Memorial Day and oil
I recently had a friend send me an e-mail. It said that she remembered my stepson “with gratefulness for his service to his country.” I wish that I felt the same as she does regarding Marine Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo’s service. Alex wanted for both his dad and I to follow the news on the conflict in Iraq for him. We have continued to keep this promise despite his demise, and have learned a great deal.
At least 70 Massachusetts troops have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reason why has been made clear by the publication of benchmarks related to the Iraq war funding.
Benchmark #1 urges the Iraqi government to pass a new “oil law” as soon as possible. Masquerading as just an oil revenue sharing agreement, in fact this law, if passed, would put effective control of Iraq’s vast oil resources into the hands of foreign — mostly American and British — companies.
It couldn’t be clearer on this Memorial Day that the lives of close to 3,500 members of the U.S. armed forces — plus the coalition forces, contractors, journalists and Iraqis — have been spilled over oil.
To have Alex back, I would gladly walk rather than pump gas into my car tank ever again.
Melida Arredondo
Roslindale
Words to the young as the school year ends
Congratulations! It’s time to shine. It’s graduation day. Many of you sacrificed to get where you are today and you ought to be commended. Keep doing good work.
Sometimes it hurts to do the right thing — especially when doing so might make someone you know feel wronged. Yet doing nothing could result in a lifetime burden on your soul.
Boston is our city, our home, and most of us love living in this place, even with all of its crazy weather. But tolerating the weather is a lot different than tolerating the pattern of deadly violence on our streets and public transportation. We deserve a better quality of life in the inner city, just as they have it in Hyde Park and Milton.
What does a better quality of life mean? It means streets that are safe and clean of broken glass and debris. It means carrying litter to a trashcan.
It’s being able to enjoy a livable atmosphere free of chaos and loud profanity blasting from car speakers. They don’t allow it in Brookline.
It can also mean acting like a good citizen, not a hero, and giving a “shout-out” to a good neighbor, a minister or a “Guardian Angel” when you see something wrong, if you don’t trust the police. Trust has to be earned.
It means following the words of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy: “If not us, who? If not now, when?” We are our brother’s keepers.
Marvin Clark
Via e-mail
