Letters 12/21/06

Dec. 20, 2006

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

Support the ACLU
Christmas is a wonderful holiday. People greet strangers, put money in pots to help the needy, aid the USMC with their Toys for Tots program, and even end family quarrels for the season. Have you ever considered some of the most neglected poeple are those with hard hearts who are anti-Christmas?
The people in the ACLU need our love and respect too. These people are dedicated to their tasks, very intelligent, unbelievably resolute, and should be wished well at this time of the year. Could we do less?
A Christmas wish is the way to show our love. The cost to you is .39 cents, an envelope and a slip of paper with the simple words, “Merry Christmas.” The people in the ACLU are not so hard that a word of kindness will not melt their hearts. They, like all human beings, should know they are held in highest esteem.

John Smith • Kalkaska

(The address for the ACLU for those wishing to send Christmas greetings or donations can be found online.)

Include both parents
House Bill 5267 addresses the need for children of divorced parents to have active participation by both parents in their lives. For too long there has been a disparity in our courts, our schools, and our society, when it comes to child custody issues.
Our court systems thrive on adverse relationships. That is how they earn funding. The court finds a family that reports having problems. Then it focuses on the differences. Parents pay money and file papers on dissolving the marriage, even when it may be identified as a “no fault divorce.” After thousands of dollars and much blame, the marriage is terminated.
But, what about the children?
I propose that the responsibilities of parenthood are separate from the institution of marriage. Once a child is conceived, both parents, and the court system, have a responsibility to see that the child is protected by encouraging and continuing family dynamics.

Our legal system needs to identify, and support, the premise that children need parents on an equal basis. A divorce should not give a parent, or the system, the right to limit the child‘s relationship with either parent. Our system finds it easier to isolate and separate, than to encourage the concept of parenthood and family. Who suffers? The child.
Parenthood is not determined by marital status. There are great parents who are divorced, and there are terrible parents that are married. What we need is a system that supports and assists parents, instead of focusing on fault isolation and blame.
We have the opportunity and responsibility as a parent to love, provide for, and advocate for our children. To do this parents need equal involvement in the lives of their children.

Douglas Gruizenga • via email