Letters 09-08-2014

Sept. 7, 2014

Love what we’re doing here?

Disagree with something you’ve read on these pages? Share your views with a quick letter to the editor by shooting us an email.

Our simple rules: Keep your letter to 300 words or less, send no more than one per month, include your name/address/phone number, and agree to allow us to edit. That’s it. Email info@northernexpress.com and hit send!

Try This Real Advice

The Advice Goddess? More like the "say confusing analogies and never answer the question," mere mortal.

Take the first reader’s question last week about breaking up with his iPod-purchasing GF: "MP3’S A CROWD": Break up with her, iClod. If you’re second guessing the relationship at all, especially after she’s bought you an expensive birthday present, you need to get out because you’re wasting both of your time. But give the iPod back. "What will she do with an iPod Touch she had engraved with my name on it?" you ask. Anything she wants, because she bought it with her own money. She could keep it, sell it, or (most likely) smash it because it reminds her of you and her wasted efforts. Bottom line is: if you’re unsure of your feelings for someone then you’ll always be unsure. Don’t drag it out. That’s hurtful.

And the second reader’s question about dating a friend’s ex: "A VICIOUS RECYCLE": Waryd, it doesn’t seem like the dude was your close buddy, but no matter what you do, he’s never going to like the fact that you’re now pursuing his ex-wife (and had feelings for her while their marriage was still intact). "But if she’s worth it, does it really matter?!" Heck yes! You’ll never outrun the gossip once you start dating. And in fact, people will question whether your new relationship was the downfall of her old one. Just because you’re a "30-year-old single guy" in Michigan doesn’t mean you will never find love unless it’s from this divorcee’. Try online dating, for gosh sakes, and start fresh.

Katie Miller, Gaylord

Nine-Year-Olds With Guns Not OK

I have been thinking about this awful situation in Arizona where a 9-year-old blew a shooting instructor away with an Uzi machine gun. I was looking for any consistency with other aspects of life.

If I allow my 9-year-old the to drive a go-cart, many might question my judgment, though many might not. If I give her the keys to the family car for a joyride, and reckless endangerment comes to mind.

If I gave my 9-year-old a sip of wine to see what it tastes like, it might not be considered crazy by most standards. Free access to my beer cooler, Child Protective Services might have something to say about that.

In both the situations, my comfort with cars and/or drinking would not mitigate the wrongness of my actions. In many areas of the U.S., to allow a 9-year-old to fire a 22 with oversight is probably the beginning of a right of passage. To do the same with an Uzi under similar circumstances is incomprehensible to a great many of us as parents.

This is all a mystery to me how this situation can even begin to be OK with a parent, society or as a business plan. One can’t drive, smoke, get condoms or weed until the age of reason in civilized countries, but we in the U.S. can have and shoot combat weapons for fun. Sorry, I cannot make that OK in my mind.

Thomas Thibault, Traverse City

Respect Our President

I recently read a Canadian’s view on our lack of respect for our President. It made me think about a time when, once elected, most Americans rallied around our new leader. We became united in moving forward and leading the world.

President Obama has become a glaring exception to this unwritten patriotic rule. Just days before his inauguration, Rush Limbaugh publicly wished him to fail. Many in Congress vowed to make the Obama administration a failed presidency, not caring that this leaves the country floundering.

The treatment of the President has gone from bad to ugly to downright dangerous. America has shown its vulgar side, with protest signs portraying our President as a satanic clown and as Hitler. Disrespect for our flag makes us crazy, but depicting our President as a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of our "new rude." Shame on us.

President Obama is an intelligent, moral man and the kind of leader the world respects. Here in America he’s treated with disrespect, the likes of which no previous President has been subjected to. He was elected as our President twice, fair and square. This incivility toward America’s first black President just has to stop...America, we’re better than this. Aren’t we?

Sharon K Rose, Empire

Northport Sewer A Bungle

The Northport sewer cost is $15.669 million not $12 million as recently stated in the Express. It is the most expensive sewer per household the Michigan SRF ever funded. Today the sewer is only processing 51,000 gpd on average. Far less than half of the 110,000 gpd that engineers stated to the DEQ would be processed upon initial flow in 2008. "Lack of flow" is causing serious problems! The sewer is designed for 132,000gpd. On two occasions last year village officials invited Northport Point to hook up to our Chicagosized sewer. The sewer hurt the little guy on fixed income. Many homeowners are resorting to weekly rentals.

Patrick Sullivan from the Express recently wrote "Northport Busts Out." He called me to ask what I thought about the "economic boom" in Northport. I hold in high regard the smart, hands-on hard work I have witnessed. We certainly need lodging in Northport. That said Northport has been a strong selfsustaining community with exceptionally unique features for a long time. Thanks to the sewer and Northport’s already vital base (vital = essential), the new redevelopment was possible.

The population of Leelanau County has more than doubled over the past 40 years. Soon Northport will have six restaurants in the village, two in township, and brew pub, all within a 40% seasonal population. The 2010 census reported 526 residents in Northport. In 1930, 530. Northport was never dying, only changing. With a township tax base of over 600 million and more waterfront property than any other township in Michigan, the books are solid, services, parks and facilities are exceptional while new residents continue to move here to "get away from development" (statement from: Grand Vision & EDC) for the beautiful natural environment and quiet quality of life.

David C. Brigham, Northport

[Editor’s note: the Northern Express article about the sewer cost referenced a figure cited for the cost at the time the sewer went online in 2008.]

Y Members Deserve Answers

Three weeks after Tom Van Deinse was fired from his position as Executive Director and Tennis Pro of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, I am still trying to understand the motives of the YMCA Board of Directors for their decision to remove him after 14 years of service. Indeed, there has been a veil of mystery surrounding their decision, and I am asking them to please explain why they fired a man who is the epitome of the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

There are usually three reasons for firing an employee:

1. Criminal activity - I think we can all agree that this was not the case for Van Deinse, otherwise charges would have been filed by now.

2. Incompetence - If Van Deinse is incompetent to manage the new YMCA, why was he allowed to manage and oversee a multi-million dollar budget for the construction of the new building? I don’t think incompetence is the issue here. The Y under his tenure was fiscally sound.

3. New Direction/Strategy/Business Model - This is usually code for "I don’t really have a reason to fire you, but I don’t like you." I feel this is the real reason for his termination, and wonder what exactly is the new direction/ leadership to which the Board aspires?

Please remove the veil of mystery surrounding the Board of Directors at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, and let there be a meeting between the Board and its membership. After all, we pay the dues, don’t we have the right to some answers?

Stefee Roberts - Charter Member, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, Traverse City

Reflections on Order

Old men make lists. My father did it, and now that burden seems to be imposing itself on me. It wells up inside me with a vengeance and I must give vent to it. Here is my list:

1) Learn from the past; hope for the future; but live in the now

2) You have value, but so does the person standing next to you

3) Eat when you are hungry; sleep when you are tired; and enjoy every day

4) Do "standing things" more then you do "sitting things"

5) Listen more, talk less

6) Stop blaming God for everything that goes wrong in your life

7) Think first, consider next, and then talk if you must

8) Stay married to the love of your life until one of you dies of old age

9) Do not let this world destroy your passion and curiosity

10) Find a way to vent your fears, or they will consume you

For what it is worth, I am not very good at doing some of these things myself. Virtue is a worthy goal, but being human sometimes squashes it right before my eyes.

William E. Scott, Traverse City

Correction: An article on Melissa Saleh in the August 25 issue should have said that the parents of her husband, Abdul, never attended school, but ensured that their two sons did. Due to an editing error, the wording implied that neither Abdul nor Melissa attended school. Both have college degrees.