To The Editor
June 30, 2009
By Administrator
Discrimination
Too many have forgotten the Christian principals that founded America
I just came back from Europe. I visited Amsterdam, Germany, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, Talinn, St. Petersburg, London and Dublin.I was amazed at how they can speak English in the cities I visited; it is their second language. They appreciate the help that they got from World War II from the U.S.
In The Netherlands, they have established a national language, so immigrants can integrate to their country, but their second language is English; they are proficient in the English language. I don’t know why the U.S. cannot declare English as the national language. As Otto Frank (Anne Frank’s father) wrote: “To build up a future, you have to know the past.”
I am appalled by what I read about cemetery markers and the people who want peace, and to promote diversity and yet, so prejudiced to the early American culture which was based on Christian teachings and which made this country tolerate dissent and Christian bashing.
What is it that makes people hate Christians when Christians are the instigators for promoting tolerance to the extent of overtolerance and they help the poor all over the world through their charitable works? They promote understanding, peace and not hatred. Tolerating other cultures and not accepting, even hating, one’s culture is a mockery and a sad state in this country.
It is about time that the American Christian-hating people realize that vilifying the country that gave them rights to speak out is just hurting everyone, including them, and doesn’t do anything good to anyone. Children would not know hatred or discrimination unless someone pointed them out. Real diversity means accepting and understanding other cultures; it doesn’t mean demeaning or putting down one culture over others.
I wasn’t born in this country and I used to hate this country until I came and lived here. Then, I re-read history and understood the real stories about America and what America was all about. Maybe we need another president like the late President Reagan, who inspired each and every person to love America.
Becky Wilder
Issaquah
Thank you
Good Samaritan helped nab purse robber
On Thursday, June 11, my daughter and I were robbed in broad daylight in the parking lot of the Safeway on Gilman Boulevard. A thief made off with my purse, nearly hitting us with his truck.
It was pretty shocking, but thanks to our knight in a shining gold car, everything turned out fine. I only know him as John, but he saw what happened to us and went after the thief.
He hooked up with police, the bad guy was caught and our belongings were recovered. He didn’t have to do it. He didn’t have to put his own safety on the line. He asked for nothing in return.
He’s an outstanding young man, and we will never forget his generosity. You are an excellent role model and citizen. Thank you, John!
Dianne Harbolt
Preston
Cougar Mountain Zoo
New exhibit funds would be better spent protecting cheetahs still in the wild
Imagine how many cheetahs could be saved if Cougar Mountain Zoo officials spent $2 million working on protecting their besieged natural habitats and fighting poaching. Instead, zoo officials intend to spend that much to acquire a single animal whose natural homeland is the African plains, not wet and rainy Washington.
Those funds can impact countless species if they’re targeted toward habitat protection and restoration of savannah ranges. To maintain healthy ecosystems, it is imperative that wild areas be allowed to remain just that: undisturbed and not impacted by humans.
In addition, anti-poaching measures, including increased funding for patrols and wildlife conservation officers, would do more to protect threatened cheetahs than procuring a new cheetah to be put in a cramped enclosure.
If zoo officials want to keep the money closer to home, it certainly could be spent to expand the cages and enclosures, and provide increased enrichment opportunities, for the animals already at the zoo.
Jennifer O’Connor
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Norfolk, Va.
Issaquah Highlands
Building a gas station goes against the very reasons the community was built
A gas station? Please, say it ain’t so.
Over a decade ago, many Issaquah residents questioned the wisdom of building an urban village upon densely forested hillsides that were riddled with wetlands and abutted the county’s rural border. We weren’t opposed to “progress” or “new ideas.” We were concerned about damaging the natural systems that recharged the Issaquah Valley aquifer — the blessing source of water for most of our community.
Despite environmental concerns, the Issaquah Highlands gained support because of its promise to build a village where people would live, work and play. It offered an alternative to our car-dependent culture.
Today, it’s disappointing that highlands residents still have to get into their cars just to buy a loaf of bread. And now, we learn of plans to build a gas station! In addition to safety and contamination hazards, do we really want the glaring lights of a fossil-fuel station blazing above the hillside 24/7? At a time when new technologies race to replace the burning of fossil fuels, is a gas station the best a “green” development can offer?
Please say it ain’t so!
Jerry Burns
Issaquah
Cedar Hills Landfill
Too many questions remain unanswered about proposed expansion project
The Cedar Hills Landfill expansion project would not only expand the visible footprint of the landfill that can be seen from our community and other great land assets, like the Tiger Mountain Hiking Trails, but it would also extend operations for up to 13 more years past the originally planned closure date of 2016.
I am an Issaquah homeowner with young children in a residential community near the Cedar Hills Landfill. Following is a list of unanswered questions posed by the citizens of the community at the proposed landfill expansion meeting in April. To my knowledge, none of us has been contacted for follow up as promised by officials at the meeting.
-Do the pools of lechate (garbage juice) that are aerated (sprayed into the air) get carried by wind into the surrounding communities?
-What standards are used to test air/water quality?
-Are the off-gases from the landfill being burned at night? What are the health risks?
-Is there a potential that the liners can leak and impact ground water?
-How long do the “new and improved” liners last and how can you tell if a leak occurs? (The most obvious concern is a leak into the nearby Cedar River and contamination of this vibrant life source of our beautiful Lake Washington.)
-Has the Cedar Hills Landfill ever had any citations for leaks or other issues?
-When does the gas collection system actually go online?
Instead of expanding landfill operations, why wouldn’t we use the proposed money for expansions to improve the trash intake process at transfer stations, introduce sorting and recycling, educate the public and reduce the overall amount of waste generated at the transfer stations?
If you removed green organic material at the transfer stations and sent this to Cedar Grove Composting, sorted valuable metals, glass, wood and organized for recycle, wouldn’t this cause a decrease in trash and thus prevent the need for landfill expansion?
I look forward to a response from the King County Solid Waste Division and the Cedar Hills Landfill.
David Lang
Issaquah
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what’s with all this religion stuff lately!? i think most letter to the editor writers need to refresh their knowledge of history about all the things religion has done in the world: the spanish inquisition? taking of native peoples lands in south america, africa, the middle east and even here in north america? burning witches? slavery? certainly seems like there have been an equal number of good things and bad things done in the name of “religion.” that should be kept in mind as we attempt to “know the past”