Regarding the May 30 story, “Fort Bliss final outpost to fall: Army base raises its drinking age from 18 to 21,” I drank wine in France when I served in the Air Force in 1957. I was 19. I also had a stepfather who had a drinking problem. I’m glad I had the freedom to find out that I could drink responsibly.

It’s wrong to ask young people to go to war and yet bar them from drinking alcoholic beverages. If a person is old enough to go to war and endanger his or her life, that person should be considered old enough to buy a drink in his home country.

Philip S. Parker
Vancouver

Label hides Western guilt

The recent comment by President Bush that Iran is similar to Nazi Germany is a complete turn around of the truth. Western nations have an established track record of supporting criminal invasions. France and Russia were supporters of Saddam Hussein during the absolute criminal Iraqi invasion of Iran, which caused the death of over a million innocent people. The U.S. and the U.K. supported Israel’s criminal invasion of Lebanon, which caused the death of thousands of innocent people.

Iran has never supported a criminal invasion. It is one of the few principled nations in the world that will take a stand against crimes committed by Western nations. That is the reason why Iran is portrayed as a terrorist nation. The portrayal is a fig leaf, used for hiding Western guilt.

Iran also has a family-friendly culture. It has no legal protection for pornography, prostitution, abortion, gay marriage, and other sinful acts that are so prevalent in Western cultures. Iran is a nation that should be admired. In some ways it has more in common with what the founders of the U.S., who were also highly religious, had in mind than the current U.S. government does.

Stephen Franklin White
Vancouver

Big oil subsidized 

The May 28 letter, “Advantages can be found,” by Mike Lane was interesting but did not allude to the hard choice of rationing as it was implemented in World War II. This would not be a popular remedy, but it would be effective.

Consider that if rationing were implemented, then the oil companies could share in the economic downturn. The economic downturn would result in a loss of revenue for oil companies and credit card companies, and in federal taxes as well as state taxes.

The recent congressional hearings with big oil are, essentially, a mutual dog and pony show, with little or no results. If Congress wanted to be believed, and had the nation and the people as its major concern, rather than members’ individual political careers, it would immediately pass legislation to rescind the obviously unnecessary $18.4 billion subsidy which Congress gave big oil in the 2007 Energy Bill. But, alas, big oil and its lobbyists contribute to both Republicans and Democrats alike. These contributions to the politicians reduce any meaningful remedial action from our Congress.

Wilfred J. Hudson
Vancouver

Today’s kids deserve same

My children are grown but I will continue to support public schools with my taxes, while speaking out in favor of public schools and volunteering in public schools. As retired basketball player, Bill Russell, said in his speech on May 28 at Heritage High School: “They are all our children.”

The children in school today will become the police officers, firefighters, doctors, mechanics and all the other jobs that are now staffed by our adult children. Today’s children deserve the same as we and the retirees who came before provided for our children.

Susan Harris
Vancouver

A better bill to consider

In response to Gerald A. Johnson’s June 2 letter, “Fund a generous GI Bill,” regarding President Bush’s opposition to GI Bill S220, Johnson could get a job with most of the major media as he only gives half of the story. GI Bill 220 would give the same benefits to servicemen or servicewomen, whether they had served one year or 10. There is another GI Bill being offered that would give benefits based upon years of service. The longer you serve, the more benefits you receive. This bill also makes it possible for a serviceman or servicewoman to transfer these benefits to either a spouse or child. This is the bill that President Bush and military people want as it encourages re-enlistments and makes more sense.

Scott Hamley
Washougal

Buy responsibly

I recently received an e-mail questioning the intelligence of Americans that touched on the topic of our continued support of Chinese imports regardless of the cases of poisoned animals and lead contamination in children’s products. Americans have begun to complain that our government should restrict trade and force China to change. I applaud Gov. Chris Gregoire in signing into law a measure requiring toys sold in Washington to be free of toxins. Although it is our government’s job to set safety standards, we as intelligent Americans need to step up.

The e-mail continued on to suggest we not only support the efforts our government is making, but that we refuse to buy goods from China starting now until July 4. We as individuals can unite in this and make a difference. Our complaints, without action, will not be heard. But if we really buckle down and pay attention to who we are supporting with our finances, China and the world will listen. I never forward bulk e-mails but in this case I did. China has not even suggested that its standards are going to change. How much longer are we just going to sit by and allow it?

Stephanie E. Dees
Vancouver

Apprehensive of toll cost

I made the drive from Vancouver to Portland for 13 years. During this time, I had firsthand experience with long commute times and loss of quality of life that only worsened as years went by. I tried carpooling, alternative routes, telecommuting and non-standard schedules. Luckily, I recently landed a job in Vancouver.

Regarding the Portland Metro Council’s recommendation to add tolls to reduce congestion and update the bridges for earthquake readiness: the “congestion” referred to is hardworking, cash-strapped human beings who rely on this passage to make a living. And the idea that we can make these ancient structures “earthquake proof” is ridiculous. These ideas were already explored and rejected by a team of experts. It seems that Portland councilors are out of touch with the seriousness of the current bridge situation. And why is it they can make recommendations without Clark County representation?

Although I don’t cross the bridge every day, the traffic pileups had a big impact on my life. The latest bridge designs, while expensive, are based on months of research, public comment, and sound strategy. We need this new bridge as soon as we can possibly make it happen.

Shawna Dronen
Vancouver

Another season of detours

First, I want to state that I don’t have a problem with the Amphitheater at Clark County giving concerts. My problem is with the decision to close roads two miles from the venue. My case in point happened on June 1 at 11:10 p.m. while driving south on 10th Avenue to work. I encountered a state trooper blocking the road at Duluth (corner of 10th Avenue and 219th Street). I assume this was so the people leaving the concert could have unobstructed access to the I-5 onramp at 179th Street. No one else was allowed to use it as all others must detour, and some may have to backtrack to the Ridgefield onramps to get on the freeway. That’s about a 10-mile backtrack to get those final two miles to the 179th Street onramps. I know this problem may disappear when the new interchange is finished, but there will be two more seasons of operation of the amphitheater .

Mike Williams
Ridgefield