Seniors divided on president’s decision for war
They’ve lived through World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, yet members of the Uniontown Senior Citizens Center remain divided on their opinions of whether the United States should enter a war with Iraq. “I was in World War II. I know what wars are and I have a grandson ready for war and I don’t want to lose him,’ said Joseph Simon of Masontown. “I hope and pray we stay out of war.’
“It’s about time,’ said Dolores Vicites of Uniontown. “I thought (President Bush) was going to back out at the last minute, but he didn’t.’
Members of the senior citizens center discussed their views late Tuesday morning, a day after President Bush’s ultimatum that Saddam Hussein and his sons leave Iraq.
“Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict commenced at a time of our choosing,’ the president said Monday night in a televised address.
Asked their opinion of the president’s decision, members of the Uniontown Senior Citizen Center had mixed responses.
“I agree with that (the president’s ultimatum),’ said Carl Ellis of Louisville, Ky., who is visiting his daughter in Uniontown. “I’m opposed to the war but if you have no alternative. You have to take it.’
“No war,’ said Jo McCoy of Uniontown. “I had a nephew – 19 years old – killed in the second world war. I wouldn’t like war.’
Diane Holt of Uniontown said, “It’s about time. I think we’ll win out on it.’
Jim Grubbs of North Union Township commented, “I think we’ve got to do something. Look at what the terrorists did to us. They bombed our embassies and we didn’t do anything. I think we’ve got to do something this time, otherwise they’ll take over the whole Middle East. I think we need to get Saddam Hussein out of there. He’s like Hitler and Stalin.’
Frederick Schreck of Uniontown, who spent six years in the military in Korea, Japan and France, said, “A lot of people don’t like to see American people go over to other countries. But if we don’t stop them there, they’ll come over here. It has to be stopped somewhere along the line.’
Paul D. Cole of Uniontown, who served in the Navy during World War II, remarked, “They’re already here. 9/11 was a small example of what they can do.’
Cole said he’ll support the war “if that’s the only way to correct all these problems.’
Shirley Lea Jones of Uniontown said, “I back the president 100 percent. I’m very disgusted with young people who are against us going. They don’t know what war is. My husband was in World War II in the Army Air Force. I truly believe if we had waited until they sent something over here with mustard gas, anthrax or other things, then they would have said to the president ‘Why didn’t’ you do something sooner?’ I say God bless the USA and God bless our president.’
Minnie Stalnaker of York Run replied, “I don’t believe in war. I believe in peace. I love my country and don’t want to see it destroyed but I don’t want to see the young men of this country destroyed. My husband was in the second world war and my first husband was killed in the second world war. I don’t think (the president) should jump so quickly. He should give some thought to it. We have a beautiful country. Anybody in the world is jealous of us. Anybody can come here and live beautifully. I love the United States. God bless the United States.’