We always know when summer is gone, as the “Unwelcome Center” of the Upper Valley reappears on I-89. I am sure if the state of New Hampshire really tried, it could find some creative way to keep the rest area open. But then why would we want to encourage visitors passing through to find places to eat or shop and perhaps stay for a couple of days?
Instead, the orange plastic barrier fence is put up with the message “stay out.” Maybe we could take a lesson from our neighbor in Vermont how rest areas thrive and stay open all year, not just May through early October.
Jean PattenEnfield
Who To Believe About Syria?
I came away from watching two recent interviews with Bashar and Asma al Asaad, president and first lady of Syria, thinking these are intelligent, compassionate, brave and caring individuals who do not set themselves above the desperate plight of their people. The words brutal, dictator and regime did not seem to apply. Are we being played for fools in a Syrian public relations game? I do not think one can fake the sincerity I observed. Theirs is a plea to resume our sanity.
Ask yourself if we Americans have the right to unilaterally decide that this man elected by his people must be deposed? Unlike the U.S. and like Libya, the Syrians have free health care and education! Whose agenda are we following?
Are the stories about Syria true? Peaceful protesters shot at, people gassed, children killed in Aleppo? I believe the gas attack that was Obama’s “red line” was committed not by Assad, but by the “moderate” rebels we have been supporting. First-hand reports say the protesters in 2011 had guns and shot first. Attacks on Aleppo are a necessary, if unwelcome, step to free the city from foreign jihadists and restore civil order.
Who benefits from spending trillions to destroy countries that are not threatening us? Who benefits from the now-permanent terrorism and permanent war? We all know the answer and it is not we the people.
Russia is the only country legally fighting in Syria, though we have been illegally bombing for two years (an act of war!). Hillary Clinton is committed to establishing a Syrian “no-fly zone.”
It would be a good idea to cease our demonization of all things Russian, especially the unproven idea that they are trying to control our elections, and cool down. Watch for a “false flag” used to draw us into war. And remember that this endless “othering” of countries and people in order to destroy them is hurting our psyches and souls.
Now that Trump is not a threat, if you want peace, how about voting your values? Jill Stein and Gary Johnson are the only true peace candidates. If you do vote for Clinton, please be ready to march by the millions for peace (though it didn’t help in 2003!).
Patricia Greene Canaan
It’s Disturbing to See Chimps Smoke
How disturbing was the large photo of the chimpanzee smoking in North Korea (“It’s OK, I Don’t Inhale,” Oct. 20)? To learn that this creature is using a pack a day is even worse. The Valley News has choices of what to include in each day’s edition. If including this picture was meant to encourage letters to the zoo to attempt to persuade the keepers to stop this abhorrent act, perhaps it is a worthy inclusion; however, I have little faith that even a deluge of letters would change the zookeepers’ minds, so I am upset that the editors chose to include the photo.
Sherry Taylor Belisle Woodstock
Adding to the comment of Forum writer Jim Newcomb (“Clinton’s Views on Abortion,” Oct.14), I believe the Creator of we humans must be outraged by 54 million children gone missing since 1973.
To that end, I’m voting for the Republican platform to dissuade abortion, vastly more important than the temporary chaos their candidate will bring before impeachment.
Don Kivell Hanover