Letters to the Editor

Recently the Journal ran an article entitled "Practice Does Not Make Perfect" [Mailbox, Journal, Oct. 5, 2005] written by Steven Sharp. I have to say this article was truly amazing. When I was finished I had to stop, absorb the information, and re-read an opinion of a person who has no right even pretending he knows the first thing about what's going on.

Mr. Sharp speaks of being sickened that Cindy Sheehan was arrested. Cindy Sheehan has every right to protest and speak her mind, and for the past six months she has. She has every right to "visibly protest an unjust war," just be sure to protest legally. Ms. Sheehan and her followers didn't obtain a permit from the Washington, D.C. Police Department. Ms. Sheehan was asked three times by the D.C. police to move, and she ignored each request. I ask you Mr. Sharp, why don't the rules apply to Ms. Sheehan?

You also say that she wouldn't have been arrested if President Bush would have just met with her. I would like to know how many times he should meet with her. On June 18, 2004, Bush flew into Fort Lewis and met with Cindy Sheehan and her family along with 17 other families who lost loved ones. Following her meeting with the President, she let the press know how she felt about President Bush when she said, "I know that he's sincere about wanting freedom for Iraqis. I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith." Mr. Sharp, am I to understand that if I would like to talk to the President about what bothers me he should take time and meet with me face to face? You say you "don't understand why Bush refuses to meet with someone who has lost so much at the hands of his ignorance and his blatant disregard for human frailty." Mr. Sharp, you are ignorant, not Mr. Bush.

You criticize President Bush for his failure when dealing with the U.S. economy. Currently, national unemployment is the lowest is has been since September 2001. You can verify that with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We are exporting the same as we always have, and we are importing the same as well. Our economy is not in shambles and employment isn't rampant. I do agree with you that gas prices are increasing daily. However, compare that with cities such as Amsterdam where they currently pay over $7 American per gallon. In Britain, gas costs more than $6 American per gallon. Gas prices are increasing, especially now after the hurricanes, but luckily you live in America, Mr. Sharp.

Finally, let's talk about the response to Hurricane Katrina. To try to pin blame on the Bush Administration for this disaster is laughable, Mr. Sharp. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, a.k.a. FEMA, the organization in charge of taking care of national disasters state in the federal plan that states should not expect aid for 72 to 96 hours. Why so long? Currently, there are active disasters and emergencies in 47 states. This means that FEMA employees need to leave what they are doing, organize a plan and then implement that plan, which takes a little time. Secondly, Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco failed to follow the evacuation plan that FEMA helped them to prepare in case of a disaster. We would all have loved the federal government to get there sooner, but not everything in possible.

You're right, Mr. Sharp, Iraq isn't worth the billions of dollars we are spending to rebuild it. Why would we help rebuild a country "whose greatest claim to fame has been a couple of swimmers competing in the Olympic Games"? I honestly hope you aren't that daft. But then again, I have read your article and you just might be.

-Christopher Reichelt