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LETTERS TO THE
Which party
has been
taken over by
extremists?
Editor, the Journal
As a proud member of the
Democratic Party, I must
take exception to Irene Gra-
ham’s letter in the June 18
issue.
“The Democratic Party has
been taken over by extrem-
ists.”
Really? Both the KKK and
“White Nation” say “We be-
lieve what Trump believes.”
Trump is quoted as having
told a dictator that building
concentration camps is a good
idea.
Trump’s attorney general
is regarded across the nation
as corrupt.
So tell me again, Ms. Gra-
ham, which party has been
taken over by’ extremists with
no regard for civil liberties or
the rule of law?
Gregory Dallum
Grapeview
Big changes;
plenty of
work to do
Editor, the Journal
Big change is in the air.
Worldwide protests calling
finally for big change in how
we manage public safety is-
sues, especially as it relates
to race. Not to mention the
ongoing pandemic reality. In
all the intensity, we have a
big opportunity here to begin
to re-envision justice, kind-
ness, equality, health, safety,
survival and freedom in
our communities and in our
world.
As a white lesbian, I want
to publicly state my support
to Mason County’s people of
color, the women and men
whose lives are being so tre-
mendously impacted by all
the horrors and possibilities
of the current moment.
So, big change. So much to
be done. .
Kathy Ross
Shelton
Journal
has room for
improvement
Editor, the Journal
While I did renew my
subscription to the Shelton-
Mason County Journal for
another year, I did think hard
about it.
I feel you are missing op-
portunities to report on issues
folks who still subscribe to
newspapers are looking for in
their local newspaper. Specifi-
cally, I didn’t see a report on
the tractor/trailer fuel truck
incident on state Route 3,
which detoured traffic for
six hours. The Olympian not
only reported it in their news-
paper, they even included a
photo.
Also, what happened on
Mason Lake Road a week ago
that required numerous PUD
vehicles and personnel to take
traffic down to one lane and
interrupt internet for hours?
Again, I did not see any re-
porting in the local paper. .
While I entertain the
thought that I might have
missed the reports on the
above incidents, I made an
. effort to specifically look for
them and if they were re-
ported, they were certainly
not obvious. Not everyone has
or wants social media. Those
of us who still subscribe to
newspapers do so because
we enjoy out newspapers
and look to them to report on
these local issues.
Carol Swindall
Shelton
Orgy of
violence must
be condemned
Editor, the Journal
The death of George Floyd
proves that rogue cops ex—
ist. Citizens from left and
right should encourage and
approve the righteous anger
and peaceful protest by all
citizens for this crime. How-
ever the orgy of violence and
destruction inspired by this
murder must be condemned.
Even peaceful protesters are
sickened by the unreasoning
destruction and violence of
these thugs.
Robert L. Woodson, a
Black civil rights activist,
said the cause of despair in
inner cities is not institution-
al racism; it’s institutional
betrayal by leaders of these
cities. He believes bigotry
isn’t as bad as betrayal. Most
cities experiencing this be-
trayal are run by left—wing
Democrats.
Mayor Jenny Durkan has
betrayed Seattle and Wash-
ington Gov. Jay Inslee hides
under his desk as the Seattle
thugs have kept police out
of the CHOP district. These
rock-throwing mobs and
these politicians have allowed
fires to be set, businesses to
be vandalized, shots to be
fired, people to be killed and
assaults, including sexual as-
sault, to have occurred. These
Violent jerks intimidate the
political leaders. It’s no lon-
ger a summer of love, Jenny
Durkan? With a win, these
thugs will have the raw po-
litical power they seek. They
are winning as Durkan and
Inslee dance to their tune.
Instead of destroying
statues, we should honor the
successes and learn from the
failures of these historical fig-
ures. Unfortunately this cur-
rent generation is ignorant of
history and arrogantly proud
of their ignorance. They want
this art destroyed because
they think it’s offensive. These
simpletons are in a political
correctness twilight zone.
Education defeats bigotry.
When kids from various back-
Journal Letter Policy
The Journal encourages original letters to the editor of local interest.
Diverse and varied opinions
are welcomed. We will not publish letters that are deemed libelous or
scurrilous in nature. All
letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and daytime
phone number,
which will be used for verification purposes only. All letters are subject
to editing for length,
grammar and clarity. To submit a letter, email adam@masoncounty.com, drop
it off at 227 W.
Cota St., or mail it to RC. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. .
grounds, economic conditions,
races and cultures sit to-
gether in a classroom, bigotry
will lose. Bigotry is conquered
in childhood. Do we eliminate
our American history or do
we learn from the good and
the bad in our history? Why
aren’t our history teachers
condemning the destruction
of historical monuments?
The JJ clown college
continues with the political
betrayal, which, as Woodson
said, is worse than bigotry.
Mainstream Democrats are
strangely quiet as they too
betray Seattle. They need to
show contempt for the vio-
lence and violence-accepting
politicians. Where are their
voices? The CHOP group in
Seattle calls themselves Dem-
ocratic Socialists. I’m guess-
ing we’re seeing the last gasp
of mainstream Democrats:
Seattle Thugs 1, Seattle
Democrats — 0.
Ardean A. Anvik
Shelton
Not wearing a
face mask an
arrogant act
Editor, the Journal
Face masks need to be
mandatory when people are
in public; it is careless disre-
gard to not wear a face mask
when they are needed to pro-
tect more than themselves.
COVID-19 is a killer, it si-
phons funds, personal protec-
tive equipment and energy
that are needed to combat the
disease. As to young people
not being impacted as much
as the elderly, that is simply
not known, especially when it
comes to life time effects that
could be in the extreme.
Not wearing a face mask
in public is like kicking your
neighbor in the face. It is an
arrogant and flagrant disre-
gard for the safety of others.
World War II ended 75
years ago and major wars
since then in Korea, Vietnam,
Afghanistan and Iraq; killed
in combat 86,779, an addition-
al 14,259 noncombat lives lost
were attributed to these wars
for a total of 101,038 dead.
USA’s COVID-19 deaths
to date are 124,424. If one
drives across this nation from
Seattle to New York City the
footage is 15,058,560. If there
were 60-foot lots laid out side-
by-side across the country,
every other lot could contain
a casket for a life lost due to
COVID-19.
It is estimated that inac-
tion attributed to President
Trump and his administra-
tion caused 83% of these
deaths that could have been
avoided had they used their
authority to implement pro-
duction of PPE supplies, test-
ing and other actions under
their control.
Deaths could have been
reduced to 21,152; saving
103,272 individuals. Trump
and his administration have
displayed an arrogant, oligar-
chic, senseless, defenseless
use of their authority with
the result being inexcusable
loss of life to the tune of more
than 100,000 dead in 150th
the time since 1945.
Mike Dodge
Shelton
This is what
racism
looks like
Editor, the Journal
While reading the June
11 Journal, the piece (take
the time needed to learn to
be a better person) by Jus—
tin Johnson caught my eye.
It reminded me of a piece I
wrote for the Snohomish High
School newspaper the Arrow
Head, when I was a student
in the journalism class about
70 years ago. At that early
age of 17 years old, I was un-
certain of my feelings about
people of a color other than
my own. Like Mr. Johnson,
I was raised in a community
of few if any people of people.
My parents were not racist or
if they were, they kept it well
hidden because I never heard
any reference to any race that
would lead me to believe they
had any opinion that was
derogatory to colored people.
Also, like Mr. Johnson, there
was only one Black person
in my high school. His name
was Ray Robinson and of
course his nickname was
“Sugar,” which made him
somewhat of a celebrity.
After I entered the work
force working in the track
maintenance department for
the Northern Pacific Railroad
and later when I became a
full-time union grievance of-
ficer, I came in contact with
and represented many people
of color, including many Mex-
icans in the Pasco area. Of all
these people white, Black and
Hispanic, most I liked and
some I didn’t. In any case, I
represented them all to the
best of my ability.
As I traveled through life,
I came in contact with some
racists and bigots. Once while
on a horse and mule tour in
Amish country, we had a trave
eling companion who was a
deputy sheriff from a Southern
state. This guy was a total rac-
ist and started spouting racist
remarks using the “11” word
liberally. Very quickly I told
him this kind of talk was out
of line and the best thing he
could do was to just shut up,
which he did. I had a supervi-
sor who was racist and related
to me about a trip he made
down south where the “n’s”
were polite enough to step off
the sidewalk when they met a
white person. Needless to say,
I was appalled.
But the event I cherish the
most was once when I was.
walking down the sidewalk
of a large midwestem city
approaching a large, dark
complexed person, as we ap-
proached each other I hap-
pened to notice that his fly
was unzipped.‘I veered over
into his lane of travel and we
stopped facing each other. I
said don’t look now but your
fly is open. This total stranger
thanked me profusely after
immediately looking down
and zipping up.
I am not a racist and never
have been one. So, I say to
Mr. Johnson, I don’t think
you are a racist and don’t let
the action of a few window
breakers and looters turn you
into one. ‘
OK, I finally turned into
one of the long-winded letter
writers who weekly write to
the editor. I hope you all will
forgive me one slip.
Stan Walster
Grapeview
Budget cuts
and 911
Editor, the Journal
Me: Dialing 911, Ring.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Them: Thank you for
calling 911. Due to budget
reductions, kindly leave your
name, address and your im-
mediate concern at the sound
of the beep.
Me: Is this a recording?
Them: After the beep,
leave your detailed message.
Please rate your emergency
from 1 to 5, with 5 being life
or death.
Me: Someone is kicking
down my front door at xxx
SW YYYY Street. I think it
is a 4 or 5. I don’t know the
intentions of the intruder, but
I need help now.
Them: Please be advised
that we have only one deputy
on duty during the days and
she receives over 300 mes-
sages from 911 per day. Your
emergency will be addressed
as soon as we are able.
Me: I’m guessing I’m on
my own. Cancel the message.
Them: Thank you for call-
ing 91 1. ’
Me: Bang, bang, bang,
bang.
William Zeigler
Shelton
see LEITERsTpage A—6