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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 1, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 1, 2007
 
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00ournal of Opinion: Basic education How disappointing to see the Shelton School District delving into military recruiting when its mission should be educating children. Last week's school board approval of sending Shelton High School Athletic Director Bill Hicks on a junket to San Diego to Marine basic training so he can spread the word here about the leathernecks' educational opportunities is a sad commentary on society's attitude toward what it calls its most precious resource. In a time of war - a misguided and botched effort that has turned from popular to unpopular in a conflict long- er than World War II - when the military services are running out of volunteer bodies, a sergeant in Marine Corps marketing writes to frostbitten educators inviting them to go to San Diego this winter to learn about "the myriad of educational opportunities available to today's Marine." The Marines, he says, feel that they are educators' "partners in education." The Shelton School District is under no obligation to become the Marines' partner in war, even though federal law practical- ly ibrces the district to. To willingly carry the Marines' water isn't part of its educational mission. The federal No Child Left Behind law requires the district to provide contact information for students to military recruiters. Those recruiters will call and call and call children, even when children tell them they aren't interested, even when children tell them they have been accepted to a four-year college. Military recruiters already are allowed on campus at the high school. SHS has a Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program more than a quarter century old. Those feet in the door aren't enough. The Marines want something like the Army's top general was talking about dur- ing a Puget Sound visit when he told audiences the military needs to reach "influencers," those who young people look to for advice when making important decisions. He knew that young people are being discouraged from enlisting by WOITied parents, teachers and others. Hicks filled out a form requesting to leave the state for training. It asks the question, "Why is the training important to school improvement?" He answered, "It is valuable experience in dealing with student questions concerning future planning when military recruitment is involved. Also very informative training techniques to possibly incorporate into our athletic programs." In an age when high-school coaches go to specialized clinics in their individual sports often taught by college coaches nd pros, he's going to pick up some training tips tbr our athletes. And he plans to advise students at recruiting time and train other "influencers" to advise kids. "How will this training be shared and implemented at the building/district?" the fbrm asks. "Through staff meetings with teachers and counselors and future planning seminars for students, parents and other interested parties," he answered. We have an educational crisis. We have too many days in testing and' not enough in classoo m learning. We have teachers who need to be trained in new curricu- lum, new teaching techniques. So we're going to use training time to tell teachers all about the Marines. Hicks' trip is "fl"ee," paid tbr by the Marines. That's like say- ing when the City of Shelton receives a state or tbderal grant it doesn't cost the local taxpayers anything. The argument is that the Marines offer educational opportunities for kids who couldn't get an education otherwise. Perhaps if we spent our money on our chil- dren instead of attacking others, our poor could further their education. The $400 billion spent in Iraq would provide eight million kids $50,000 for their education. Children who want to join the military are one thing. Chil- dren who are pushed to join are quite another. They are expect- ed to make a life-arid-death decision at age 18, but will our edu- cators give them all the information? Will they teach them about involuntary call-ups and stop-loss orders, 35 percent of" soldiers returning from Iraq seeking mental-health services, the mentally unfit being sent into combat, the sometimes worthless Iraqi army at their sides, the Marine squad with one member left alive after house-to-house searches 12 hours a day in 120-degree temperatures, the bawling "grown men" in the field devastated after an attack, the tens of thousands of sol- diers maimed, the impossibility of fighting an enemy without personally killing civilians, the ibur years of untold horror stories? And that's if they live. This country, and this town, should think about what we are doing to our children. The educational system, under pressure to turn out technicians for corporate America, is trying to force every child to love math and turning out graduates shorted in the liberal arts that will help them enjoy life and understand the world around them. Now the government wants educators to churn out children for its war machine. Educators should be preparing children for lif. -CG uuu Shelton- I jMason ourna eounty usPs 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shetton. WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton Publishing Inc. at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelten, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.00 per year in-county address, $45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Sean Hanlon, managing editor, Port of Shelton; Steve Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools; Rebecca Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme, business manager; Kathy Lester, circulation; Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Cricket Carter, mailroom superwsor. Composing room; Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination; Monica CarvajaI-Beben, pagination, darkroom; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager; Colleen Scott, ad builder, computer system manager; William Adams, ad builder; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, pressman; Nick Cam pressman's assistant. lu Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, February 1, 2007 Y00eaders" 00ournal: If all is well, let's leave Iraq Editor, The Journal: Since it appears that the Iraqi government is doing well, as per Andrea Shepherd's recent letter (January 25, "Media won't report positive,") why not bring our troops home immediately? 1 checked the Department of Defbnse Web site as she suggest- ed, and apart from a few state- ments concerning the possibility of civil war, I see no reason to be- lieve that Iraq is not able to stand up and fight tbr its own interests now. American and coalition forces have been successful in helping to rebuild hospitals and schools and other necessary facili- ties Iraqi security forces grow ever stronger each day According to the Defense Web site, mission accomplished! Let's get our brave young men and women out of harm's way before they are caught in the middle of a horrific civil war. A recent Newsweek poll (January 22) shows that a whop- ping 68 percent of Americans do not support Bush's plan tbr troop escalation. The national mood is decidedly anti-war. Bush should honor the will of the majority and get the troops out of the death trap in Baghdad now. Our troops should not have to die to preserve Bush's precious legacy. Impeach- ment is the only legacy he de- serves. Too many innocent people have died or will die on his watch. Let's stand up and fight fbr peace. If' not now, then when? Let's also get our priorities in or- der. This country of' ours has many troubles that are being overlooked. Remember Hurricane Katrina? Sorry, Andrea, but it's still bad news in New Orleans. Imagine what would happen if' Bush decided to send more than 20,000 civilian workers to help re- build New Orleans instead of sending more than'20,000 more troops into Baghdad? Although BtSh made no men- tion of New Orleans in his recent State of the Union speech, Louisi- ana Senator Mary Landrieu said, "We still have a quarter people not back in housing ... and a school rebuild." Senator Jim has a son in Iraq, said, putting all of this money Iraq and ignoring New we are doing something Our government is $8.4 billion per month on (www.cost of war.corn). Shepherd would like the report some good news change instead of" all the negative news we read. bring it on then! Just imagine what $8.4 per month could do for our country and fbr saving the city of New Orleans. Ima great press Bush would he brought our troops home now! Imagine the legacy sure fbr himself if" he wage peace instead of war. 'he just might go from a to a hero and save the world, Trace5 Some treated as subhuman Editor, The Journal: This is in reply to Diane Ea- ton's January 25 letter, "Same- sex marriage on agenda." First of' all, it is just plain wrong tbr someone else to decide whether or not two consenting adults can get married regardless of their sex. The Bible to which Diane so heav- ily retbrs is supposed to teach tol- erance and love to all living things. Are homosexuals not in thct people? Individuals like Diane act as if' homosexuals are somehow "subhuman." Why is" it that so many "Christians" have so much hatred towards another human being, just because of who they want to share their life with? It is true that much of' America com- prises Christians, but the practice of" legislating morality has gone too far. That is one of the reasons we are Americans. Long ago we sepa- rated ourselves from a country that did this exact thing. Ameri- cans cannot let this happen. We are supposed to have freedom of" and from religion. If' we start making laws based on Christiani- ty we will be no diffbrent from the people we separated ourselves from in the first place. Referring back to Diane's let- ter, "be not deceived, neither fbr- nicators, nor idolaters, nor ei'feminate.., shall inherit the kingdom of" God," I honestly don't care what Paul wrote to the Cor- inthians in the Bible. I've written a lot of things too. Does that mean that people need to start believing it, just because it is written down in a book'? Not all of us are interested in" "inheriting the kingdom of' God," Diane. Listen to the message your Bible is trying to send you, una- dulterated by your individual in- terpretation of the words. Be kind to all. Diane also says that our lead- ers set up the stage fbr living our everyday lives. True, but homo- sexuals are people too, and they have lives to live as well. As far as "legalizing/legitimizing lying, cheating, murder," Diane is right that those are things that are wrong. Not because of' what so- and-so said in the Bible, or be- cause they are immoral things, but because they harm other peo- ple. There is nothing about homo- sexuality that hurts anyone. It doesn't hurt children. I would much rather be a child with par- ents that love me, regard their sex, than one who have parents or a child with ents who are abusive. Why is it that so many like Diane spend so much and energy trying to keep tain group of" people from happy lives? It's not just living happy lives, either. about protection. When a is legally married, the fly is protected by their company, Social Why deny someone the having a stable, secure lif because of" who they are they want to be with? Not very long ago and some areas of' the country, racial marriage is/was taboO: fbre that, black people sidered three-fifths human. have been so many peopR past who were cized, ridiculed, slain in the name of religk fbr being who they are. people would stop thinking only themselves and start ing about others too, and ber that it is okay to be Angela Tricky new 'open space' Editor, The Journal: With little fanfare something called the Mason County Plan- ning Advisory Commission may be slipping one over on some inat- tentive property-tax payers. Those who happened to own a piece of" ground currently declared and assessed as "open space" were sent a confusing little letter last September advising that un- der a new movement their land, with its recognized lower value and consequent lower tax, will soon be thrown into a pot and be reclassed as saleable property subject to a new value and new tax base. The originating reasons for their low value, such as being un- buildable, unmarketable or forev- er tied up with applied restric- tions, will be tossed out while a new point system searches tbr new and novel reasons to upgrade its value. When the plan gets going, the owner will be given just a 30-day window in which he must either (1) indicate his intention to de- fend his low-value status (while his land is being reverted to fully taxable) or (2) opt out of the whole program and deliberately put his land back on a saleable basis under full taxation. The lat- ter choice could appeal to someone who has had hopes of selling the land or building on it. This program, which apparent- ly still needs final approval county commissioners, be simple tax-raising man  ing by our county, whi] half of' the other counties have chosen to aV0 adoption. Open-space owner need to keep an eye o squeeze play as it quietlY ops here Their letter indicates th is under the aegis of the County Current Use 0 Program and the Mason Planning Advisory Com and the Public Benefit and the Department ty Development. Take 00ournal of Opinion: Basic education How disappointing to see the Shelton School District delving into military recruiting when its mission should be educating children. Last week's school board approval of sending Shelton High School Athletic Director Bill Hicks on a junket to San Diego to Marine basic training so he can spread the word here about the leathernecks' educational opportunities is a sad commentary on society's attitude toward what it calls its most precious resource. In a time of war - a misguided and botched effort that has turned from popular to unpopular in a conflict long- er than World War II - when the military services are running out of volunteer bodies, a sergeant in Marine Corps marketing writes to frostbitten educators inviting them to go to San Diego this winter to learn about "the myriad of educational opportunities available to today's Marine." The Marines, he says, feel that they are educators' "partners in education." The Shelton School District is under no obligation to become the Marines' partner in war, even though federal law practical- ly ibrces the district to. To willingly carry the Marines' water isn't part of its educational mission. The federal No Child Left Behind law requires the district to provide contact information for students to military recruiters. Those recruiters will call and call and call children, even when children tell them they aren't interested, even when children tell them they have been accepted to a four-year college. Military recruiters already are allowed on campus at the high school. SHS has a Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program more than a quarter century old. Those feet in the door aren't enough. The Marines want something like the Army's top general was talking about dur- ing a Puget Sound visit when he told audiences the military needs to reach "influencers," those who young people look to for advice when making important decisions. He knew that young people are being discouraged from enlisting by WOITied parents, teachers and others. Hicks filled out a form requesting to leave the state for training. It asks the question, "Why is the training important to school improvement?" He answered, "It is valuable experience in dealing with student questions concerning future planning when military recruitment is involved. Also very informative training techniques to possibly incorporate into our athletic programs." In an age when high-school coaches go to specialized clinics in their individual sports often taught by college coaches nd pros, he's going to pick up some training tips tbr our athletes. And he plans to advise students at recruiting time and train other "influencers" to advise kids. "How will this training be shared and implemented at the building/district?" the fbrm asks. "Through staff meetings with teachers and counselors and future planning seminars for students, parents and other interested parties," he answered. We have an educational crisis. We have too many days in testing and' not enough in classoo m learning. We have teachers who need to be trained in new curricu- lum, new teaching techniques. So we're going to use training time to tell teachers all about the Marines. Hicks' trip is "fl"ee," paid tbr by the Marines. That's like say- ing when the City of Shelton receives a state or tbderal grant it doesn't cost the local taxpayers anything. The argument is that the Marines offer educational opportunities for kids who couldn't get an education otherwise. Perhaps if we spent our money on our chil- dren instead of attacking others, our poor could further their education. The $400 billion spent in Iraq would provide eight million kids $50,000 for their education. Children who want to join the military are one thing. Chil- dren who are pushed to join are quite another. They are expect- ed to make a life-arid-death decision at age 18, but will our edu- cators give them all the information? Will they teach them about involuntary call-ups and stop-loss orders, 35 percent of" soldiers returning from Iraq seeking mental-health services, the mentally unfit being sent into combat, the sometimes worthless Iraqi army at their sides, the Marine squad with one member left alive after house-to-house searches 12 hours a day in 120-degree temperatures, the bawling "grown men" in the field devastated after an attack, the tens of thousands of sol- diers maimed, the impossibility of fighting an enemy without personally killing civilians, the ibur years of untold horror stories? And that's if they live. This country, and this town, should think about what we are doing to our children. The educational system, under pressure to turn out technicians for corporate America, is trying to force every child to love math and turning out graduates shorted in the liberal arts that will help them enjoy life and understand the world around them. Now the government wants educators to churn out children for its war machine. Educators should be preparing children for lif. -CG uuu Shelton- I jMason ourna eounty usPs 492-800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shetton. WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton Publishing Inc. at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelten, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.00 per year in-county address, $45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Sean Hanlon, managing editor, Port of Shelton; Steve Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools; Rebecca Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme, business manager; Kathy Lester, circulation; Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Cricket Carter, mailroom superwsor. Composing room; Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination; Monica CarvajaI-Beben, pagination, darkroom; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager; Colleen Scott, ad builder, computer system manager; William Adams, ad builder; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, pressman; Nick Cam pressman's assistant. lu Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, February 1, 2007 Y00eaders" 00ournal: If all is well, let's leave Iraq Editor, The Journal: Since it appears that the Iraqi government is doing well, as per Andrea Shepherd's recent letter (January 25, "Media won't report positive,") why not bring our troops home immediately? 1 checked the Department of Defbnse Web site as she suggest- ed, and apart from a few state- ments concerning the possibility of civil war, I see no reason to be- lieve that Iraq is not able to stand up and fight tbr its own interests now. American and coalition forces have been successful in helping to rebuild hospitals and schools and other necessary facili- ties Iraqi security forces grow ever stronger each day According to the Defense Web site, mission accomplished! Let's get our brave young men and women out of harm's way before they are caught in the middle of a horrific civil war. A recent Newsweek poll (January 22) shows that a whop- ping 68 percent of Americans do not support Bush's plan tbr troop escalation. The national mood is decidedly anti-war. Bush should honor the will of the majority and get the troops out of the death trap in Baghdad now. Our troops should not have to die to preserve Bush's precious legacy. Impeach- ment is the only legacy he de- serves. Too many innocent people have died or will die on his watch. Let's stand up and fight fbr peace. If' not now, then when? Let's also get our priorities in or- der. This country of' ours has many troubles that are being overlooked. Remember Hurricane Katrina? Sorry, Andrea, but it's still bad news in New Orleans. Imagine what would happen if' Bush decided to send more than 20,000 civilian workers to help re- build New Orleans instead of sending more than'20,000 more troops into Baghdad? Although BtSh made no men- tion of New Orleans in his recent State of the Union speech, Louisi- ana Senator Mary Landrieu said, "We still have a quarter people not back in housing ... and a school rebuild." Senator Jim has a son in Iraq, said, putting all of this money Iraq and ignoring New we are doing something Our government is $8.4 billion per month on (www.cost of war.corn). Shepherd would like the report some good news change instead of" all the negative news we read. bring it on then! Just imagine what $8.4 per month could do for our country and fbr saving the city of New Orleans. Ima great press Bush would he brought our troops home now! Imagine the legacy sure fbr himself if" he wage peace instead of war. 'he just might go from a to a hero and save the world, Trace5 Some treated as subhuman Editor, The Journal: This is in reply to Diane Ea- ton's January 25 letter, "Same- sex marriage on agenda." First of' all, it is just plain wrong tbr someone else to decide whether or not two consenting adults can get married regardless of their sex. The Bible to which Diane so heav- ily retbrs is supposed to teach tol- erance and love to all living things. Are homosexuals not in thct people? Individuals like Diane act as if' homosexuals are somehow "subhuman." Why is" it that so many "Christians" have so much hatred towards another human being, just because of who they want to share their life with? It is true that much of' America com- prises Christians, but the practice of" legislating morality has gone too far. That is one of the reasons we are Americans. Long ago we sepa- rated ourselves from a country that did this exact thing. Ameri- cans cannot let this happen. We are supposed to have freedom of" and from religion. If' we start making laws based on Christiani- ty we will be no diffbrent from the people we separated ourselves from in the first place. Referring back to Diane's let- ter, "be not deceived, neither fbr- nicators, nor idolaters, nor ei'feminate.., shall inherit the kingdom of" God," I honestly don't care what Paul wrote to the Cor- inthians in the Bible. I've written a lot of things too. Does that mean that people need to start believing it, just because it is written down in a book'? Not all of us are interested in" "inheriting the kingdom of' God," Diane. Listen to the message your Bible is trying to send you, una- dulterated by your individual in- terpretation of the words. Be kind to all. Diane also says that our lead- ers set up the stage fbr living our everyday lives. True, but homo- sexuals are people too, and they have lives to live as well. As far as "legalizing/legitimizing lying, cheating, murder," Diane is right that those are things that are wrong. Not because of' what so- and-so said in the Bible, or be- cause they are immoral things, but because they harm other peo- ple. There is nothing about homo- sexuality that hurts anyone. It doesn't hurt children. I would much rather be a child with par- ents that love me, regard their sex, than one who have parents or a child with ents who are abusive. Why is it that so many like Diane spend so much and energy trying to keep tain group of" people from happy lives? It's not just living happy lives, either. about protection. When a is legally married, the fly is protected by their company, Social Why deny someone the having a stable, secure lif because of" who they are they want to be with? Not very long ago and some areas of' the country, racial marriage is/was taboO: fbre that, black people sidered three-fifths human. have been so many peopR past who were cized, ridiculed, slain in the name of religk fbr being who they are. people would stop thinking only themselves and start ing about others too, and ber that it is okay to be Angela Tricky new 'open space' Editor, The Journal: With little fanfare something called the Mason County Plan- ning Advisory Commission may be slipping one over on some inat- tentive property-tax payers. Those who happened to own a piece of" ground currently declared and assessed as "open space" were sent a confusing little letter last September advising that un- der a new movement their land, with its recognized lower value and consequent lower tax, will soon be thrown into a pot and be reclassed as saleable property subject to a new value and new tax base. The originating reasons for their low value, such as being un- buildable, unmarketable or forev- er tied up with applied restric- tions, will be tossed out while a new point system searches tbr new and novel reasons to upgrade its value. When the plan gets going, the owner will be given just a 30-day window in which he must either (1) indicate his intention to de- fend his low-value status (while his land is being reverted to fully taxable) or (2) opt out of the whole program and deliberately put his land back on a saleable basis under full taxation. The lat- ter choice could appeal to someone who has had hopes of selling the land or building on it. This program, which apparent- ly still needs final approval county commissioners, be simple tax-raising man  ing by our county, whi] half of' the other counties have chosen to aV0 adoption. Open-space owner need to keep an eye o squeeze play as it quietlY ops here Their letter indicates th is under the aegis of the County Current Use 0 Program and the Mason Planning Advisory Com and the Public Benefit and the Department ty Development. Take