Winning war on terror will take a united states

Never in the history of this country have we ever faced such an immediate threat from an enemy yet remained so unwilling to unite. Instead, we clamor around pictures from an Iraqi prison as if it were Auschwitz, and ignore the real danger that faces this Nation.

The most surprising thing is the apathetic attitude within our own borders. As our nation faces a more perilous threat than at any other time in history, some of you choose to wrap yourselves with an all-consuming hatred towards President Bush and ignore an enemy that would walk into your home, slit your child's throat, and praise it in the name of God.

Many in this country have put their own political agendas above the peril we face, and this has put this nation in greater danger. If we as a nation cannot rise above our trivial differences.we will lose, and at stake is the very survival of our nation.

The "war on terror" can only be won if we are united as a nation and we make the sacrifices necessary to win. The hatred that some of you feel toward Mr. Bush has blinded you to the fact that this nation is involved in a war so profound, that if lost, America will cease to exist.

Lee Kennedy

Carson City

A 'Pledge' must come from the heart

"Banning 'under God' from the Pledge is like saying government should ignore the rights of motherhood because a father doesn't believe in it."

No, it's not. It's the government ignoring the First Amendment, which explicitly prohibits laws establishing religion. The problem is that in 1943, the Pledge was incorporated into the Flag Code, with the religious reference tacked on in 1954. A pledge should come from the heart, not from the U.S. Code, a point not missed by the framers of the constitution.

Richard Dunn

Carson City

Laws don't protect rights of fathers

I was reading the column written by Lisa Keating on June 16 entitled, "Fathers Shape Children All Of Their Lives."

I must say I agree. I agree 110 percent. Why then do our society and laws not reflect this? As the father of two wonderful girls who has gone through a long divorce, I can tell you fathers are treated as an obsolete non-necessary, easily replaceable part of a child's life.

I have been battling for nearly four years now to keep being a father to my children. The laws are written in such a way that it is very easy for my ex to take my children away, but they are not written in a way that protects my right to keep them.

All she had to do was make accusations, not substantiate them, and I lose time with my girls. We even went into civil court, as she filed a restraining order, and the judge, knowing we were waiting to go back into a higher court and that there were questions to the validity of her claims, did not have the courage to form a decision.

The result is that I have lost a year of my daughters' lives that I cannot get back. Add to that two lawyers who seem to be apathetic about the case and get to it when they have time, and you have the reason this has taken years.

I've opened myself up to any all kinds of interviews and inspections, cooperated with the court in every way possible. She has not only not tried to validate her claims, but ignored orders by the court to do so. Yet, I still miss out on my children's' lives.

The judge cannot talk to me unless my lawyer gets me a court date, yet I can't seem to get the two lawyers involved to get one. I've contacted the bar association; their reply was, " What do you want us to do? Get another lawyer." Guess what? I and most guys in my situation (and the number grows every day) are workingmen, who live paycheck to paycheck.

I don't have $3,000 or $4,000 that seems to be required up front to be heard in court. The only phone number I can find for a fathers' rights group was disconnected; it seems there are no fathers' rights groups in the area.

Fathers like me, who have tried to continue being a father to our kids, fall victim to these vindictive women who have learned to manipulate the system. They have only to spin a tail and cry a crocodile tear, and we men have to go to great lengths and expense to prove our innocence with no or little resources.

I thought our system of justice was set up for "innocent till proven guilty" not "guilty till proven innocent." Again I do not disagree with Ms. Keating's article. I agree, why don't our laws and society reflect the same sentiments? Our lawmakers really need to read her article or talk to her then take a look at how our court system is set up.

Dean Hayley

Carson City