This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015

Have we 'no shame'

Our nation has been and struggles to remain a great nation, imperfect as it has been at times mirroring our imperfect citizenry, but I say a work in progress. I joined the U.S. Army during the Korean "police action" and served my tour of duty doing a good job, nothing heroic. On my discharge I was given access to the G.I. Bill educational benefits, for which I remain eternally thankful. Those benefits allowed me to complete my higher education goals at Georgia Tech in engineering and Georgia State for my MBA

On Nov. 11, many in our nation celebrated Veterans Day in various ways honoring those who have served. I celebrated at home displaying Old Glory with a salute, so meager. I then read an expansive article on the ongoing Veterans Administration scandal impacting veterans in need, still unresolved; bonuses for "scalawags and scoundrels"; and not one in the VA or federal government held accountable. Then to my eternal shame, a memory of decades ago flooded forth about the shameful treatment exercised by many in our country towards veterans returning from Vietnam, and I at that time had not spoken or done anything to honor these returning honorable male and female veterans.

Let's face it, these 2015 Veterans Day celebrations were conducted by a plethora of hypocrites, including the president of the U.S.A., you and me, as the VA scandal remains uncorrected. We repeat the shame of those who cursed and spit on our returning Vietnam veterans by not addressing the requirements of our living veterans in need in a timely manner.

As a nation have proven time and again that we can do nearly anything if we have the will and tamp down the two major evils that often prevail, greed for power and for riches. Mr. President, you have recently shown that you can do just about anything you desire. With most respect to you and your elected office. I repeat a term of the McCarthy era, have we as a nation, "no shame" as relates to unfulfilled promises given to our living veterans?

— Arthur D. Brook.

Macon

Operating in the dark

After reading Monday's front page story about dentists rarely having their licenses revoked, I am not surprised one bit. The professional licensing boards under the secretary of state operate in a vacuum of almost total secrecy. My personal observation is that they are there to protect and insulate anyone with a license from complaints brought by the public, no matter how valid and well-documented the complaint may be.

The licensed individual enjoys protections and anonymity from the licensing boards that are not found anywhere in the criminal or civil legal system of open courts and sunshine laws that apply to government and an ordinary Joe. My comments here are not about dentistry, as I have no experience with that board. I have seen how the veterinary board operates and the theme sounds very familiar.

Imagine for a moment that your home was burglarized by a licensed professional and the police tell you that they don't have enough evidence to file criminal charges. You make a complaint and go before a PLB as a citizen to observe the proceedings against the accused burglar, the one you caught red-handed with your family's silver in a pillowcase, yet you are locked out of the courtroom and the proceedings are secret. After it is over, you are not allowed to know if the burglar was punished or what the punishment was — unless the board revoked the burglar's license. While this example is pronounced, it does illustrate that, from what I saw, the boards are not there to protect the public. They are there to throw up as many roadblocks as possible to the general public and to operate in the dark.

— John Ricketson

Macon

A snake is a snake

The tragic Islamic terrorist attack in France reminds me of a folk tale I heard as a child about a young girl and a rattlesnake. It seems the young girl found a half frozen rattlesnake outside her door and brought it into her home to warm by the fire. After she had warmed it and fed it, she embraced the deadly viper and he bit her. She cried out, "How could you do this to me after all I have done for you?" The snake replied, "You knew I was a snake when you brought me in." This old story should have been a clear lesson to the French as well as U.S.

— John Baldwin

Kathleen

All lives matter

Its been said, when they mess with the Confederate flag, they soon will come after the American flag. It has already happened. At a police chief's convention in Chicago, an American flag was ripped down. In its place, a banner which read, "Black Lives Matter" was raised. It's true, black lives do matter. But, all lives matter. They matter to God for he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die that we may escape hell.

But, the "black lives matter" protesters are not concerned about making their life matter; they have other ideas. They are, according to a report from a black author, anti-white and anti-American. These protesters see the American flag and the American way of life as representing white supremacy. This is a result of misinformation and a skewed education in American history. One writer said, "police are getting apprehensive about arresting criminals and if this continues, our land will become lawless."

Sometimes life isn't fair. But we must submit our life to God and roll with the punches. For our lives do matter.

— Dwight Poole

Hawkinsville

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 10:06 PM.