Letters to the Editor

What is nice?

Editor, The Journal,

I must wonder, does the Journal’s editorial cartoon artist even read your paper or research his chosen topic?

Based on last week’s cartoon, I would have to say no. The cartoon depicted a citizen complaining to the school board about free speech. That has happened recently; however, the cartoonist’s point was that the complaint was about being asked to be “be nice” while the citizen wanted to “name call, insult.”

I assume the cartoonist was referring to recent public comments at the Shelton School District, but I really don’t know since I heard nothing close to that at recent meetings or meetings months ago when the district changed their public comment instructions.

Community members months ago, and again recently, commented on the addition of such language as “you should seek legal advice,” “your statements could violate … various laws” and you may be interrupted if your comment “violates school district policy.”

Not one speaker complained about the language regarding being “respectful,” I assume what the cartoonist meant by “nice.” The cartoon completely missed the point, stated by many community members, that the new language could only be interpreted as intimidation by the superintendent and board.

In addition, the timing of the change also implied its intent to suppress public comment as it occurred after many sessions of questioning the board and superintendent. During the recent meetings, parents and community members came before the board to comment on the gym class incident where students were seriously injured under the direction of district staff. Did the cartoonist think that the very restrained and respectful, yet passionate, petitions of injured children’s parents were “nice?”

On the flip side, does the cartoonist think the board and superintendent’s silence on this and other similar issues is respectful or “nice” to the parents and our community?

Robert Gay Rogers, Shelton

Congress shall make no law …

Editor, The Journal,

I agree with Diane Eaton that there has to be a better way to fund education in this state even if she went about saying so in a very convoluted way. The first paragraph, however, has nothing to do with property taxes and I would like to address those statements.The oath to support the Constitution does not place any particular weight on any portion of it, there is no “especially the first article” included in the oath. The oath is sworn to the entire document as a whole, all parts equally.

The first article says that Congress shall make no law establishing, favoring, or prohibiting religion, any religion. The fact that Ms. Eaton judges school curriculum against the Holy Bible may be, in itself, a violation of that First Amendment. What about the other Holy Books, the Quran, Vedas, Tripitaka, Mahayana Sutra, Tanakh or Tao Te Ching, to name the better-known ones, should they also be consulted? That is precisely what Congress was trying to avoid with that amendment.

Nothing in the Bible prohibits comprehensive sex-ed and I certainly would not want children getting their sex education from that book, some of the passages describe actions that would be illegal nowadays!

On a related subject, Kirk Ericson hit the nail on the head with his unified theory for religion. Good writing.

Rene Herrera, Grapeview

Bad policy

Editor, The Journal,

Editor Justin Johnson’s renewed “local content” requirement gave us two letters a week for the last four weeks. The Opinion page is now one page; top half is 600-word, Journal-written articles of dubious importance. Bottom half is for everything else; letters, political cartoons and Journal information. The facing page is no longer a second Opinion page; it’s a “Mary’s Memoirs” lookalike. Johnson’s clever policy says letters not of local interest will be on a space available basis. With less than half a page, there’s no space. What are his reasons for refusing to print letters on national issues? It was never fully justified or explained. This year has presidential elections. Will we be allowed to debate war or peace or the prospects for cheaper gasoline? Journal policy and space availability seems to prevent discussing national issues even during presidential elections. National policies affect local citizens; e.g., local fentanyl deaths. We need journalistic freedom and more letters. Why do you deny Shelton citizens from discussing national issues? The Journal is the only way Shelton’s citizens have to discuss politics and issues with fellow citizens of either party. The Journal’s a weekly with only two letters a week; 104 letters a year for a county with over 68,000 residents. You’ve shut us down. Was this your goal?

Former publications, including Newsweek, Time, U.S. News, The Seattle P-I, have all disappeared. The Olympian is near extinction. The Journal lost the younger audience to the internet. Can it lose the older generations and survive? Will 2024 end with Shelton having a newspaper giving local citizens a national voice or will it become a newsletter with a gossip column?

Ardean Anvik, Shelton

It’s about time

Editor, The Journal,

In response to the March 28 letter titled “Sunshine act”

Dear Mary Ogg,

I understand that you are saying that if Congress (Sen. Marco Rubio) is successful with permanently changing our daylight saving time (spring forward) that “I see as a train wreck, leaders don’t seem to have a clue” and “It’s another chance to disrupt Washington states’ morning sunrise in the winter.” You also stated, “a vote to the people would have made a lot of sense.” Do you realize? Several years ago, a vote of the people was taken and the citizens spoke loud and clear. The citizens want to have daylight saving time permanently but our Gov. Jay Inslee has set that aside and did not put our vote into action. [The free will of citizens of the state of Washington]. Maybe it’s time for you to understand that the vote of the citizens was not enacted and that you are trying to tell the majority of the people of Washington citizens what they should have, instead of free choice. Please think about that. God bless.

Barbara Lyon, Shelton