Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

June 14, 2012

Letters to the Editor: 06/14/2012

-- — Stop for sirens



Fellow Traverse City-ites, I was so disappointed with those at the corner of 14th Street and U.S. 31 on the afternoon of June 4. A police car with full sirens came up to the intersection followed by fire and ambulance. Yet no one moved out of the way and the cross traffic didn’t even slow.

These men and women risk their lives to protect us. One of them is my daughter. Please stop for sirens. It saves lives, and it’s the law.

Sue E. Sensenbaugh-Padgett

Fife Lake



Work for peace, justice



Members of Veterans for Peace pledge to work to abolish war as an instrument of national policy. Recent events have made me prouder than ever to be a member. Last October a woman named Leah Bolger interrupted a public Congressional hearing to deliver a message from the 99 percent: End the war and tax the rich to fix the deficit. She was arrested, sentenced to 10 days in jail, suspended, nine months probation. Leah Bolger is a retired Naval Commander and National President of Veterans for Peace.

On May 3 a man named George Packard was arrested as he and other veterans in the Occupy Movement attempted to hold Veterans Memorial Plaza in New York City against police attempts to clear it. He faces a possible three months in jail. George Packard, a retired Episcopal bishop, a Vietnam battle veteran and a member of Veterans for Peace, asserts that “people in the church should leave their comfort zone” and protest against war and injustice. He deplores the “inaction and timidity” of church leaders and clergy.

We all should be playing some part in reclaiming our country, working for peace and justice, ending this inexcusable war, the tragic wounding and killing.

John E. Lewis

Traverse City

The writer is a member of Veterans for Peace Chapter 50 and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

 

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