LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Speed dating

Editor, the Journal,

Thank you, Mason County League of Women Voters for organizing Speed Dating with the Candidates. Candidates moved from table to table with five minutes at each table. Being able to question the candidates directly was invaluable. I learned about the Port of Shelton and how it affects Shelton, I heard about recent issues with curriculum at the school district, and I was able to put a face to candidates. It was a great experience. I was sorry that a significant number of candidates chose not to attend. I would have liked to meet them.

Leslie German, Shelton

Reader's critique

Editor, the Journal,

Owing to its multilayered awfulness, I am compelled to respond to a "letter" by Donna Holiday in the Oct. 26 Journal. It's in the Letters to the Editor section under the bewildering, Journal-assigned title, "Bring back change."

The thesis, or main point, of this poorly written screed is that many of us - Holiday singles out women, racial minorities and members of the LGBT-and-so-on community - are having their rights taken away by members of the Christian faith. Women's rights, gay rights and even histories (!) are being eliminated, she claims. Evidence of any of this nastiness? None is given. She says Christians are "pushing" three types of bills but lists only two. She objects, for example, to placing the Ten Commandments in courtrooms. Tell us, Ms. Holiday, which commandment do you object to most? "Thou shalt not kill?" Send it to Hamas.

The writer seems averse, if not downright hostile, to the most basic elements of English grammar. The last part of paragraph seven, for example, is no more than a string of non-sentences. Lists are not introduced. Claims are not attributed. Long-suffering readers are often left asking, "says who?" after quotations.

Soon before retiring from my teaching position at a Washington state community college, I was serving as chair for the English Department. One afternoon, a young faculty member came into my office, an essay in hand. She handed the paper to me and asked, "What grade should I give this essay?"

Well, that wasn't my policy, so after reading the mess (ala Donna Holiday's letter,) I asked the young teacher, "What grade did YOU give it?"

She answered, "For me, it was an easy F."

I told her I agreed completely. She smiled, thanked me, and left my office.

R.E. Graham, Union