debatable when centuries-old hatred is the root).

But to support a selective, personally convenient and politically motivated "wag-the-dog" warring fiasco that not only lacks Joint Chiefs of Staff sanction but incurs its condemnation is sickening to consider.

This same conflict, if endorsed by an administration that was not diseased with the malignancy of lies, corruption, immorality, fraud, shame, cowardice and borderline treason, might well have received broad support from the JCS, the military in general, the Congress and the American people.

Many could probably even envision their support of taking up the pursuit of the present conflict as it stagnates in order to turn an embarrassing folly into face-saving victory if leaders of integrity prevailed. Many can envision whom these leaders might be.

However, returning to reality, I realize that these thoughts are for naught and that the impending damage from this one-man, dictatorially orchestrated lunacy will be irrevocable.

Thanks "BJ," aka, Bill Jefferson Clinton, Commander Im Peach.

ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.

War will consume Social Security funds

I read The Sun Herald and watch television about our government's involvement in Bosnia, the Middle East, the Far East, Serbia, Kosovo and anywhere else where we can intervene.

Also, about our government's fiscal policies, debt and failure to correct the funding of the Social Security system. In lieu of that, now adding $6 billion to the existing $6 billion emergency request to finance the conflict in Yugoslavia.

In recent weeks the media has addressed the murders at Pearl and Columbine high schools. I question if such violence is influenced and perpetuated by the bloody gore and blazing automatic guns shown on television with every click of the dial to numb the minds of children who watch and seem to enjoy such programs. Another question, is it time to censor such programs?

After my first wife died with cancer, I became (more) crazy and embraced the words and panacea of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon. I sent framed copies of it to family and friends because I thought it conveyed words of peace and tranquility in this world filled with strife, conflict and wars. Alas, they did not view it that way but rather as atheistic New Age garbage.

Therefore, I will now (try to) fold my tent like the Arab and steal away into the solace thought to just imagine.

JOE FOSTER
Pass Christian
fosterjh@bellsouth.net

Sending ground troops would be sheer folly

As a veteran who was in the Korean War, and as the son of a deceased father, a Croatian, who saw combat in the Yugoslav Army during World War I and was a prisoner of war, I feel compelled to make a statement regarding the tragic conflict in Kosovo.

NATO has just cause to interject its military might for terror-stricken Albanians. However, to ponder sending troops to battle the Serbs is sheer folly. They should carefully consider what happened during War II, when the Chetniks, under the command of Gen. Praja Mihalovich, kept 40 German divisions pinned down in mountainous terrain, easily defended, practically impossible to overrun. These divisions were kept from being deployed against the allies.

Casualties would be horrendous, even with the most modern sophisticated weapons at NATO's command; it would be a blood bath. Although no war has been won with only air support, including guided missiles, it should be absolutely out of the question.

As a matter of historical record, for his role as the hero of the Yugoslav War, Mihalovich was branded a traitor by Tito for collaboration with the Germans. On trumped-up false charges he was executed.

Tito feared that Mihalovich would be the head of the post-war government.

MIKE VLAHOV
Biloxi

Clinton's war-making is a deadly diversion

Congress, not the president, is empowered to declare war. For years Congress has allowed presidents - Republican and Democrat - to recklessly scatter our troops around the world under the misguided role of international policemen.

The waging of war by one person is one of the most serious abuses of power by Bill Clinton. If Congress cannot find the courage to rein in our imperial president's war-making to cover his scandals, of what value are they?

Last August, Clinton ordered U.S. warplanes to bomb alleged terrorists in Afghanistan and succeeded in killing the night janitorial staff at a pharmaceutical plant. The bombing came three days after his admission that he had "misled people" in his denial of a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

In December, on the eve of the impeachment vote in the House of Representatives, Clinton ordered U.S. warplanes to bomb Iraq.

Finally, the mainstream media began to devote a small amount of attention to Communist China's espionage and the Clinton administration's role. Once again, Clinton takes America into war, this time in Kosovo. Once again, the media directs its attention from the Clinton scandal-of-the-week to the Clinton war-of-the-week.

How convenient that the China issue has been pushed off the front burner. From all indications he will keep us wrapped up in this illegal war until the end of his term. This insane war could easily turn into another Vietnam or escalate into World War III. And while the high-priced TV talking heads and media analysts treat us to endless coverage of the war, Bill Clinton will quietly slip out of the China noose and America will never understand what happened.

Bill Clinton's legacy will be that, aided by Congress and the media, he transformed America from a nation of free and independent thinkers into a nation of suckers.

JEFF H. SMITH
Picayune

War may teach us a lesson on presidency

I recently received an e-mail in response to a letter of mine that was printed in your paper concerning the conflict in Yugoslavia. The substance of my letter, although not directly aimed at our president, was not entirely favorable towards him.

The e-mailer admitted to being one of Bill Clinton's many supporters who wishes he could run for a third term and who predicts that he would be elected again if he did. (The scary part is, the writer's probably right!)

But the specific comment that really got to me was this emphatic one: "You see, we know the truth about Bill Clinton."
In other words: "We don't care what kind of person he is. We know he lies to us, we know he lacks character and integrity, and we know he's dishonest and self-indulgent. But he champions our causes. That's what's important!"

I wonder how many of these people, if they really thought about it, would consciously apply that same type of thinking to other choices they make in life? I can just see it now ...

"OK, If I'm going to have to have that brain surgery I want Dr. So-and-so to perform it. At least I know he's incompetent. I don't trust those other guys at all."
Or how about, "Hey, honey, let's choose this baby-sitter for little Suzy. Yeah, I know he's a convicted child molester, but he says he'll do the dishes and vacuum the floors while he's here and even shine my shoes! Is this guy great or what?"

I'm sorry, but the logic behind this line of thinking escapes me. Perhaps this "war" in Yugoslavia will make us realize how extremely important the office of president of the United States is and how critical it is to place the right person in that position, whether Democrat or Republican. I just hope the price of that lesson isn't too high.

VERNON STEELE
Pascagoula
tvm@datasync.com

Mandatory uniforms won't stop bullets

Uniforms do not stop bullets - unless you plan to put bulletproof vests under them. And trench coats don't harm people, guns and the people who use them do.

It is extremely interesting that all the pro-uniform people want to ban trench coats but they didn't mention once banning guns. Are they afraid their right to bear arms might be interfered with?

Uniforms are not about discipline. Uniforms are about lazy parents who want someone else to deal with their children's dress. Parents who refuse to teach their children that they do not have to wear the latest fads and fashions to be liked. Parents who refuse to teach their children tolerance and respect for other people. Parents who want the decision of what to wear to already be decided so they don't have to be involved and their mornings will be less stressful.

You do not have the right to take my rights away in order to make your mornings less stressful, or to give you a reason not to buy expensive name brands. If you want to dress your child in a uniform go ahead, just do not take my right to dress my children as I please away from me.

People have the duty to challenge unfair rules and laws. It used to be a law that black people had to ride in the back of the bus. That was the way the majority of people wanted it. Thanks to a courageous black woman named Rosa Parks who stood up for her rights and challenged this unjust law black people can ride in the front of the bus. The Jackson County School Board is acting unjustly by saying I have to dress my child a certain way in order to send him to a school my tax money goes to support.

SANDRA ALAWINE
Ocean Springs
sand@kfcu.org

Joint recreation facility would be a dream

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending dedication ceremonies for the D'Iberville recreational complex. This is truly a recreational facility that any city would be proud to have. It has a pee-wee football field, baseball fields, tennis courts, walking track, buildings for concessions and other functions plus paved parking. All beautifully finished.

The thing that impressed me most, however, was learning how the city of D'Iberville and Harrison County worked hand-in-hand. The city obtained the land and together they constructed the complex at a fraction of the cost that other cities have paid to build similar facilities.

All you had to do was look on the faces of the city officials, county officials and the citizens of the community to see how proud they were of their accomplishments. They were eager to talk about how they attained their common goals by working together. A remarkable story indeed.

Being a longtime resident of Ocean Springs and knowing that our city had just purchased land to build a recreational complex, I wonder if our recreational area could be finished at a cost comparable to the one in D'Iberville.

That night I had the following dream: I dreamed the Ocean Springs mayor and aldermen met with the Jackson County Board of Supervisors and unanimously agreed to jointly build our complex. It was subsequently finished through the combined efforts of the city and county. It was indeed a beautiful facility finished at a very reasonable coast. When the dedication ceremony was held, you could easily see how happy everyone was; especially to see the spirit of cooperation exhibited between the city and county officials.
Do dreams really come true? Wouldn't it be wonderful if this one did?

WALLY PAGE
Ocean Springs