It’s sad that so many people tend to ignore the fact that over
3,000 of our soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and several times
as many have been maimed. To most Americans, it doesn’t register
because it doesn’t affect them personally.
A Colossal Waste of Human Life and Money – $90 Million from Gilroy Alone
Dear Editor,
It’s sad that so many people tend to ignore the fact that over 3,000 of our soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and several times as many have been maimed. To most Americans, it doesn’t register because it doesn’t affect them personally.
So, here’s something that should interest everyone: You owe a lot of money for the war. And, President Bush wants us to give him more money to keep digging the hole ever deeper. Each of us in the U.S. already owes about $1,500 for this misadventure (that’s every man, woman, and child, by the way).
By next year it’s estimated that the cost of the Iraq quagmire will surpass the entire spending of the Vietnam war, and every person living and breathing in this country will be on the hook for about two grand.
Bringing it closer to home, it means that the combined war tab for Gilroyans will total more than $90 million. And that’s without any interest tacked on. Imagine what kind of a moat, wall, or militia Gilroy could get for $90 million, assuming security is an issue.
What if that money were spent on schools? How many firefighters, police officers or teachers could it pay for?
Because the cost of the war has just been put on the national debt “tab” instead of billed to the American public, nobody seems to be very concerned.
But sooner or later Americans will have to pay up. Maybe then someone will finally be held responsible for this incredible mismanagement and waste.
Tom Mulhern, Gilroy
Real Problem With Public Education is the Absence of Christianity in the Schools
Dear Editor,
I enjoyed Cynthia Walker’s column on anti-rote the root cause of American Educational malaise. She referred to a commission report calling for grand new reforms such as pre-schooling, adult education, state board exams for early college admission, improved teacher salaries, etc.
She and the commission missed the boat on the cause of educational malaise. Fundamentally the administrators of education cannot comprehend the truth of an old saying, “You cannot make a silk purse out of sow’s ear.” That holds true no mater how much money you throw at the student, nor how long you keep them in school. The real defect in our educational system is twofold.
First, there is the problem of incentive: how do you make a student really desire and need an education? They have to be inspired to work hard and to achieve. Shakespeare said it all: “For success I want a lean and hungry man.” Intellectual obesity is endemic in the United States.
The second and most important reform essential for preparation for a successful, productive life is the re-introduction of Christianity into the school classroom.
In public schools students are not taught the history and role of Christianity in Western Civilization.. We in the West (Europe and the U.S.) live a very affluent lifestyle. We have freedom of thought, mobility and are inundated with materialism. So if Christianity underlies western prosperity it would be wise to include the history of Christianity in the classroom. Students would learn that life has a purpose and educational malaise would be gone.
All would benefit. So, cross your fingers, don’t hold your breath, just be patient, wait and see. Miracles do happen.
J. G. McCormack, Gilroy
