Letters to the Editor

White's crusade
The Editor:
I’m not eager to write this letter but the whole issue of David White’s recall attempt of Senator Murray simply begs a response. I suspect that others who are familiar with the true nature of Patty Murray’s remarks, and White’s history of reckless commentary, will add their voice. The fact is that many of us welcome a broader treatment of the issue of “terrorism.”
Certainly there is more to the matter than military buildups, heightened public surveillance and the display of the flag. We must be willing to fearlessly explore and discuss recent events – minus jingoism and arrogance.
Attempting to recall the first national figure brave enough to do just that not only has a chilling effect, but devalues the tradition of a great and wonderful nation. That Mr. White’s churlish petition would receive any attention at all is disturbing.
Leaf Schumann
Blaine

The O’Reilly Factor and Editor:
Regarding David White’s appearance on your show. Do you check into the people you let speak on your show?
Thank God you misspelled Blaine. We are a very small border town on the ocean next to Canada. David White got on the council because at that time Blaine people did not care about how they voted and did not pay attention, (years back we had some real flakes for mayor or on council ) so, the voters thought David White was Steve White who most people liked. You can imagine Steve White’s surprise when after the voting, people congratulated him for the win and told Steve that they voted for him.
We now pay better attention and learned a valuable lesson. David White (from New York) wrote to our local paper (The Northern Light) putting down Canadians and telling them to stay home. Well, we found out that David was a janitor at a Canadian hospital earning a Canadian paycheck as he says Canadians stay home. Of course, our merchants need the Canadians to come or we would be a ghost town.
Your show let him have another 15 minutes of fame. David White has to go out of Blaine to get attention because Blaine now knows the real David White. I and others believe Patty Murray meant, if we should be in third world countries helping them to learn how to farm, teach, medical aid, etc. (do not give money). This could be done with American Muslims so they could help them to learn also that their God does not want them to hate and kill. They would learn to respect Americans and find that we want peace not war, but we will not allow them to terrorize us.
Pat Reddick
Blaine

The Editor:
Well, Mr. Schugt.
You lash out at me for going after Patty Murray. Well, judging from the response I am getting, a lot of people nationwide feel the same as I do.
Now tell me and everyone else what Patty Murray has done for Blaine or for that matter, Whatcom County. Also what have you done for Blaine?
1. You give away train service to Blaine, which Ms. Gardner fought like hell to get for us.
2. You and the rest of council have raised fees to unbearable levels for the residents of Blaine, because you and the rest of the council spend more than you take in.
3. You ignore engineers who try to present to you and council an easier and less costly plan to fix a sewer system.
4. You have hampered development in Blaine to a standstill because of over-regulation.
In all of the radio talk shows I have done recently from coast to coast, I never let on what a mess you and the council have made of Blaine, but actually said what a beautiful little seaside town it is.
So before you flap your jaws about I am doing, ask yourself what have you done for Blaine lately?
Dave White
Blaine

The Editor:
My husband was a civil engineer with USAID for nearly 20 years and I did volunteer teaching assistance during most of that time when I wasn’t feeding lonely Peace Corps volunteers American tuna sandwiches.
Senator Murray seems totally ignorant of our private and public charitable history around the world when she says “We don’t do that!” Readers with computers might check www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/ and various other sites to find out just how much we Americans are doing:
More than nine million Afghanis are fed through the generosity of the American people. In the fiscal year 2002, the United States pledged nearly $400 million for Afghan relief and reconstruction. USAID manages the process of building a safe, stable society that meets the needs of its people and eliminates an environment that breeds terrorism.
In teaching alone USAID is funding five teams of four teacher-trainers to conduct two-week refresher courses. By the end of 2002, thousands of Afghan educators, many of whom are women, will receive this training.
As part of its food-for-education program, the World Food Programme (WFP), with USAID support, is providing nutritious food to 47,000 schoolchildren in Kabul and northeastern Afghanistan. One million children will be reached as the program expands nationwide. Girls receive five liters of vegetable oil every month as an incentive for regular school attendance. The program reduces dropout rates, increases school attendance, and encourages families to send girls to school.
USAID is rehabilitating more than 600 schools and enabling women-run bakeries to provide bread to schoolchildren. Approximately 50,000 teachers are receiving monthly food packages to supplement their income, through a food-for-civil-servants program introduced across the country. This program is part of USAID’s $118 million comprehensive support to WFP’s efforts in Afghanistan since October 2001.
A USAID-funded program is encouraging Afghan women and girls to read by hosting reading classes and improving the country’s libraries. USAID is funding the training of library staff and supplying books
So it goes, on and on in every field. But now, we, who do more than most other countries, are told by Senator Murray “we do not do that!”
Margaret M. Kardell
Blaine

4H report
The Editor:
The first orientation meeting for the annual statewide Know Your Government (KYG) conference was December 11. However, there is still time to join the group. The preparation workshops will be held January 8, 12, and February 5, 7 p.m., at the extension office. KYG is open to all youth in grades 9 –12. The conference dates are February 20 – 23, 2003. For more information, contact the extension office.
We are still looking for additional interested clubs to help Whatcom County 4-H members with a roadside cleanup program (Adopt a Mile program) on Abbot Road in Lynden. In order to have “Whatcom County 4-H Members” on a roadside sign, a fall and spring clean up commitment is required. This is a great way to help promote community awareness of some different aspects of 4-H, not to mention a major community service project. Thanks much to the clubs who have already made a commitment. If there is enough interest, we can adopt a second road. For more information, please contact Stephanie Hiner at 318-8352.
March 8, 2003 is the annual 4-H Super Saturday, open to all youth and adults. We have a variety of classes for all ages, from fly-fishing to golf, and from crafts to leadership. If you are interested in teaching a class, please contact Judy Weaver at 384-0549 by January 13. Adult and youth volunteers are needed at Super Saturday. If you are willing to volunteer, please contact Judy Weaver at 384-0549. To receive a registration packet, contact the extension office.
On behalf of the Whatcom County 4-H council, thank you to all the community members who helped out and made donations for the Operation Red Stocking/Project Santa Claus in conjunction with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department this Christmas. Your contributions make a big difference for needy families!
The next 4-H Council meeting will be held February 3, 7 p.m., at the extension office. All 4-H members are welcome! For details, please contact the extension office at 676-6736.
Stephanie Hiner
Lynden

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Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
E-mail:editor@thenorthernlight.com

Letters Policy

The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com