Attacks against Sen. Beason are personal vendetta

Dear Editor:

I am shocked by the unfair and harsh attacks published in the Birmingham News against Sen. Scott Beason.

That misleading campaign appears to be a personal vendetta and of political motivation. It may also be designed to blemish our senator’s excellent record and misrepresent his achievements in order to put a negative twist on his dedication to the citizens of Alabama. Those critics do not realize that Beason’s honorable endeavors to expose corruption, fight gambling, improve on the ethics reform legislation, stem from his strength of character and Christian upbringing as well as a direct reflection of the conservative values prevalent in the communities and churches of north Jefferson.

An attack on Scott Beason is an attack on us individually and on the values that we stand for. Scott Beason is known to his constituents as the “Senator with guts,” “The father of ethics reform,” “The anti-gambling and corruption maverick” and “a true Alabamian leader.”

As for Sen. Beason’s critics, we assure them that we will remember Scott’s faithfulness and achievements. We also hope and pray that they may get to know him as well as we do.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Dr. Lee Chamoun

Gardendale

Gardendale man claims insight on 1950s, ’60s events

I lay claim to the fact that I know more about the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, Martin Luther King Jr. and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham than any living person today.

To bolster this claim with those skeptics, I will first establish my “credentials.”

You will be made to understand the history of “oil” in the 50s and 60s and how they became an important enemy, although not the sole adversary of the Kennedys; and you will learn of other entities besides the KKK interested in the church.

Everyone knows the Kennedys were attempting to have Fidel Castro killed. However, Castro still lives today. Some know how they were targeting Carlos Marcello to have him exiled from the country, permanently. Marcello hid in the U.S.A. through 1963. After Nov. 22, 1963, he came out of hiding. Years later he died of natural causes in America. Who and why were they interested in his being exiled? The Warren Commission conveniently overlooked these events.

Now in the twilight of my life, I intend to describe the real history of the 60s: How Birmingham was directly connected to the events of JFK, RFK, MLK, the church bombing and other important people and events. I am available at 700 or 704 Main Street in Gardendale Tuesdays and Thursdays after 11 a.m. for questions.

Billy Ray Fortner

Gardendale