Are you kidding me? Is this what we have to look forward
to for the next eight months? President Bush rolls out his first
campaign ad, and it becomes front-page news?
Let me see if I can figure this out: President Bush gets savaged
by his opponents and their surrogates for the last several
months, some not-so-subtly hinting that he had prior knowledge
of terrorist intentions about 9/11, the loonies at MoveOn.org
are showing despicable nonpartisan commercials each
day, fi guratively demonizing the man, and somehow this benign,
upbeat, patriotic ad is deemed so controversial so as to warrant
front-page attention?
Whether the liberals on the lunatic left like it or not, George
W. Bush was the President at the time of the horrifi c attacks
upon our country on Sept. 11, 2001. This election is, in part, a
referendum on how the citizens of this country feel the President
has handled this unprecedented assault to our way of life.
Whether they like it or not, President Bush is inextricably
and eternally linked with this tragic period in our history, and
mentioning those events during this campaign is not only appropriate but essential.
Thousands of people died on American soil not even 30
months ago, and the President s handling of this crisis is supposed
to be off limits, but off limits only to him? John Kerry
served four months in Vietnam more than 30 years ago, and he
seemingly doesn t go fi ve full minutes without mentioning it.
I wonder if family members (i.e., political partisans) were
morally outraged and offended when FDR made mention of
Pearl Harbor during his campaign for re-election in 1944? If
so, I wonder if The Blade made it front-page news? Somehow, I
highly doubt it.
ROBERT C.W. BIRMINGHAM
Vermaas Avenue
Now let me get this straight. It is all right for Sen. John Kerry
to have one ad after another showing his involvement in the
Vietnam War (exploiting the war?), in which thousands of our
servicemen lost their lives, but as soon as the Bush campaign
comes out with an ad with some pictures of Sept. 11, your news
report reads Sept. 11 Images in Bush ads spark anger, disgust in
victims families.
What about the families who lost loved ones in the Vietnam
War? Where is the outrage concerning the exploitation of the
Vietnam War?
It is obvious where The Blade stands politically. It would help,
however, if some fairness would enter into your decisions on
what to publish. I know you do not make the news, but you sure
determine what news to publish and where it appears.
MICHAEL J. RENCH
Sylvania
I am a nonsmoker but I like to have a beer or sandwich now
and then. I fi nd now that with the new city law against smoking
I can t go to most bars in Toledo to get a drink or sandwich unless
I join their private club. The bar owners are complaining that
they do not have the customers, but they are driving nonsmokers
away because I certainly am not going to join an obviously fake
club that is simply a way to get around the law.
I think the city council should amend the law to allow smoking
in places that are primarily bars so we can put a stop to this silliness.
I can understand the bar owners complaint because the
law is not area-wide and customers can go a short distance
away and smoke.
GERALD CARTER
Waterville
The Democrats are falling deeper into the pit of absurdity.
Each time they open their mouths it gets better and better.
They are against the war in Iraq meaning they are against the
liberation of 50 million people against the ouster of a ruthless
dictator, against the enforcement of 10 years of United
Nations resolutions, and against the $85 billion that will help our
troops fi ght, survive, win, and rebuild Iraq as a peaceful democratic
nation.
I don t know how they plan to continue bashing the ousting of
Saddam once he goes on trial and the world is given testimony
of his brutal murderous regime. They blame President Bush
for everything, including the loss of jobs. I would like to remind
John Kerry that the trade center attacks were not fi gured into the
budget. Likewise the war on terrorism and funding of a Homeland
Security Department don t come cheap.
Now the Kerry ad claims that he will bring back jobs by recalling
the tax cuts, which means he thinks that raising taxes on businesses
will somehow give them the incentive to hire more employees.
What planet are these people on?
I keep my sanity by remembering that the liberals are a
minority in America, their ideas are far from the mainstream,
and they will lose this election because Americans won t buy
into their bull.
KIP BROWN
Cherry Hill Road
In his endorsement of John Kerry, a man who has fl ipped
and fl opped on important issues more than the cheerleaders at a
UT basketball game, Jack Ford stated now more than ever
we need a president who is for Toledo. Unfortunately for Mr.
Ford, he doesn t realize we already have one.
During his campaign for office, as well as during the last
three years, President Bush has visited Toledo several times and
demonstrated the importance of this area to him. However, Mr.
Ford, and others associated with his partisan brand of politics,
have not only failed to embrace the President, but, in fact, have
gone out of their way to alienate him. Not really a good way to win
friends and infl uence enemies.
But then, no one should be too critical of Mr. Ford. Look at
all of the elegant accomplishments of his administration: the
revitalization of the Southwyck area, the tremendous progress
being made on the Marina District, the wonderful shape of city
streets and other infrastructure, the new Sports Arena. Oops, I
was dreaming again.
Area residents can only hope the new mayor, who is not that
far away, will do a better job of forming a relationship with
Washington during President Bush s second term in office.
DAVE KUBACKI
Maumee
I commend Marilou Johanek for her Feb. 22 column, Legacy
of bridge workers will go on. I very rarely agree with her as
she has very liberal leanings, and sometimes her columns are
empty of soundly based information. This time, however, she
had an exemplary column.
On the other hand, Roberta de Boer really missed the boat in
her Feb. 24 column, Ohio misses job prospects with ban on gay
marriage. Normally Ms. de Boer seems to have a rational outlook
on current topics. This time, however, she s way off base.
It would be a sad day indeed if we descend to the lowest level
of morality in order to entice more jobs to come into our state.
It s not that we don t need jobs, but we must keep our priorities
straight. Which is more important, to be poor while living a
good moral life or to have wealth and live in a decadent society?
It is a fact that it is not possible for two men or two women to
marry. Nature has dictated that only male and female bodies
complement each other in the most intimate of human acts
that belongs solely to married couples. This natural law is the
foundation of the moral law by which we must live if we are to
fi nd happiness and eternal salvation. We must not lower our
standards just because those who want to legitimize their
unions are clamoring loudly.
This isn t discrimination, it s just common sense.
VIRGINIA L. WYSONG
Berkey, Ohio
Three cheers for the city of Toledo for clearing the smoke
from the bars and restaurants and providing the clean, clear,
healthy air we all deserve.
Unfortunately, Sylvania Township, with its classy dining
spots, has not asserted the same courage. It would take the
three township trustees to get this on the November ballot in
order to remove smoking from the township eateries.
Will the trustees have the same courage the city of Toledo
has shown?
E. GOTTLIEB
Beaconsfield Court