Letters

Published on May 16, 2008

Vets get short stick

To the Bulletin: It has been suggested on your editorial page that Amherst might have a parade on Veterans Day. I am a veteran of the Korean War, and I say "No thanks."

Why? Millions of Americans get the day off with pay, teachers, state and federal government officials and so forth, but not veterans as such. They drive their trucks, dig their ditches, stack their bundles and serve their meals to the lucky government employees. As a newspaper reporter and editor, I never got Vets Day off until I became a state employee.

To be sure, a substantial number of the 24 million or so veterans are public employees, able to wave the flag, toot the trumpets and the like in parades.

The average age of male veterans, according to the last official count, is 50 for males and in the mid-40s for women. The age average is dropping, because of those who are leaving the armed services disgusted with participation in the Iraq War. What is needed is legislation giving the day off with pay to veterans, and not just those who have seen combat (I was only shot at twice), but for cooks, pencil pushers, even the boys and gals in the Pentagon. Bars and clubs might be closed for a few hours for all but veterans, but it will never happen.

So Vets Day will remain for millions who never put on boots. Maybe marching in a parade makes them feel better.

Howard M. Ziff
Amherst

Maintain respect, order

To the Bulletin: In a recent news article, a reporter describes an exchange between School Committee members Kathleen Anderson and Catherine Sanderson related to the question of what measures to use as part of the on-going study and critique of our school system and its personnel. Evidently, both Anderson and Sanderson were upset and made remarks which could be taken as offensive. I am not going to take a side in the particulars of the issue as I was not at the meeting. I am writing to support Elaine Brighty's work as chairwoman of the committee, hoping she will succeed to make sure all committee members feel welcome and respected.

Sanderson is the newly elected member of the committee, and she ran on a platform to bring the weight of her professional expertise and training to bear on the questions of education in Amherst. This perspective is valuable, but if research had the answers to the issues vexing the Amherst school system, we would have made far more progress years ago.

Anderson speaks from a place of concern and experience having observed formal and informal educational practices from inside the school buildings. Through her leadership of the ARHS Study Circles Project on Racism and Classism in Education, hundreds of parents, students, administrators, staff and teachers gained a better understanding of racism and classism and a better relationship with their fellow community members in thoughtful, safe and respectful dialogue sessions.

As a concerned community member who enjoys the rich diversity of our community and who feels the future and strength of Amherst lies in its children, I call upon Elaine Brighty and other Regional School Committee members to make sure all voices around the table are heard.

Jackie Wolf
Amherst

We've been warned

To the Bulletin: I had no interest in the July 4th Parade hullabaloo. I don't go to parades. Of course if my granddaughters came to town, I would naturally go to the parade with them. Parades are for children. If the children happen to be 45 and want to fight about which signs should be displayed, more power to them. I am a kids' liberation supporter.

But here comes this ne'er-do-well, Jack Tulloss from the neighboring Indigestiontown, threatening to march his Prostate Liberation Army in the parade, armed to the teeth. There will be no excuse for inaction. Town government will not be able to say they had no warning. It is practically a bin Laden-like video that he has presented of what he and his militia plan to do. We ignore this grand pooh-bah fellow at our peril. Imagine these interlopers marching along, waving their weapons and intimidating the children along the way, no doubt sometimes firing their guns in the air, and calling out Larry Kelley and Laurence Shaffer (the Larrys), demanding that they draw their weapons and fight like men.

Until this new threat to parade security, I was firmly convinced that the police and the Fire Department, in their official capacities, had no business in the parade and should attend only as private citizens. But now? Now with the militia toting their trigger fingers, we of course need the police. And also the Fire Department to wage counter attacks on the interlopers, using genuine saw palmetto-laced Amherst water. And we had best have some state police out, too, and don't forget the National Guard. Amherst is now "Threat City."

I am sure that many will treat this promised violence as mere humor, especially in light of the letter's caption, "Armed and humorous?" But don't lose sight of that question mark. I believe the purpose of the humorous frills was to lull us into a false sense of homeland security so that we would have been warned but would take no action.

Let me tell you, I have seen those movies, "Rambo," "Roadhouse" and "Ronin." These guys are not kidding around. We had best be prepared for the attack or we will rue the consequences.

And I suspect increased watchfulness at the Quabbin Dam is in order as well.

Richard Bogartz
Amherst

A real knee-slapper

To the Bulletin: Bruce Watson's "Lifestyles" column is always funny, in its satirical way, but his May 2 column was exceptionally witty and had me laughing out loud. May he keep on enriching each issue.

Ted Melnechuk
Amherst