Notice to veterans
Dear editor:
An Alert Notice sent by Dennis Nixon, DAV national commander:
A few weeks ago President Trump signed H.R. 299 (the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, up to 12 miles) [Agent Orange] into law. Unfortunately, a week later the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a blanket stay on all Blue Water Navy claims until Jan. 1, 2020, which is when the law is to take effect.
Although the law does not take effect until Jan. 1 next year and the VA has issued a stay on all claims, it is imperative that Blue Water Navy Veterans begin filing claims right now. If you think that you or anyone you know may be eligible for these benefits you should contact a service officer and file a claim as soon as possible so that you can receive the maximum benefits to which you are entitled, from the earliest date. This is your notice that DAV National Headquarters strongly disagrees with the VA's decision to stay all pending Blue Water claims.
Michael Sharp
DAV service officer, Hot Springs
Silence means acceptance
Dear editor:
In elementary school at Oaklawn Visual and Performing Arts, my favorite book was "Chrysanthemum," by Kevin Henkes. The main character, Chrysanthemum, was insulted due to being named after a flower and her name not fitting on a name tag. Delphinium Twinkle, the classroom teacher, was named after a flower, as well, and if her child were a girl, she would name her Chrysanthemum. She could have remained silent, been a follower, and allowed her student to be bullied. However, Ms. Twinkle possessed the moxie to utilize her voice to be heard in defending her student.
President Trump used his triggered Twitter fingers to bully four elected U.S. House of Representatives members Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by resorting to racist and xenophobic comments. He called them "left winged-cranks," claimed they "hate America," and proposed they return to the country from "which they came from." President Trump's Tweets were directed at four women of color and two women of Muslim faith. Three of the four were born in the United States with one becoming a naturalized citizen. Notice, Trump didn't tell Tom Malinowski (N.J.-D) who wasn't born in America to return from where he came from. Could it be because he's Polish, white, and not of Muslim faith?
Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "There comes a time when silence is betrayal." Delphinium Twinkle didn't take the side of the oppressor by remaining silent. When opportunity struck, she defended her student! Congressman Bruce Westerman has shown by remaining silent which side he is on in this controversy and that's unacceptable in a country that embellishes diversity. If his silence wasn't enough, he then voted against H. Res. 489, which condemns Trumps racist and xenophobic remarks. Congressman Westerman has betrayed Arkansans of color, Muslim faith, naturalized citizens, and those that immigrated to this country!
Tyler Draper
Malvern
Editorial on 07/19/2019