Mohave Daily News: Opinion

I am a U.S. Army Honorably Discharged veteran. And a proud member of the American Legion (not post 87) and AVMI.

Harold Reed ended his letter to the editor March 3, 2008 “American Legion Post 87 - Historian.” Historian being an elected position, I assume he is the official spokesperson for Post 87.

I am addressing two issues by Harold. First, “AVMI is not a veterans group and none of the money raised go to the veterans.” Tell the families of the USS Arizona Memorial, the Arizona State Memorial (3,000 names), the 58,000 plus names on the Vietnam Wall Memorial that visits every four years, the Arizona Medal of Honor Memorial and the men and women on the bricks at both ends of the park that their fathers, sons and daughters are not veterans.

Two: “The city should take a look at AVMI books.” Harold, you opened a can of worms here. When I joined the American Legion they asked me for my DD-214 for eligibility and put a copy with my application. My friends at Post 87 tell me that Post 87 signs up and knowingly renews membership for people with no military service. They also accepted membership for an individual who received an dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Army - the State Department should check out membership books.

Post 87 is advertising and selling breakfast and dinners. The food is prepared at homes and then brought to the post and heated. Pots, pans, utensils are than washed in the restroom mop sink. While members and non-members are eating, their underage children are running around the smoke-filled room. The Health Department and the state Liquor Control Board should check out this operation.

Finally, “the money.” My friends at Post 87 who attend the monthly meetings say financial reports for the Post are non-existent. One member told me he asked for a monthly report - the financial officer then reached in his pocket and gave him some figures on a post-it slip.

As it turned out, the figures were four months old. Maybe it's time for the members of Post 87 to stand up and say “show us the money.”

Harold, in your next letter get your facts straight - don't distort the truth and remember, “those who live in glass houses. ...”

Debra McGuinnus

Bullhead City

Traffic ticket-tax logic disputed

Editor:

Dang! I was all set to rob one of our local banks so I could pay my taxes when I remembered those pesky surveillance cameras. You know, there are unconstitutional and take away my right to be gainfully employed. Isn't that why we fought W.W.II? While I am a little fuzzy on Marc Goldstone's logic (letter to the editor, MVDN March 21) that a traffic ticket is really a tax, I support his notion that photo radar placed to monitor traffic in our area is some left-wing plot. Even worse, it's Orwellian!

Even worse than that, you just know that old shifty-eyed Mayor Hakim is plotting to waste this ill-gotten gain (millions, no doubt) on creature comforts for BHC citizens. Shocking! If I want to come down Highway 95 flat out and maneuver around slowpokes, that's my God given right. If a cop doesn't see me that's his problem. If I kill someone who doesn't share my lust for greed, I guess that's their problem. Even blowing a .18, I don't need some camera to tell that my interpretation of “staying between the lines” is a bit creative!

After all, breaking traffic laws is not really breaking the law, it's sort of like fudging. It's akin to cheating on your tax returns. Marc understands the tax thing, it's just not the Cowboy Way to use photo radar to catch fudgers. It was new and good news to hear Marc say that locals were angry that burglars were running free because the police were wasting their time worrying about traffic infractions.

That should help my chances when I make my bank withdrawal. I'm not very bright, but it occurred to me if we install photo radar systems maybe the police would have more time to track down the real evil doers.

In any event, I'm going to have a talk with Linda over at the National Bank of Arizona and explain to her that the bank has some taxes that belong to me and if she will turn off the cameras for 30 minutes I'll extract my refund. I'll tell her Marc sent me.

David McDaniel

Bullhead City

Thankful for our military bases

Editor:

Who the hell is Mikel Weisser?

I found my answer at the bottom of his guest column. He is a teacher in Bullhead City. What he teaches I do not know. Yet, whatever the subject, unless it's political science, he better confine himself to that subject and not attempt to influence young minds to is left wing trash.

Yes, I watched and heard what Rev. Wright said. He said, God damn America. He said it more than once, and if Obama wants to associate his name with the statement that's Obama's problem. And it says more to me than what color Obama is.

Mr. Weisser better be thankful we have those military bases around the world, for without them he can be assured that death camps like the Nazis filled up in Germany would be springing up wherever Al Queda has control. but the method of determination would be unspeakably inhuman.

I could give a rat's ass what color a man's skin is, it's what his brain is thinking that's important, and Mr. Weisser's, it seems to me, is askew. He has every right to his skewed opinions.

But he better keep it out of the classroom unless, like I said before he is teaching political science in a college where the students are of an age to object to his left wing drive.

I suggest that if Weisser is interested in what a Black man has to say I refer him to Mr. Thomas Sowell. Mr. Sowell approaches all subjects with good old common sense. Something, it seems to me, that Mr. Weisser is lacking sorely in.

Bill Brown

Bullhead City

City may be losing sight and vision

Editor:

Sometimes the City of Bullhead City loses sight and vision of what we are and what we can be. We are a resort community that has grown and now has many seniors and families that live and work here.

‘The Matadors” built some attractive signs that welcome people to our fair city. Welcoming people to Bullhead City is a nice touch. It is almost like saying, “Hello, we are glad to have you and hope you enjoy your little trip to get away from it all.”

Photo radar will change that welcome dramatically to “Welcome to Bullhead City where “Big Brother” is still watching you and wants to give you a ticket. Have a nice day.”

Now, I believe all City Councils should work to nourish and enhance the lives of the children in their community. I also believe that organized sports such as Little League and swim team work towards that goal.

Charging Little League 45 American dollars “a game” is outrageous. I see three fields at “Community Park” on Highway 95. That means $135 or is it $270 a night?

Now, I was on the swimming and water polo teams. I trained with the Huntington Beach Life Guard Department and sat in a tower. Now some nutty insurance agent is trying to force the city to pay “a life guard” one hundred bucks a week to watch the swim team “due to insurance liability issues.” This has got to be the stupidest thing I ever heard.

That's as stupid as paying a life guard to watch football practice. Wait, somewhere there is an insurance agent thinking that makes sense. There you go, that's as stupid as paying a life guard to watch the swim team.

Jim Chaney

Bullhead City