YOUR VIEWS
Remember veterans
I’m old enough that I still call Nov. 11 Armistice Day. When we were in school, the town siren sounded and we all stood by our desks for a minute of silence. The armistice that ended World War I was signed at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month 1918. It was a year before my dad, a World War II veteran, was born. In this day and age, it seems to be more important to have another long weekend than to celebrate things of significance. I hope everyone takes time to remember a veteran.
Ron Hendricks, Oklahoma City
Bergdahl deserves worse
Regarding “Bergdahl avoids prison” (ScissorTales, Nov. 4): This is the most horrendous slap in the face to the families of the six dead soldiers who went to find and return this coward to his base. The Army made at least three mistakes with this situation. First, they should have let him rot in whatever situation his Taliban friends had him in. Second, when he was returned he should have been tried and executed over there. Third, when he was brought back here, he should have been tried and executed, instead of getting a slap on the wrist. And don’t give me this bleeding heart BS about social anxiety and cognitive defects; he knew what could happen when he signed up and should have to pay big time for what he did.
Richard Kienlen, Oklahoma City
School name
I have a cousin who grew up on the south side of Oklahoma City during the 1950s. She and her brothers went to school at brand new Stand Watie Elementary. When we visited, we played on the playground, impressed at the fine place she called her school. Recently, in a phone call I told her about the discontent among some with the names attached to three Oklahoma City grade schools, including Stand Watie. She was surprised and then disappointed when I called again to tell her the deed was done. The longtime name was vanishing.
She said, “We had no clue Stand Watie was anything but a great Cherokee leader. That’s what we were taught. We were real proud of him. Over the years I’ve even bragged that in Oklahoma they’re proud of their Indian heritage, name schools and buildings after them. What a shame.”
J.A. McDonald, Shawnee