Time for reflex, not reflection

Consider what you would do if an armed thug broke into your home while you were sound asleep.

You wake to the sound of the back door kicked in. Struggling between panic and clear thinking, you know the phone noise alerts the intruder. You are awake, semi-alert, and calling 911. Stats snap through your mind; you know the thug will only be there for 3-5 minutes. He enters your bedroom. You see the hardened face and weapon. You know this could be a burglary, a psychopath who will take your life, or a serial murderer who is there to exact pain and death. The seconds pass like half hours and the gun in your hand is shaking. Did you take the safety off? Do you have time now? Where are the police? How long does it take the police to arrive? When will they be here?

There is someone behind him. Your gun is electrified with your tremors. What should you do? Warn him you will shoot? Will he shoot you? Will he rape you or strangle you? When will the police arrive? In a split second he rushes you, you squeeze the trigger, the jarring noise rings through your head like a bolt of lightning! You see the other one's mouth moving, his arms waving but you cannot hear him, another pull of the trigger and he hits the floor. The police arrive 30 minutes later.

You can be an adversarial advocate for the common good. Demand the police do their jobs or leave the force. When I have called the police it has taken them 40 minutes to respond. What's your plan?

Deborah Owens

Columbus

One nation

For over 30 years, I have written letters to editors and congressional representatives about dropping hyphenated designations and requirements to identify oneself by ethnicity. There should be only one designation, and that is American. I am proud of my ancestry, but that doesn't define me.

Two of my uncles fought with the 442nd Combat Infantry Regiment during WWII in Europe and one uncle fought with Merrill's Marauders in Burma. All three were wounded, two severely. Four more uncles served in the US Army between Korea and Vietnam. I am a Vietnam veteran, U.S. Army Infantry (Airborne Ranger), and another uncle also served in Vietnam. My uncles were second generation Americans of Japanese ancestry, and I am third generation.

My family recognized that we were, and are Americans, first and foremost, and our heritage is Japanese. My grandfather was an "indentured slave" by contract to a plantation in Hawaii. He eventually bought a plot of farm land and brings his picture bride to Hawaii. They had 10 children (one of whom died at 1) and raised them as proud Americans. My grandparents learned English, American history, including our Constitution, and passed their citizenship exams.

We are proud of our heritage, but are Americans first and last. Are we Japanese-Americans? No, Americans, who came from a Japanese heritage, Nothing else. When asked if I am Japanese, I answer: "No, an American (but my ancestors were!)" If all citizens stand as Americans, as assimilated American citizens, our racial/heritage challenges would eventually go away. Pipe dream? Maybe, but our national forefathers were British, yet claimed to be and became Americans, not British-Americans, or even American-British. Our ancestors may have been Japanese, Chinese, German, African, Irish, Ethiopian, Russian, Korean, Iraqi, Afghan, or even Iranian. But, as citizens, we are Americans.

Warren Morimoto

Smiths Station

Poor timing

Once again our local elections for city and school board seats will be held during the political party primaries on May 24. This is an absolute scam. There is absolutely no reason that council and school board elections should not be held on the General Election date in November. In fact, it would benefit Columbus to have our local elections, including any and all SPLOST/LOST referendums, on the November ballot so more people will have a voice in the outcome and direction of our future.

Hal Kirven

Columbus

Time to reconsider

I commend the Georgia Chamber of Commerce for its recent launch of a task force to explore ways to improve healthcare access throughout Georgia. In my opinion, Medicaid expansion would be a significant step toward that goal, including providing healthcare for the working poor.

Georgia is near the bottom of the 50 states in the health of its citizens. While federal taxes paid by Georgians help provide Medicaid expansion in over 30 other states, Georgia denies this benefit to its own low-income citizens. This is costing Georgia thousands of jobs, contributing to the financial strain on hospitals and denying primary and

preventive care to those who badly need it. This results in many avoidable emergency room visits, since the federal government is initially funding 100 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion, gradually reducing to 90 percent. Ironically, while other states expanded Medicaid at federal expense, Georgia's enrollment in traditional Medicaid increased

significantly, putting an additional cost on Georgia's taxpayer.

I think the Chamber of Commerce would be right in asking Georgia's political leaders to reconsider their decision to deny Medicaid expansion.

Robert A. Clay

De Soto, Ga.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Time for reflex, not reflection ."