Letters to the Editor (2-18)

It's fair criticism, not hateful

Michael Barone, in his Feb. 15 column, invokes a conservative mantra that I am getting tired of hearing, which is that those of us who take exception to the policies of the administration are "Bush haters." Do I need to remind readers of which side a few years back set the example of venomous hostility toward the commander in chief?

From the moment Bill Clinton was first elected, we were subjected to a 24/7 tirade of bitter attacks on him by Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, Newt Gingrich, et al. The tone was personal, and it was ugly. Clinton was not without his flaws, and I took issue with him at times myself. But he led the nation during some of the most peaceful and prosperous years in recent memory.

Times have changed. President George W. Bush has exploited the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, to carry out an arrogant and reckless foreign policy, turned most of the world against us, trashed environmental protections, undermined civil liberties, turned a national monetary surplus into a devastating deficit and is now threatening to dismantle a retirement security program that has served our nation well for 70 years.

I have problems with these things. If you think that makes me hateful, then I have no idea what the heck your definition of hatred is.

Mark Osborn
Columbia, Mo.


Try diplomacy

I am confused. When I want to buy a new Ford, I don't negotiate with the Chevy dealer down the street. When the police have a hostage situation, they don't negotiate with the neighbors next door.

If President Bush has a problem with North Korea and Kim Jong Il, why is he negotiating with China and a multinational group? The neoconservative influences in the administration like tough talk but it seems counterproductive to be talking among yourselves rather than with the person you need to reach an agreement with.

Calling your adversary names does not make America safer. Diplomacy might.

Shawn Joseph
St. Charles


Off the Christo map

The Feb. 13 article by Jeff Daniel, "Deja Nuws" was boldly spoken, well said and unfortunately, dead right. St. Louis swings and misses. Another example of how the city squandered away a chance for worldwide notice.

What we do get is money being dumped into sport teams with delusions of grandeur, an opera house that sits idle while begging for redevelopment, one of the worst looking airports anywhere, and expensive fireworks displays that "make us all feel good."

I'm eager to see how good the upcoming college basketball hoopla will make us feel. And certainly that will put us in the center of the world map. Not!

Paul Beasley
St. Charles