Letters to the Editor

Columnist should focus on positive

6/9/2012

Op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd doesn't seem to like anything. She even distorted a pleasant activity at the White House as President Obama unveiled a portrait of ex-President George W. Bush ("Obama still tries to find himself, but White House not the place," op-ed, June 5). She used the event to criticize Mr. Bush.

She engages in pseudo-psychological analysis, reporting her understanding of what President Obama is thinking. Her discussion is supplemented by second and third-hand sources, including Mr. Obama's girlfriend from years ago.

It's unfortunate that readers are exposed to columnists such as Ms. Dowd who often offer a negative perspective on their subject. What's wrong with columns that are positive and uplifting?

Edward Nussel

Sylvania Township

Flags on graves of vets poor quality

My sons and I attended Memorial Day services at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. My husband was interred there in December, 2011.

Memorial Day was important to him. He helped distribute flags, attended services, and participated in the parade. But he would have been embarrassed by the quality of the flags that were displayed on the graves this year.

The flags were about half the size of the flags that used to be displayed, and they had raw edges that will fray easily. They were a disgrace to the memory of veterans.

I hope that when the time comes again to purchase flags, better quality will be considered.

Sandy Snider

Raymer Boulevard

Decorated vet's memorial ignored

The media in Toledo were sorely misdirected this Memorial Day. The dedication of a memorial marker for Gary Francis Shaw at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery was totally forgotten by some TV stations and received little coverage on others.

Mr. Shaw received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism and gallantry in the Vietnam war. Not one television or radio station, nor The Blade, mentioned the dedication or used his name.

More media hype was provided for the new Hollywood Casino Toledo. I guess it's easy for the many people to forget the reason behind Memorial Day when the media doesn't tell them all the facts.

Ray Johnston

Darrel Road

Retiring priest an intellectual

The retirement of the Rev. Jim Bacik represents a great loss to Corpus Christi University Parish and the community ("Father Bacik will be missed," Readers' Forum, May 26). As priest and theologian, Father Bacik reflected the intellectual face of the faith, and made Corpus Christi a site for renowned speakers on spirituality and the Catholic Church.

More important, Father Bacik made the parish a provider of services to both the campus and the community, and particularly to the poor.

He would have made a great pope, whose strict emphasis on Christ, peace, and service to all humanity would have enhanced the image of the Church.

Robert Deck

Kimberly Drive