Monday, March 27, 2017

Hillbilly Elegy By; J.D. Vance

This book has received great reviews and is ranked as #1 New York Times Bestseller. It was recommended to me by several friends. I went to the Library and was placed 356 on the waiting list. Another friend in OLLI loaned me his copy last week. I have finished and will now make a short report. It is well written. At the end he thanks the many people who helped him. When I wrote my memoirs I never allowed anyone to see what I was writing until the book was published. Perhaps it could have been better, I will never know. I didn’t want anyone to soften my comments and be more politically correct. One accomplishment this author received was publicity creating huge book sales. I gave my copies away. No one who didn’t know me would be interested enough to purchase. As well as this was written I do not understand why it is so popular. It is his life story. The fact that he was born in Kentucky rather than New York as I was doesn’t have any special hardship as far as I am concerned. He does add comments about lifestyles in Middle America and draws conclusions which are of general interest. I apologize for not reacting as others have. It is worth reading but as a primer for solving our nation’s problems I learned nothing new. Jack B. Walters March 28, 2017

Sunday, March 26, 2017

ouch/oops article

I was very pleased to read your article and particularly pleased that the Star chose to put in in large print on the front page. I was made aware as you were by listening to the morning talk show as I was driving. My take is twofold; 1- This is a microcosm of what is happening all over America in our Universities. I read where Berkeley spends in the millions. Mr. Trevino’s salary of $214,000 is just the tip. If you are truly interested I suggest you find out the staffing of this new department and the total cost projected. The University feels this is justified while at the same time requesting a large increase in tuition. 2- I will not take the space to list out the many categories as you put in your article. Don’t you believe that by creating all of these different groups that you are fomenting hatred and division, putting one group against another? You went to college and so did I. I went there to learn what I needed for my hoped for career as an engineer. The courses I took were all to prepare me. I took no interest in other activities. After school I studied and worked jobs to help pay my way thru. All of this new activity gets in the way of learning in my way of thinking. How are we ever to come together as a people if we keep dividing us this way? I will admit I am white and went to college in the forties after the war. Perhaps I was just one of those lucky people but I want to state I worked hard for anything I achieved. I never felt of myself as being privileged. Prior to the GI Bill of Rights only the sons of Doctors and lawyers went to college. FDR changed all that for which I am still grateful. We transformed the country and created a golden age that lasted until the mid-70’s. Jack B. Walters March 26, 2017

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Letter to the publisher published

George W. Bush Speaks Out Isn’t it wonderful that former President Bush lectures President Trump about the Press? He was applauded when during the entire eight years of President Obama he kept silent. Our new President does not only have the Liberal wing of the Democratic Party to contend with, he has many in the Republican leadership chipping away at him on a daily basis. I include Senator McCain in that group. Those of us who believe in Trump are watching with deep interest. Jack B. Walters March 1, 2017