Our readers' views March 14
Friday, March 14, 2008
‘Experience’ redefined?
In the March 6 editorial, “The battle continues,” it was mentioned that Ed Cote, an unpledged superdelegate, received a call from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in which she said, “This is not time to put a novice in the White House.” While I know that Albright is a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., I am not sure what vast experience she assumes Clinton has.
Clinton is in her second term as a New York senator, and obviously was the spouse of a former president, but what other qualifications is she referring to?
First Lady of Arkansas, member of the Rose law firm, member of the Legal Services Corporation, family advocate?
If these are the kinds of things that make her highly qualified to be the president of the United States, then we need to rethink what “highly qualified” means.
Eugene A. Foster
Vancouver
We all pay for injuries
Oh, man. Not the helmet law argument again.
Regarding Mitch Moffett’s March 10 letter, “Mind your own business,” about helmet laws: It’s fantastic to hear that Moffett can take care of himself. He’s right to express his scorn over helmet laws. Now I’ll express my scorn over this time-worn argument.
When the “adult” Moffett waives his right to insurance coverage in the event he mashes his melon, I’ll happily mind my own business. I really don’t care if he chooses not to wear a helmet.
I do care, however, if my insurance pays out because of an “adult” who can’t make a smart choice. He wrecks; we all pay.
Kirsten Elson
Brush Prairie
End political thug’s tricks
Nedra Pickler’s Feb. 24 AP story, “Patriotism predicament,” reported on questions about Barack Obama’s patriotism.
Leaving aside the obvious point that wearing a pin or putting a hand over one’s heart during the singing of the national anthem are superficial demonstrations of patriotism that reflect nothing of the actions or beliefs of the person in question,
the story quoted — without challenge — a statement by Roger Stone that Obama is unpatriotic, and “is part of the blame America first crowd.”
What the story didn’t say is that Stone is a Republican dirty tricks operative who orchestrated the Brooks Brothers riot to stop the recount in Dade County, Fla., in 2000, and who this election season has formed a group with an acronym obviously designed to offend.
A craven political thug such as Stone should not be given credence, much less space in The Columbian.
Missy Thompson
Vancouver
Worth examining minimum
The Associated Press reported: “Vermont latest to eye lower drinking age.” I am intrigued by the potential behind that state’s Sen. Hinda Miller’s exploration in lowering its drinking age to 18.
I am a firm believer that many of the negative implications of alcohol consumption on our society have much less to do with age limitations than with our unhealthful social attitudes and misguided approach to regulating both underage consumption and abuse of legal consumption. While of legal drinking age myself, I have always found the concept unnerving that, at 18, we are considered of appropriate maturity to sacrifice our lives for our country but not to indulge in a brew at the local pub.
Though I sincerely respect and emphasize with MADD’s support of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, I think other perspectives, such as those of the organization Choose Responsibility, are valid and worth examination.
To think that minors, though implicitly lacking the maturity required to purchase alcohol, are thus willfully obedient to legislation, is ridiculous — and potentially dangerous to our youth. Why not entertain the possibility of an alternative avenue, via educational programs enveloped with licensing and strict enforcements?
Elizabeth Pappas
Battle Ground
Better uses for donations
Thousands of dollars go toward candidates in the 2008 presidential race. When will people realize there are better causes their money could go toward?
Honestly. This city has a number of local charity events happening every month with proceeds that will go to sick children, homeless pets, or the local school children. And yet an average American can scrounge up money for someone they see on television or in the paper instead. Yes, I understand that people want to see that person run our country, but I’d rather see my best friend get treated for cancer.
Being new to the political process, I am intrigued by all of the action this year among the candidates. But it’s disappointing to see our country’s political process go from showing your support with a vote to showing your support with your wallet.
Kelly Anderson
Vancouver
Canned excuse getting old
Bravo to Lou Brancaccio for his Feb. 29 column, “Are you kidding me on this?” regarding the badgered butcher and the belligerent off-duty cop who drew his gun because he feared for his life when a box of meat was angrily thrust in his direction. I am tired of hearing police use the excuse, “I feared for my life,” for the street murders of citizens of this country. It makes my blood run cold that we hear this canned answer every time a citizen is shot.
It is not a capital offense to scare a police officer.
Defenders of police as shooters point to the fact that they are heros for laying their lives on the line every day in pursuit of criminals. I say they signed up for that job under the auspices of The Bill of Rights and Constitution of the United Stated of America.
They need a crystal clear understanding of that, in addition to rigorous training and proper equipment, to carry out their jobs with greater confidence in their own abilities and personal safety.
As for the off-duty police officer who used that excuse for pulling his gun on the local butcher and the way the system is handling it? Are you kidding me about this?
Judy Dahlen
Vancouver
Turning efforts ‘green’
How wonderful of Fazzolari Construction to join forces with Timothy Buckley and Brandon Tauscher to build some ecologically green housing, reported March 2, “A green house grows in Felida.” People who argue about “those environmentalists” should realize that biblically and morally, we are the caretakers of this world.
We can act to save resources for the future . This is not in direct conflict with growth or industry but, in fact, this will perpetuate life and the ability to work into the future. The proof is clear in the fishing and logging industries. The Building Industry Association has taken a giant step forward in creating a green building committee. Please support the building industry in this effort. This industry supports a major part of our economy with a huge trickle-down effect, as evidenced in our marketplace today.
Toni Montgomery
Vancouver
Roadside litter is shameful
What is happening with our beautiful city of Vancouver is troubling. I have never lived in a city that has less regard for keeping our highways and roadways free of litter.
It’s embarrassing to have guests visit.
Evidently, no one is paying attention at City Hall. Even just a little respect for what we have here and for each other seems to have vanished.
What do we have to do, levy heavier fines for the violators or hire more “litter” police? Everyone should take a moment and think before they toss junk out of their vehicle. What can we do about it?
Pat O’Neal
Salmon Creek |
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| 1. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 03:10 AM |
| Whoa...am I the "first"?
First of all, David Evans, Ace High, Allen Hoff, Bill Dotson, and even James Craven...you have accused me of "always" attacking "your" side. Well, please, view the Wednesday, 3/12, "Erickson still has lessons to teach us" editorial. JE has rattled my cage once too often, and has much too much of a "bully pulpit". And his malicious attack on my devoted teacher daughter, and ALL serious and honest and devoted teachers, was "over the top", and unacceptable in my "Independent" eyes. While I have raged here and there about the hatefulness and slamming and name calling of opposing opinions on these pages, by BOTH sides, as a consecrated independent, I am called upon to dig into any hardline insults..we have become like jungle beings in our harassing and browbeating of each other. This is not civilized, or humane. Can't we, please, be civil? ALL name calling is unacceptable in civilised society...even James Craven's alluding to the "backwards inbred" crap. When we name call, slam, denigrate another human being we are closing a very serious and important door to civilized society....and humanity's progress....and we are calling ourselves denigrating names. When you slam another, you slam yourself...it's that simple and complete. |
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| 2. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 03:20 AM |
| This unholy divisiveness will kill/destroy/bring to desolation our country/culture/laws/republic...and it WILL pull down our world....
Most nations kow-tow to the Western Civilization's code of conduct and code of laws. Why? Because it has through it's history allowed human dignity. Starting with the Magna Carta....and on and on and on. |
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| 3. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 03:20 AM |
| This unholy divisiveness will kill/destroy/bring to desolation our country/culture/laws/republic...and it WILL pull down our world....
Most nations kow-tow to the Western Civilization's code of conduct and code of laws. Why? Because it has through it's history allowed human dignity. Starting with the Magna Carta....and on and on and on. |
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| 4. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 03:23 AM |
| This may be a repeat. I've spent quite a bit of time composing my posts...I often run out of time. Hey, I think deeply...so sue me. |
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| 5. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 03:26 AM |
| Oh well....I keep getting the same "image code", but none of my posts are up for view.
Here we go again with the same code "cvb555". |
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| 6. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 04:13 AM |
| Whoa....David Evans and JE, and James Craven, I have given you all so much ammunition...fire away, guys, fire away!!!
She doesn't know where she is...she repeats her posts...like none of you has ever repeated your posts....
Yeah, I'm impatient. I'm trying so hard to drive home the "Independent" viewpoint because this raging divisiveness will ultimately hurt my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and on and on, until this planet ends. And I don't have all that much time to state my case, but I really ask that all of you simmer down, let common sense and reality enter you all's consciousness(an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation)reign. It really doesn't hurt...and it can be so very freeing. You just have to let go. Let go of anger, hatefulness, bigotry, narrow mindedness, small thoughts, but most importantly, yourself. Let yourself really enjoy things around you...
Sorry, I was dreaming again. |
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| 7. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 04:24 AM |
| Please....I'm very tired and just trying to make a point.
Good night
and maybe good by...
oh hear it is again...the code cvb555
God help me |
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| 8. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 04:24 AM |
| Please....I'm very tired and just trying to make a point.
Good night
and maybe good by...
oh hear it is again...the code cvb555
God help me |
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| 9. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 04:25 AM |
| Please....I'm very tired and just trying to make a point.
Good night
and maybe good by...
oh hear it is again...the code cvb555
God help me |
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| 10. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 14, 2008 @ 04:27 AM |
| cvb555 didn't make it this time.
Oh well, it's the story of my life. |
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| 11. Comment by Rufus O'Banyon - March 14, 2008 @ 06:01 AM |
| Penny -
Get a life! |
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| 12. Comment by Steve Hargen - March 14, 2008 @ 08:07 AM |
| Missy, I think you have been mugged by your own political thugs. The Brooks Brothers riot was a term created by people who wanted the event to seem unlawful. Riot has a connotation of violence. In reality this event was a protest. Nothing was burned, no one was hurt, there was no property damage, no violence of any type.
Also, Mr. Stone was not the organizer of the event. The event/protest (or in your words,riot) was organized by a republican congressman from New York, John Sweeney.
Someone is mugging you Missy by using inflammatory words and not using the truth. |
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| 13. Comment by Sara Shelton - March 14, 2008 @ 09:44 AM |
| Ms Pappas - If 18 is old enough to fight/die in the name of your country, it is also old enough to have a beer |
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| 14. Comment by John Edwards - March 14, 2008 @ 10:20 AM |
| Penny...do your jaws and/or fingers EVER get tired... You HAVE GOT to be one miserable son of a b***h. I've been angry, but you're registering on the hysterical/maniacal mark....along with David Evans and James Craven. Thank God, you three are not getting together...just the thought of THAT is very scary... |
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| 15. Comment by Melody Governale - March 14, 2008 @ 11:14 AM |
| Time for some fun... Canned excuse getting old Under-informed whining idiots getting old belligerent off-duty cop who drew his gun because he feared for his life when a box of meat was angrily thrust in his direction. Were you there? Or are you just relying on what was reported to you by the press, who weren't there either? I am tired of hearing police use the excuse, “I feared for my life,” Other people are tired of hearing from uninformed malcontents, who actually seem to believe they know what goes on because they heard something on the news. for the street murders of citizens of this country. It makes my blood run cold that we hear this canned answer every time a citizen is shot. I find it much more chilling that there are people with such radical viewpoints out there. The police are now murderers? What next, firemen are arsonists? Paramedics and doctors are killers? Defenders of police as shooters point to the fact that they are heros for laying their lives on the line every day in pursuit of criminals. No, but some might choose to point out that they are heroes. They need a crystal clear understanding of that, in addition to rigorous training and proper equipment, to carry out their jobs with greater confidence in their own abilities and personal safety. Now that has to be one of the most hysterical attempts at a sentence that I have ever read. Was it written in the middle of an all night drinking binge? Or are you one of those 420 fanatics? That might explain the level of writing and the typical trailer park venom towards police. I'll bet most police officers have a clearer understanding than you can ever imagine...not only of their jobs, but of how to form a coherent sentence. Are you kidding me about this? Those were my words after reading your letter, for entirely different reasons. LOL |
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| 16. Comment by Jennifer McDaniel - March 14, 2008 @ 02:56 PM |
| Elizabeth Pappas, Battle Ground Interesting letter, and definitely something to think about...Hey, are you related to the Pappas restaurant family of Texas? If so, please let your family know that we transplanted Texans truly miss your fine food up here, and would really like to see the Pappas restaurants (especially Pappasitos) located here. |
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| 17. Comment by Ace High - March 14, 2008 @ 03:04 PM |
| Melody Governale,
Well it is clear that as a high school senior you know it all. Nice to also know that you are an expert at English composition. |
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| 18. Comment by Larry Little - March 14, 2008 @ 08:18 PM |
| I am befuddled as to why there is such a magnitude of hatred toward gay people but the Republicans pushed by rightwing religious fanatics for their votes portray their disgusting public position with pride and through a standing ovation from Oklahoma Republicans of which John Edwards and Bender Bending R are proud members.
This pusillanimous puddle of puke, an Oklahoma state legislator by the name of Sally Kern has said she “honestly believes it’s (the homosexual agenda) the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, she said. She will not apologize and she said she is standing up for what’s right.”
This woman needs to be impeached immediately and have her pension cancelled for spreading hate……end of story……….no appeal. The Republicans gave her a standing ovation where ever she appeared. Humph!! |
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| 19. Comment by John Edwards - March 15, 2008 @ 12:20 AM |
| Well, Larry... at least this time, you didn't advocate that the person you disagree with be shot out of hand. That's progress, of a sort. |
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| 20. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 15, 2008 @ 02:53 AM |
| Well now, Je, have you resorted to plagiarism again, Oingo Boingo...or are you just at a loss for ORIGINAL words?
And, yes, I stand by your generous re-quote of my words. Thank you for telling the truth....again.
How am I doin' Ace and Allen? Is it more "equal" enough for you?!.
It's really pitiful, and dangerous, for this country when a person can't speak their mind....especially when it doesn't adhere to the pompous, corrupt, narrow minded 2 party system that we have now. There is absolutely no room for honest beliefs..of any and all kinds.
I sincerely hope that I AM NOT gone when we are slammed down by some "ism" type dictatorship that will take away our humanity. I'll be that white-haired fighter crawling silently and un-noticed to plant some explosives at a guarded gate.....
Good night... |
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| 21. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 15, 2008 @ 02:55 AM |
| Rufus....you really need to open your eyes and your stale mind... |
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| 22. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 15, 2008 @ 03:39 AM |
| Larry...I know you're probably about my parents' age, but the really important issues have not, and should not, be involved with gays, religion, abortion. Did you perchance meet Russian soldiers while you were in Europe? Did you maybe notice that their generic practice was to rape all Polish, Hungarian, Albanian, Greek, Slovakian, Romanian, Austrian, Italian and German women? It has become the most popular "right" of all soldiers in Eastern Europe...and now has become only the FIRST step involving the stealing and selling of women and girls into slavery from Africa and Eastern Europe and the various "freed?" states of the former USSR...to the Europeans, Asians, and, especially, to the "holier than thou" Arab nations. Larry, gays are HANGED in Iran....white, and black, slavery is rampant all over this world. Please, pick a new, vastly more important, fight. The children, boys and girls, and women and young children of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the states of the fallen USSR and the Middle East are screaming for justice...Darfur, Kenya, Sierra Leone, the Congo, Egypt and all of the countries who practice genital mutilation on young girls are getting away with murder, plain and so simple.
We as citizen of a really fairly, just country--compared to these other countries--need to get our heads out of our a**es and come out for real human rights...
I've been on line for a bit of time, so I hope this post is posted.
Surfsup is the charm.. |
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| 23. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 15, 2008 @ 03:40 AM |
| Larry...I know you're probably about my parents' age, but the really important issues have not, and should not, be involved with gays, religion, abortion. Did you perchance meet Russian soldiers while you were in Europe? Did you maybe notice that their generic practice was to rape all Polish, Hungarian, Albanian, Greek, Slovakian, Romanian, Austrian, Italian and German women? It has become the most popular "right" of all soldiers in Eastern Europe...and now has become only the FIRST step involving the stealing and selling of women and girls into slavery from Africa and Eastern Europe and the various "freed?" states of the former USSR...to the Europeans, Asians, and, especially, to the "holier than thou" Arab nations. Larry, gays are HANGED in Iran....white, and black, slavery is rampant all over this world. Please, pick a new, vastly more important, fight. The children, boys and girls, and women and young children of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the states of the fallen USSR and the Middle East are screaming for justice...Darfur, Kenya, Sierra Leone, the Congo, Egypt and all of the countries who practice genital mutilation on young girls are getting away with murder, plain and so simple.
We as citizen of a really fairly, just country--compared to these other countries--need to get our heads out of our a**es and come out for real human rights...
I've been on line for a bit of time, so I hope this post is posted.
Surfsup is the charm.. |
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| 24. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 15, 2008 @ 03:52 AM |
| Dammit...this time limit stuff is crap.
A person bears their heart, and the far leftist web people just throw it under the bus. Damn.
It was to Larry Little and his campaign for gays and abortion.
How about campaigning for the women and boys and girls who are raped daily in Darfur, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and sent as sex slaves to Thailand, China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, etc.
There is sooo many more atrocities going on in Africa than the gays in America will ever know. How about genital mutilation of girls in the Muslim Arab and African countries. These young girls are butchered and often sent into sexual slavery.
Please, Larry, don't be so provincial.... |
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| 25. Comment by Penny Schinke - March 15, 2008 @ 03:55 AM |
| Shit...this format is nada....
Never know....and JE & BBR, you just must be lovin' it.
I stand by my posts. |
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