If you weren't at City Hall or watching local tv last Monday night,
you missed a good forum. John Borman put together an interesting group of
panelists to discuss the honorable way to leave Iraq. I had never attended
a forum before, so it was very enlightening to me.
Mr. Borman had the panelists give a background to their interest in
the topic and he had done an excellent job in attaining varied views, all of
which had been in Iraq in the not too distant past. Regretfully, one of
his panelists was unable to attend, which left the pros and cons to the war
rather skewed.
It was quite humorous that some of the panelists were unable to let
go of their own personal "agenda" enough to answer the discussion question. One
panelist thought the audience was ignorant, and "revealed" to us that she was a
pacifist. This, I believe most people had figured out, the first time she
spoke.
The panelist whose opinion seemed to be for a slow withdrawal from
Iraq, started speaking her mind toward the end, which gave the forum a more
"balanced" tone. Her prepared responses were good, but she spoke well
without preparation, also.
One panelist accused us of shopping too much, which to me is almost
equivalent to being accused of being a "privileged" American. I am
personally offended by the former label. He wanted us to send our spare income,
of which some of us have been greatly affected by the energy price increase, to
Iraq.
I just cannot understand why my spare money should go to a petroleum
rich country. The panelists did not give me any enlightenment. If
someone could explain it to me, I'd appreciate it. I know American schools
are in trouble, more than just in Winona. I don't think our elderly
population is getting all they deserve. Why should my dollars go to
Iraq?
Thanks again to John Borman for his time and talents.
(Sorry, I forgot to sign.)
Kathleen Giebel
