Don’t let frustration lead to more violence

“We should blow them all up and let God sort it out.”

It is the battle cry of frustration and anger with Middle East policy that I hear in various forms from students and neighbors.

My neighbors share my frustration with this crazy war and its seemingly infinite cost of money and blood. But just the idea of unleashing our massive nuclear arsenal on the world is something that makes me sick even before the radioactive clouds blow back into our homeland.

Personally, I am lucky to have had a father who worked internationally and introduced me to good people from Italy, Japan, England and other countries. I am lucky to have a sister who was working in Cyprus during 9/11. Her Muslim friends fit no stereotypes, and they were appalled by the actions of Osama bin Laden.

I am also lucky that my work on an oil tanker gave me an understanding of the effort involved in the transport and refining of oil, as well as the dealings of multinational corporations.

I imagine that God wants us to do more than unleash horrid destruction on the planet. So many people refute science when it comes to evolution or stem-cell research, yet believe in rocket science and nuclear science — science which may not receive strong endorsements from Jesus and/or the Father.

We are now entrusted with electing a leader who will have the power to play God with our military and our arsenal. Most citizens are far from content with the path of the nation in the last seven years. While either candidate will face tremendous difficulties, Obama may well be the more competent in navigating through the diplomatic options to lessen today’s turmoil.

Living in a democratic society is frustrating and sometimes full of compromises that drive us crazy. But elections matter. Decisions made by our leaders change our lives and the world. Be thankful that we have some input in the process, and let us think out our responses to the current troubles. After all, it was a “blow ’em all up” attitude that got us into the Iraq mess in the first place.



Jon Averill

Sandstone

Rahall’s snake oil plan lacks long-term vision

Congressman Rahall is at it again. He never tires of announcing new schemes to give our hard-earned tax money to the coal industry in the form of corporate welfare.

This time Rahall insults us by trying to attach it to Appalachian Regional Commission legislation.

Congressman Rahall, Don Blankenship is rich enough.

We should be moving toward sustainable projects for our children rather than knuckle-dragging wasteful ideas for coal millionaires.

He talked of cutting greenhouse gas by carbon storage but the sad reality is that carbon storage is not a reality and it may never be feasible. Coal is a finite resource and will soon be gone. Studies have shown that we don’t have as much coal as the coal industry told us.

It is smarter to have solar-powered electric cars. We would never have to buy anything from companies again. The fuel would be free. That is what I call real energy freedom. With filthy liquid coal, we would be just handing our dollars to the coal company rather than the oil company. With solar we could tell them both where to put their fuel and we could have a booming economy with good jobs.

Isn’t there any politician in West Virginia who has a long-term vision for our children and us? The politicians we have now have no vision at all; they are only interested in selling us snake oil.

I will ask Congressman Rahall again, what are you going to do about the poison, pollution and blasting that mountaintop removal and sludge is doing to us in coal extraction communities? When will you help us rather than the coal executives?



Sylvia Bradford

Naoma