March 19, 2024

Letters 02-01-2016

Jan. 29, 2016

Real Contamination

In 1968, Chicago (its Mayor Richard Daley in particular) felt menaced by anti-war protesters (Abbie Hoffman in particular) threatening to put the hallucinogenic LSD into Chicago’s water supply. In reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., we reacted vigorously to a perceived threat of chemical or biological terrorist attacks on our water supply. A religious cult contaminating a city water tank with salmonella in Oregon, sickening about 700, was the only such attack in our country until now.

The water supply of Flint, Mich., was attacked and contaminated, not by terrorists or protesters, but by our own government. Michigan’ State Legislature gave Governor Snyder the emergency manager system he desired, and Governor Snyder’s system proceeded to contaminate Flint’s water system to an extent yet to be determined.

If I behaved like those who contaminated Flint’s water, I would be charged at least with some crime involving negligence, if not some crime of intent. Will we ever learn answers to questions like who knew what and when? Or who did what and when?

Daniel Robbins, Mackinaw City

Why The Muslim Debate?

I was passing through your fine town last week and picked up a couple copies of Northern Express. There I noted a discourse concerning the Muslim situation in Dearborn. It is interesting to note that I see similar conversations in newspapers and blogs throughout the country and, in fact, throughout the world. It begs the question: Why is Islam so controversial? I don’t recall seeing discussions concerning Sikhs or Buddhists or Rastafarians or any other religion but Islam. Perhaps Muslims should be asking themselves the same question. Most often, though, I see a defensive posture claiming discrimination and/or racism.

It reminds me of a naughty school boy screaming at the principal, "why are all you teachers picking on me?"

Barry Smith, Byron, IL

Kachadurian Has It All Wrong

Thank you for continuing to publish Thomas Kachadurian’s bigoted editorials. If not for this publication, I wouldn’t know that such people lived in my sweet northern Michigan.

In "Hero Worship" in the January 24 issue: "Michael Brown became an icon in some black neighborhoods for getting killed."

The words "white privilege" come to mind here. Kachadurian slams two brilliant comedians, directors, and authors Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham for being "not very attractive." Would their brutally honest work be deemed acceptable if they were attractive to his privileged eye? Criticizing women for not being attractive? Way to disenfranchise yourself from half the population.

About Traverse City Public Schools, Kachadurian says they have staff and an office for the "athletically talented?" Does he even proofread his work? There are no athletically talented classes. It’s academically talented. Saying that "smarter than average kids languish with the bottom of the curve" smacks of Kachadurian’s own ignorance. I worked for 31 years at TCAPS. My classes totally rocked. I had AT classes and General Education classes. Children bring what they have to the table. Parents are the key player here. Slamming our Gen Ed classes is mean and ignorant. There are more details about TCAPS programs that Kachadurian has wrong, but he doesn’t take the time to check his misled ideas. We teach how to use reliable sources in General Education at TCAPS.

Judy Childs, Traverse City

Over The Line

I felt Sarah Palin crossed the line when she indicated our president did not care about those like her son who came home wounded. No one challenges her on these remarks; to me it is shameful.

I listened to Sarah Palin’s lament for her son, who has been affected by PTSD after serving in Iraq. That is a terrible result for so many of our men and women we have been sending to engage in difficult situations. But to rail against our president as though he is indifferent to the suffering of those men and women is shameful. Whoever suggests that President Obama has a careless regard for the fate of those he sends into harm’s way should walk with him through the hospitals he has visited or the funerals he has attended. I believe his reluctance to put more "boots on the ground" for an uncertain victory is precisely because of what happened to her son. Yet who is it that supports more intervention regardless of the pain and suffering of loved ones? Who believes "more is better" when it comes to military solutions to our complex conflicts overseas? Does conservative ranting against the president have no limits?

Bob McQuilkin, Frankfort

Flints’ Man-made Disaster

Governor Snyder’s Financial Emergency Manager Law has created a State of Emergency in Flint. In 2011, newly elected Governor Snyder signed Public Act 4, giving him the freedom to take over any city government his office found financially bankrupt, with power to override any decision of elected city officials. This law showed his primary motive – money before people. In November 2012, the People of Michigan voted down his Financial Emergency Manager Law, as they resented losing control of their cities. In December 2012, he showed his contempt for the people’s vote and signed a revised version, one that did not give power back to the people.

In 2011, Snyder appointed the first of four emergency financial managers to run Flint. In 2014, for economic reasons only, Flint’s water supply was switched from Detroit’s water system to the polluted Flint river. The Governor and his staff saw no red flags when residents immediately noticed discolored, off-taste, smelly water. The public health alarm was sounded by Dr. Hanna- Atrisha of Hurley Medical Center, when her testing showed twice as many children with excessive blood lead levels. This travesty has now resulted in the poisoning of approximately 8,600 children under six. There has also been an increase in Legionnaires disease and many others experienced severe pneumonia, most likely from the Flint water.

Snyder in his State of the State address played up the blame game. However, the real culprit is Governor Snyder with his money-hungry laws, inaction when aware of the problem, and total lack of leadership to prevent permanent harm to Flint’s children and measurable suffering to the elderly and high risk individuals.

I suggest going to the Governor’s website to express your opinion.

Catherine Hunter, Boyne City

Defending the AR15 And Gun Rights

I was amazed to read David Downer’s recent letter. He admits he is a gun owner but he expresses his ignorance of what an "assault rifle" really is, and thereby spreads the antigun position that an AR15 is an assault rifle!

The AR stands for Armilite Rifle, named after the company that first developed it. The AR15 designation lets anyone know that this is a semi-automatic version of the military M16, a firearm capable of switching to full automatic fire with the touch of the trigger finger. The semi-auto selection, one trigger pull per bullet fired, is only allowed in the civilian model!

Because of the propaganda delivered by TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines, the general public is frightened by a rifle that is the most popular firearm in our country. This rifle is used by law-abiding citizens to hunt, target shoot and in competitions. Except for a few incidents, the majority of crimes are committed with pistols; they are more concealable. Tell the truth! Stop demonizing firearms. More people die because of vehicles, baseball bats, hammers and doctors than by the use of firearms.

The government wants total gun control and then confiscation; then the elimination of all Constitutional rights.

Greg Haske, Gaylord

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