A cry for help

Re “A national near-death experience,” Opinion, Jan. 24

Patt Morrison captured the feeling that I, and probably many others, have had since the beginning of the Bush administration. The bombardment of so many wrongs against our liberties, science, the environment, world opinion and our prisoners from a war that can never end, coupled with such blatantly illegal acts as the outing of a CIA agent and wiretapping without court orders, have had a shock-and-awe effect that still leaves me wondering how it is possible that these things could have ever happened in our country.

When the Republicans were knocked from their perch in the 2006 elections, I had hopes that we were fighting to take our country back; however, I have yet to see any progress on bringing justice to these evildoers. Clearly, I have reached the depression phase. I am not so sure I am ready to move on to acceptance, as I will retaliate in the voting booth against the next crop of elected officials if they do not take steps to right the wrongs of the last seven years. I need to be proud of my country again.

Bill Gervasi

Ladera Ranch

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Morrison is stuck in one of the five stages: denial.

First, the 2000 election was not won in the courts; independent investigations have proved what happened.

Then, less than seven months into his term, President Bush was faced with the biggest terrorist event ever on our shores. A lot of second-guessing has been done since, yet there was no playbook to rely on as to what should be done. If the terrorists wore uniforms, there would be no need to institute a Patriot Act. Yet, just as President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, we got the Patriot Act. I am no fan of it, but how do you fight with conventional methods an enemy who may have dirty bombs?

According to Morrison, Bush is to be held accountable for everything that has occurred in the last seven years. Bush is somehow responsible for Hurricane Katrina, but do you not hold state leaders responsible as well? People in the military do bad things, just as civilians do, yet Abu Ghraib is reflective of all soldiers? Not only is Morrison in denial, she also has a severe case of Bush derangement syndrome. Either way, she needs help.

James K. Sisco

Newport Beach

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OK, Patt, so maybe we got lied into a useless, costly war and our economy is about in recession and gasoline is more than $3 a gallon and all that other scary stuff you pointed out. At least we can still buy all the handguns we want, and there aren’t too many gays getting married to each other, and the Supreme Court is ready to control what women do with their bodies. What else could you want?

J.B. Thomas

Arroyo Grande, Calif.