• Obama’s Wildfire

In the South, we experience wildfires that sometimes become uncontrolled like the one we had a while back in the Okeefenokee Swamp. As soon as one fire is put out, another one crops up.  

Firefighters must systematically extinguish them until they are contained. No one blamed the government for the fire or for the inability to stop it for weeks. Everyone pitched in to help put out the fire and assist those affected.

President Obama walked into office with an uncontrolled wildfire burning across America. What to put out first? Financial collapse, massive unemployment, HC crisis, real estate collapse, need for energy reform, ignored immigration crisis. This and facing Republican delays in confirmation of key positions, Republican/Tea Party folk screaming about big government, and being left with the catastrophic results of oil industry deregulation.     

Seriously, the Gulf catastrophe is all Obama’s fault? Six weeks after the oil rig exploded, we are only now seeing the devastating results. What will the Gulf look like in another six weeks, months or years? It’s time for a reality check to realize what created this oil disaster and all the other fires across America.

We elected a man not Superman, and those who are upset because Obama is not emoting enough I find perplexing; isn’t this why we elected him?  Cool in a crisis unlike our last President who shot first and asked questions later. Personally I want a reasoned, rational leader. I want this intelligent person leading the fight to put out our wildfires. So instead of criticizing, how about stopping the hateration and start offering solutions!  

“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” – Abraham Lincoln

Karen Seward

Valdosta

• City should fly the American flag

We the people, as citizens of the United States, generally go about our daily lives not giving a second thought as to what is going on around us. Only those who serve and have served  in our military, risking their lives, giving their lives for a just cause, along with their families and loved ones recognize the significance of this on a daily basis. Having said this, I think it’s a shame the City of Lakeland did not plan ahead when they placed new lighting on Main Street in Lakeland. It seems as though they placed much thought in making a place to hang mural signs, but failed in the most important issue, a place for the American flag to be flown in order to show respect for our past and present serving military members.

Our city looked so bare this Memorial Day. I for one am very upset, more so disappointed, as my husband was wounded in World War II, received a Purple Heart, served this country with honor as all of our military men and women are doing this very moment. Yes, he’s gone now but, by flying the flags, it was a way to remember what he did as well as all other military members, past and present have done for this country.

Memorial Day is the one day we can show our support. I hope the city officials will rethink and decide what is more important, our military, our honorable “Old Glory,” or a mural flag hanging on a pole. God bless our troops!

Virgina Jacobs

Lakeland

• Government belongs to the people

The “Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem has four verses, yet we only hear the first verse. The fourth verse is very clear where the majority of “We the people stand,” the verse we should be singing;

Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Yes Senators and Congressmen, we want our America back! We want the country our forefathers fought for, gave their fortunes and their lives so their children and grandchildren of this great nation will inherit a country ordained by God; a country of the free and home of the brave given to us by God —not by man.

The U.S. Constitution is not a living constitution as those who wish for the people to otherwise believe. We will be voting for the candidates who believe in the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution given to our founding fathers under the guidance of our Almighty God, our Lord. Come November 2010, we the people who believe our government belongs to the people will be voting for conservative purity of the candidates. In God we trust.

Charles L. Tait

Hahira

• Taxes are too much

I am writing this as a small-business owner that has had enough of my rights taken away or taxed to the point I struggle with my business day to day and making ends meet. It takes me working most hours myself so I can put what money we do make aside for daily expenses. Now Obama wants to tax the middle class yet again?

Am I the only one who remembers reading that he would not impose any more taxes on the middle class? Well what does he call small business owners? We need help out here to survive and grow, not taxed!

Please vote no on the  new tan tax he wants to start July 1st. This tax is for all who tan. Is that fair? So now we can’t even use what money we make to treat ourselves with something we enjoy?

In case a lot of you out there didn’t know tanning in a salon can be less harmful because tanning beds are made to filter out the bad UV rays. Tanning outside can burn us and that is where the damage lies. Tanning beds give us Vitamin D that is normally lost. If done in moderation, it is good for you! Please vote no at www.repealtantax.com. If this passes what will we be taxed on next? Using the toilet? Getting a facial? Where will it stop?

Brenda Cox

Owner of Valdosta  Body Bronzer

• Act of kindness appreciated

I joined the Air Force and served my country for 20 years, retired in 1995 and now my son John is a soldier in the Florida Army National Guard and serving his country in Kuwait/Iraq patrolling the border and escorting convoys. He left in February for the desert and recently came home for two weeks leave.

On June 7th, we took him to the Panama City IAP for his departure to Atlanta and then on to Kuwait to rejoin his Unit there. As he departed the gate and boarded his plane, his mom was holding a sign up to the window where we were waiting for the plane to back out and taxi to their ramp. After a few minutes we noticed someone waving in the cockpit, and then our son John stuck his head out of the co-pilot’s window and waved to his mom! She was so excited as tears of joy came to her eyes.

The pilots had seen this mother’s sign with John’s name on it and called him up to the cockpit to wave good-bye to his mom! These pilots are a credit to Delta Airlines and went above and beyond their normal duties to let a soldier wave bye once more to his mother. I wrote a letter of commendation to the Corporate Office of Delta and thanked them for these pilots and the actions they took to bring such joy to our hearts.

I am thankful that there are still people out there who care about our military, our sons and our daughters, who serve our country with pride and courage, knowing that they may pay the ultimate price for their service. I just wanted to pass this story on to encourage other families with loved ones in harm’s way.  Thank you very much and God bless America.

 

William H. Row, TSgt, USAF, Retired

Graceville, Fla.