Letters

Letters Living the dream
To the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, lobbyists, and corporate groups who oppose the federal minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour.
Your resistance is uncalled for. With the minimum wage increase of $7.25 an hour an individual‘s monthly income would be $1,160 a month and $13,920 a year, before taxes are taken out.
These numbers are well under the poverty wage for the United States of America.
The challenge I put out to anyone who resists this pay increase is this: Would you be willing to give up your current wage (which is well over $7.25 an hour) to work for $7.25 an hour? Would you be able to live your American dream on that wage?
Would you be able to save money to pay for your children’s education? Would you be able to afford your current car payment? Exactly what would your lifestyle look like at $7.25 an hour?

Kari Tomashik • Honor

Help for millions
This week, the minimum wage will be part of the new Congress’s agenda. It has been close to 10 years since the last increase.
Meanwhile the cost of living has increased by 25%, and Congress has increased their annual salary by $31,600. The minimum wage increase would help millions of low-income people (mostly women) put food on the table for their families.
The Bushies would have us believe that raising the minimum wage would hurt small business owners, but in a survey by Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, 86 percent said it had no effect on their businesses. The Bush myth that raising the minimum wage will cost jobs is also not true. World studies have found cities and states with a higher minium wage often increase job levels.
In 2006 Congress tried to link the minimum wage to tax cuts, including an estate-tax for the wealthiest. This time it looks like the House Of Representatives will eschew tax cuts, and pass a clean bill to raise the minimum wage. The Senate should follow their lead, and the President should sign it. Please, let them know how you feel about this today.

Sharon Kay Rose • Empire

Letters The sea turtle
The only thing I wanted for Christmas was to find out who took my only son’s life. A car struck him on November 30 and for five days he lingered in Flint‘s Hurley Hospital, but the head injuries were too great and he did not make it. Instead, five people live on because of my son’s organ donation wish.
During the terrible time in the hospital, and during the funeral, no one came forward from the police department or the community to say how my son died. On the 18th of December I finally called the Burton Police Department and asked for the UD-10 report that all departments are supposed to provide the family members. Instead of cooperation, I am told it is an “open investigation” and the information I am requesting is not available.
When I checked with an officer of the law in a different community, I was told that something is very wrong in Burton, Michigan; the person who struck my son either has political influence or the paperwork has been somehow screwed up and they are purposely withholding information I should have gotten long ago.
At his funeral I brought an old sea turtle carved from a large piece of wood. It reminded me of my son because he needed a special cream for his dry feet in the winter months that happens to have turtle oil in it. It also reminded me of my son because he was a good swimmer, and like the beautiful carving, he was an artist, a musician.
When he was young, his elders advised him to go back and forth from the mainland to a small island and multiply. My son, Bobby the sea turtle, piped up, “I do not wish to multiply, I want to see what is out there in the ocean.“ So he went from place to place and everyone loved him because he was kind and he made people laugh.
His greatest wish in life was to have a place of his own, so one day he found a cove to live in with is best friend Fred, (a two bedroom trailer in Burton).They were laughing at a joke Bobby had made one day when a huge Rogue Wave came out of nowhere and Fred, being a dolphin, was able to dive away quickly. But poor Bobby was a slow sea turtle and the wave picked him up 50 feet, and when he came down, he was on his back.
For five days he fought to turn himself over but in the end, it was not to be; and as he slipped beneath the sea he closed the circle of life by giving the gift of life to five other sea creatures.
My son’s name was Robert John Ziegler. Please help me put a name on the rogue wave. A grieving mother, J. Gail Armstrong-Hall, Ph.D. paleo20@hotmail.com.

Judy Gail Armstrong-Hall • Troy

Letters Enemy of Nature?
Thank you for the story on Jennifer Angus’s “Bug Art”. I had caught wind of her work on NPR and now I know it’s true.
I’m totally infuriated that God’s creatures are being used in this manner... and I’m virtually an atheist. God’s creatures are creatures of pure evolution; this is atrocious to be slabbing these little life forms for art. This is not art. This is sick. Jennifer definitely needs her brain re-tweeked.
Her own rationale is absurd... that “None of these species are endangered.”
We all know that all creatures on this planet were once un-endangered until someone or many someones proceeded to kill them, either for food or study or pleasure, and in this case, “art.” Why not just take photos of insects, make copies, arrange copies in circular patterns, step back a couple yards, and behold — the same frigging effect!
Now other artists will just as logically and massively follow in Jennifer’s path and start their own buying of these common and exotic creatures to also take up gallery space and deplete this world’s stock of little and beautiful creatures, many of which will thence be prevented from laying their eggs to reproduce.
I should also note that praying mantis and walking sticks and many strange and beautiful click beetles in our own natural environment are not considered endangered, but if anyone went around and killed and collected hundreds of these relatively harmless lifeforms, there would be a significant shortage and endangerment to their existence hereabouts. And, in fact, this rapacious slaughter has already been going on for way too many years with local biology and science teachers sending out their students to do just that.
Dogs, cats, and humans are also NOT endangered. Maybe Jennifer ought to change her focus and go for this larger crop of art props.
It is no wonder that Mankind is this planet’s greatest enemy... and now Womankind.

— Glenn Rouse • T.C.

Letters He declares victory
The Coast Guard has withdrawn its rulemaking and announced a temporary cessation of training on the Great Lakes. I would like to think our group, the Blue Eco Legal Council, had something to do with this.
On November 9, 2006 we filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the Coast Guard over its plan to conduct live fire training on the Great Lakes. On December 13 I had a conference call with two DOJ and four Coast Guard attorneys. They offered to give us 30 day written notice prior to resuming lead bullet training if we would hold off litigating until they finished their rulemaking. I declined, telling them that they had no right to decide on discharging lead into the Great Lakes because Congress has enacted strict prohibitions on this activity.
On December 18 the Coast Guard pulled the rulemaking and put out a press release that non-emergency training will be halted until further rulemaking. I must declare a preliminary victory although I am not sure this is over. Instead of announcing the cessation of training as part of the rulemaking, the Coast Guard did so in a press release. If the Coast Guard changes its mind I doubt a citizen can march into court and hold them to what was announced in a press release.
We are further disappointed that the Coast Guard decided not to respond to the thousand comments submitted by the public. From the press release it seems that a future rulemaking on this subject is being considered. Now the public will have to watch for the new rulemaking and submit new comments sometime in the future. Maybe the Coast Guard is hoping the issue does not provoke such an angry and widespread response next time?

Steven B. Pollack, attorney
• Highland Park, IL

Letters Trail talk
Anne Stanton’s article regarding the creation and operation of the snowmobile trail connecting Gaylord and Cheboygan along Mullet Lake was accurate in every respect save one (re: “Closing the Loop,” 12/7).
It is true that Senator Allen and I put pressure on the administration to keep the promise made by the DNR over 10 years ago to find a snowmobile trail to connect Gaylord and Cheboygan. We did not, however, ask the DNR to choose the Mullet Lake trail over the Pigeon River, I-75, or any other trail option.
My job as a legislator is not to act as a super-beaurocrat. The state has experts in place to make decisions like the one to open the Mullet Lake trail. My job does require me, however, to make sure that a decision is made.
In my judgment, 10 years was long enough to wait for a decision.

Rep. Kevin A. Elsenheimer
State Rep., 105th District

Good food & service
Last week I was a patient at Munson Hospital. I have to agree that the service, and the food served were good tasting, quickly brought to my room, served with a kind word and often I was asked if there was anything else needed, or that the deliverer could do (re: “Northern Michigan‘s Biggest Restaurant?” 12/7). I would like to thank everyone on the food team.

Corina Rick • via email

New direction
Christmas of 1970 was my first Christmas away from home. I was in the Army, in Viet Nam. I was amazed that I was receiving cards and cookies from people I didn’t know. Well intended people who wanted to “support the troops”. It felt strange. The holidays without family are just days. The cards and cookies were nice, but they reminded me of home. And home is what I wanted. Not war. Not politicians telling the military that we were defending freedom and bringing democracy. Not the military telling me that I had to kill these people to free them.
In January of 2003 I woke up to my military experience and I’ve immersed myself in research. With the help of many magnificent people of peace, I’m learning. My bedrock is what Jesus said and did.
If you feel compelled to send well wishes to the military, include a note that you are doing all that you can to end war and bring them home. That is a gift of life.

Arnold Stieber • Grass Lake

Letters Islam & Christianity
C. Russell warns us in his letter of 12/7 that he’s going to be “politically incorrect” in his letter on the “real Islam.” He might just as well have left off the “politically.” (Just a warning to those among the Northern Express readership, anyone who rails against “political correctness” is about to tell you a real stretcher.)
Imagine if you will a man who is going to tell you about the “real Christianity.” A pretty stupid idea from the outset, isn’t it?
After all, is the “real” Christianity to be represented by Jesus? If so, I’d have to say that there is no real Christianity, as there are no Christs among us at present. Are grasping televangelists the real Christianity? An Anglican bishop? An Anglican bishop from Nigeria? An incarcerated “Christian identity” preacher? A randomly selected Sunday-bonnet-wearing lady? Father Fred? A car salesman with a fish logo on the back of his SUV? An avid ethnic cleanser from Bosnia? A Mormon polygamist? Mother Teresa? Billy Graham?
Point is, there is no one Christianity. There is no one face to it. There is no one passage in the Bible by which you can define the many millions who adhere to what we call Christianity.
Islam is much the same. Are some practices sanctioned by some Islamic authorities barbaric in my regard? Yes. Does every Islamic person practice barbarities? No.
Is Islam itself a barbaric and intolerant religion? How do you answer such a question?
Let’s look at a story from our own history. In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue and stumbled upon America which would soon be raped, pillaged and plundered for the greater glory of God. Was that Christianity?
Meanwhile, back in Spain, 1492 was the heyday of the Inquisition. Jews and Muslims who had already been forcibly converted to Christianity were being tortured and horribly executed for suspected backsliding. Was this Christianity?
Jews who escaped the attentions of the Inquisition often fled to the Ottoman Empire, an Islamic state claiming to be a theocracy. There they were welcomed and sheltered for hundreds of years. Was that Islam?
The point of this is that it’s stupid (not politically incorrect) to talk about things like “Islam” or “Christianity” and think that you’re going to be able to define it in some quick and easy way.
Reading the Koran won’t help you any more than reading the Bible gives you the 10-word definition of all Christian cultures.
No one has a corner on religiously-inspired barbarity. And no religion has a corner on generosity and civilization.
Trying to make us ignore the real differences among Muslims by talking about the “real Islam” is just plain wrong. Mr. Russell’s argument is with reality, not with any fanciful forces of dread political correctness.

Oran Kelley • TC

Letters The real Islam
With all respect to Mr. Downes and the Northern Express, and the excellent explanation of the schism between the Shia’ and Sunni in Iraq, I believe it sugarcoats Muhammad and Islam.
If I may be very politically incorrect, I don’t believe Islam was ever a progressive or enlightened religion. I might rather argue that much of the violence that we are experiencing today is the “uncorrupted” Islam exposing its intolerant and violent beginnings.
Before Muhammad the “Prophet” there was Muhammad the “Warrior,“ a man who had been in battle. Initially, Muhammad’s new religion had no source of funding, so Muhammad and his followers took to raiding caravans and villages. Stealing from or killing “kafir” (infidels) was permitted as long as it promoted the goals of Islam. So Mohammad basically ransacked most of the Christian and Jewish world as well as all of the so called “pagan” lands if that‘s what you call the Parsi and Zoroastrians.
Islamic law is very clear how it classifies individuals. You are either a Muslim (believer), a Dhimmi (second class, or slave), or dead. This is basically how Islamic “Jihad” conquered the Middle East, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal). This “Jihad” was and is an obligation of all able-bodied Muslims who are not otherwise engaged in other activities that promote the expansion of Islam. The Qur’an states “...God has promised reward to all who believe but He distinguishes those who fight, above those who stay at home, with a mighty reward.”
The politically correct notion that Islam is a religion of “peace” and “mercy” fails to recognize that under Islam, this “peace” and “mercy” is only afforded to Muslims.
To see modern “Jihad” in action we only have to look at the Sudan. Since 1992 the Sudanese government (one-time host of Osama bin Laden and headquarters of Al Qaeda) has killed untold number of Christians and animists. Now it’s targeting Muslims who don’t measure up to the hard-line Jihadist government. We should also look very carefully at Lebanon which is supposed to be a secular democracy. The Islamic terrorist group, Hezbolla, has all but hijacked the country with the help of Syria, Iran, and the United Nations.
Perhaps instead of viewing terrorists, and their supporters as fringe groups, we need to examine Islam, its core principles, and why its modern atrocities are overlooked. Many young Muslim girls disappear in Western countries, most notably as the result of “honor killings.” It is a rarity if such crimes are ever solved, considering the tenuous position of Islamic communities in the West. In Pakistan, a US ally, they are still struggling with the concept of “rape.” Under Islamic law a rape victim must be able to produce no less than four independent witnesses; otherwise the accuser will be tried for adultery.
While I believe that the majority of Muslims are non-violent, peaceful people, I also believe that they fear retribution from within if they were to question or protest against their religious leadership. The modern Islamic world is far from “free” or “informed.“ Most Islamic countries are strict authoritarian states which only allow regulated “press.” Like China, North Korea and Cuba they employ draconian measures to restrict the flow of information to their people.
Perhaps it is time to put petty politics aside and be more critical of real issues. We need to look at our use of oil and how it funds terrorism. At the same time, maybe we should ask why the U.N. and Kofi Annan refused Bush’s demand that the killing in the Sudan be classified as “genocide,” which requires action. France, China, and Russia all have oil interests in the Sudan and veto all actions against its government. Is that not truly blood for oil?

C. Russell • via email

Blaming the Greens
Mike Estes provides some interesting statistics (Letters, 11/23) on Democratic losses in Michigan Senate Districts 13 and 32. He concludes if the Green Party votes in each race went Democratic then “the Democratic Party would today control the State Senate.”
May I respectfully suggest other routes for the Democrats than the blame game? (1) Democratic candidates can visit Green meetings and court the Green votes (as Mike did himself when he ran for office, and as have other Democratic and independent candidates); (2) Dems can champion some Green values themselves; (3) work harder than the Republicans who were the ones that got more votes.
The Traverse Bay Watershed and NMC Greens meet at 6:30 p.m. at Horison Books, TC, on the second Monday of every month (except December). The public is always welcome.

Tom Shea • TC

Letters Tough times
I drove past a sign in front of the new structure in town last night and it spoke volumes to me, for the first time. It advertised a penthouse for sale for only $656,000 or something near that figure! Now, that’s affordable for many of us, isn’t it? Especially when the job opportunities rarely even pay $7.50 per hour? Many of us are managing two or three different jobs to just keep afloat?
I had just returned from Michigan Works earlier, looking for employment as I have been for the past seven months with more than discouraging results. The lady I spoke with had told me what “terrible, terrible shape Michigan is in,” how many businesses were leaving the state, relocating and providing jobs with foreign countries (namely Mexico), and how there are hardly any jobs available in particular in our community.
Then, to confirm her quandary, when I checked with Manpower, the girl I spoke with had one placement for Monday only to answer phones and told me the story of her husband, who had served in Iraq and who also has been looking for work and is unable to find a job and the frosting on the cake, I pulled up a CNN MONEY online article of stats about the states with the lowest unemployment rates, and Michigan ranks #50 out of the 51! (Including Puerto Rico -- ed.)
In other words, Michigan is in more than real trouble.There is only one more state with a higher unemployment rate than ours, and no plan for additional federal extensions for those now collecting unemployment benefits with thousands of job cuts on the horizon.
I am a middle aged, single woman, struggling to support myself in our area where condos and penthouses are advertised with humongous price tags. An area where job ethics, ability to learn and desire to work seem to mean so little. Panic begins to build... will I join the ranks of so many others struggling to stay afloat, or will I become homeless and jobless at the same time with absolutely no way to survive?
It breaks my heart even more than my own situation, to realize and have it confirmed, that our returning men and women who have risked their lives in this ugly, senseless war in Iraq now have to face the lack of jobs to provide for their families. What has happened here folks? Where are we headed? Remember that old joke about the “last one to leave Michigan turns the lights off?” I guess it’s true, history is repeating itself.
So if this resonates with any of you employers out there, put first things first, hire our returning veterans, our current veterans and then think of hiring the rest of us, women, single, middle age with high work ethics and pay us fairly and maybe, just maybe together, we can turn this state back around, at least our own community.

Marty Hermes • TC

Letters Green Party spoilers
Control of the Michigan Senate has been retained by the Republicans due to
two Senate races that were decided by less than 1% of the vote.
The truly interesting fact in both races is that the Green Party, which is
more closely aligned with the Democrats, may have contributed to the GOP
victories. Had the 5,444 Greens voted 67% Dem and 33% GOP, then the
Democrat Party would today control the Senate.
In the 13th Senate District, Any Levin (D) lost by 776 votes out of
116,322 or 0.67%. The Green party candidate in that race had 3,118 votes.
In the 32nd Senate District, Carl Williams (D) lost by 520 votes out of
94,432 or 0.55%. The Green party candidate collected 2,326.
As a Democrat I support many of the lofty Green Party goals, however, it’s
doubtful many in the GOP support Green values. Maybe the Greens might want
to rethink their political philosophy; or at least the candidates they
vote for.

Michael Estes • TC

Letters Turkey torture
As Thanksgiving approaches, I
invite everyone to visit Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary to meet Gandalf and our other amiable turkeys. You’ll see that they are beautiful, intelligent, inquisitive, docile animals who adore beingpetted. They will always have a loving home here at
the sanctuary.
But millions of other turkeys are not so lucky. Before they reach your holiday table, they are packed in dark, smelly, feces-filled sheds. Farmers sear off a portion of the birds’ beaks so they can’t peck other birds and damage their flesh out of stress or boredom. No anesthetics are used during this agonizing “procedure.” At the slaughterhouse, they are hung upside down and sent through a stunning tank which paralyzes them, but doesn’t render them unconscious. They can still feel pain when their throats are slit, and they are often scalded alive in the boiling-hot water used for feather removal.
If this isn’t something you wish to support, than switch to a vegetarian diet.
For more information, or to make an appointment to visit the animals at Sasha, please see www.sashafarm.org.

Dorothy Davies, Director
Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary,
Manchester, MI

Source of the stink
What is causing all these problems in Williamsburg? (re: “Feisty Women Raise a Stink,” 11/2)
“The sweet cherries go into a brine pit...which leaches out the cherries’ color, sugar, and flavor. The little yellow balls are then...soaked in a vat of water...and then they’re soaked again in red dye, sugar, and flavoring.”
What’s wrong with cherries in their natural state? What is the reason for
using resources to produce such an artificial product? Maybe the reason this mess has occurred is because people are bigtime messing with Mother Nature! No, I don’t think Jerry Garcia would be pleased.

Su Green • Honor

Letters Gunfire on the lake
Would more weapons in your neighborhood make you feel safer? Not me. The Homeland Security/Coast Guard plan to dramatically increase weapon presence on the Great Lakes is nothing but terrifying.
Far from making this region more secure, this initiative is riddled with dangers and it is being carried out with little publicity or attention. If their aim is to secure the border, I feel this is counter-productive. It seems more likely that these weapons may become a target for any outsider who wants to cause harm, rather than a detering force.
Once these instruments of violence are established throughout the region, why then is it necessary to use them routinely in live fire zones, or what are ironically being called ‘permanent safety zones’? This endangers commercial and recreational boaters, making large portions of the Great Lakes into restricted war zones, no longer open for public use. Not to mention the countless rounds of lead artillery shells that will be left in our waters.
This is an unnecessary, wasteful, and harmful plan which will not benefit the Great Lakes or their inhabitants. The period for public commentary on this issue ends November 13, please take a moment to submit a comment at www.uscgd9safetyzones.com or find out more at www.CitizensForLakeSafety.org . This is our region, we should have our say.

Haley De Korne • TC

Government censorship
The recent ABC TV movie “The Path To 9/11” helped spark debate which brought to light errors by both administrations. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow tried to stop the movie from being aired. She did this by threatening the broadcast licenses of the stations that ABC TV owns. This is government censorship of opposing ideas and is one of the worst things a U.S. Senator could do. Stabenow should be voted out of office before she tries to suppress either you or me.

Bret Doerr • TC

Letters My hero, Blake Ringsmuth
I was sitting in my living room this afternoon watching the beautiful snow fall outside our Upper Peninsula home when our daughter called from Traverse City and told me of the feature in your paper regarding the Longs and their trial (“How Much Is A Brain Worth?” 10/26).
A few short years back, I too was blessed to have Blake Ringsmuth provide his legal services after I was injured in an automobile accident and attempted to retrieve the insurance money I had paid for just such an incident.
From our very first meeting, Blake and his entire support staff were compassionate and committed to helping me. Like Mr. Long, I too suffered a traumatic brain injury, and due to the injury I was unable to continue in a career I adored.
Too often, attorneys are given bad press, and often for very good reason; however, Blake Ringsmuth and his staff are a magnificent example of what caring for your fellow man means.
You will be in my prayers, Mr. & Mrs. Long, as you travel the long road ahead. I hope you realize how lucky you were to have this fine man on your side.

Ann Kezerle • via email

No nuts, please
In regards to S. Kay Rose‘s letter to editor, “The Gay Old Party,” 10/26:
It is not about gays, straights, good old boys, holding the Bible or any of those things. It is simple: a person over the age of 18 should not be submitting sexual messages to a minor. It does not matter one bit whether it is a straight or gay relationship. Rep. Mark Foley was hitting on minors, and that is wrong!
The campaign to redirect the issue about being homosexual is an obsessive tactic to subvert the fact that this man is a predator of minors.
As for the statement about the Bible, religion has no part in government. Remember, keep Church and State separate. Maybe if we could remember that, we wouldn’t have these fanatical born-again religious nuts posing as preachers. They are not religious leaders; they are B rated actors at best, and their views should have nothing to do with politics.
What separates us from other countries that have religious nuts controlling the government? Not much! Remove the religion from these debates and focus on the fact that this man is a sexual predator of minors.

Noah Creamer • Grand Rapids
Vote for decency
On Election Day, November 7, I will vote for candidates who reflect and promote human dignity and decency. I will vote for candidates who express the best in us and not the worst. I will vote for candidates who work to improve the quality of life for all of us and not just the few.
As an American citizen living in Michigan, I will vote for candidates who help make living in this country and state a joy. In other words, I will vote straight Democratic. I hope you will too. Thank you.

Mary Kazmierski • Harbor Springs

Letters The Gay Old Party
Maybe something good will come out of the Mark Foley scandal. Many gay Republicans in positions of power are “coming out,” and it’s about time. Tom Foley is a creep, and he would be a creep if he were after young girls, or young boys. It wasn’t the high ranking gays that protected Foley, it was old pigs like House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
Shame on the gays and lesbians in Washington that let this administration, and people like Karl Rove (who was raised by his adopted father, who was openly gay) play the gay bashing card every election year, trying to please the far religious right. How can people like Israel Hernandez, a former Bush aide and current Commerce Department official, Steve Herbits, consultant to Don Rumsfield, and Dr. Mark Dybul who was sworn into office at the State Department last week, with his partner holding the Bible, stand by and let this administration demonize same sex marriage each election year so they can get votes from groups that oppose gay rights of any kind?
Hopefully, this will make life easier for gay people in Washington, and will show the people just how deceitful this administration is, and just how far they will go to win elections. Vote Democratic........

S. Kay Rose • Empire

Letters Our race to the bottom
Our leaders on both sides are clinging to the same massively expensive strategy for job creation in Michigan: spend billions in tax-breaks and other incentives, and weaken labor and environmental protections in a race-to-the-bottom effort to attract giant multi-nationals to our region.
In the 1990s, Michigan leaders gave as much as $193,000 of taxpayer money to auto companies – per job created. In 2006 that’s small change, compared to what states are now spending in an effort to attract or keep big corporations (like $2.5 million per job to Boeing in Washington). And for what? These companies rarely meet their promises, and sooner or later leave town to extort taxpayer money somewhere else.
It’s time we shift our strategy to supporting the thousands of smaller, community-owned businesses that are more likely to stick around, offer good pay, good benefits, environmental responsibility and concern for the community. How do we do it?
Start by coming to the community-wide conversation being held October 19th at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. Folks from every segment of the community are meeting to discuss ways to re-localize our economy. You can visit www.artmeetsearth.org to learn more or register.

Brad Kik • The Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design (ISLAND) • Bellaire

Letters Say no to Proposal 2
Not only has Jennifer Granholm publicly stated that she does not support Proposal 2, but Dick DeVos, Debbie Stabenow, and Mike Bouchard have also publicly stated they do not. When all of the candidates state this, one should look closely at what is on the ballot.
Dick DeVos is concerned how Proposal 2 will impact educational programs. Affirmative Action quotas ended in 2003. However, Proposal 2 will impact elementary and high school level reading, science, and math programs targeted specifically to either girls or boys. Also outreach and funding for women and minority math, science and technology teachers, and Language Arts elementary school programs specifically for men will be affected. Public education scholarships and grants at all levels that take into consideration gender, race, ethnicity, or national origin will be eliminated. This will affect the scholarships that AAUW awards to women returning to college.
Global corporations are seeking an educated, diverse workforce -- one that brings many ideas to the table. Without diversity, global companies, such as Dow Chemical will not come to our campuses to recruit.
Gov. Granholm said that Proposal 2 denies Michigan people the ability to compete for jobs and economic growth in a global environment. Devos has stated Proposal 2 is the “wrong solution for Michigan -- we should be looking for ways to increase opportunities for people in Michigan, not to decrease them.”
Little has been written in our Northern Michigan newspapers about this issue. It is as if Proposal 2 does not exist. However, we will feel the impact greatly if this amendment passes. Vote NO.

Nadine Dolan • TC American Association of University Women

Threat to progress
It’s refreshing that there is an election issue about which both Republicans and Democrats can agree. Proposition 2 is opposed by both candidates for governor, business and labor leaders across the state, women’s and religious groups, and most Democratic and Republican leaders.
It’s time for Northwest Michigan to join in the outrage and vote no on this proposal that, if passed, will eliminate many common sense programs, including basic efforts to reach out to women and minorities, and in some cases, to men, to make Michigan a more diverse and competitive place. This proposal would make it illegal for schools to host seminars like those sponsored by the local Zonta club, which attempt to keep girls interested in scientific and technical careers. It would eliminate efforts to recruit male elementary teachers, despite the perceived need.
Bottom line, this campaign, funded by out of state donors, would eliminate all programs that aim to increase opportunities for women and minorities in public education, state universities and colleges, state contracts and state employment. Despite being packaged in deceptive wording, the people of Northwest Michigan need to examine this so-called “civil rights initiative” and vote no. For more information, check out OneUnitedMichigan.org and see for yourself how important it is for us to stand up to this threat to Michigan’s progress.

Lizbeth Messing • TC