Forum: NATO protesters in the dark
May 21, 2012 10:00PM
Updated: July 2, 2012 9:10AM
I have read several articles on the NATO protestors and noticed that they erroneously blame NATO for a number of the world’s problems. It made me wonder if the protestors even knew why NATO was formed or exists. Somehow I doubt it.
I conducted an informal survey of six co-workers less than 30 years of age and found that none knew what the letters NATO stood for, let alone its stated mission. Do they even teach students anymore about the Cold War?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949 to counter the expansionist risks posed by Russia, which were brought to the forefront when Russian-backed North Korea invaded South Korea.
Since 1949, NATO peacekeeping forces have been effectively utilized to prevent the escalation of war. As a result of the NATO nations’ resolve, the Cold War ended without another world war.
Today, the 28-member NATO is an effective defense against the bullies of the world such as North Korea and Iran. Protestors have their spin to suit their story line about NATO, but it has nothing to do with the real NATO mission.
James Walsh
Oak Lawn
Adios, Illinois
I fully understand just how frustrated senior citizens are because I’m one of them. I live in Tinley Park and have lived in the same house for 33 years. I love Chicago and all the culture, sports teams, even the winter. My wife and I planned on living here for the rest of our lives, with lots of friends and relatives in the area.
My property tax bill is forcing us to move out of state because of a bunch of self-serving greedy politicians called Democrats. My taxes have increased at a rate of 7 percent to 10 percent a year to more than $8,000.
Now I read that Gov. Pat Quinn has decided to pass on the underfunding of the teacher pensions from the state to the school districts. That really fixes things doesn’t it? Where do you think that money will come from? And what about the underfunding of the other state workers’ pension funds? The next time I hear a government employee call himself a public servant, I’m going to slap them right in the face. We taxpayers are the real servants.
My wife and I are going to move as soon as possible, before my tax bill gets so high that I won’t be able to sell my house. Didn’t our taxing bodies learn anything from the housing crisis? With seniors on a fixed income, they just can’t handle 10 percent tax increases. I can move to a Republican-run state and pay one third the property tax for the same piece of real estate.
I hope this letter evokes a response from my fellow seniors and that you get many emailing the SouthtownStar, saying the same thing. Illinois is in for a mass exodus. Where is this state going to get all those billions of dollars to cover its massive debt? Look in the mirror. Adios, my friends!
Ron Bernier
Tinley Park
