Did you see the cartoon by Mike Luckovich (Atlanta Journal Constitution) that shows two people in the Washington DC area? One says, "Someone should start a petition filled with thousands of American names in opposition to Afghanistan escalation."
The other person points to the Vietnam Memorial Wall and says "Something like that?"
Robert D. McEachern
Granite Village
Hampstead
To the Editor:
To Hampstead, Kingston, and Plaistow Voters:
I am writing to introduce myself to the voters of District 8, Plaistow, Hampstead, and Kingston, and to ask for your vote on January 12, 2010. I am running in a special election for the New Hampshire House of Representatives to fill the seat vacated by Representative Van Patten from our district.
I have lived in Kingston for 27 years, along with wife Cheryl, son James, 25, and daughters Katelyn, 22, and Sarah, 18. I have been a New Hampshire small business owner for 27 years. I own and operate a machine shop located in Seabrook, that employs nine full-time employees. I have been extremely active in our community for the past 25 years.
I have served the Town of Kingston in many different capacities. I currently serve as the Emergency Management Director (10 plus years), the Kingston Planning Board (2 years, one year as Chairman). I have served the Town of Kingston as member of the Fire Department (20 years, elected Fire Ward, 5 years, and Fire Chief 13 years), Kingston Budget Committee (3 years), and several other town committees from Envision Kingston to hi-way safety and employee safety committees. In the past, I have worked with the School District on issues for the voter approval of the new high school and kindergarten, on inspection and fire code regulations, on a committee to hire a new superintendent, and many other areas. I have served in several capacities as a member of the New Hampshire Fire Chief’s Association including Legislative Chairman, Vice-President and President. I have worked successfully with state and local legislators, police and fire departments to include or support bills introduced that pertain to expense reimbursement, life safety, protection of police and fire personnel, and the protection of the citizens of New Hampshire.
I am running to bring a strong voice to the House of Representatives for District 8. I am a Democrat with strong, fiscal conservative values and broadminded social beliefs. As your state representative, I believe I will bring a stronger voice from our local leaders. I will work cohesively with our local management teams such as Selectmen, School Boards, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs and all other local boards before voting for or against laws that affect us all. I have demonstrated the ability to work with members of both the Democratic and Republican Party in resolving critical issues over the past many years.
Please vote for Norman Hurley on January 12, 2010.
Norman Hurley
Candidate for State Rep.
Kingston
To the Editor:
Recently, Sen. Kennedy had a discussion with the Catholic Church about his stand on abortion. Everyone, regardless of his/her faith, has their own opinion about the subject.
Here is mine: if the ladies want to be promiscuous they should protect themselves against pregnancy. Abortion, as a convenience and taken lightly is tantamount to murder if the fetus has started to develop. I believe abortion is right in cases of: (1) Rape, (2) Incest (3) when a fetus is definitely going to be born without limbs or is definitely not going to lead a normal life.
Other than that ladies, use protection or do what your mother told when you were a young girl.
Thomas Joseph Nicoli Sr.
Atkinson
To the Editor:
I want to speak up for the President’s stated timetable on withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is time that we responsibly end our intervention in the lives of the people of Central Asia.
At no point have I ever believed that the United States had a legitimate reason to invade Afghanistan or Iraq. I belong to the group of Americans who believe that the events of 9/11 were a criminal action, requiring the best of our investigative skills and diplomacy to bring the perpetrators to justice. Instead, we chose to employ an army and to wreak havoc wherever we went without a real plan or mission. We have only created more adversaries with this approach.
Eight years later, we are still looking for an answer to the question: What does “win” really mean in Afghanistan? If we are truly uninterested in nation-building, then we have no purpose maintaining troops in this country. We (and others before us) have destroyed the Afghan society. It is time for them to take the steps to rebuild. They will not do this as long as there is a foreign army (coalition) within their borders, especially one that protects corrupt officials and participates in the corruption.
I believe that the President’s timetable is intended for the people of the region, not for our elusive adversaries. If the Afghanis and Pakistanis take the timetable seriously, and I recommend that they do, they will use this time to reinstate governing institutions and policies so that they can stand on their own in 18 months. I am not a fan of sending more (any) troops to the region, but I understand that we are using this “surge” to help them make the 18 months count. We can help as much as possible, as quickly as possible, but the ball has now moved to their court and we will leave as planned.
As of this week, I actually perceive that the US has a plan. I pray that Mr. Obama can stand strong against mission creep.
