Look past party affiliation in 2008

In 1952, I voted in my first presidential election. “I Liked IKE.” I voted Republican in subsequent elections until “Tricky Dick” Nixon lied to us. I have been skeptical of Republican politicians ever since.

In his 1961 farewell address, Ike warned us about the dangers of the industrial/military complex and its growing influence on public policy. We have failed miserably to heed his warnings. I consider this upcoming November election to be the most important election of my lifetime.

I know a number of Republicans, and I find them to be fine people, upstanding citizens with many making valuable contributions to the community. I don’t understand, however, how they can support their current and proposed leadership.

I hate war. We are in an immoral and, perhaps, illegal war that has taken thousands of American lives and tens of thousands of lives of innocent Iraqi men, women and children. For what? I don’t buy that line about fighting them over there so that we don’t have to fight them here. They wouldn’t last a week trying to fight us here. They simply outsmarted us, getting us to go over there — to fight in their territory and on their terms.

Republican leadership advocates torture of our fellow human beings. They have also taken steps to weaken the Constitution that they swore to protect. They also have contributed to global warming, damaged our environment, invade our privacy, etc.

I was once a proud member of the GOP (Grand Old Party) when it stood for the rights of the individual; small government; separation of church and state; and, most importantly, to protect, defend and support the Constitution. It’s time to look past party affiliation and to think about our children and our grandchildren and what kind of world we’re going to leave them.

Jim Grenfell
Sedro-Woolley


War is about fathers killing sons

War, from its origins, is the murders of the sons by the fathers — as in, so few fathers murdering so many sons. (“Son, go over to that village and murder that man’s son. Otherwise, don’t come back alive.”)

Leland Mellott
Mount Vernon