Monday, April 6, 1998

Trust in McDaniel

I thought the March 29 editorial concerning the airport improvement options was very good, until I read the very end concerning the jetways.

As a senior vice president in a local bank, I worked with City Manager Roy McDaniel many years when he was concerned with the city finances. After retirement I was president of 911 for 10 years, with Roy as vice president. During all those years, I gained a great respect for his judgment and ability. We should always value his good judgment, rather than be influenced by some fictional movie.

J.E. SMITH

Abilene

Veterans' dilemma

On March 18 Larry Burks, assistant director of the Veterans Administration in Waco, said, "We are there to take care of the clients' needs." I am very cynical because VA's record of efficiency has been totally chaotic.

For 41 months I have been trying to receive direly needed benefits. The problem is gross incompetence and is deeply ingrained in this office.

Each time I talk to them I get a different version or excuse. Written correspondence is always full of misspelled words, misstated facts, wrong dates and contradictions. My records attest to their failure to do thorough research into a client's medical history, blatant disregard of doctors' opinions and disregard of statements from individuals.

Top priority should be implemented to investigate this office and weed out those for this travesty and injustice to their clientele. It is imperative our government take responsibility and revamp the Veterans Administration to ensure all veterans have their needs taken care of instead of cutting more of their benefits annually.

Five weeks ago I personally sent letters to 21 senators, all being on the committee and sub-committee of veterans affairs. I have yet to receive a single reply. This suggests the callous indifference to veterans goes all the way to the highest echelon. Apparently they consider veterans' dilemma a trivial matter.

There is strength in numbers. Therefore, I urge all veterans with a grievance to contact their congressperson.

BILLY PRINCE

Abilene

Gifts from Serbs

Your March 23 paper had an article about Serbian authorities turning away a congressional "fact-finding mission." Perhaps they have had too much experience with such missions. Certainly people in this country know the congressional tendency to see what they want to see. But the fact is, this group broke Serbian law. What did they expect?

Rep. Engel, D-N.Y., said, "If you are not letting three American congressmen come to your country, it must mean you have something to hide." What arrogance! But here are some things about Serbia that do seem to be hidden.

They have given us some of our greatest scientists. From their rich culture we get sensational food, music and dancing.

Politically, they have always been on our side. In World War I they stood alone against the entire Hapsburg empire, betrayed and cut off from help. In World War II the fascist Croat Ustashi butchered 600,000 of them. Their dead women and children still lie in the deep natural pits where the Ustashi threw them.

In the Bosnian conflict, Serbs have been deprived of homes and property. They have been raped, tortured and killed in large numbers.

We pray for all the people of that region, but the Serbs are special - a warm, giving people who have been unfairly assigned all the blame.

In spite of our government's attitude, we want them to know that some Americans see their side of the issue.

BIANCA HOFFMAN

Cross Plains