How you can help enhance the new Bluffton Veterans Memorial | Letters
Thanks to the Town of Bluffton and administrator Marc Orlando and his staff for the beautiful Veterans’ Memorial that was built at Buckwalter Place in a joint venture with the American Legion.
Many of the donors who have purchased bricks in memory of, or to honor, a veteran or a very special loved one, have seen them installed at the memorial and have commented how much of a moving experience it was for them.
One mom stated that she now has a place to sit, have a cup of coffee and talk to her son, whose brick she purchased as a lasting tribute of a mom’s love.
Another man remarked that he purchased a brick to honor his father. When he went to the memorial, he photographed that brick and included it in a collage of pictures he presented to his mom, who was absolutely ecstatic.
There are now over 200 personalized bricks in place and orders for more have been received.
Anyone wishing to purchase a brick and have it installed in time for the Veterans Day ceremony and dedication should place their order no later than Aug. 30. The brick has three lines of 14 characters each (spaces count). A check for $100 payable to Bluffton Veterans Memorial should be mailed to P.O. Box 1933, Bluffton, SC 29910.
Kay Ranta
chaplain
ALA Unit 205
Bluffton
Can’t dispute Trump success
Why would President Donald Trump want to be president again? He has already accomplished more than most other presidents in history, especially the White House team he replaced.
Trump has not had to sell his soul to lobbyists and can return to a very profitable business life.
So, why should he put up with the abuse he gets from the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, with their lies and deceits? All those “American” politicians who allegedly support the average citizens are nothing more than corrupt fanatics who have become wealthy in their terms of office.
Trump’s legacy will include support for the military and the police. He improved employment for everyone. He has fought against illegal immigration and has always said: “Buy American” and “Hire American.”
Now his presidential competitor, Joe Biden, is again plagiarizing by using those same words and phrases. If liberals do not want police departments, do not want statues, do not want to be self-sufficient and want to be subservient to other nations, so be it. Then they don’t not deserve Trump as president.
Biden has been continually associated with corruption. He has been, and is, a puppet for many Democratic Party hacks. Biden’s family has greatly gained financially from his governmental positions. Biden is a definition of political corruption.
One may not personally like Trump, but it is difficult to disagree with what he has accomplished for the nation and the American people.
Clifton Jester
Bluffton
Joe Cunningham big on military
As a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force with combat support time in the C-130 cargo transport, I want to let everyone know of U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham’s support of active service members, military families and veterans.
Cunningham fought for funding for critical priorities in the defense funding bill that will expand our cybersecurity network, make our troops safer on our local military bases, and protect veterans’ access to health care. He helped to pass the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which gives our troops a 3% pay raise.
Cunningham also secured increased funding to speed up the Coast Guard’s planned expansion in the Lowcountry to do the critical work of ensuring maritime safety, the interdiction of drug smuggling, providing emergency and disaster relief and keeping coastal communities safe.
Cunningham’s bill, the VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act became law, which allows veterans to virtually attend VA claims hearings from home, making life better for veterans, especially during the pandemic.
I appreciate Cunningham advocating on behalf of our military troops and deserving veterans.
Jack H. Sims
Fripp Island
Biden ‘cure’ the real danger
In “The Room Where It Happened,” John Bolton criticized President Donald Trump for being weak on China. Joe Biden immediately seized the opportunity to slam Trump on his China policies. One can hardly miss the irony and hypocrisy.
Not even a year ago, Biden assured Americans that China was not our competitor. Citing the “division” between “the China Sea” (a gaffe) and the “West Mountains” (another gaffe), and the corruption within its system, he sneered, “China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man!”
Unfortunately, the division lives within America, and our system fails to cleanse dishonest politicians from high offices. The CCP rules China with an iron fist. They shoot corrupt officials and charge their families for the bullets.
China is eating our lunch in 5G, supercomputing, quantum communications, AI, genomics and STEM talent. American companies cannot compete with Chinese SOEs, which have unlimited access to government funding, and are immune to social and environmental consequences.
Biden 2.0 would only disadvantage America further by burdening corporate America with higher taxes, destroying our livelihood under the Green New Deal, and enacting “revolutionary institutional changes” to sow chaos in our society.
Every serious voter should be concerned about Biden’s ignorance about China. If unchecked, the CCP’s belligerence will spread beyond the South China Sea and Hong Kong. The folly of the never-Trumpers is their refusal to acknowledge that the Biden cure is much worse than the Trump disease, not only on China, but on almost every major issue impacting our nation.
Xiaodan Li
Hilton Head Island
Trump book is frightening
I’ve just finished reading Mary Trump’s book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.”
It’s a frighteningly interesting study of a wealthy and dysfunctional family.
Ms. Trump relates that President Donald Trump is the product of his father’s narcissism and greed, but also a willing and calculating creature himself. Donald saw what Fred Trump did to his oldest son, Freddie (Mary Trump’s father), when he wouldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps and gladly stepped up to fill the void.
Mary Trump, PhD (a qualified psychoanalyst) believes that Donald could never have succeeded on his own. Fred reluctantly groomed Donald as his alter ego and gave him many millions of dollars to continue propping up his many business failures.
Ultimately Donald scammed his ailing and mentally disabled father, brother Freddie and his children, and squandered his father’s vast fortune.
Sadly, Donald parlayed failure, cheating, and tax fraud, into a media sensation and the rest is all current events.
If you don’t have the time, interest, or stomach to read the entire book, I suggest you at least find and read the book’s epilogue, “The Tenth Circle.” It’s just four pages.
Henry Druckerman
Bluffton
Father need not apologize
I read your recent article about the homily delivered by the Rev. Bruce Barnett of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church on June 27. I’m not entirely sure why this homily became a subject for this newspaper, although I suspect the intent had something to do with your publication’s liberal, anti-Catholic leanings.
That said, my husband and I were both at Mass on June 27 and we heard Father Barnett’s riveting homily. He said nothing that has not already been said by others, including medical professionals, about this pandemic.
In fact, I note that your article neglected to mention that when Father concluded his homily, he was given a thunderous round of applause by those of us in church.
His message was indeed one of hope and spiritual inspiration and it referenced the core messages of our Catholic faith: trust in God and don’t be afraid. He said nothing that required an apology.
Patricia and Steuart Flynn
Bluffton
The smartest person in room
We have all heard his pronouncements about his “genius” and his “way above average IQ” in regard to all subjects, including coronavirus. By his own proclamation(s), he is “the smartest person in the room.”
Having spent 50 years around people, some who actually were and, more often, around those who simply thought they were the smartest person in the room, I have a few observations.
Even when they were well-versed about a specific topic, the most intelligent “smartest” people did an excellent job of hiding that fact. They consistently asked leading questions to assure that those in the room had a chance to share their individual contributions of expertise and advice.
Why? Because the primary thing that makes someone “the smartest person in the room” is the understanding that, it is not their personal knowledge, but their ability to draw out the best of other people’s experience, knowledge and thought that is the secret to their becoming smarter.
You see, the really smartest people in the room figured out that taking advantage of the best available knowledge allows them to make better decisions, thereby making themselves look a lot smarter than they actually are.
In this case, personal arrogance has major consequences. Since the president considers himself too smart to listen and learn, his unprepared and incompetent management of the pandemic has cost us dearly in additional lives lost and unnecessary economic disruption.
Richard Wallace
Hilton Head Island
Why Trump fails as leader
The headline on a recent letter asked, “Why all the Trump hatred?”
Perhaps it’s President Donald Trump’s inability to anticipate the consequences of his repugnant, hateful and humiliating behaviors towards anyone who disagrees with him. When people are treated with contempt they seek revenge.
As the writer pointed out, Trump might have made some positive changes, but at what cost? If you want people to follow your lead without hatred, anticipate the unanticipated consequences and treat everybody with dignity and respect. Take responsibility for your behaviors and decisions. Don’t lie and blame others for your mistakes.
Trump’s derisiveness invites unbridled hatred and retribution. Do you think we’d have the chaos in our cities had Trump addressed the George Floyd tragedy and ensuing events with calming and uniting words instead of bellicosity?
Imagine if Trump had reached out to the peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square without rancor and tear gas.
I disagree with the writer about Trump’s attributes. I’m responding with dignity and respect. Had I called him a loser, lowlife, failure and sent the base to torment him, I’m sure he’d be hurt and angry.
A good leader (and parent) knows that it is not what you say, but how you say it. Attack the problem, not the person. It’s that simple.
Robert E. White
Bluffton
Time to get back to school
The administrators of our Beaufort County School District need to think creatively in providing a safe and effective way to put our children back into the public school system.
Maintaining the current posture of online teaching is hurting our children and their parents. It is obvious that distance learning is not an effective substitute for in-class education.
Many parents have not been able to return to work due to the school closure. Teachers have had to only work part-time over the past five months. Let us get them back to full-time educating.
The Board of Education in Bucks County, Pa., decided to issue every student and teacher a plexiglass safety shield. This allows for safety and visualization. They provide easier breathing and the ability to sanitize the surface. We have only 22,000 students here in Beaufort County. This is 25% of Bucks County’s student population.
We should do better. Why can’t we?
Marc M. Feinberg
Bluffton