LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I especially remember those who didn’t return from the rice paddies
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 permanently designates that every year March 29 will be celebrated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. As a veteran who served there for a year with the 101st Airborne Division, I thought there might be some calling to mind of it. However, after reading The Republic and The Wall Street Journal, I could find no mention, although a dear friend had sent me a card and note thanking me for my service.
I deserve very little thanks for what I did in comparison to the men and women and their families who sacrificed so much. My sacrifice had more to do with leaving a brand new bride (now of almost 54 years) and living uncomfortably for a year. Those who gave so much more deserve to be remembered.
Gary Goodman, Paradise Valley
The Oscar slap heard ’round the world is mirror on each American
So much wasted time, energy and ink on the Oscars, their terrible ratings, lousy — no one seen-movies — and the cage fight I can't believe I am even addressing the third rate show filled with millionaires. But there is an item which should concern each of us.
Chris Rock was hired to stir things up with his insulting comedy. People like that and might tune in to watch, bumping the ratings. We the people like that. Just like we like real cage fighting on TV, or the stage play called WWF.
But we also like the Will Smith side, his jumping up and starting a surprised war right there in our living rooms. Like watching a house fire. We shouldn't like to watch our neighbor's house burn, but we stand and watch, transfixed at the lapping flames.
Will Smith was such a fire.
We need to look at ourselves and figure out why we like such things, why we talk about such things, why they take up so much space in our lives.
Mark Williams, Phoenix
If we’re going to do reparations, do it on draconian marijuana laws
The governor of California is taking seriously demands by some Black people that they get reparations for slavery. I would assume that after 157 years one would be hard pressed to find a victim of slavery. To hand over money to persons who did not exist 100 years after the end of slavery would be beyond ludicrous.
I would much rather see persons still living whose lives were upended and destroyed by asinine marijuana laws get government reparations. They are still with us and many are still branded felons. However, if our Black population insists on clamoring about reparations and restitution, I say we all sit down and talk about reparations and restitutions for Watts, Newark, Detroit, Birmingham, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa, Cincinnati, Atlanta, New Brunswick, Miami, Brooklyn, Ferguson, Baltimore and many other cities where billions of dollars in public and private property was destroyed.
Once that dollar amount is tabulated and repaid we can discuss a brutal practice that has affected no one alive today.