March 15, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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dOURNALEDITORIAL
We encourage readers to
weigh in on what mat-
ters most to them in
Mason County.
A group of community lead-
ers are working on a Commu-
nity Health Improvement Plan
(CHIP) and they need your help.
A series of quizzes and a survey
are available on the county'sfree and reduced lunch figures tion, completing the quizzes and doing well.
website at www.co.mason.wa.us, at local schools, poverty levels checking out the "crib sheets" af- That way, a solid plan can be
The quizzes will both test and much more. Answers, with terward, will help when it comes put together to address the most
your knowledge of local Condi- the best available figures, are time to take the survey, pressing issues in a way that
tions in a wide range of areas provided at the conclusion ofFolks can, of course, skip the makes sense and will be effec-
and help inform you about what each quiz. quizzes and head straight totive.
the current numbers are locally We think that the quizzes will the survey. Either way, it's im- So, don't delay. Anyone and
for things like childhood obesity, likely be an eye-opening experi- portant to know what ails us in everyone can chip in on this im-
drug and alcohol dependence, ence for many residents. In addi- Mason County and what we're portant CHIP project.
LETTE RSTOTH E E DITO R
The
majority
have the
power
Editor, the Journal
Amendment of the Con-
stitution Article I: Con-
gress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise there, of;
or abridging the freedom of
speech...
By the way the Ro-
man Catholic Church is
not the only religion that
believes the killing of an
infant (sorry, embryo), goes
against their faith.
There are many Chris-
tian faiths as well the Jew-
ish faith that place value
on life. To ask any of these
religious hospitals, schools,
or childrens' services to go
against their belief is pro-
hibiting their free exercise
to practice their faith.
More and more I'm see-
ing that the majority rule
is no more. We vote and
those in power overrule our
votes.
Wake up before it's too
late.
If the party you vote for
is no longer listening to the
majority vote, vote them
out. It won't take long for
them to change.
We the majority have
the power. Our forefathers
designed it that way.
P.J. Benedict
Belfair
Uniforms,
dress code,
coming our
way?
Editor, the Journal
In the past several years
the discussion whether
schools should require stu-
dents to wear a school uni-
form has been talked about
and eventually forgotten
until now.
Uniforms and dress
codes are becoming more
popular in public schools
across the country, accord-
ing to the education com-
mission of the states.
Is it time for Shelton
School District to discuss
this topic?
Some educators and
parents say to help curtail
bullying, instill profession-
alism among students and
help with eliminating peer
pressure, having a dress
code might be the answer
to some of these things.
Students would only be
able to wear school colors,
polo shirts and khaki pants
or jeans without the holes
or tears often considered
fashionable these days.
Also, students would be
allowed to wear crew neck
sweaters and jackets as
well. A dress code would
also allow staff to identify
kids who don't belong on
school grounds.
Having a dress code
would help students resist
peer pressure so they can
focus on their schoolwork
rather than what they are
wearing.
Some parents have told
me that they would like
to see a dress code in our
schools because their chil-
dren wouldn't be bullied
for not wearing popular
brands.
I believe that more than
50 percent of our students
qualify for free or reduced
lunch prices. This means
that if there were a dress
code it would be less expen-
sive for parents to clothe
their children because you
don't have to go out and
buy a $40 shirt and a $100
pair of jeans.
The hope is that having
a dress code in our schools
will give students a sense
of unity and self-respect
and bring a sense of com-
munity pride.
The bottom line is to
start thinking about the
possibility of having a
dress code in our schools
would have to start with
our administration, teach-
ers and with overwhelming
parental support.
Dann Gagnon
Olympic Middle School
Flexible
voting
Editor, the Journal
Being a self-appointed
Republican, I am amused
by the letter from Tom
Davis, a self-declared In-
dependent, ranting over
the political actions of Sen.
Tim Sheldon, the self-iden-
tified Democrat.
Davis, who really
sounds more like a covert
Democrat than a devout
Independent, is displeased
because Sheldon at times
makes voting choices re-
flecting his own considered
opinions. With the often
hide bound position taken
by incumbents, they could
profit by an experienced
member who can, when
required, see both sides of
an issue.
Especially, when he is a
part of their team.
Robert Holt
Union
Correction
please
Editor, the Journal
A few weeks ago I sent
a letter to the Journal. I
was pleased that it was
published but disappointed
with the title placed on it
- certainly not one of my
choosing.
I did not in any way
indicate that I thought
Shelton was a place where
immorality was running
rampant. Neither did I
pinpoint our county but
distinctly referred to our
country in general. I mere-
ly wanted to share my feel-
ings with others who might
feel as I do.
I do not appreciate
debates, mudslinging or
name-calling and I want
to make it known that I
respect our city and county
officials; pray for them and
the difficult tasks they are
called upon to perform.
Doris Myers
Shelton
Women's
civil
liberties are
at risk
Editor, the Journal
Old men are still trying
to make up rules to control
women's bodies. Especially
old Republican men and
old men of the Catholic they tolerated the pedo-
clergy, phite priests? Whose lib-
What's up with that? erty were the~ protecting?
Efforts are underway in Just where were the bish- it so difficult to understand
the USA to turn back time, ops' and cardinals' and the that people who can't drive
back to a time when wom- pope's concerns about liber- or afford transportation,
en were not able to make ty then? Crazy old celibate need to get to work, to the
choices or even participate (or so they say) men don't grocery store, to the doctor
in a process concerning our have any business enter-and have access to activi-
well-being. I have observed ing into a discussion about ties or services that will
many discussions, recently, women's civil liberties,better their lives? Maybe
concerning American worn- the advantage of transpor-
en's access to health care Victoria Pavel tation is taken for granted
and whether or not each Shelton by the vast majority of us
and every single woman who have never lived with-
is entitled to make her out a car. We can get to
ownlife choices. Without Social wherewe need or
want
to
getting into a lot of sleazy go, when we need or want
details, I'll just say that m obility to go there. It is difficult to
what I have observed is . imagine life without trans-
just crazy talk. I thought __ portation if we have never
we settled these matters in ..~il~ a goo~ experienced it. State and
the USA back in the 1970s. federal allocations have
One right-wing talk show th ing come to Mason County to
freak wants women to pay support MTA endeavors
for their birth control med- for three very good rea-
ication by posting videos of Editor, the Journal sons.
themselves having sex on The March 1 letter to 1. Although we are still
the Internet. Creepy and the editor questioning trying to figure out how to
weird is all I can say about the prudent use of public make it work effectively,
that proposition. Get some funds on the part of Mason we live in a county with
therapeutic help, crazy old Transit Authority deserves one of the world's best sys-
misogynist fat man. Same consideration. We would terns for creating equal op-
advice to his advertising all be better off if our tax portunity for all.
sponsors. Women are un- dollars had more scrutiny 2. As Mason County's
derrepresented in the pc- by a thoughtful citizenry, prosperity has diminished
litical process, here in the At first glance a free taxi with the logging industry,
USA and around the world, service paid for by you, the high rates of unemploy-
Get informed. Horrible taxed, could seem foolish ment, poverty, homeless-
tragedies occur each and to some. With a closer look ness, chemical dependence,
every day to women and at the impact social mobil- school dropouts, teen
their children throughout ity has on the future of the pregnancy and community
the world. The best hope whole community, MTA's health and safety concerns
we have for a better life is plan looks brilliant to oth- have reached a threshold
to educate and empower ers. Imagine our surprise that makes federal and
women on our planet, to find some of the beststate resources available.
The Catholic Church social work in the country Theses funds are most of-
talks about religious lib- happening here in Mason ten provided to community-
erty when it obstructs its County, facilitated by the based collaborations with
female employees' access to public transit system. Go a vision and demonstrated
reproductive health care. figure, ability to save money
Where were the bishops' The wisdom of public through effective preven-
concerns for decades, when support for school trans- tion.
B O ST PUIIN ViCT
portation is seldom ques,3. MTA has stepped up
tioned. Our children need. and sought resources to
to get t° School So why ~s facilifate:~ocial mobility
for everybody. Their board
of directors and advisory
board have listened to the
community and developed
a broad base of partner-
ships to enhance social
wellness by providing
transportation where and
when needed.
Dial-a-Ride has been
just a prelude to MTA
helping to transport Mason
County into the future.
Stay tuned for the trans-
formation of the downtown
armory into a transit com-
munity center that will
serve as a gateway to trav-
el, personal growth and
community innovation.
Dan Ryder
Family Resource
Coordinator
Mason County
Readiness to Learn
Program
Against
same sex
marriage
Editor, the Journal
Bravo to Katie Groves
and Doris (Hickson) My-
ers for your comments on
same-sex marriage and on
problems of immorality. It
is refreshing to know that
I do not stand alone in a
world I do not anymore un-
derstand.
To Thomas McKee and
See Letter on page A-5
Shelton-Mason County
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Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 15, 2012