Letters 10/12/06

Oct. 11, 2006

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

Shooting doves
is not hunting
My wife and I enjoy reading the Northern Express every week. Last week, we read with interest, and some surprise, Howard Parker‘s letter of Sept. 28 (“Unfair to Dove Hunters“).
We enjoy hearing the call of the mourning dove early in the morning as we begin our day, and again in the evening. We believe that the “harvest“ is found in their song, not in killing them.
Mr. Parker accused a writer in the previous issue of Northern Express as “unfair to dove hunters,“ and not getting the true facts.
I would like to identify my own shooting and hunting experience:
I am a shooter, and not a “hunter.“ In high school, I was a member of the Junior NRA Rifle Team. Upon graduation, I purchased a .22 caliber revolver in a .38 frame. I practiced dry shooting 20 minutes a day. On weekends, I did target practice at an outdoor range at the police department. At the end of the summer (age 18), I finished second place in the pistol match.
In WWII in the Parachute Infantry, I was company champion, putting all my shots in the “X“ ring. Shooting for me, is an art and a skill. To me, Mr. Parker comes across as being neither a hunter or a shooter.
When our family lived in Alaska, I hunted caribou because I needed the meat for my family. Shooting a defenseless caribou with my high-velocity, flat trajectory rifle was not a sport.
There are better ways to bond with our sons -- canoe trips, environmental projects, political action. We have three sons and three daughters and have found this to be so. Mr. Parker: “Give it a try.“ Good luck with your kids.

Norman C. Middaugh
• East Jordan

Doves & emotions
When I lived in Arizona we hunted dove, because they were tasty on the grill. They were not easy to hunt.
Sure, ours will be for a couple years until we educate them. I’m sure you know that the birds here in Michigan fly south where they are hunted. I believe that this is all about human emotion. Doves are pretty and make that cooing sound. Well so are bobwhite, partridge, pheasants and ducks. The symbol of peace another human response. We should all eat grouper, not trout because they are ugly, but who am I to say which is ugly? We are all born to be eaten whether by micro organisms or the king of the jungle.

Larry A. Munsey • TC

Running for Governor
As a citizen of Leelanau County, this letter is to officially announce my candidacy for Governor of the State of Michigan, effective immediately.
As a biker, agnostic, naturalist, musician, and a rock-ribbed centrist, I pledge to uphold my duties with total honesty and integrity. If elected, I will:
a) Propose legislation to eliminate the current, motorcycle helmet law and make it a person’s choice.
b) Push for immediate enforcement against violent Islamic extremism and illegal immigration.
c) Take immediate measures to list the white pigmented fringed-gentian as an endangered species in Michigan.
d) Work toward eliminating the current federal income tax system and impose an across the board,10% flat tax for all corporations and citizens regardless of income.
e) Work to make it mandatory that the Grand Funk Railroad appear once a year at the Traverse City Open Space.
f) Work to ban intelligent design and all forms of religious expression from public schools and public property in the State of Michigan.
g) Work to make sure whoever built that disgusting house on M-22 between Leland and Northport is made to tear it down immediately and read some books on architecture.
There will be no PC from me.
So, vote for “Jones in 2006.” I won’t let you down.
Bob Jones • Glen Arbor

Vote for Unger
Northern Michigan deserves representatives who are moral, trustworthy, and care about our opinions. We want a transparent government that communicates openly and truthfully with its residents. We have made it clear that we do not approve of the “good old boy” approach to parking garages or to campaign donations or to running our state government. We want responsiveness to the people, not to the moneyed special interests. We need representatives who share our goals and our high moral standards.
Sharon Unger is such a person. She cares and listens. Replace Jason Allen and his cohorts! We deserve better. Vote Sharon Unger, Democrat, for the Michigan Senate.

Gerald Klinefelter • Kewadin

Show real support
“Support our Troops” is a message we see often in different forms.
As an urging to support our troops, it is honorable and patriotic, but there should be varying degrees of follow-through of this support.
One of the commitments that Veterans for Peace members make in serving the cause of world peace is to “seek justice for veterans and victims of war.”
Support our Troops! Protect our Troops!
The National Board of Veterans for Peace in March, 2005 asked Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against the President and Vice-President, in part for conducting a war of agression against Iraq, thus violating Article VI of the U.S. Constitution and numerous international treaties which are binding on our nation.
Protect our Troops! Don’t send them!
As a national organization of many chapters, we have protested the duplicity of the administration in their reasons given for starting the war, for a reprehensible lack of planning for running the war, and for cutting funds to the Veterans Administration. Because of the countless road-side bombings in Iraq, brain injuries to survivors became commonplace. That particular area of V.A. hospital operations had its funding cut substantially.
We protest the Congress, especially the House of Representatives, most of whose members have never served in a war but are willing to send young people to fight their wars. These members of Congress have little or no awareness of the horror and terror of war, the shattered families, or the physical and mental damage suffered by thousands of our returned service men and women.
Each month from October thru May, the local chapter of Veterans for Peace, Bruce and Char Sanderson of Northern Michigan Chapter # 50, will be showing movies depicting the experiences of service people who spoke out against waging war, especially in Vietnam and Iraq. The films we start with are “Sir, No Sir” and “Ground Truth” which will be shown at Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall, TC, on October 23, and November 27. We urge all interested to attend. Please visit our web site at WWW.vfp50.org

John Lewis • TC

Truth about prison ‘kids‘
In regards to Amy Michaels‘ letter (“Get Kids Out of Prison,“ 9/21/06), how would you like to hear it straight from a prison staff sergeant‘s point of view after taking care of these “innocent little angels“ after they‘ve killed, tortured and terrorized people in their own communities?
They are very uncaring, resentful; they spit and pee on you, laugh at you, insult you, as you try to do your job.
They rub feces all over themselves, cell, and on you. They have no respect for others, themselves, or authority, or even human life.
Where were you as a “teacher“ not to see this coming? Or as a parent for that matter? Do you think some judge, just because he had a bad day, just out of the blue, decided to try your child as an adult? Not!
When these young prisoners came into Segregation, where I was at, they had to work their way into there, by being so horribly cruel and dangerous to earn that type of lock-up. Other “children“ inmates and staff were met with brutality at numerous times by them.
The Baldwin Prison was built for the extreme behavior of your “children.“ I have had numerous broken bones and cuts because of your “children.“ I‘ve seen this go on, on a daily basis, for six years and these “children“ do not change!
The worst part of it is that when they turn 21, they are set free to do it all over again.
Pray to God that your child is not around one of those “children“ prisoners.
As to the statistic that 60% of child offenders serving life terms are first-time offenders -- not! Every person in prison had a jacket (folder) of 40-50 pages long of previous crimes. And that‘s just what I got to read at my job. That‘s what they were convicted of, not charged with.
If you want to walk the halls with me someday, I will be happy to show you what they can do for your “children.“ You, being a female in a male prison, see what comes out of their mouths at you. Let me see your reaction when about 20 out of 480 of them yell vulgar things at you.
When Gov. Granholm shut the Baldwin Prison down, “Little Johnny“ went to foster care. Would you like him or one of his little playmates from prison in your home? Kind of like babysitting Michael Meyers, huh? I had 480 of him.
I apologize if I offended you, but before you spout off, please know all your facts. You can‘t teach swimming class if you‘ve never been in the water.

Sgt. M. Thompson • TC