>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Having been an early teenager during World War II, with friends owning what we called a "trans-oceanic" radio, I heard several broadcasts of Tokyo Rose as she aired her demoralizing lies to our American troops.

John Sprenger was correct in his letter regarding his comparison of Tokyo Rose and some of our liberal legislators, such as Ted Kennedy, John Murtha and Nancy Pelosi. It seems as though Tokyo Rose was the author of the anti-Iraq war statements now being used for political purposes without concern for the morale of our waring troops. Sprenger's age would indicate he had also heard her statements firsthand and speaks from knowledge rather than statements written by someone else.

What I learned from the biography of Tokyo Rose as presented by Mary McCracken was that America is basically a Christian nation and very forgiving. It also reminded me that we forgave thousands of soldiers who killed our people at Pearl Harbor and during World War II. Pardoning Tokyo Rose did not make her any more special or a better person. Nor does her pardon refute Sprenger's statements referring to Kennedy, Murtha or Pelosi.

Having heard these same anti-American statements made by Moscow Molly while serving in the Korean conflict, I can only guess what those liberal legislators must be thinking while repeating them again.

Incidentally, I have read Sprenger's letter several times, as requested by McCracken, and agreed with him each time.

Gene Erwin

La Grande

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Right on, John Sprenger.

I listened many a night in India and Burma to Tokyo Rose, and she told us almost every night that President Roosevelt had lied to us, Pearl Harbor had not been bombed by Japanese. The Japanese, according to her, were good people who were only trying to help the poor countries like Burma, what is now Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands.

One broadcast that really got our attention announced that a new combat cargo air group had just the day before flown into Imphal. She knew the unit by its numerical designation, the number of planes they had and how all those brave pilots would be dead in just a few days.

She also liked to tell us how our wives and/or girlfriends were having a good time back home with the guys who had sense enough not to be sent over as fodder for the brave Japanese soldiers to kill.

Nice lady, Tokyo Rose. One thing we did enjoy was the good old American dance music she played, even if we didn't have anyone to dance with.

Roy Hills

World War II Veteran

Island City

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Credit-seeking citizens are patriotically following the lead of the "borrow and spend" ones whom you have chosen to lead us. The result is that ours is the only industrialized nation in the entire world whose citizens have a negative savings rate.

As if this irresponsible habit were not enough, we have been forced into a "cut and run" practice of cutting taxes on the very ones who could easily afford to pay them and running up the bill for all our offspring and their offspring as well.

This monstrous burden of debt is a "birth tax" that will be constantly magnified with the addition of massive interest costs. The solution should be making those profiting the most from this bloody war pay their fair share for starting it.

Bill Dougherty

Enterprise

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Regarding current legislation to rehabilitate the Wallowa Lake Dam: Most government work falls under the Davis Bacon Act requiring "the prevailing wage," which could double the cost of the project. Assuming that you have read Senate Bill 231, or House Bill H.R. 5019, along with other documents pertaining thereto, do you know that in addition to agreeing to those requirements you also accept any requirements, previously written, pertaining to all government jobs, along with presidential executive orders, etc. etc.?

The bill authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to participate. The involvement of BOR brings the review done by John Keys on Oct. 15, 2003, into the picture, in which he states that there needs to be "provision for repayment by project beneficiaries in accordance with Reclamation law."

If the provisions of the Davis Bacon Act have to be followed, and you repay the government "in accordance with Reclamation law," you will probably end up eventually paying double what you would otherwise pay to "rehabilitate" the dam yourselves.

The bills state: "Only the tribes shall own and control fish passage facilities." Knowing that water is an integral part of a fish passage facility, you can expect lawsuits from the Water Advocacy Group and similar groups for total control of the water. In effect you will no longer actually be owners of the dam but only "nominal owners" who accept the responsibility for operation (other than "fish passage"), maintenance and liability for any damages incurred before, during or after construction.

If you are naive enough to think a suit to control the water is not a possibility, note the current suit to halt grazing in the Joseph Creek Rangeland Analysis Area.

If you agree, write to your congressman and senators and ask them not to support these bills.

Gary Poole

Wallow

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As John Sprenger reiterates in "Putting ‘me' over U.S." (April 3), "Zero Hour," a Japanese radio broadcast during World War II, was intended to demoralize allied troops. But to get the troops listening, most air time highlighted popular music and entertainment. The demoralizing messages were "advertisements." It was rumored that secret coded messages were passed via "Zero Hour," and it was of this that Tokyo Rose was accused.

Allied POWs produced the program. Iva Ikuko Torquri, aka Tokyo Rose, was a Japanese-American trapped in Japan and versed in American pop culture.

The facts remain: Torquri was jailed twice on testimony gained through bribery and pressure, pardoned by Nixon and given a World War II Veterans Committee award in 2006.

War harms innocent people in outrageous ways. Japanese-Americans lost their possessions and spent years in relocation camps. We've been holding prisoners in Guantanimo for years without trial. Many are likely innocent.

Sprenger states as fact that legislators had access to the same intelligence as the president before this war. Increasing evidence indicates that this is so blatantly false it could justify impeachment.

Sprenger accuses legislators of putting themselves first, party second and country third. Let's consider our executive branch with its outrageous corporate ties. For them it's profit first and party second. The constitution, civil liberties and governance by law all tie for last.

Regarding Johnny Peterson's comments on what Tokyo Rose said on the radio, those anti-American things were said.

However, since we didn't know the women and couldn't see them, Americans made up the generic name "Tokyo Rose.''

After the war ended the Japanese fingered an innocent and loyal American as BEING Tokyo Rose.

Our news media and military ran with that story rather than investigate and

discover her innocence.

That investigation leading to the pardon and award happened towards the end of her life.

Mary McCracken

La Grande

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In attempting to obtain public information from OTEC last year, we ran into a stonewall thanks to the current management and the OTEC board. Peggi Timm was directly related to this issue; in fact, she was board chair during part of the time when we were attempting to obtain public information.

We did find that the board is paid $100 per day when attending board meetings plus travel, lodging and food if required, but the real waste came when we found board getaways are held in exotic places that included the spouse.

Timm has been on the board for 18 years, and it is time for a change. It is obvious there are considerable perks to be on the board. Is it any wonder that Timm is spending thousands of dollars advertising in the media? Timm has never had to compete in the private sector as her opponents have had to do. Needless to say, her opponents would bring sound business practices to the board.

Timm is not the only issue with the OTEC board. Another board member, Gary Potter, is also the contracted state electrical inspector who provides local electrical inspections, which is an obvious conflict of interest.

We encourage you to vote for either Michael Cook or Scott Warner, which we hope will make some serious and long overdue changes. We would also hope that these potential new board members would get behind renewable energy programs that OTEC is currently resisting through massive lobbying in Salem.

It is time for new ideas and professionalism from business owners with business expertise such as Michael Cook or Scott Warner. Please help make some much needed changes by voting for one of these candidates to Position 9 of the OTEC board.

Dennis Wilkinson

Cove

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For the past 45 years Blue Mountain Community College has supported Eastern Oregon communities. Now we need to support it. I need your help in the state Legislature. Send letters and make phone calls to the Legislative Budget Committee. An important part of our economic future depends on your support.

Oregon's 17 community colleges are getting shortchanged in the state budget process. Legislative leaders have cut $70 million from the amount proposed by community colleges just to maintain programs for the next two years.

The impact could be especially devastating for rural institutions such as Blue Mountain Community College, where students already drive long distances to attend class. Since 2000, BMCC enrollment has dropped from 15,400 to 12,300 and tuition increased from $40 to $61.80 per credit hour. As one BMCC executive recently wrote me, "There's a dark cloud on the horizon."

Community colleges shouldn't have to compete against K-12 for funding. In fact, community colleges do a lot to help our high school graduates who aren't ready for college.

We also know community colleges are the best source of workforce training for family-wage jobs in Oregon. They provide essential services and workers to help our agriculture industry and small businesses sector.

Budget deliberations for community colleges are under way in the Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee. Please contact my office if you want to submit letters or other testimony in support of community colleges. After all, there's a reason they have that name. They are truly part of your community.

Greg Smith, State Representative

House District 57