Frary responds

The BDN editorial hit-piece of Aug. 20 (“Frary’s Follies”) was so confused, contradictory and full of obvious errors I had the sensation of being dive-bombed by a rubber duck.

First and foremost, I did not propose to ship crude oil from the Searsport Oil Terminal to the Loring Commerce Center by truck. I doubt crude is shipped by truck anywhere in the world. I did not propose shipping it by rail. If the BDN had not refused to print my release on the subject, its readers could have been spared this misinformation. The economics are simple. It would cost about $1.26 a barrel to ship crude from Searsport to LCC by rail. A barrel of oil can be transported by pipeline from Houston to New York City for $1.05. The existing Searsport-LCC pipeline right of way is a valuable asset and its exploitation is worth consideration, although the existing pipeline would have to be replaced.

Second, I’m accused of being “wordy” for writing ads the same length as the editorial.

Third, the editors speculate that I “may have” intended this and “may have” intended that. They could easily have resolved their uncertainties if they had agreed to meet with me in February, April and June as I requested.

It is the only newspaper in the district that has declined a meeting. It’s no wonder the editorial finds my ads confusing since it manages to confuse itself. In one sentence I’m “amusing.” In another I’m “wry and humorous.” And in a third I am accused of a “vain attempt at comedy.”

John Frary

Farmington

• • •

Tragic Timing

My comment on the letters sent in by Carol Iossa and Bob Tweedie regarding the U.S. dropping the atom bomb. I lost a brother in World War II. He was 19 years old and was killed on April 12, 1945.

Four months later the atom bomb was dropped. All I have to say is that it’s too bad it wasn’t dropped sooner, and my brother and thousands of others would have come home alive. Oh, and another little note: he was born on Flag Day.

Anne Flanagan

Newburgh

• • •

Uncertain future

I received my $300 economy jump-start money and used it to buy furnace oil.

Our government borrowed this money from China and other countries so we, our children and grandchildren and unknown numbers of future generations will have to pay this $300 back plus interest over an undetermined number of years.

Also, we are importing 70 percent of our oil, which means that $210 of that money went to Venezuela or some other country.

This kind of management does not appear to be very smart. I would prefer to take the risks of nuclear energy than leave my children and grandchildren with this uncertain future.

Vernon Wark

Bangor

• • •

WWII perspective

Thank you for publishing Bob Tweedie’s letter regarding the 63rd anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs ending the war with Japan.

It was good to read that someone else remembers that war and reminds us of how it really was.

I graduated from Bloomfield High School in New Jersey in January 1942 about a month after Pearl Harbor.

Most of the boys in my class, the neighborhood boys, and my cousins enlisted in the service, so I gradually ended up writing to about 30 of them, acting as a sort of newspaper, passing on their news when I received letters.

This continued until the dropping of the atomic bombs ended it all and saved thousands.

I’ll never forget Pearl Harbor and visiting the Arizona brought it all back.

Dorothy Herblotz

Franklin

• • •

God’s principles

Has America forgotten why our nation has become the greatest nation on earth?

When the founders set forth the principles that would govern our nation, they were convinced those principles were based upon the principles taught in God’s word. Even Benjamin Franklin believed these principles came from God’s word.

We have been blessed because our nation was founded upon God’s principles. So why has our nation rejected some of those great principles? I believe we live in an age like the times recorded in the last chapter of Judges 21:25, when God’s people rejected God’s commandments and did what was right in their own eyes.

In the upcoming election, we have a choice, whether we will uphold the principles set down by our forefathers or do as God’s people did in the days of the Judges.

I want to ask you fellow Americans whether you think our forefathers would have approved of abortion. There is no question in my mind; they would have rejected it in no uncertain terms, yet, the Supreme Court of our land has declared that it is not wrong to kill unborn babies.

Our two presidential candidates made it clear where they stand, one approves of abortion and the other rejects it.

Have we forgotten so soon what Hitler did to the Jews? The sanctity of life was rejected by Hitler. Let us not be deceived who we should vote for.

Allen Moody

Houlton

• • •

Truth and consequences

Re: the BDN’s Aug. 18 editorial, “Telling the Whole Truth”: I am all for a “truth and reconciliation” commission in the U.S. But where would we begin and end?

I would start with any member of the military, sergeant or lower. Maybe with those poor misguided souls who took photos of themselves stacking up naked prisoners or of the prisoner atop a box, wired and hooded. They deserve a chance to express regret for things they did while on duty by carrying out the orders of their “superiors,” whether in uniform or in office, to face those they harmed, and for all those to find a type of closure.

Many members of the armed services realize, along with many Americans, that we were sold a bill of goods. We were lied to. People are willing to believe all kinds of untruths when angry.

Where should it lead us? I say “no forgiveness” for those who led us into these crimes. For them, nothing short of international Nuremberg-type trials with life imprisonment as a punishment. That would not even begin to “reconcile” with the millions of civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world who have been maimed, suffered losses or killed. I hope to live long enough to see Cheney, Bush, Rumsfield, Rice, Rove, Wolfowitz, et al in a court

And where could we end? Certainly not by electing Democrats. That is not an answer either. Any “truth and reconciliation” commission worth its name would find there are many equally guilty persons from our recent history.

Shame, America.

Paul Sheridan

Northport