School zone speed limits ignored
Politics are confusing, but going the right speed limit is not. I’m a fourth-grader at Marshall Elementary. People just won’t stop going over the speed limit even in a school zone at school time. My friend nearly got run over when walking across the crosswalk with a crossing guard helping her. My school has sent newsletters home hoping people would slow down. All we want is for school kids to be safe.
Hannah Mixon
Vancouver
Being together to grieve worth cost
In the public’s right to know, Washington allows its citizenry insight. The Feb. 7 Columbian story “Agencies pay $34,000 to attend memorial,” on the cost to local agencies attending the Tacoma Dome memorial for the murdered Lakewood officers, is a case in point. I’m not in law enforcement, don’t have any family or friends that are, but I’m troubled (unnecessarily?) by potential negative comments from some who may decry the expense of sending these brave souls to Tacoma. Count me out of that.
Public turnout on the streets of Lakewood and Tacoma showed officers from across the nation love and respect they deserved. I don’t know about budgets or percent of law enforcement officers in the county who attended, but I thank them, and honor their services. In this time of deficits, the total cost of them being in Tacoma is nothing compared with the support they received.
The Tacoma Dome memorial was spectacular in allowing uniformed officers a moment to grieve. It also gave the common citizens opportunity to say, “Yes, we feel your pain as it is ours also. Thank you for serving.”
Jim G. Martin
Vancouver
Glad Columbian is here to stay
Congratulations to The Columbian for emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It’s been painful to watch and no doubt much more painful for the management and employees of The Columbian to struggle through such a period.
Newspapers take a lot of undeserved criticism from readers but just seem to ride it out as a normal condition. They’re either too liberal or too conservative, or take an unpopular stand on an issue. That’s their job. I’m glad The Columbian is here to stay.
By the way, I should add I have nothing to do with the newspaper business other than read the paper.
Keith Scott
Vancouver
Recover revenue with volunteer force
Our state is in such financial mess, I suggest that we start recovering some of the monies lost to local residents who have out-of-state vehicle registration. OK, so the police can’t do it because of funding, but how about volunteers like the ones who patrol for offenders in handicap parking. I would gladly volunteer to patrol the streets and condos where offenders may live. I travel along Fourth Plain Boulevard early in the morning, and I see many vehicles with Oregon plates heading to state Highway 500. I think it is high time that Washington state gets back the money these drivers are not paying to register their vehicles in our state.
Don Mongeau
Vancouver
Reform through partnerships
A lot is being said about improving the teacher component of our education system. Arguably, the teacher is the most important component in a child’s education. However, it is not the only component. So why is it the only component being talked about?
The administration of schools must be improved. As long as school districts continue to protect incompetent administrators, teacher unions will not allow them to fire incompetent teachers. We can’t allow incompetence to thrive on any level. Committees composed of teachers, administrators, students and parents must be formed with the competence to evaluate both teachers and administrators. Only when parents take responsibility for their children’s education will students feel accountable for learning. Too many parents either don’t know how or have given up, and the state is afraid to legislate parental accountability in student performance. Parents account for too large a voting block.
Administrators focus on their career ladders and lobby the state for protection from teacher groups; too many parents have shifted their responsibility to the schools; students don’t feel accountable. Who’s left? Teachers. Politically the most vulnerable group, their role receives the heaviest focus. The education process is a partnership. Education reform must recognize that fact.
Joel Littauer
Vancouver
Miracles are not within our power
Like Doug Moe in his Feb. 8 letter, “Medical wisdom comes from God,” I am saddened about what Jeff and Marci Beagley are going through with the Oregon faith-healing controversy and trial. It’s very unfortunate that they were misguided. Also like Moe, I have had some faith healing and I feel very blessed. I wouldn’t be here now without it. But where the misunderstanding comes in, I think, is that some people expect God to heal anything and everybody we pray for.
In the New Testament, we read that everyone whom Jesus and the Apostles miraculously healed were people who had been to doctors and were beyond hope of getting better. The healings were miracles to glorify God, not to use as everyday medicine. We are to see healings the same, as God is the same now as He was then. Faith healings are for people who will not heal any other way and most likely will die without them; that’s why they’re called miracles. It is also God’s choice — not ours — on whether the miracle should happen. It is written that we are not to test our God and we certainly should not be demanding Him to heal all ailments that are treatable by doctors He has provided.
Donna Cooley
Vancouver
Diamonds are just flashy carbon
It’s approaching Valentine’s Day and diamond shills are hitting the airwaves, equating pieces of compressed carbon with love and first kisses and, also, cheapening a woman’s worth by hinting she can easily be manipulated when offered a bit of carbon in exchange for her affections.
Many people may not have seen the film “Blood Diamond,” where anyone can discover that diamonds aren’t rare and that if all the diamonds held in storage by the diamond diggers were released on the market, the price of diamonds would plummet. When the hopelessly naive flash worthless baubles on their fingers, even informed people are forced to participate or loved ones are hurt. Social pressure is a bear. Poor male saps must waste money on nothingness.
Men who buy diamonds for women are fools, and women who encourage men to buy carbon make them fools. Men with tough, intelligent wives are blessed.
