Jerry Patterson points out an injustice and makes a sensible suggestion to correct it. Veterans who are legal permanent residents are denied education benefits that are available to citizens. These men and women are allowed to fight and die for us, but they are not given the same educational benefits as the men and women who fought alongside who do happen to be citizens.
What struck me most about this article is not the commonsense highlighting of this injustice, but the reader response. David A Hill writes, "I agree for the most part but I feel the person should be a citizen in order to receive the educational benefits." Huh? What part of the article is it that Mr Hill agrees with if it isn't the recommendation to give education benefits to permanent residents?
Then there's Paul D. Perry, who says, "Some [of] us get up every morning and figure out how to produce an income so someone on government salary can figure out how to take it away in the name of patriotism!" For Mr Perry, the injustice isn't the unfair treatment of some veterans, it's that he's paying too much in taxes. He feels that he's the victim here.
HSH recognizes the weaknesses in these other readers' arguments and points them out. What's noteworthy is not HSH's voice of reason, but that he isn't blocked from posting. Dallas Blog is tilting more and more to the right (it's hard to believe that's possible, I know), both in contributors (whatever happened to Ed Ishmael or Ken Molberg?) and readers (more and more who aren't on the right end of the political spectrum seem to be permanently blocked from posting). Keep it up, HSH, while you still can!
2 comments:
Ed -- thanks for the nod. Right back at ya.
I hope that Mr. Pauken continues to allow me to speak out -- although i know my time could be limited. I try to argue based upon facts, but sometimes my sarcastic nature gets the best of me.
Regardless, I've set up my own blog (in the building stage -- no posts yet.) Lipstick on a Pig. Thought that sounded appropriate. Hope to see you there once I roll out to the public.
Onward through the fog.
Mr Pauken seems to be tolerant of contrary opinions as long as the criticism is directed at others' ideas, not his own. It's fine to criticize, say, The Dallas Morning News, but don't criticize Dallas Blog. Dallas Blog is the poorer for it. At least, that's my opinion. Mr Pauken might disagree. ;-)
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