Blame it on the French
Friday, August 8, 2008 12:48 AM PDT
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E-mail this articleAug. 8 Letters to the Editor
Blame it on the French
E.W. Schulze wrote that he had trouble sleeping wondering about the origin of words with “tion” in them (Aug. 3 letter). I recommend The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English language — works for me.
Letters, as we know are not pronounced the same in all languages. The French, with a total disregard for the proper way to say a word, put an estimated 10,000 of their words in the English language in the 13th century. Among those words were the "tion" words (e.g. nation, traction and motion where the “ti” is pronounced as “sh”).
An English philosopher invented an English word, “ghoti,” pronounced “fish” to show the absurd things that can occur in our language. The first letter, “f” comes from the “gh” in laugh. Any additional help in coming up with he rest of the letters might put someone to sleep, but at least you have the source of the “ti.”
Hope this helps.
Richard Robinson
Kalama
No good deed goes unpaid
I would like to thank the person who generously thought of me after my letter was printed in the paper.
He or she went to no end and hired a private eye to look me up and give me a gift so generous that will keep me warm this coming winter. I want this person to know it will not be wasted in any way.
On Aug, 4, I ordered two winter down jackets, which will come in the first of next month. Tomorrow we will go to Bob’s and purchase winter hats and hand warmers. The rest of the money will go for food if that’s OK.
I remember my grandma telling me that no good deed goes unpaid. So one day soon the good deed you have bestowed upon me will be paid back 100 fold. God bless you and protect you wherever you roam. If I could, I would have taken you up on your offer. I love to travel and would love to see Georgia, Louisiana. Keep a smile on your face and know that I will stay warm this winter because of you.
Sue Morrow
Homeless in Kelso
Law isn’t working
“Three strikes” may be good for games, but justice is not a game. I’d like to make a “pitch” for justice — pun intended.
The “three-strikes” law was passed by an initiative that promised to protect us from the “most violent.” Instead, we are paying for people to be permanently warehoused for lesser crimes. Life sentences for lesser crimes diverts our resources from investments that make our communities safer, such as health services, education and business development. This law, by itself, violates Washington law and basic justice, therefore, breeding a disrespect for the law.
In order to respect the will of the voters who approved this law originally, and in order to uphold the proportionality principle of Washington law that the punishment fit the crime, and in order to use our public resources for investments that reduce crime and keep people and communities safer, we need to re-evaluate “three strikes.” Those offenses that are not commensurate with life sentences should be excluded from the list of “strikeable” offenses.
Michaela Mosteller
Cathlamet
Return Baird to Congress
In regards to Phillip Olson’s letter of Aug. 5, Olson did not quote the voting record on issues favoring labor.
The votes are what counts, not where the money comes from. If Baird was out here voting on issues only favoring industry and business, then Olson might have something to say.
It is a sad fact that it takes money to run a campaign, but in the end result, it is still how he votes on issues for his entire district, not just labor or industry, but for everyone in our district.
I am also proud to say that I encourage Congressman Baird to continue to lead by getting firsthand knowledge. Too many times issues taken to Congress have particular agendas and they are not always in everyone’s best interest.
Please join me in returning Baird to Congress. A vote for Brian Baird is a progressive vote.
Irene Bohnen
Kelso
Baird needs to stay!
I must speak out in regard to the misinformation being stated by those opposing Brian Baird’s re-election. Phillip Olson (Aug. 5 letter) has stated a fact in regard to the labor union contributions to Brian Baird’s campaigns. However, it is little known that Brian threatened those contributions when he took a stand against Bradwood Landing and LNG. The unions want this construction. Baird’s educated decision angered them to the point that some of them vilified him.
Baird has access to non-public information and, union jobs or not, he realized that the bigger picture was more important than temporary jobs in this area. Baird does his homework. If we had more legislators who spent our tax dollars that way, we would have a nation not in the position the last 20 years of pork barreling and special interest have put us.
We must keep this Congressman. He is neither far left nor far right. And those powerful fringes have created such an imbalance in our national and international position that it is going to take some real work by some pragmatic and moderate legislators to make things right.
Vonda Kay Brock
Longview
True believers on the left
You cannot have a debate when your opponent bases their illogical conclusions on things that are untrue. This is why it is impossible to debate Bill Kasch on most anything. Ronald Reagan said it best “the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” The Kool-Aid drinkers on the left still believe Bush lied, Gore won Florida and Kerry won Ohio.
Barack Obama is the most unqualified person the Democrats have ever nominated to run for president. A U.S. senator for about 185 days certainly doesn’t make you presidential. He has accomplished nothing of significance. His major claim to fame is that he was a community organizer, whatever that is. As an Illinois state senator he made the statement that people should not be allowed to own guns. Most all blacks will vote for him because he is black and the Kool-Aid drinkers will vote for him because he is a Democrat. Experience and qualifications make no difference to these groups. The feel-good crowd will also vote for him because it will make them feel good regardless of his lack of qualifications and experience. Heaven help us should he actually ever get elected.
William Schumacher
Castle Rock
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