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Grappling with war issues

Letter from Jack Herrick

War on Terrorism – August 2002 – Colorado Central Magazine

Dear Martha,

You certainly can cover a lot of ground, meaningfully, in just a few pages. Your almost “by the way” comment on our leaders (I say Congressmen) having great benefits packages is right on the money. No pun intended.

Years ago some people would complain bout the military having all these great medical, etc. benefits. Congress beats the military all to heck with medical and retirement plans — and Congressmen/women don’t have to spend 20 years or get shot at to gain the benefits. Unfortunately it does appear that our representatives are lightweights and that there is very little we can do about it.

Your observations about warmonger vs pacifist stuff is an honest inner question. What is war? I don’t think we are in a WAR. It sometimes feels as though the administration is doing all this flag-waving to gain more power and get people to overlook or not notice greater government intrusion into our civil rights.

I am not an anti-government activist nor a militia man, but I sure am becoming antsy about some of the increased powers assumed by our government where “our” seems to be becoming “their” government — whoever “their” might be. The Israeli/Palestinian thing is a wholly different and involved story. Well, maybe not “wholly different” because some terrorists justify their actions on our support of the Israelis. Anyhow, another subject.

Best to you and keep trying. There are folks out there/here who read your obviously thought out articles and appreciate your efforts. This last one sounded almost as if you were in anguish!?

Jack Herrick

Aurora