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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
December 15, 2011
Obviously, there are paint fumes
or some kind of gas leak at our
national Capitol inWashington, D.C.
impacting the reasoning ability of
our elected officials. That is the only
explanation I can think of, other
thanmass hypnosis, alienmind con-
trol or wide-spread drug addiction
that accounts for their recent
actions.
This time they have gone too far.
Geez, I hope none of them hear
about this or I'll end up in federal
custody.
See, these guys took it upon
themselves, with the help of
Michigan Democratic Congressman
Carl Levin, to enact new legislation
that allows law enforcement offi-
cials to imprison U.S. citizens sus-
pected of being terrorists or terror-
ism supporters at an unknown loca-
tion for the duration of the war on
terror. OK, read that again, slowly.
Homeland Security can throw
U.S. citizens in the hoosegow with-
out any legal due process for the
duration of thewar on terror.
Yep. They can throw your butt in
Gitmo without a trial, without a
lawyer, without a phone call, with-
out any of the Constitutional rights
we've all been taking for granted for
so long. Until the war on terror is
over. When do you think that might
be? Yes, you, an American citizen,
born and raised here. The men in
black helicopters can come and
swoop you up anytime they choose.
Legally, thanks to your elected offi-
cials.
The new rules allow them to cart
you or me off without telling any-
body about it, without letting any-
one know where we are being held
and subjecting us, U.S. citizens, to
the “enhanced interrogation tech-
niques” so favored by the prince of
darkness, aka Dick Cheney. They
are wiping their feet, and maybe
other parts of their anatomy, on the
constitution, and it annoys the spit
out ofme.
What is going on here? Are they
all on the crack pipe up there in the
Capitol or what? Here we are inun-
dated constantly with the message
that Al-Quida or
the Taliban or
somebodywants
nothing more
than to destroy the American way of
life and these guys we elected begin
to tear bricks out of the wall of our
freedoms and beat us about the
head with them. What's next? Do I
hafta wear a damn burka to work?
And I'll have to walk to the office
because pretty soon these brainiacs
will decide that woman shouldn't
drive, either. (OK, so in my case that
might be a blessing because I drive
likeMr. McGoo, but still.)
Sorry, but this is going just too far.
When travelers across the coun-
try had to practically disrobe at the
airport to get on a 15-minute flight,
we all endured the inconvenience.
When senior citizens had to have a
full body scan to visit their grand-
After the frenzy of media excitement last week, we'd just
like to take amoment to express our gratitude and that of our
communities toNateWeiser.
Weiser, 95, witnessed both the attack at Pearl Harbor in
1941, and alsoD-Day, something only a very fewcan claim.
We thank him for his service in the armed forces and
appreciate the loss of friends he witnessed in war and the
horrors he experienced while serving our country. But Nate
Weiser is far more than just a witness of history. Weiser went
on to build a successful and thriving business in Wayne
where he and his wife, Norma, raised their family. The cou-
ple was active in the community and were among the most
respected and generous contributors to many civic efforts
and causes.
Perhaps the most notable, right now, is Weiser's continued
philanthropy and involvement with the program of the
Wayne Rotary Club to put dictionaries in the hands of every
third-grade student in the schools.
Sounds like a daunting task, doesn't it?
But nothing seems to thwart NateWeiser when he puts his
mind to a project and he has put both his mind and his heart
in this one. He is still active, whenhe is able, andparticipates
in Rotary Club fundraisers for the purchase of the dictionar-
ies. When he can, he's on hand more often than not, to hand
them out to the eager students who reach for these tomes of
wisdom.
The dictionaries speak toWeiser's respect for and belief in
education and knowledge. He enjoys putting words into the
hands of these students and is confident that this program
makes a significant difference in their educations and
futures.
Weiser is now the oldest member of the Wayne Rotary
Club and when they honored him last week for his service in
theArmy and the historic events hewitnessed andparticipat-
ed in to protect and serve his country, the tribute was well
deserved andheartfelt on all sides.
Weiser is a true gentleman who conducts himself with the
grace and dignity of a man who has seen much and learned
from it all. His intelligent mind still crackles with good
humor and his kind heart and gentle soul seem to have a
magnetic effect on others. To meet with and talk to Nate
Weiser is a true joy and an experience in proximity to all that
is good and fine inmankind.
The rampant media exposure of him last week as one of
the few remaining survivors of Pearl Harbor missed the true
mark andmerit of theman.
The Wayne Rotary Club members, however, know Weiser
for the man he truly is: the embodiment of their club motto,
ServiceAboveSelf.
Weiser, 95, witnessed both
the attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941,
and also D-Day, something
only a very few can claim.
”
Homeland Security can throw
U.S. citizens in the hoosegow without any
legal due process for the duration of the war on terror.
”
Media attention doesn’t capture real hero
The real ‘enemy’ may be in Washington D.C.
Safety
officers
deserve
honors
Last month, the Plymouth
paramedic, police officers and
firefighters of the year were
named and honored. Recently, as
part of the reorganization of the
Romulus Police Department,
Chief Bob Dickerson honored two
officers for their heroic acts and
named them “Officers of the
Month”. Most of the municipali-
ties in the area do take the time to
honor these “first responders”
who normally see their fellow
man at the very worst times of
their lives. These programs are
more than worthwhile and the
stories of the heroics of these pub-
lic servants is always breathtak-
ing.
We think honoring them more
often, as Dickerson has opted to
do, however, may be a good thing.
Whose to say that the saving of
one life is more heroic than the
saving of another, after all? Who
can judge, really, the true merit of
what these men and women
endure on the streets daily?
Most fire and police chiefs
understand what these guys go
through, having risen through the
ranks themselves and knowing
what it takes, day after day, to be
out there on the streets or rushing
into a burning building or home
to attempt to bring the inhabitants
out alive. But the general public
truly does not understand what
happens to thesemen andwomen
every day. They cannot compre-
hend the daily grind of com-
plaints and miscreants that are
most often foul-mouthed, worse
tempered and physically violent,
or even armed, when officers
encounter them.
Nor can they even fathom
rushing into a flaming, collapsing
building to search for a missing
child, risking their own lives with
every step to save that of another.
These people do it because it's
their job. They chose this career,
every one of them, and the rea-
son, when asked, seems to be uni-
versal. Most of them regard the
question as if it came froma slow-
witted 2-year-old. Their answer is
almost always: “I wanted to help
people.”
Despite the cop and firehouse
shows on TV, these people take
their jobs very seriously. They
may deal with some of the horrors
they witness with black humor
and are often quick with a wise-
crack or quip, but it would be dif-
ficult to find a group of more feel-
ing, caring and genuine human
beings.
These people take their lives in
their hands, they risk their very
existence and the loss of life,
because they truly want to help
other people. Some get jaded very
quickly when constantly faced
Letters
See
Enemy
, page 7
See
Officers
, page 7
Salvation Army seeks help
To the editor:
The Salvation Army Christmas
Fund Raising Campaign for the
Northville, Plymouth, Canton and
Belleville service area has current-
ly collected $73,672 or 23 percent of
its $315,000 Christmas goal for this
year. The Red Kettle drive has col-
lected $59,425 of its targeted
$225,000 as of Saturday, Dec. 3.
We are still in need of volunteer
bell ringers. You can sign up to ring
the bell online at either ringell.org
or misalplymouth.org or contact
Sandy Kollinger, our volunteer and
special events coordinator by call-
ing (734) 453-5464, ext. 24.
We are anticipating helping over
1,000 children and just over 500
families this Christmas seasonwith
food and gift items.
To make a food, clothing, toy or
gift card donation to our Christmas
Toy Towne Program, please drop
them off at our office located at
9451 S. Main St. in Plymouth
between the hours of 9 a.m. and
noon or 1-4 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Gifts will be distributed to
children from ages birth to 18 to
help them have a brighter
Christmas.
Major Daniel Hull
SalvationArmyCorps Officer