MiddletownJournal.com

Middletown should never have started picking up leaves of residents. I don’t feel that’s the city’s responsibility. The residents are the ones who own the trees. They should be thankful that someone will pick them up at the curb. I can’t believe what some people expect of the city.

I would like to thank the city of Franklin for its beautiful and patriotic remembrance of its deceased employee, Doug Woods. The ceremony was just absolutely touching and very emotional.

I attended a vocal concert at Vail Middle School last (week). Some of the students were so rude, disrespectful and noisy, I couldn’t even hear the program. Do parents not have any control of their kids anymore? Do administrators have no control? I feel sorry for teachers. How do they ever attempt to teach unruly students such as these? I was appalled.

I can’t believe they broke into my favorite TV show (to report that) a known terrorist killer — one of the worst persons who has ever been on the face of this earth — was dead.

I will honor Arafat’s death the same way the Palestinian people honored our Sept. 11, 2001, attack — by eating ice cream and cookies, and dancing. If the U.S. wants to send a dignitary to Arafat’s funeral, may I suggest Bill Clinton? He was frequently seen wining and dining Arafat

I want to thank the city of Middletown or whoever is responsible for the crossing guard at 14th and Minnesota. There is quite a lot of traffic there for some reason.

Has anyone thought about the fact that New York City and Washington, D.C. — the victims of the terrorist attacks — voted predominately for John Kerry?

I saw a scary bumper sticker at Wal-Mart that talked about “guns and God.” I don’t remember ever seeing anything in the Gospel about Jesus (saying) arm yourself. Jesus was a pacifist. He didn’t like weapons of any kind. I don’t see how anybody can tell me that God would want you to have a gun and kill your fellow people. How can that be considered Christian?

I am grounded in Abraham Lincoln Republicanism and I am a Victorian Liberal. Does that make me a conservative or what? Suffice it to say, I am a Democrat. You can just be aware that I am and I’m not going away. Who are you?

Regarding the unprecedented level of security that President Bush will have at his second inauguration: I’ve got a news flash. It’s not going to be terrorists that we have to worry about. It’s going to be the other America, which I am part of.

I’m calling about the street tax that didn’t pass. I believe the people are looking for something else. Because when you hit one of these big potholes this winter and bust your front end, you will pay more for that front end and maybe a blown tire or two than you ever would pay for that tax. I don’t understand their thinking on this. We need these streets fixed now — not tomorrow.

To the people of Franklin: Every time I take my child to school — because of no busing — I pass a new fire station, a new police station, a new library, newly remodeled courthouse and a new water department. Where are your priorities? While we have to take our kids to school, you have new everything. Get your priorities straight

Last Sunday’s editorial, “Council running out of budget alternatives,” stated that Olson has no reason to mislead council because he is leaving for Texas. That is absolutely incorrect. I think he has all the more reason to mislead council, because he doesn’t have to suffer any of the repercussions of his decisions. The way you attacked the fire department is absolutely ridiculous because the department has suffered several cuts and you continue not to print any of those issues. I can tell which side the paper is working for