Let’s make it official

I was stunned to recently learn that my congressman, Drew Ferguson, is not a co-signer and apparently does not support a bill (HR 997) aimed at making English the official language of the United States. I cannot think of anything that would serve to unite our very diverse “nation of immigrants” more than a common and official language — and like most Americans, I proudly choose English. It is crazy that the USA has no official language.

HR 997 was introduced early this year and now has more than forty co-sponsors. Amazingly, only three of these co-sponsors are from Georgia. Mr. Ferguson is not one of them.

I am also dismayed and quite frustrated that Ferguson is not helping with something called the Davis Oliver Act, (HR 2431) named after two California law enforcement officers murdered by an illegal alien. Among other things, the bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Raul Labrador, would ensure that state and local law enforcement officials would always have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. It would also end the ability of future presidents to shut down immigration enforcement for political purposes — as Barack Obama did.

It is increasingly apparent that many of the Republicans that the more conservative Georgia voters have sent to Washington need constant supervision when it comes to the desires of the huge majority of Americans who want our government to operate in English.

How many languages can we assimilate to? Why are so few Georgia Congressmen unwilling to help with the commonsense immigration enforcement promises that President Trump was elected on? What about We the People? How many Americans must die at the hands of illegals before we take charge of our own country?

Moving tribute

My sisters and I wish to commend reporter-photographer Mike Haskey for his outstanding coverage of our 50th anniversary ceremony to honor our brother, Lt. Jeffrey R. Sexton, and all the 173rd Sky Soldiers involved in the June 22, 1967, Battle of Dak To in South Vietnam.

Mr. Haskey’s story, photos and video are excellent and will become cherished family mementoes for generations to come. His special attention to the amazing Ed Weatherman and his survivor’s story was important and gratifying for us as well.

I was quite surprised to discover that our little ceremony was to receive such fine media attention. I hope it serves to remind people of the long-term effects of war, that a decision to go to war should not be taken lightly, and that the memorial and museum complex at Fort Benning provides a beautiful place for honoring our loved ones’ sacrifices, and for it we are grateful.

Many thanks to the Ledger-Enquirer for caring about an unpopular war fought by such brave and selfless people, even 50 years later.

Historic farce

Now that the dust has settled a bit on the Trump administration, maybe we can see it a little more clearly. The best analogy seems to come from the historian who, comparing Napoleon I’s coup to that of Napoleon III a generation later, wrote that history often repeats itself but often in a farcical way.

Donald Trump’s fascism is not even up to that of Juan Peron or Eugene Talmadge, who tried to imitate Hitler’s authoritarian takeover — theirs was tragic in failure; his is farcical because it is incoherent and changes from hour to hour on Twitter. Oh, what a farce is this new Trump/McConnell-Care! Health care in Germany since the 1800s has reached the middle and working classes. But in the U.S., after the expansion under Obama, health care proposals are now getting more and more stingy, even at a time when all the most developed nations are providing great health care with single-payer systems.

When will that segment of the U.S. poor and working classes who blindly vote Republican and Trumpist wake up? We in the U.S. will never match the Europeans so long as we allow the corporate model to rule, so long as the insurance companies drive the system for monetary profit. The farce is really beginning to play out as Trump supporters realize they are being shafted — losing the benefits they had under more liberal regimes. I still remember the farcical, illogical battle cry of the Tea Party activist — “get Obama and the government out of my health care, but don’t touch my Medicare.” I feel sorry for the working class that has been fooled again by Republican farce and false promises — they are finding themselves more poverty-stricken than ever, and now with a disintegrating social safety net.

Thanks, Cadets

Thanks to LTC Michael Karbasz's Civil Air Patrol Cadets, the Avenue of Flags proudly returned to Victory Drive.

Many of us take the Avenue of Flags for granted. Indeed, we are under the impression that the flags are funded, and placed, by the Consolidated Government.

Actually they are purchased and placed by citizens. When we failed to find enough volunteers to put them up, the Civil Air Patrol Cadets stepped into the breach.

If you would like to work on the flag detail, or contribute toward the purchase of replacement flags, contact LTC Michael Karbasz. His email is michael.j.karabasz.ga-098@gawg.cap.gov.

This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Let’s make it official."