March 19, 2024

Letters 08-31-2015

Aug. 27, 2015

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!

Inalienable Rights

This is a response to the "No More State Theatre" in your August 24th edition. I think I will not be the only response to this pathetic and narrow-minded letter that seems rather out of place in the northern Michigan that I know. To think we will not be getting your 25 cents for the movie you refused to see, but more importantly we will be without your "two cents" on your thoughts of a marriage at the State Theatre. Please stay home in your "bigot bunker" and watch Netflix all the while patting yourself on the back about taking a stand on what is the right for EVERY American. The right given to us in the Declaration of Independence to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, this is "inalienable rights" given to us by our Creator, and for which governments are created to protect. In no way does this marriage of two people who love each other affect your life, but please stay home so your hate and contempt of people that are different from you does not effect ours.

David Bucholtz, Traverse City

Enthusiastically Democratic

Since I was one of the approximately 160 people present at when Senator Debbie Stabenow spoke on August 14 in Charlevoix, I was surprised to read in a letter to Northern Express that there was a "rather muted" response to Debbie’s announcement that she has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. As I recall, the response was loud and enthusiastic applauding and cheering. While the intention of the writer may have been to give the impression that there is dissension within the Democratic Party between Sanders and Clinton supporters, Democrats have not split and will support the eventual nominee of the party.

I wish to point out that there are many strong Democrats in Northern Michigan. If you are one of those who support the Democratic Party but think that we are too outnumbered to bother to try to elect Democrats, then you need to join us. If everyone who harbors negative expectations joined their county Democratic organizations, then we would not be outnumbered and outvoted.

Cyndi Kress, Indian River

Not Hurting

I surely think the State Theatre will survive not having the homophobic presence of Colleen Smith and her family attend any matinees. I think "Ms." Smith might also want to make sure that any medical personnel, bank staff, grocery store staff, waiters and/or waitress, etc. are not homosexual before accepting any service or product from them. And how exactly did the marriage ceremony at the State affect her? As far as her family hurting....it is her narrow mind that is doing so.

Pamela Alexander, Traverse City

Stay Home

I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read the letter of the extremely homophobic, "disgusted" writer. She now refuses to patronize the State Theatre because she evidently feels that its confines have been poisoned by the gay wedding ceremony held there.

Her "holier than thou," intolerant attitude is not a good fit for today’s ever-changing society. What cave has she been living in? Not only are LGBTs part of our community, they deserve every right the rest of society has, including the right to live as they choose.

To keep her family safe, I suggest that she lock them in the house and draw the curtains, patronize none of the area businesses for they might be run by or hire or patronized by gays. Better homeschool your kids or they might end up sitting next to or being taught by one of "them." Grow all of your own food; don’t chance sharing the grocery aisle with someone not on the "approved" list.

Her attitude is detrimental to society. I’d rather my children be gay than homophobic bigots like her.

Lee Astrauckas, Mancelona

Keep Away

In response to Colleen Smith of Cadillac who refused to bring her family to the State Theatre because there was a gay wedding there: Keep your 25 cents and your family out of Traverse City. No one wants your narrow-minded-biggotted self here to spread your hate. I’m sure you have places in Cadillac to do that. I won’t blame your children for how they are being raised; I’ll blame the "management."

Kimberly Flynn, Interlochen

Celebrating Moore And A Theatre

I was 10 years old when I had the privilege to see my first film at the State Theatre. I will never forget that experience. The screen was almost the size of my bedroom I shared with my older sister. The bursting sounds made me believe I was part of the film.

That was more then 20 years ago. Since then I have seen a great many things evolve. The film festivals. Michael Moore’s extraordinary documentaries and views on the equality of men. I have seen the celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr. Day take place at the State and the progress we made in diversity. I watched the great film "Selma" just last winter. And just this month I read of a beautiful ceremony that took place there between two people who love each other. I have great respect for Michael Moore and am proud of the progress we are making for equality. We are all people living on this earth sharing the same sorrows, struggles, happiness and love for our neighbors.

That leaves me with just one question for you Mrs. Smith. Would your "disgust" still be felt if the ceremony took place between a man and a woman? It is your choice never to step inside this great theatre again. But what a loss for you and your family. The "hurt" that you are feeling is brought on yourself.

Emily Rice, Interlochen

Outdated Thinking

This letter is in response to Colleen Smith. She made public her choice to no longer go to the State Theater due to the fact that "some homosexuals" got married there. I’m not outraged by her choice; we don’t need any more hateful, self-righteous bigots in our town. She can keep her 25 cents.

I wonder how she would react if she actually thought about "some homosexuals" taking part in the making of her car, her clothes, her Bible, preparing her food, or any other part of her existence. Keep your 25 cents and buy yourself a candy bar. Oh wait; his isn’t the 1950s. Just your opinion is.

George Nemetz, Lake Ann

Mackinac Pipeline Must Be Shut Down

Crude oil flowing through Enbridge’s 60-yearold pipeline beneath the Mackinac Straits and the largest collection of fresh water on the planet should be a serious concern for every resident of the USA and Canada. Enbridge has a very "accident" prone track record, averaging one oil spill per year over the last decade, including the largest land spill ever into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River in 2010. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited them for "known but unrepaired cracks and corrosion as the cause" of this environmental disaster. The cost of that ongoing cleanup is now $1.2 billion and rising.

A Straits of Mackinac pipeline break could easily bankrupt Enbridge, leaving taxpayers to clean up their mess. It’s the height of human folly at best and pure insanity at worst.

Our political leadership needs to catch up with the citizens and realize that even using simple math, with oil at $41 per barrel, a drinkable barrel of clean water is actually worth more.

By orchestrating a huge disaster drill display scheduled for September involving a Kabuki theater of "boats, helicopters, drones and underwater vehicles," Enbridge is attempting to convince our leaders to get comfortable with the victim’s role for our "Pure Michigan" economy while they remain in the perpetrator role of this easily foreseen problem. I urge everyone to wake up and realize that we’ve been lucky; it is a when, not if, it happens situation with extremely high stakes. Enbridge needs to be told that this pipeline must be shut down and the sooner the better. They must find an alternate route that does not put us and themselves in such a high-risk position.

Scott Emerson, Marquette

Your Rights

To Colleen, who wrote about the State Theatre: Let me thank you for sharing your views; I think most of us are well in support of the first amendment, because as you know- it gives everyone the opportunity to express their opinions. I also wanted to thank Northern Express for not shutting down these types of letters right at the source but rather giving the community a platform for education.

I am a huge fan of the State Theatre. They have hosted so many fun nights for my family. It’s a shame that you won’t be giving your patronage to them anymore; I’m sure they could have used your 25 cents. I completely understand how the allowing "some homosexual couple to get married there" will effect your family directly. I can also see why you wouldn’t want them going to the beach, the court house, or the entire state of California for that matter, since all of these places have likely been the site of such joyous occasions.

I would think that most of the Grand Traverse area wouldn’t want to subject your family to any more wonderful celebrations of love, so it may be best to just save your 25 cents for a theater in another place. But be careful where you decide to go, because a lot of countries won’t grant you the freedom of press, religion, or speech -- and you wouldn’t want any of your basic human rights taken away from you (I assume).

Hannah Beale, Frankfort

No Role Model

[Fascinating Person from last week’s issue] Jada quoted: "I want to be a role model for girls who are interested in being in the outdoors." I enjoy being in the outdoors, but I don’t want to kill animals for trophy. She is not a role model to me. I suspect she is included in the group because she is a "young, pretty blonde."

Meagan Neil, Petoskey

Sayonara

In response to "No State Theater" letter, you stated you will no longer be able to attend a twenty five cent movie because a gay couple was married there. Good for you. We don’t want your quarter. Keep it in Cadillac.

Can you live in a country where gay marriages are preformed? Hmmm, maybe you should move to a country where it is illegal. Canada won’t work for you; it’s legal there. Oh, come to think of it Mexico won’t work for you either. Neither will most of South America, Europe, Ireland or Great Britain. That leaves you Russia, China, and all the Muslim countries. Write us and let us know how it is working out for you.

Michael Antonich, Traverse City

Our Wonderful City And State

This is in response to Colleen Smith’s editorial under the title of "No More State Theatre." Colleen said she was not going to be attending the State Theatre any more because they had a gay wedding. I wonder if Colleen understands that much of Traverse City loves the diversity and that many of us recognize that gay or straight, we’re all people just trying to live a life and be happy. Love comes in all forms, and crosses religions, sexual orientation, and race. We of Traverse City are sorry that you feel this way and that you won’t be enjoying the wonderful State Theatre. In response to your comment, Colleen, "now it is our family that will be hurting, and won’t be able to see movies there anymore," it is you and your family’s choice to come to the State Theatre or not. It is your choice to be hurting. And it is your choice to not accept everyone as God’s children. Good luck in Cadillac.

Jamie Antonich, Traverse City

Stay Home

To Colleen Smith. Stay in Cadillac, obviously this town isn’t for you.

Dan Beaudoin, Traverse City

No To Subarus

To that sweet, retired school teacher who extolled the virtues of her new Subaru to me while living off a union-secured pension here in our lovely town: There’s more than one form of slavery, and though the practices of Subaru aren’t as obvious as our sorted past, they amount to a type of slavery nonetheless.

One third of the company’s workforce is hired from third-world countries, using middlemen to secure and exploit. It’s no wonder they can sell their vehicles at such margins and undercut union-made cars. We must stop rewarding companies and countries that use this practice of indentured servants to produce their products.

I’m not affiliated with any union and fully realize that these union-made vehicles can cost more. However, we need to look at the big picture and put our money where our mouth is and do the right thing for our fellow man. In your spare time while you’re waiting for that pension and healthcare check, take a look at what’s happening with Subaru. These workers are exploited and treated as less than human.

The new tag line for the Subaru ads should be; "Scab labor is what makes a Subaru a Subaru," not "Love is what makes a Subaru a Subaru." I know that laborer in Japan doesn’t feel the love when he’s making something like seven dollars an hour after he pays his handlers.

The new American motto should be: I’ve got mine, damn everyone else!

Jim McIntyre, Petoskey

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