Love Letters, hate mail

Here's to ya, Ted

(Re: "Next Memorial Day, Remember America's Victims Too," June 7-13, vol. 21, no. 50)

Dear UTW:

Ah, the poisonous rants of the uber-Left. According to them wars are fought only by profiteers who pull the marionette strings of the military, and by idiots who weren't smart enough to get out of it by finding a draft deferment to hide behind or another country to hide out in. Feel bad not when soldiers die but when foreign non-combatants die, 99.99% of whom were put in harm's way -- often times intentionally so for better press results -- by the dictators who imprison them. Wait until the enemy climbs the mountain, crosses the river, jumps the fence, and kicks your door in before getting off your ass to do something about it.

So ... Happy Memorial Day to you too, Ted. Hope you're enjoying the freedom that billions in the world don't have, meaning, the freedom to write your drivel of a column with impunity. If it were up to people like you, America would be part of the Russian (or Chinese) Federation, and what's left of the rest of the world would have burned to ashes long ago.

--Todd Kreigh

I Want YOU

Dear UTW:

Soldier boys are war lovers. We, girls, wear their widow's weeds. Soldier boys have a flag marking their graves on Memorial Day. We, girls, visit their graves.

Soldier boys come home wounded. We, girls, nurse their wounds.

Soldier boys are our heroes. I have visited the wall bearing the name of my daughter's father who was shot down and killed in Viet Nam.

We, girls, perpetuate war by exalting soldier boys' sacrifices.

We are full partners to the foolishness of war.

Wives and mothers who mourn their losses are helping march more husbands and sons into the cemetery.

It won't stop until we bring back the military draft and draft women, as well as men, like they do in Israel.

All able-bodied men and women, 18-26, would be drafted for two years of active duty in the military or alternative service in the Peace Corps, Americorps or "Teach for America."

A draft will----

Prevent and stop wars. Draft-card burning by college students stopped the Vietnam War.

Assure that members of Congress have sons and daughters in any conflict and that will keep it short.

Reduce unemployment by making government the employer of last resort.

Put a damper on the "war machine" that adds $3.3 billion a year to the Oklahoma economy.

Build up the Peace Corp that sends Americans to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to work on technological, agricultural and educational projects. My son, Chris Jenner, an O.S.U. grad and a wildlife biologist served with the Peace Corps in Madagascar.

Love always,

--Virginia "Blue Jeans" Jenner

Those crazy hashers

(See "Love Letters, hate mail" last week re: "Hash It Out," May 31-June6, vol. 21, no. 49)

Dear UTW (In response to Jimmy James):

If it's been going on in Tulsa for 20 years and this is the first you've heard of it, where's the problem? I guess that statement about "actively hostile" was right.

By the way, it's legal to drink beer in public here. I'm pretty sure running in public is, too. Turning a dog loose on Tulsa streets is not legal.

--Pi Meson

Dear UTW: (In response to Pi Meson):

Actively hostile? I'm just using my constitutionally given right to voice my belief that Tulsa is a Christian city and groups like this do much degrade its citizenry. Running in public on sidewalks while observing ALL traffic laws (stop signs, yield signs, using crosswalks, avoiding construction zones) is legal. However, being intoxicated in public is not. I never allow my dachshunds to run wild like you bunch and if my property is being threatened you bet I would allow my precious seven do their duty. Laying 'trails' with white powdery substances is just asking for trouble. How does Homeland Security know what is flour and what is anthrax? Ever heard of 9/11 and the Iraq war?

--Jimmy James