This is a letter in response to the front-page article ("I felt so
awful being there," Aug. 9) about Marine Sgt. Baleny Minas.
I am fortunate to have never been to war, although my father
served in Thailand during the Vietnam War, my grandfather was in the
Air Force during World War II, my father-in-law served in the Navy
during World War II, and many other close family members served in
every branch of our military, including the Marines. I know the
stories and I know it is not pretty!
I came from a family of Democrats, but my father became a
Republican some time in his adult life. When I was a senior at
Crescenta Valley High School, in my government class, I realized it
was time to figure out what I was, a Democrat or Republican or
something else. I looked at all of the general beliefs and the
history of the two main parties and I realized I was a Republican. I
didn't CHOOSE to be a Republican. I just agreed with them more often
than not.
I have ALWAYS voted my conscience, regardless of party lines.
Here's some facts that may help clear the emotions. We hear
constantly, and even in the article that prompted this letter, that
our president should never have started this war. We hear complaints
that he has not managed it well and he has even been called the worst
president in U.S. history.
However, as I recall, on Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush did not
START this war. This war was begun by a group of terrorists who
attacked our country. I wasn't alive during Pearl Harbor, but others
who were compare the two on almost equal ground. Franklin D.
Roosevelt, a Democrat, led us into World War II after Japan, NOT
Germany, attacked us. According to what I've read, from 1941 to 1945,
450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year. Harry S.
Truman, a Democrat, finished that war and began one in Korea. North
Korea didn't attack us. I believe from 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were
lost, an average of 18,333 per year.
Our respected President John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, began the
Vietnam War in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. How many did we lose?
Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, continued Vietnam and from 1965-1975,
58,000 lives were lost, about 5,800 per year.
Our infamous President Bill Clinton, a Democrat again, went to war
in Bosnia, without UN or French consent -- remember? Bosnia did not
attack us. Clinton had an opportunity on three occasions to have
Osama bin Laden, and didn't take it. Osama DID attack, several times!
On 9/11, 2,900 lives were lost.
