We should honor fallen soldiers as much as fallen officers
I commend The Seattle Times for honoring the four fallen officers who died tragically in a senseless act of violence [“‘We will remember them always,’” page one, Dec. 9]. The individual profiles of the courageous officers were touching and inspiring.
I believe that there should also be a place on the front page of The Times to honor the brave soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
The more people can put a name and a face to the death and devastation of the current wars we are engaged in, the less likely it is that they will sit on their hands when our president wants to escalate the violence.
— Patrick Yates, Seattle
Where was Cantwell during George W. Bush administration?
Sen. Maria Cantwell takes the opportunity to use the Amanda Knox verdict to grab some media attention [“Knox support network: friends, lawyers, scientists and a senator,” page one, Dec. 5].
Where was the senator’s concern for international standards and rule of law when the U.S. unilaterally invaded Iraq, with the senator voting to enable George W. Bush’s bloody quagmire — one that we’re still in with no sight of getting out of?
We don’t read of Cantwell attending memorials for soldiers killed, or visiting casualties of this war, and as silent as she’s been about this cost in life, resources and dollars, she’s just as predictably silent about the million dead Iraqis and the millions more displaced by this war.
The anti-Americanism that some claim tainted Knox’s trial is, if anything, the result of policies and actions the senator supports.
The Italian system may very well be flawed, but any critique coming from a senator who has said nothing against U.S. policies of extraordinary rendition or Guantánamo is presumptuous at best. In this light, Amanda Knox has it pretty good.
— Ezra Mark, Seattle
Frigid temperatures + clear skies = true awakening
I hope travelers on the Alaskan Way Viaduct over the past few days of spectacular bay, mountain and city views have taken a moment to reflect on the immensity of the loss Seattleites will suffer when we are permanently detoured into a dark, soulless tunnel.
This is progress?
— Dick Schwartz, Seattle
Promoting free speech, from east to west
As we live in America with free speech, it’s hard to imagine that 1.3 billion people in China are censored [“No finger wags in Beijing,” Opinion, editorial. Nov. 18].
Despite our difference, East and West, our global communication and cooperation is vital for the future of this world. The problem is that communicating and addressing global issues are difficult when a vast population may not hear about all of the world issues.
President Obama just finished his visit in China, and I applaud that he expressed he is a supporter of non-censorship and that unrestricted Internet access is a source of strength and should be encouraged.
Ironically his support of non-censorship from the Internet was immediately censored from the Internet in China.
As we tumble into a world of globalization, free speech needs to be encouraged and supported in the East, to build a strong and healthy global community.
— Margaret Chang, Seattle