Letters to the editor: White's vision central to NIM

The Ledger has written a number of articles on the National Infantry Museum. The story that is overdue is about one person, a long-time Columbus resident, whose vision became a reality, MG (Ret.) Jerry White. He is the unrelenting visionary whose tenacity and hard work led the small staff to accept the challenge of his dream.

As a one-of-a-kind General Officer, he knew how to keep his team motivated to pay tribute to the finest Infantrymen and soldiers the world has ever seen. The history of our nation is the history of our Infantrymen and soldiers.

He insisted this museum and campus would not be just about stagnant artifacts, but dioramas and lifelike figures that came to life in telling their stories. Without him, we may have renovated the old museum, but would not have created an award-winning world-class museum and campus.

I worked for Gen. White for seven years before he recruited me to be a part of the National Infantry Foundation's small staff. His daily drive, inspiration, and motivation will always be with me. I was chewed out a few times in my 25 years as an Infantryman, but never like when I experienced those with Gen. White. However, I would always walk away; and, later, a smile would come to my face, because I knew exactly where my priorities and direction led -- always soldiers first.

A new person on staff knew he would have to one day face one of the General's famous ass-chewings and asked me what it was like. I responded, "It is like being eaten by a coyote and pooped off a cliff!" But our common goal was always soldiers.

We've had many fine General Officers throughout our magnificent history. General White falls in line with Washington, Pershing, Bradley, MacArthur, and Patton.

Richard Hagan

Columbus

A clearer picture

I wish Richard Hyatt had more accurately portrayed the Tattoo exhibit at the Columbus Museum. The exhibit features the history of tattooing across many cultures. It is chiefly, though, an exhibit of tattoos American soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have gotten to honor their fallen friends: "All gave some, some gave all." This exhibit was created by Ronie Dalton to honor her son and others. ee the exhibit. Honor these sacrifices and the many who served.

Alice Budge

Columbus

Critical choice

America, this is your last chance to salvage the remnants of this once great nation. It now lies in tatters, void of its virtues, due to the detrimental decisions and actions of a dissident President. The fate of future generations rests precariously on our decision in the voting booth, in November. Never in the history of this nation has so much depended on the outcome of this presidential election. This nation and the world will be affected by the choice that we make.

What it means is changing to a socialist government and the subsequent loss of freedom, or retaining our constitutional republic, and our freedom. Loss of freedom is the greatest casualty of a communist socialist type government. Our forefathers, providentially inspired men who believed in a Supreme being, gave us the greatest form of government the world has ever known; its continued existence depends on the people choosing honest men and women who are dedicated to preserving the constitutional rights of the citizens and protecting them from enemies, both foreign and domestic.

Our greatest fear, presently, is from domestic enemies; our own government, including this President whose socialist ideology denies the validity of our constitution, and, instead, is determined to implement his version of restrictive governing. The outcome of this election will determine the course of this nation, and the fate of those who come after us, including our children, grandchildren and those of others, for generations. God help us to make the proper choice. It is our last hope.

Charles Maupin

Columbus

Implicit concession

When I first saw the Senate had passed HB757 ("Religious Freedom" bill) I was thrilled, for I was outraged by the Obergefell ruling. In thinking more about it, however, I have some grave reservations. This bill itself symbolizes a great danger to all our liberties for reasons that should concern both the Left and the Right.

These laws mean preemptively to protect liberty so that another law that infringes on our natural rights might not be passed in the future. Such laws tacitly concede that our liberty comes from some legislative body, but as the Declaration of Independence asserts, our liberty comes from our Creator, not from government. Alexander Hamilton even argued against the Bill of Rights because he wanted people to remember their liberty came from God. If a government can pass a law to guarantee liberty, then that same government can take it away as well.

I would support this bill on one condition: that people realize this is a step in the wrong direction. We must learn to rely on a prudent jealousy for freedom matched with a resolve to defend our liberties and not on more laws.

We must never forget that our founding fathers denied that freedom comes from government. They took a stand at the risk of their lives when they asserted that rights come from God and not from a British monarch. If we do pass this bill, we should do so knowing that we are conceding something that in the long run we must overturn to regain our God-given liberty.

Clifford Humphrey

Warm Springs

Political refraction

If you hold a prism to the light you will behold a rainbow of colors. It was once thought that the light created the colors. Sir Isaac Newton proved that the colors already existed within the prism.

Much like the prism, during this time of political change many people look to the candidates to answer questions. More often than not, when we ask questions we already know what the answer is; we are simply attempting to justify it. Are people voting for a candidate or are they reflecting what is already there sincere disgust and anger at the last eight years? Perhaps the many presidential hopefuls should not be looking into the prism of the voters; rather they should admit the truth we already know.

Joe Coley

Columbus

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: White's vision central to NIM ."