By Staff
Reagan, Bush
By what he stated about President Reagan and President Bush, a recent letter-writer basically said he would prefer us to fight on this soil and not our enemies' soil. President Reagan did take responsibility on Iran/contra affair and did say he had no knowledge of it. I and many millions more believed him and had the faith that he throughout his presidency tried to do the right things for this country.
As far as President Bush, it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that if we did not go after the terrorist in their lands, then we would be fighting them here. But, as most left wing liberals believe, that wouldn't happen; it did happen and this country answered the call. Stand for our Flag and country or leave it. No middle ground.
Randall K. Warren
Odenville, Ala
Strong support
On a recent Saturday, a good and true friend of ours, Ms. Audra Bosarge, was laid to rest in Meridian. Sadly, I was unable to attend as I am currently overseas. Ironically, it was because of Audra that I wasn't able to be there. You see, I am a reservist who's been on recall to active duty for much of the past year.
Like most of the tens of thousands of Guard and Reserve members who have been recalled, my family has a good support system of family and friends who help out in my absence. Audra was the backbone of ours. Without her, I couldn't have continued nearly as well in my Reserve service. Although I thanked her every time we spoke, I can now only hope she knew just how much I appreciated her efforts.
I want to be sure that her family and friends know just how much she meant to me and my family. When I'm far from home, even the smallest things mean a lot. The things that Audra did to help my family went well beyond that and we are forever grateful. We'll miss Cookie; we were blessed to have her in our lives.
Lt. Cmdr. Mike Cummings,
Allison and Stella
Meridian
On jury service
I read with interest the editorial in Friday's edition of The Meridian Star applauding Oklahoma's recent passage of the "Jury Patriotism Act" and encouraging our state to consider doing the same. In fact, Mississippi's new tort reform law, signed by Gov. Barbour just last Wednesday, contains "jury patriotism" provisions much like Oklahoma's.
The Jury Patriotism Act is a model act sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation's largest non-partisan, individual membership organization of state legislators, devoted to espousing Jeffersonian principles of government. Many Mississippi legislators have been active in ALEC for years; indeed, State Senator Billy Hewes of Gulfport currently serves as ALEC's national president.
Although most provisions of the new tort reform bill, HB 13, will go into effect on Sept. 1 of this year, the Jury Patriotism Act parts of the new law will not become effective until Jan. 1, 2007. The reason for this delay is to allow time for necessary input from judges, clerks and court officials as to the details of the act's implementation, and to prepare citizens for significant changes in their jury service duties. Undoubtedly, the new law will be tweaked and refined somewhat before it finally goes into effect.
The civil justice system, whether reformed or not, will work as it is intended only when citizens of all classes and circumstances take seriously their privilege, and their obligation, to serve as jurors. Hopefully, Mississippi's new Jury Patriotism Act ultimately will prove a step in the right direction.
Rep. Greg Snowden
Meridian
Parents say thanks
As parents of Monty McMullen we would like to express our appreciation and thanks to Northeast principal, Mr. Calcote, Northeast parents, Lauderdale County School Board and Superintendent of Education David Little for giving Monty an opportunity to teach and coach at Northeast. Monty is a fine young man with a lot of ambition. I am sure you will be pleased with the decision you made. Looking forward to seeing many baseball games. Thanks again.
Albert " Hack" and Janell McMullen
Meridian