Letters 2/2/06

Feb. 1, 2006

WINDPOWER 101
While driving to Traverse City today, we came over a hill and looked out to see the windmill on M72 turning. There are times we drive home by way of M72, just to see the windmill turning, because it is a beautiful thing. The movement of the windmill is peaceful to watch and it always fills us with awe at the power wind posesses. It didn‚t cost anything to create the wind, it‚s just there, free for the taking.
Teaching third graders about wind each year, I find they are usually fascinated with wind because it is something that cannot be touched or seen. Creating anometers we take outside to capture the wind, is a favorite activity among the kids. One of the kids always brings up the fact that they saw the windmill turning on a trip to Traverse City. This usually spurs a discussion about natural resources and energy sources in America. These budding geniuses understand fossil fuels will be exhausted at some point, and the pollution created by burning them is not the kind of air they want to breathe.
In the Express last week, the story about wind power captivated us. We started talking about wind power, as we do more and more these days with the rising cost of energy. It makes sense that something as awesome as the wind could be harnessed and used to create energy. Let’s embrace this change, and celebrate the ways it can provide for our needs, now and in the future.
Wind existed before we were given breath. Now, we have developed the technology and equipment to glean energyfrom this unlimited natural resource, without waste or life-threatening dangers. Let us all open our minds and let that very breath fill us with energy that can continue to bring changes to our lives.
Tom & Victoria Luebke

Impeachment
Sometimes I wonder what the point is in having laws, if the leader of the nation says he doesn’t abide by them and doesn’t intend to abide by them!
Actually, it makes sense in a dictatorship where the leader is the law but in a democracy where the leadership is elected, and the laws reflect the will of the people, how can this be?
As the now infamous John Dean of Watergate said, Bush is the first president to ever admit outright to approving impeachable actions!?
Well, in a democracy what is the next most logical step? At the very least, investigation for impeachment is a necessity. Otherwise where are we?
Linda K. Henry • Empire