Letters to the Editor: November 8-14

Posted

The Editor:

We have heard a lot about fake news. Consider what is really fake news and how it affects us. The fake idea that getting rid of politically correct dialogue and discourse improves society really triggers angst and hatred that leads to threats, street fights and shootings.

It is a fake idea that guns stop violence when massacres are expedited by military grade arms. It is a fake idea that legislators watching “voting,” which validates dictators and despots, helps our understanding of our political system and expedites improvement. The fake idea that holding someone accountable is somehow negative smears. It is a fake idea that immigrants will weaken our nation, given the advancements we have benefited from them in culture, science, art and production.

Could it be that “fake news” is anything that threatens white privilege?

How is it possible that a purported Judeo-Christian nation has some people who believe that might makes right, money makes power and that the ending days will come faster if we “help?” What has happened to the compassion and commitment to justice that made this nation great during WWII? George Washington and our constitutional founders believed in a nation of unified and free people, not those who agreed, but those who were willing to accept, protect and honor neighbors and their lives.

Don’t believe the fake news of “fake news.”

Think, reason, vote.

Donna Starr

Blaine

Dear Editor:

Just the other day my dog and I enjoyed a walk through Lincoln Park. We had not been there in quite a while.

The park was surprisingly open, clean, and we just loved it! The new pathways and cleared open spaces are great. During the walk we ran into a group of Frisbee golf players. We chatted a bit and heard their comments on how much they enjoyed the course.

Wow! A genuine thank you to the Blaine parks board for such a great job.

Diane Major

Blaine

The Editor:

I will start with a big thank you to Mike and Skye Hill for constructing an aesthetically appealing outdoor gas fireplace and also a nice visitor center. As a nearby business owner I am very glad to see this delightful enhancement. A fire in the hearth is always comforting.

My business has tried to put appealing decorations outside our store front. Scarecrows get damaged and/or stolen. People put their cigarette butts in our planters. We have put Christmas candy canes out only to have them stolen. The windows in our basement and our neighbor’s basement have been broken twice this year.

You have built something that is appealing, solid and can’t be stolen! I’m looking forward to watching the future development.

Colette Cloutier

Blaine

The Editor: 

A big thanks to neighbors and police.  I am a new kid on the block, having moved here last December.

A week or so ago, I had a mishap with my garage door as I was leaving for a trip, which caused me to leave it open. Three days into my visit to San Francisco, I heard on my cell phone a voice mail from the Blaine police who wanted me to call them to let them know I was all right.

They had received requests for welfare checks at my home with lights on, garage door up, a car in the garage, but no sign of me. All ended well with this lovely surprise chat with the police.

How wonderful my Semiahmoo neighbors are to keep an eye on things and a big thanks to the Blaine police for taking the time to follow up. There is clearly more to be grateful for here than just the great views!

Sharon Robinson

Blaine

The Editor:

Restoration of the Blaine historic depot would cost around $650k (2010).

Now, if the city would spend 30k on starting a savings account to restore the depot, and at the same time, start pushing on the B.C. government to complete their viability study, I think we could see an announcement within two years from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Imagine the headlines in the newspapers both here and across the line reading:

“WSDOT announces Blaine passenger rail station coming” I certainly can see it.

What a grand dream come true, and I think this announcement is within two years.

As I understand it, WSDOT needs two things to happen before an announcement;

1. Time for the stop, which is now 50 percent complete with the approval of pre-customs clearance last October. The hold up on why it hasn’t been implemented is due to political issues in Washington, D.C.

Once U.S. CBP agents are in place alongside their immigration counterparts in Vancouver, the train then can bypass the stop at customs southbound, making the time for the Blaine stop feasible (7-10 minutes).

2. WSDOT is waiting for the B.C. government to complete its viability study, and once they complete their study, I’m sure it will be similar to WWU’s findings in 2013.

The WWU economics department showed that the Blaine stop would be one of the busiest in the state. The ridership is equal to Vancouver, Washington’s with a ridership of 300,000 people per year. That number divided by 365 is over 800 people per day.

These would be tourist types with more time and money, many coming down the night before to stay in the new lodge style motel that will open after the announcement. That means more meals served, more souvenirs to purchase and more ice cream and coffee sold.

Blaine could recapture the traffic it had many years ago, when it had an operational depot and thriving downtown business community. It’s just around the corner everyone, but it needs to be fought for!

Bill Becht

Blaine

The Editor:

So now there are two caravans of different groups of people heading towards the Southern border of the USA. I hear that one of the groups are comprised of thousands of people; men, women and children from Central America. They are making their way north into Mexico. They are on foot carrying their belongings and babies on their backs. They are poor by the standards of life here. I would imagine that they are seeking better lives for themselves, for their families and their communities.

The second caravan is part of a huge, mechanized military organization that is fully armed. This organization is funded with billions of dollars supplied by the citizens of the USA. In the past it has used weapons of mass destruction on civilians.

It has hundreds of military installations and bases around the planet and has a history of arming and helping totalitarian governments that have deprived people of human rights. It has also knowingly and secretly tortured people. It has dropped more bombs on people than any other country in the history of the planet.

It has also sold more bombs than any other country. In the small countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it alone dropped 7 million tons of bombs. Just in the year 2017 the US has dropped 40,000 bombs. Our leaders tell us that they are dropping all these bombs and sending the armed caravan to the southern border to protect us and to secure our freedom (the same reasons that they used to justify separating children from their parents).

I believe, though, that they do it only for the reasons of promoting fear, securing natural resources, consolidating corporate/political power and to satisfy our collective, insatiable, greedy appetites for material wealth. The Goddess of Virtue is officially dead.

Jim Agnello

Birch Bay


Ed. Note: A letter that was originally featured in this post was removed due to a policy violation.

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