I have separated from my man,and started a new life.I watched "Shawshank Redemption" today,and felt renewed.What are some other films that made you feel uplifted?

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Letter: ‘On politics and war’
Published: Thursday, September 11, 2008 5:13 PM CDT
To the Editor,

As the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on, the disproportionate burden our troops bear becomes more evident. Today, I would like to focus on Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). High-intensity combat is the norm for these frontline units. These units are also the most likely to serve multiple deployments.

Texas units have paid an extraordinarily high price in the war. While most BCT units lose 21 soldiers per deployment, Texas units have lost double that. Several Texas BCTs experienced dramatically higher fatality rates: the 3rd BCT/1st Cavalry Division lost 56 soldiers during its most recent tour, 167 percent above the average, and the 1st BCT/4th Infantry Division lost 57 soldiers from December 2005 to December 2006, 171 percent above the average. Altogether, Fort Hood has lost more soldiers than any other American military installation: 436 in the past five years.

These mortality rates, combined with multiple deployments and dwell times of less than a year between deployments, are causing a terrible strain to our troops and their families. Interestingly enough, there have been several pieces of legislation introduced to address this unbearable burden so few bear.

Senate Amendment 2909, introduced by Senator Jim Webb, specified minimum periods between deployment of units and members of the armed forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It prohibited the deployment of members of the regular armed forces unless the time period between deployments is at least as long as the period of the previous deployment and prohibited the deployment of members of the reserve armed forces and National Guard if the member has been deployed within the preceding three years.

You would think that our legislators would favor something as critical as the welfare of our troops and their families, wouldn’t you? The amendment lost due to the votes of 44 Republicans. The following Senators voted nay: Cornyn, Hutchison and McCain. This is how these legislators support our troops-waving a flag while placing party loyalty ahead of the welfare of our troops.

Election day is soon. Research the voting records of your candidates before pulling the lever.

 

hunting and nearly killing a man

I was divorced 4 years ago,after years in a loveless marriage.My kids are open-minded,and definitely Democrats.Happy Mother'sDay,y'al.I have to work tomorrow.Love you all!

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To the Editor,

As recent developments about increased suicides and PTSD among our Iraq War veterans have escalated, I thought it important to review how our presidential candidates “support the troops.” Recently, Senator Jim Webb introduced a bill for G.I. educational benefits called “The New G.I. bill.” Senators Clinton and Obama both voted “for” this bill. Senator McCain voted “against.” His rationale? “Officials in charge of Pentagon personnel worry that a more generous and expansive G.I. Bill would create an incentive for troops to get out of the military and go to college.” Heaven forbid.

At this point, John McCain has fully embraced the “less jobs and more war” philosophy. He has been famous for touting this on several talk shows, noting how the American jobs shipped overseas aren’t coming back, but there will always be war. Essentially, he’s offering troops the opportunity to sacrifice more for fewer incentives. With the Bush administration’s help, McCain is telling America’s troops, “Thanks for your service and your three combat tours in five years. Now get back to work.”

This is the Republican stance on “supporting the troops” — support them as long as “our” kids don’t have to serve.

Support them until it requires more funding or effort. Support them until it involves their children or families. A “bait and switch” — support the troops on the sign outside — nothing inside the store that remotely resembles this. Remember who has been in charge of military funding for the last 12 years — do you trust them to truly “support our troops?”

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To the Editor,

As our nation enters the fifth year of the quagmire known as the War in Iraq, more disturbing news has been revealed regarding our veterans. The RAND Corporation performed a large-scale study of Iraq war veterans. Some disturbing revelations of this study:

• 320,000 troops have suffered traumatic brain injury due to IED explosions and other attacks.

• 300,000 troops are suffering from PTSD.

• only 43 percent have been evaluated by a physician for brain injury.

• only 53 percent of soldiers with PTSD have sought help due to peer pressure and lack of available resources.

As this study was revealed, the Veterans Administration has closed its psychiatric unit in Dallas after the fourth suicide was reported at this facility. The VA in Dallas has the distinction of being the worst VA in the nation when it comes to psychiatric care. The psychiatric cases are being “farmed out” to Parkland and other facilities. What a stellar way to support our troops.

War should never be waged lightly. When a nation goes to war, it must support the troops when they come home. Until all Americans are affected by this war, there will continue to be troubling statistics like these. Support our troops — insist they receive the proper medical care when they come home.

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To the Editor,

By the time this letter is printed, the number will be 4,000. On the fifth anniversary of the War in Iraq, 4,000 Americans have lost their lives in battle. Nearly 30,000 troops have been wounded so severely they couldn’t return to service. Over 1 million troops have been deployed to Iraq since March 20, 2003. It is estimated nearly 30 percent will come home with mental effects of battle severe enough to require treatment. You say you haven’t heard those figures? Not a surprise — our country has moved on.

The war has cost our country $600 billion thus far. But don’t despair, America. KBR Corp. profits are up 65 percent in one year ($15 billion). Dyncorp had record profits ($785 billion). Lockheed Martin profits rose by $20 billion in one quarter. The list goes on — corporations who are making money off the blood of our soldiers and the Iraqis. On March 19, Vice President Dick Cheney was asked in an interview what he thought of the fact that 67 percent of Americans felt the war was not worth the bloodshed. His reply? ... “So?”

Do you think the war is worth it? So far, this war has cost Waxahachie taxpayers $55 million. This money could have provided 12,570 people with health insurance. It could have provided 7,214 scholarships for college students. It could have opened new Head Start programs for our children and hired more teachers. It could have hired more public safety officers, or gone to secure our own borders.

When will enough be enough? Will it be lives or dollars that finally determines the “success” of this war?

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The Bankruptcy Bill of 2005 was lobbied for and ghost-written by the consumer credit companies. It made it harder for people to declare bankruptcy when their debts overwhelmed them, made it harder for struggling people to keep basic assets like a roof over their heads when working out bankruptcy arrangements and increased the return for credit card companies that were already making huge profits. John McCain voted for the bill. Barack Obama voted against it. Hillary Clinton did not vote.

Before the bill was finalized, several amendments were introduced:

Amendment 15 — required enhanced disclosure to consumers regarding the consequences of making only minimum required payments in the repayment of credit card debt, and for other purposes. McCain voted “Nay,” Clinton and Obama voted “Yea.” This amendment would have helped consumers understand the perpetual debt the credit card companies were selling.

Amendment 16 — served to protect servicemembers and veterans from means testing in bankruptcy, to disallow certain claims by lenders charging usurious interest rates to servicemembers, and to allow servicemembers to exempt property based on the law of the state of their premilitary residence. You guessed it — McCain — “Nay,” Obama and Clinton — “Yea.” Talk about supporting our troops.

Amendment 17 — provided a homestead for the elderly. Again, McCain voted “Nay,” Clinton and Obama voted “Yea.” This would have prevented older Americans from losing their homes.

The votes speak for themselves. We haven’t been seriously affected by this in Ellis County yet, but we need to strongly consider a president who will work towards re-invigorating the economy, not debtor’s prisons.

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To the Editor,

As the nation focuses on its’ crumbling economy ,the war in Iraq and Afghanistan goes on, virtually forgotten. The death count is up to 3,960 troops in Iraq, 766 troop deaths in Afghanistan; 39,298 troops wounded in Iraq were unable to return to service, as were 7,552 troops in Afghanistan. As the Republican candidates stump for more war, let’s review how our grateful nation has thanked those who gave all for our freedom:

• Members of the 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Drum, New York, have served a total of 40 months in Iraq thanks to multiple deployments and “stop-loss.” With each deployment, the soldiers become five times more likely to be killed, and four times more likely to be wounded. The exposure to high-intensity combat, combined with extended tours and little time between deployments has left these soldiers at risk for PTSD. Despite this, mental health resources and post-deployment resources have been horribly lacking. Combine this with a recent memo leaked in which the Army instructed the Department of Veterans Affairs last March to stop helping soldiers there with their disability claims. At first, the Army surgeon general, Eric B. Schoomaker, denied that the Army had told Veterans Affairs to do so. But after National Public Radio reported on a memorandum from the March meeting in Buffalo in which a colonel was quoted as directing Veterans Affairs to discontinue counseling, the surgeon general apologized for his denial and said it was based on a “miscommunication.”

• Although the Veterans for America began reporting on the high suicide rate of Iraq war veterans in 2004, little attention is paid to this fact even today. Recent Army figures indicate that 2,100 soldiers attempted suicide in 2007. This number doesn’t begin to incorporate the number of soldiers who are committing slow suicide via substance abuse and risk-taking behaviors that define PTSD.

• Reservists in the Army and Marine Corps have paid a particularly heavy price. Their multiple deployments have left heavy financial burdens on their families, increasing the risk for PTSD, suicide and divorce. When a reservist is deployed for 180 days or more, the family is entitled to all military benefits, such as housing allotment, military ID card and health care. However, should the reservist serve 179 days, they are not entitled to these benefits. If a soldier is activated 22 months, specifically 730 days, the soldier is entitled to the full GI bill. There have been several instances where orders have been written for 729 days, thus eliminating these benefits. The Minnesota National Guard is currently in litigation over this very thing, as 71,000 reservists and guard members are deployed in a war zone.

How many Daily Light readers have sacrificed for this war? What have you or your family done without? How many of your family members are serving in a war zone? How many of you have sons or daughters who COULD be serving? Do you support this war? Choose what you will sacrifice, which of your children or grandchildren you will send. Your leaders have chosen to treat its defenders like toy soldiers, easily cast away when their use becomes “boring.” Support our troops – elect a leader who will end this insanity and treat our troops with the respect their valor deserves.

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To the Editor,

It has happened again. Another Bush crony has been appointed to a high government post in spite of his corrupt past. Paul Wolfowitz has been appointed as the Chairman of the Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board.

A few facts about Paul Wolfowitz:

• As a member of the Project for A New American Century and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Wolfowitz was a major architect of the War in Iraq. He was the strongest proclaimer of the “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq. He was also one of the Bush Administration’s recipients of the CIA study that stated there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq ... in 2002. The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee, in 2004, concluded there was no evidence of WMDs in Iraq, a fact that was known prior to the invasion of Iraq.

• Wolfowitz was appointed the President of the World Bank in 2005. He then proceeded to appoint several of his cronies to $250,000 tax-free positions. His girlfriend was given a State Department position with a salary and benefit package that left her better paid than Condoleeza Rice. Wolfowitz resigned in shame in 2007 after ethics investigations. Our national reputation was tarnished after his departure.

Wolfowitz’s new job will involve studying all aspects of arms control, disarmament, nonproliferation, political-military issues and international security and related aspects of public diplomacy. This from a man who couldn’t/wouldn’t admit to the non-existence of WMDs in Iraq. This from a man who, along with his friends Feith, Cheney and Rumsfeld, profited from the war.

Do you want this same level of cronyism to continue? We have to try to break these corrupt ties. Vote in March.

Believe it or not,we remain at war.You might have forgotten.It's not mentioned anymore.3911 troops have been killed in Iraq,754 killed in Afghanistan.28,661 have been wounded in Iraq,7154 in Afghanistan.

Our nation has shown a pathetic disregard for its care of our veterans of war.Here are a few tidbits for you to consider:
-Since the end of the Viet Nam War,100,000 Viet Nam veterans have committed suicide.
-According to numbers recently released by the VA,approx. 245,000 OIF/OEF troops will suffer from PTSD.
-Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom,Twenty-two thousand soldiers have been discharged with a Section 8(dishonorable)discharge,describing "Personality Disorders" as the reason for discharge.This is a loosely veiled way to avoid paying disability to these veterans with PTSD.
-There were 378,000 disability claims pending in the VA in FY 2006,84 thousand of which had been waiting greater than six months.
-1.8 million veterans lack health insurance(86% of which are employed)
-Nearly 400,000 veterans are homeless.
-Of the 700,000 veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War,150-200 thousand are sick.Depleted uranium,Sarin gas,and controversial vaccines have left these brave troops with severe neurological disorders,immune system disorders,and cancer.Our government has largely refuted any existance of "Gulf War Syndrome".

I could go on and on.My son and father,uncles and cousins use the VA system for healthcare.They have all served at least once in battle(my son-three times).

According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,Our Texas Representatives perform poorly when it comes to "Supporting Our Troops".Senator Hutchison is rated a "D" based on her voting record,Senator Cornyn is rated a "D-",and Congressman Barton is Rated a "C".These are the same individuals who want the common man to keep sending their sons and daughters to a war judged by profit,with no end in sight.

We have elections coming up soon in Ellis County.I strongly encourage everyone in Ellis County to do some research on voting records for all our candidates.A photo-op with an amputee does not indicate support.Our veterans deserve sincere support from the government and people they so bravely defended.

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‘On Bhutto assassination’

To the Editor,

The recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan may seem far-removed from Ellis County. Its implications are global and highlight our diplomatic failures in the Middle East.

The money for the Sept. 11 attacks was wired to Florida from banks in Pakistan and al-Qaida used the country for transit to Afghanistan. As we have turned our focus away from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, away from capturing Osama Bin Laden, away from the Taliban and al-Qaida and placed our focus on oil-rich countries with no nuclear arms, we have created a cesspool of sectarian violence that has eroded the Middle East’s security as well as that of our own.

Condoleeza Rice’s attempt to negotiate a compromise with General Musharrif of Pakistan by funnelling billions into his government,while brokering a return of Benazir Bhutto for the general election, has failed miserably. What is left is a nuclear power with martial law and a discontented populus. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has been placed under house arrest, so as not to interfere with the upcoming elections. Sixty-seven percent of Pakistanis believe Musharrif should resign and 70 percent believed his government did not deserve re-election.

Our diplomatic actions at this time are critical. President Bush needs to encourage the active participation of the PPP (Bhutto’s Party) as well as other opposing parties in the upcoming elections. Being seen as a supporter of Musharrif at this critical time will not bode well for the United States or our interests in Afghanistan.

Leave politics behind. Where are our true interests in the Middle East? In Afghanistan, a fortress for al-Qaida and a direct route into a nuclear power ... or Iraq, a devastated theocracy of our creation with no nuclear weapons (despite the lies fed to us at the inception of war). This, Americans, is what happens when you create a war based on lies.

In December 2005,I wrote a holiday letter endorsing the end of the insanity in Iraq and the support of our wounded veterans at home,and hoped it would be my last on the subject.In December 2006,I wrote a letter endorsing the end of the insanity in Iraq and the support of our wounded veterans at home,and hoped it would be my last on the subject.Here we are at Christmastime in 2007,and the insanity in Iraq continues,and our wounded veterans flounder in our own country.Most people in America have shrugged their shoulders and allowed themselves to be ruled like so many sheep.

The Iraq War has cost Americans $477,227,171,324.00.In Ellis County alone,we have paid $276 million dollars in extra taxes to support the Iraq War.Here is what we COULD have done with the money:
-hired 6,618 public safety officers
-provided 60,000 people with health care
-provided 39,500 scholarships for college students
-hired 4,900 music and arts teachers
-fit 210,000 homes with renewable energy sources

And our veterans-
Since the beginning of the Iraq War,approximately 38,000 servicemembers have been transported to medical facilities for treatment of their injuries.Yet,many,many more have invisible injuries due to traumatic brain injury and PTSD.I am a member of Veterans for America.We have held hearings that indicate that our "Thankful Nation" has refused payment to 22,500 servicemembers who gave all in multiple deployments to Iraq,only to have their PTSD diagnosed as "pre-existing personality disorders"
Our "Thankful Nation" has no problem deploying National Guard and Reservists on multiple tours to a war zone,but make no provisions for their sacrifice as their families become bankrupt at home.
Our "Thankful Nation" has allowed 400,000 veterans to become homeless,through OUR neglect to provide care for them when they came home.
Our "Thankful Nation" has ignored the deaths of 3,892 servicemembers,chosing to focus on Hannah Montana tickets and Brittney's flings.

Presidential,Congressional and Senate primaries will arrive before we know it.Are you going to vote for the same breed of people who have created this disgrace?We,as Americans,need to examine our consciences this holiday season,and let our well-informed consciences dictate our votes.
Happy Holidays.