Letters to the editor for Sept. 10

Our country is run like a reality show with Donald Trump as the star

What makes American great? When did we stop being great?

This country experienced protests and riots to ensure the rights for African-Americans and women. Some of these resolved issues seem to be re-emerging.

Under President Barack Obama, the LGBT community gained their right to marry and transition to be comfortable in their own skin.

Our country was great when we were humanitarians providing help where needed across the globe. There were wars, but nuclear weapons were never considered.

President Donald Trump has different ideas on how to make America great. He wants to blame anyone and everything for the problems we face instead of finding solutions that benefit all Americans. Will spending billions on “The Wall” make America great? Will depleting thousands of soldiers fighting for our own country make America great?

Are we suffering false memories of how life was before all of our accomplishments? It certainly was not better when many could not vote or work because of their race or gender.

President Trump does not represent me. Donald Trump only cares about The Donald. As he enriches himself through his businesses he ignores citizens struggling to live the American dream.

Our country is run like a reality show with Donald Trump as the star.

We shall overcome all our difficulties with pride. We will continue to keep America great.

Those who gave their lives in the Civil War were all Americans

When is this destruction of American history going to stop? The destruction and removal of monuments depicting part of our past is nothing more than an attempt to sweep dirt under the carpet and imagine that it isn’t there. There were many American mistakes made during the history of the United States. More recently, Vietnam, after thousands of American young men (boys) were killed in a war that accomplished nothing more than money for corporations profiting from it. Should we start removing Vietnam memorials? What took place during the Civil War was that thousands of “American” young men (boys) were called upon (taken) to fight for a cause that, more than likely, many of them knew little about or agreed with. Several American presidents were slave owners, and we have monuments erected in their memory (honor?). One of the latest news articles related to the removal of material from Civil War veterans grave sites, one in particular of an unknown Civil War veteran who was possibly a young boy who was “selected” to participate in the war, similar to some of our nations young boys who were “selected” to participate in the Vietnam War. The word “traitor” was recently used when referring to Confederate soldiers. If that is the case, then are not all of us, as Americans, traitors to England? It all happened; it is part of history. Those who gave their lives, whether a winner or a loser, were every one an American!

You’re talking the talk, now walk the walk

We have survived all these years as a nation because we have always stuck together as one people! We the people of the United States do not wish to be divided! We are one race – the human race! The people of this country have to stay together! We can’t let anybody divide us! If we as Americans unite as one, then no one can harm us!

We must let it be known to the world that we are one! We are all Americans first. Regardless where you come from, you are Americans first. Think about it, when our troops go into combat, our enemies don’t check to see if you are white or black or Asian or Native American or Muslim, if you are wearing the American uniform. Mr. President, put the American people first! Don’t just say it, do it! You’re talking the talk, now walk the walk!

People should watch all news with an open mind, ask questions

I’ve noted some of the contributors here and their sets of facts. One stated the Democrats controlled Congress for most of Barack Obama’s term. The Democrat Party took control of Congress in 2007. In 2009, Obama became president. Then Sen. Ted Kennedy died, and his seat became Republican in a special election, ending the Democrats’ filibuster-proof Senate majority. In 2011, the GOP regained control of the House on a jobs creation platform and worked instead to prevent Obama’s reelection. From 2009 to 2017 right-leaning media waged a non-stop war against the president and supported the farcical birther movement culminating in their apologizing for the president’s support of the extreme right-wing groups. There’s the claim that the media is using fabricated news about Russia and the Trump administration as a means of getting even. However, more and more clearly verifiable information continues to be uncovered that supports the collusion story. Finally, there is the belief that president is being smeared while he actually is caught in more outright provable falsehoods on so many matters on a daily basis. It becomes so clear that many of the comments have little or no relation to reality. People should watch all news sources with an open mind and ask questions as well. They should read up on events from all sources, not just the ones they like. Then they still have only an opinion, albeit an educated one, but still an opinion. Nevertheless, I do respect your opinions. But don’t pass them off as facts.

As always veterans are the odd men, women out

The recent BND article on avoiding construction on the Poplar Street Bridge suggested the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge as an alternative. The area’s newest bridge was referred to as the Musial bridge 17 times in the article, only once by its formal name.

As always veterans are the odd men (and women) out. The Martin Luther King Bridge was originally the Veterans Memorial Bridge when it opened in 1951.

The reactionary politicians that named the bridge tried to spread “memorial” like peanut butter but got it way too thin. It was obvious in 2013 when it was named that Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge was a mouthful that would never last. The name won out over proposals for Ronald Reagan, Jerry F. Costello, William Lacy “Bill” Clay Sr., and Women Veterans.

People like monikers that are bite-sized. If lawmakers on both sides of the river had gone with the Veterans Memorial Bridge like over 13,000 who petitioned for it could have been simply the “Vet.”

How about “the SMV” (Stan Musial-Veterans) or “the MV” (Musial Vet)? Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but old dogs can be taught new tricks.

Musial was a veteran but not every veteran is a Musial. Almost 19 million U.S. military veterans are slighted every time the bridge is referred to as the “Stan Span” or the Musial bridge. In this instance it is the thought that counts.

An orange traitor in the Oval Office

I believe I will have to change my hat soon. Let me explain. Have you seen the guy who walks around Belleville wearing a “(expletive) Trump” hat? That’s yours truly. The stupid people of the United States of Stupid have put a mental case into the Oval Office.

The orange traitor will likely resign or be indicted before 2020. Unfortunately, a Bible-thumping wacko will take the birther idiot’s place. I will look just fine in my “(expletive) Pence” hat.

Vote Democrat in 2018-2020.

This story was originally published September 9, 2017 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor for Sept. 10."