Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
My name is Joe and I am a Viet Nam veteran and long-time resident of Whatcom County. I was a firefighter in Ferndale.
I also came to Whatcom County as a child with my parents looking for work, I have been here since I was eight years old and am now a 60-year-old retired person from ARCO refinery.
Oh by the way, I am also a Mexican American and I do not believe the minuteman are targeting the Mexican people per se but the illegal folks.
That does not mean just Mexican people but people from all countries that are here outside the law or illegally. I have never had a problem living here in Washington state or Whatcom County.
So please, when you print something like the picture on page 4 of the April 8-18 issue of The Northern Light, make sure what it says like the Minuteman not wanting the Mexican people here they are just doing a service. I have never heard of them going into a business and asking for ID. I have traveled H Street and have never been stopped or questioned by Border Patrol or Minuteman.
I would like to add that I have never been refused service anywhere in the state, but when I went south there was a door marked whites and the other door said others, it was a long time ago so I don’t know if it is still there.
So my point is if you have nothing to hide do not be alarmed by the Minutemen, they are out there getting cold and hungry.
As you have the right to fast and walk. When people spread hate and discontent please do not include all people that are proud to be American. Very Happy to live in the U.S.A.
Joe Morin
Blaine

The Editor: 
Your paper recently published a letter from a reader regarding a piece of legislation in Olympia that was titled the “Healthy Youth Act.” I did not support the “Healthy Youth Act” for a number of reasons. This legislation deals with sex education in our public schools.
Currently local school districts through the power of locally elected school boards may make decisions with regards to what type of sex education their community would like within their schools.
The school board may choose abstinence-only education, it may choose to focus on abstinence-only while teaching about other aspects of sex education, or it may choose to teach only about sexually transmitted diseases and birth control. 
The legislation passed in Olympia takes away the power of local school boards to make decisions on an issue that is very important to many parents. Under the new law, local schools may teach only a sex education curriculum that is approved by the state government. 
 To put this in perspective we do not have a mandated statewide curriculum for math, science, reading, or writing. We now will have a statewide curriculum for sex education.
The only choice for local schools is to teach sex education the way the state says to teach it or to not teach it at all. 
 I am a strong supporter of local control of our public schools. I believe that local parents working with their local school boards, teachers and administrators should make decisions of this type, not the state government.
 My standard policy in Olympia is that people from Whatcom County receive priority in terms of setting up meetings during the legislative session. I make every effort to meet with every constituent when they come to Olympia but schedules do not always work out.
Despite my best efforts there are always times when a hectic day limits my chance to meet with everyone.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions about the last legislative session or about issues that we are currently working on. You can reach me at 920-3276.
Doug Ericksen
Ferndale

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