Bring our boys home? Yes, some residents say

The Hickory Daily Record ^ | 3/16/2004 | KIM GILLILAND

[ChadsDad]

Bring our boys home? Yes, some residents say

Strong emotions stir opinions near anniversary of Iraq war

By KIM GILLILAND Record Staff Writer Tuesday, March 16, 2004

NEWTON - Is it time to bring the troops home from Iraq?

Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the war.

“Why did America make so much fuss over Janet Jackson, when 550 boys came home in body bags?” said Steve Hassouneh, owner of J & L Run In in Newton and native of Jordan. “That does not include the injured and the maimed.”

Hassouneh points to the cost of the war as a reason to pull out.

“We spent $80 billion to prosecute that war,” he said. “It is said President Bush will ask for $20 billion more if he gets elected.”

With the general election on the horizon, several local citizens say it is time for new leadership in Washington.

“We need a regime change here,” Hassouneh said.

A failing local economy deserves more attention than a conflict half a world away, said Sherry Caldwell, a resident of Catawba.

“He’s sending all of our money over there,” she said. “When all of this happened, my boyfriend worked hard every day. Now, he’s struggling to find work. I struggle every day.”

Carol Laxton also struggles to make ends meet. She’s more worried about paying her rent than finding weapons of mass destruction.

“We’ve done all we can do over there,” she said. “We need to worry about the people over here, not everybody else.

“The economy is pretty bad here. I’m struggling to raise my two kids by myself, on $200 a week with no benefits. Single moms don’t have a chance these days.”

With the capture of Saddam Hussein, some feel the U.S. military’s mission in Iraq is done.

“They’ve been there long enough,” said Sherrills Ford resident Todd Connor. “Why have our troops getting killed for nothing? They didn’t find any evidence of weapons of mass destruction.”

Jean Cooper, manager of Family Coin Laundry on Main Avenue North, believes God is in control.

“There’s not much left to go before the end of our time on Earth,” she said. “The Bible is being fulfilled. Anything we do isn’t going to stop anything. My opinion doesn’t matter. I’d like to see the boys come home now, but it’s in God’s time.”

Rosa Cockerham, manager of Sportsman Gun and Pawn in Newton, has mixed feelings.

“If we pull out now, you never know what could happen to the citizens of Iraq,” she said. “We got their crazy dictator out of the way, but we haven’t found the weapons of mass destruction yet. So we’ve accomplished part of the mission, I guess.”

Bob Hooton says it’s time.

“They’ve been there long enough,” the Conover man said. “If we can’t get it done in a year, we might as well quit. I think it’s time to come home.”

rgilliland@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x249

[ChadsDad]

Incredible, lets get a headline, and go prove it. I thought my local paper was above this tripe.

[ClearCase_guy]

I swear, since the Spanish election, the anti-war crowd (and the media coverage thereof) have really kicked into overdrive. Boston TV last night had about 3 different stories on anti-war marches, and veterans and mothers who hated Bush and were tired of being lied to, and yadda, yadda, yadda.

[Puppage]

Why did America make so much fuss over Janet Jackson, when 550 boys came home in body bags?

Janet Jackson was giving cheap thrills on tv. Our 550 boys who came back in body bags were freeing an oppressed nation & changing the world for the better.

Next question.

[Agnes Heep]

“Why did America make so much fuss over Janet Jackson, when 550 boys came home in body bags?” ....

They weren't boys ... they were grown men who entered the service voluntarily knowing full well that they'd be asked to risk their lives. The purpose of a military is to defend the country, not to defend the military.

[chachacha]

Carol Laxton also struggles to make ends meet. She’s more worried about paying her rent than finding weapons of mass destruction. “We’ve done all we can do over there,” she said. “We need to worry about the people over here, not everybody else. “The economy is pretty bad here. I’m struggling to raise my two kids by myself, on $200 a week with no benefits. Single moms don’t have a chance these days.”

Carol, we all make choices and are responsible for those we make. Please don't try and make me responsible for the ones you made.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

“They’ve been there long enough,” the Conover man said. “If we can’t get it done in a year, we might as well quit. I think it’s time to come home.”

Speechless...absolutely speechless over the staggering ignorance of this man's statement.

[boxerblues]

“He’s sending all of our money over there,” she said. “When all of this happened, my boyfriend worked hard every day. Now, he’s struggling to find work. I struggle every day.”

The goverenment does not pay you unless you are on welfare. You should of been able to find a job when the reservists left their jobs to defend your miserable life. Not finding one to suit you is not Bushs fault but your own. Go cry somewhere else.

[ChadsDad]

somebody email Miss Gilliland a link to this thread please. rgilliland@hickoryrecord.com

[boxerblues]

Cant do that, they might think we are being mean.

[Tax-chick]

On the plus side, whiners like this are often too lazy to vote!

[Tax-chick]

On the plus side, whiners like this are often too lazy to vote!

[ChadsDad]

Skip friends of Scouting and donate directly to your local Pack and/or Troop!

[Tax-chick]

That's a good suggestion, too!

[sam_whiskey]

Wow...I swear about half-way through that article I thought I was reading a parody piece. Unbelievable how these folks have drunk the kool-aid....they sound like Kerry speechwriters.

[JimRed]

Bring them home? You bet! As soon as the job is finished. Then put them on our borders.

[gcruse]

Bring them home? You bet! As soon as the job is finished.

It's the difference between yellow ribbons and the American flag, isn't it?

[TaxRelief]

"Some residents" is better than "many residents" or "most residents". :-)

[metesky]

Shouldn't you be doing that? It is your backyard after all.