Letters to the Editor

Tillman exhibited what so many lack today

In today’s society of want and greed, one virtue that many have let fall by the wayside is selflessness. I know in today’s world, many probably don’t know what that term means, and for those that do, most wouldn’t know how to apply that term to their lives in a meaningful manner. I don’t mean to insult anyone in any way by writing this, I know for one that I am far from perfect, but as citizens of this great country of ours, we should take a look at how one man exemplified that term. His name was Pat Tillman.

To make a long story short, Tillman was a standout professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals. When his contract was up with the team, he declined a $9 million contract with the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams to stay with the team that drafted him, settling for a contract worth about a third of that amount. Why? Due to another oft forgotten virtue—Loyalty.

After the Sept 11 attacks, Tillman (along with his brother) left his football career behind and decided to enlist in the United States Army, choosing to become an Army Ranger. He did something many of us today would never dream of—he fulfilled his call to duty rather than filling his pockets.

On April 22, Tillman was killed in action in Afghanistan, serving the country he loved. If that isn’t selflessness and dedication, I don’t know what is. In my eyes (and in many, many others’), he is a hero. Who knows, maybe he didn’t do anything flashy on the battlefield, maybe he did, but the legacy he leaves behind will be one that will not be quickly forgotten—at least not by this young man.

My goal is for people just to hear this story, then maybe they will take selflessness off the backburner and return it to where it rightfully belongs—the place where greed and want rest in our lives today.

— Josh Bryant

Draft should come back

I’m writing in response to the column comparing Vietnam to Iraq (April 28). I think it is important to note that there is currently legislation in both the House and Senate to reinstate a mandatory draft for all adults between the ages of 18-26. If passed, the twin bills titled the Universal National Service Act of 2003 would allow drafting as early as spring 2005.

Unlike in the Vietnam era draft, this bill would not exclude women and those attending college. Why has nobody heard of this, and why is nobody talking about it?

This is serious, guys. Twenty-eight million dollars have already been added to the Selective Service System budget. It gets scarier, too, the President will be given the sole power to command forces wherever he likes.

So much for a system of checks and balances. If Bush is reelected, a man who shirked his own cushy Texas Air National Guard duties could deploy you! Write your federal representatives, tell them what think about this bill.

— Katie Johnson

Think before setting up Iraq gov't

I think some important truths are coming out about the road leading to this war being waged. It was important to me to know that Colin Powell, a lifelong soldier, the real deal, someone who knows the ramifications of war was not part of Bush’s war tunnel vision.

I think it’s important to know that we rushed into this war too fast. We had made our case about weapons of mass destruction to Saddam and the world. We had Saddam in checkmate as if he had ever used weapons of mass destruction after we had made our case, those nations who had balked at war would have been first and foremost in leading a war campaign against Saddam.

We should have stood with the United Nations on what to do about Saddam oppressing his people. Bush should have realized that we didn’t have to go to war.

To not commit to war would have been very brave. Of course I support our troops. But maybe we sent them in there too fast. The ideas about establishing effective government in Iraq should have been intelligently gone over and over before the war and not half-baked now. It just seems to me that we way rushed this effort.

— Art Sortini