Editor's note: This week in comments is a new feature of the Viewpoint page that summarizes activity in The Daily Times Internet discussion forum. All quotes are taken directly from the forum and are not edited from their original form.
Visitors to The Daily Times discussion forum were inspired by the story of Medal of Honor recipient Kenneth Worley. Worley was born and raised in Farmington, but moved away as a teenager. Commenters were both shocked and angered to find there was no local memorial to Worley, who died in Vietnam at age 20.
"What is the hold up Mayor Standly??? This is your town as well as ours, give this brave Marine the recognition he deserves....get busy!!!!!"
"A Medal of Honor tribute at the All Veterans Park by the river would be a great place"
"I do have to agree that Worley should have some type of memorial deedicated to him."
"I agree with everyone about this home grown HERO Kenneth Lee Worley....I am writing to every Friend and family member I have to see if they know him...."
"Kenneth Worley was important to his friends, to his family and to America. If you don't yet get it, type your own name into internet search and then count the hits! Then type in the name Kenneth Lee Worley + Medal Of Honor, and get an education!"
One commenter claimed to belong to a unit of young Marines in California that is named after Worley, and offered his services in securing the Marine a memorial.
" As the CO and original charterer of the LCpl Kenneth L. Worley Young Marines, I would like to offer the services of the unit to commemorate any memorial the city deems worthy of Ken Worley. We would provide a Color Guard for the dedication, or whatever the city would like as a ceremony. We have set ourselves up as a living memorial to LCpl Worley, and conduct a memorial service at his grave site each Memorial Day since we were founded. Additionally, veterans groups in Orange County, CA have included Ken in the Medal of Honor Circle in Santa Ans, CA, along with the other Orange County recipients."
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There was a great amount of political debate in the forum in response to a letter to the editor written by a woman whose Barack Obama poster was vandalized. Early on, the posters mainly responded to the situation indicated in the letter.
"It can be very hard, in this area, to support a "non republican". Stay strong, change is coming."
"Thanks for your letter, Cynthia :) This is becoming a scarily warm and fuzzy topic... "
"I trust you expressed the same sentiments when President Bush was referred to as Chimpy."
"Obama is, undeniably a black man. So what? The problem with the person Obama happens to be is that he is merely a billboard...very visible, but no depth."
From there it grew into a full-scale political argument, and not a very friendly one at that.
"Bush is living proof that many of those who don't believe in evolution are those who missed out on it the last time around."
"I would trust Bush to not sit still and try diplomacy as opposed to Obama who would do that if they came after us again. Part of the job is to protect us, not make everyone like us."
"And if you liked Bush's Republican "protection racket", just sign up for four more years of it with John McSame."
"Are you fond of paying higher taxes? ELECT OBAMA Do you want to encourage more people to take federal hand-outs at taxpayer expense? ELECT OBAMA"
At least one reader got tired of the non-stop stream of insults and made a plea for calm that fell upon deaf ears.
"Instead of the rhetoric of hate people seem to be falling back on, we should instead be taking a good long look at what each candidate stands for."
To comment on stories at The Daily Times Web site, visit www.daily-times.com, click on the story you wish to comment on and scroll to the form at the bottom of the page. Patrick Hogan is the online editor for The Daily times and a moderator in the discussion forum. He can be reached through e-mail at phogan@daily-times.com.
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