The new terminal building at the airport is certainly an impressive introduction to the city of Kennett for travelers here via air. I have a friend who flies here occasionally from Jonesboro and he is impressed with the building.

The airport has come a long way since it first opened in a 40-acre field, not that I was here to see it then! Now sitting on 350 acres with two runways, a parallel taxiway, and a 165,000 square foot concrete apron, it should impress air travelers who are coming into this size city.

We should tip our hats, and do, to all those who worked to make the airport what it is today. Now, let's see about getting a Long John Silvers? Or, what about an A&W? Or both?

President's Birthday

August 19 is the anniversary of one of our former presidents birthdays. Bill Clinton will be 60 years old. Happy birthday, Mr. President.

Israel

I am getting tired of hearing about how Israel is overreacting against the Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Hezbollah are terrorists who basically are cowards.

They dress in ordinary clothes, not in military uniforms, and hide among ordinary citizens. They are the ones who should be condemned and who should be destroyed, and nations who are genuinely concerned about human rights should line up to support the destruction of such groups.

Who knows how many of them may be gathering right here in the United States? They are obviously a determined enemy, who will take years to put themselves into a position of attacking. They have had, what, six years to prepare for what they are now doing to Israel?

Will there be civilian casualties? Certainly, but I have a question. What makes a civilian casualty any more or less significant than a military casualty? That military casualty is some dad's son, some mother's son, some dad's daughter, or some mother's daughter. To that parent, there is no difference; the death is just as significant.

How many civilian casualties were there in New York a few years ago?

The Hezbollah, along with the al-Qaeda, are sick people who simply hate. Hate is cheap and treats everyone and everything else cheaply.

I like what I heard one person say on talk radio this week: "There are people around the world and in this country who hate us (the U.S.), and I'm tired of trying to figure out why. It doesn't matter. They are irrelevant. There are more important things to deal with than a psychoanalysis of these sick puppies who want to blame everything on the United States (or Israel)!"

Amen, I say.

Jack Rollins is the managing editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.