LETTERS
To the Editor:

In reading Josh Turners characterization of Democrats as giving away toys to able-bodies people, I'm tempted to point out that Republicans can be characterized as selling a $2,000 glass of water to someone who is dehydrated and crawling out of the desert, but I won't because I know that the Republicans around here are more compassionate than that, as are the Democrats. But I must point out several things to Josh and hope that as he gains more experience with life he'll realize that issues are not so simplistic or black and white. If Republicans are really the party of less government, why did they actually "grow" the government during the six years they controlled Congress and the White House? If they are against the creation and expansion of government entitlement programs, why did they create the huge drug benefit program for seniors? If they truly believe in tax cuts, why didn't they make them permanent when they had the power to do so? If they truly believe in fiscal conservatism, why did they go on a spending spree the likes of which we haven't seen since Ronald Regan? (It can't be blamed on the war because the total costs of the war so far is less than a half trillion dollars but they have increased the national debt by over two trillion since 2000). If they believe in a strong national defense, why is our military at a breaking point, our veterans under-funded, our borders in disarray, and our ports unprotected? Did you know that the divorce rate in the military far exceeds that of the general population - which stands around 50%? Those families have actually been weakened by the long and frequent deployments. So, if the last six years of Republican control has shown us anything Josh, it's that power corrupts, regardless of the party in office. The Republican Party had the chance to distinguish themselves while in power and, unfortunately, failed to do so. I don't think I'd be too excited about being a Republican based on that record.

James S Fitzgerald To the Editor:

Most people have probably seen, either live or in the movies, a gravesite military burial service featuring the playing of taps and the precise, ceremonial folding of an American flag into a triangle which is then presented to the next of kin. There is a traditional ritual which accompanies the flag-folding, in which members of the Memorial Honor Guard Detail fold the flag 13 times, during which they recite the significance of every fold: the first fold represents life, the second a belief in eternal life, etc., and the common recitation for five of the folds includes the word "God." Well, the latest effort by secularist fanatics to rid public spaces of all references to God recently took place in California (are you surprised?) when someone complained about the utterance of the word "God" in the narration for the 11th fold of the flag, during the burial service of a veteran at Riverside Memorial Cemetery (the identity of the complainant has not been disclosed; however, we may assume it was not the next of kin, as they are allowed to exclude any portion of the ceremony). As a result, the National Cemetery Administration (part of the Department of Veterans Affairs - the "VA") banned future flag-folding recitations by Memorial Honor Guard Details at 125 national graveyards throughout the nation. Fortunately, not every one at the VA is as nuts as Steve Muro, director of field operations who reportedly wrote the new policy. Early this week, following a nationwide uproar by the American Legion, other veterans groups, a bipartisan assortment of Congressmen, and a flock of ordinary citizens, William Tuerk, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the VA, basically reversed the ban by releasing a statement that "A family may request the recitation of words to accompany the meaningful presentation of the American flag as we honor the dedication and sacrifice of their loved ones." With the new procedure, survivors of the deceased will need to provide the material and make the request; and also, requests for recitations that reflect "any or no religious traditions, on an equal basis" will be accepted. Obviously, Mr. Tuerk is one federal bureaucrat who has not completely lost his senses. And, if there's one, there may be more. Keep your fingers crossed.

Cordially, Chuck Esposito

Suches, Ga.