Article published November 12, 2009
Fort Hood shooter is a terrorist
I read your article implying that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's shooting spree at Fort Hood was a result of his stress from military service and I am appalled.
This is nothing more than a radical who used the American military system to put himself through medical school. When it came time to pay back that service, he could not see himself fighting against his fellow Muslims so he chose a suicide killing, a radical act to get out of it, and fight back against the country that he swore an oath to protect.
He was conflicted. A Muslim first, an American by coincidence, and a soldier only to use the system for his gain.
One of the soldiers he killed, Sgt. Amy Krueger, a happy, vibrant young woman whom I am proud to say I served with prior to her first tour in Afghanistan, is the victim here.
Do not use this tragic situation as a way to further your agenda against this war. The terrorists started this war. If you know of a better way other than war to stop the terrorists, please bring it on.
I cannot imagine the anger Amy and the other unarmed soldiers felt seeing another man in uniform turn on them with a weapon. What a terrible act of treason.This man believed that a suicide bomber was the same as a hero who jumped on a grenade to save their comrades. This was not a psychotic break as much as flaw in his core values. He chose to turn on the United States as the enemy.
Major Hasan is not a victim of battle stress, he is a radical Muslim, a traitor, and terrorist.
Vicki Fallgren
Holland
Editor's note: The writer served in the Army as a staff sergeant and mental health technician from 1989 to 2004, including in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2004.Co-exist with nature, or move
Deer are being targeted for slaughter in the village of Ottawa Hills. This is more a people problem than a deer issue. The residents affected need to assume responsibility to protect their properties by making them deer-resistant by using proven strategies such as deer-resistant plants, repellents, frighteners, or barriers.
Village council members chose a ruthless group of animal exterminators called White Buffalo Inc. to carry out this hunt. It by no means will be merciful. Their barbaric methods involve repeatedly ramming four-inch steel rods into the skulls and brains of deer. The rods often miss and hit other areas of the head. The deer are trapped in nets, struggling, breaking legs and antlers. Other methods include chasing with dogs, stabbing, and suffocating with plastic bags. This is mass brutal slaughter of helpless animals. It should never be an option to kill our wildlife because someone's bushes are chewed on.
Most people are humane and want nonlethal solutions to deer issues. People who choose to live near natural habitat areas and parks need to co-exist with nature or move.
Most residents argue there is no deer problem. How can council be indifferent to the massive condemnation of the deer hunt and White Buffalo Inc., by its residents, the Humane Society of the United States, and veterinary organizations? It seems to many that council has already decided to proceed with the hunt.
The parks and surrounding green areas not only belong to people, but also wildlife. It is for the beauty of the wildlife that I have continued to support the parks with my tax dollars. These areas have been home to deer for decades.
Diane Czerniak
MaumeeThe people make all the difference
I have traveled much and always tell friends that my start was my first six years at Longfellow School. From walking to school from the corner of Sabra and Westway to the sweet Mr. Siddal and tough Mrs. Beschalske as principals to the best teacher on the planet, Ms. Gerold, in the fifth grade, I was led to expect the best for the remainder of my educational experience. I do suppose this is progress and a reality of aging.
If Longfellow is torn down it will be the third school I attended in the Toledo area to disappear. Longfellow, Ladyfield, and I received notice that Burnham Junior High in Sylvania would be torn down. I hope that what they say is true and that the buildings do not matter, that it is what goes on inside and the people inside that truly make the difference.
Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D.
Pinehurst, N.C.More audacity than hope is clear
I lost my job at the end of 2006 and now earn about 25 percent of my former wage. Being on the brink of foreclosure, I applied for a loan modification with my bank. I have been a loyal customer for 30 years, kept all my accounts and loans with that bank, and have never been late on a single payment. The bank rejected my application without explanation, while warning me about foreclosure in the event of delinquency.
The current administration has given almost a trillion of our tax dollars to the banking industry and the recipients have used that money to throw lavish parties, declare inordinate bonuses for their CEOs, and acquire other banks, while one in every five or six homeowners has been foreclosed upon. Essentially, we have been forced to donate substantial percentages of our income for the elaborate homes of bank CEOs who then kick us out of ours.
These observations are not dismissible as the railings of a disgruntled member of an opposing political party. I have been a Democrat my whole life and voted for the President. I believed what he said about attaching strings to the bailout money and his intentions to help save our homes. But this has not been the case. Instead, he has given extraordinary assistance to the very irresponsible entities that created the current crises and left it up to them to decide how to solve it.
Legislation that places regulatory power in the hands of those to be regulated is not a solution. It is a farce. Using taxpayer money to support lavish compensatory packages for executives who displace responsible, hardworking Americans after years of conscientious struggle to make their mortgage payments is hardly the "audacity of hope" I voted for.
Michael L. Silverstein
Pemberton DriveDistance runners need training
I was saddened to learn about the tragic deaths of three half-marathon runners in the Oct. 18 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon in which I participated.
I was further saddened to read in the Oct. 20 Blade about two similar incidents in California and Virginia.
Distance running by healthy people who are properly trained is the safest and healthiest activity one can experience. The half-marathon distance of 13.1 miles is a strenuous undertaking that may not receive the respect it deserves by undertrained participants.
It is an honor to have run the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon in 20 of its 32 years. I believe such deaths in these races are avoidable and that such tragedies should not occur if participants treat the distance with respect and train diligently for it.
Benjamin McBride
Cambrian RoadDo more to stop telemarketers
I'm frustrated with the number of hang-up calls from telemarketers soliciting in the name of charities and nonprofit organizations. We put some out of business with the do-not-call list, but they switched to solicting for charities.
They are using automatic dialers which I thought were illegal. The devices call more than one person at the same time. If you are not the first to answer, you continue to get the ring, but upon answering the phone, no one is there.
I believe we receive as many calls now as we did before the do-not-call program. Politicians need to do more. If I elect to be on a do-not-call list, it should apply to every telemarketer. Otherwise, what's the point?
L. R. Gillen
Maumee
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