Nov. 19 Letters to the Editor

Let’s hear from Obama

I have read many letters to the editor and personal e-mails about the health care plan and I have yet to know what it is or isn’t going to cover.

I would like to hear it from the horse’s mouth. I must have missed something, because I haven’t heard President Obama tell us what it will or will not cover.

LaDell Hollenbeck

Carrolls

To advise or to analyze

Several letters have directed people to simply use a dictionary to understand how we should or must live, think or believe. So, I did — immediately discovering terms/definitions that identified contrasting ideologies and our country’s growing polarization.

Compare arrogant to actual; boorish vs. benevolent; dogma, data; explosive, earnest; fear, fact; garrulous, germane; hate, harmony; incite, insight; jargon, justice; know-it-all, knowledge; libel, lucid; myth, math; notional, noteworthy; obstinate, open-minded; paranoia, persuasion; quibble, qualify; radical, rational; sanctimony, science; tripe, truth; unilateral, unified; vilify, validate; wealth, well-being; xenophobe, not; yearn, yield; zealotry, zest.

In one sense, I appreciate the advice. But in another, I trust that those offering guidance are critically and judiciously looking into themselves as well. An abundance of identifiable bigotry, hypocrisy, superstition and self-righteous piety floats about. Individual scrutiny could benefit us all.

Gary Finkas

Toutle

Thanksgiving thoughts

Our region faces many problems, but our united possibilities are limitless. Another Thanksgiving and Holiday Season fast approaches. This is a great time to share the warmth of family, friends and neighbors, as well as the many others we may not know who call this area home.

In keeping with that, I would ask all to not give up for themselves, do something for others and keep faith for better times. The food banks, seniors, Hospice, Salvation Army, churches, CAP and many others could use any help they can get during this season.

Some of us have much, many have little. We can together be thankful for those we journey through this life with and work together to realize our community potential. A friendly smile, an encouraging word, a can of food, warm blanket or sweater may make the difference in someone’s life. Be not just thankful for yourselves, but for all. Have a great Thanksgiving with the warmest of regards.

Ray Baker

Longview

In a league of their own

The R.A. Long football team need not feel bad about losing to Archbishop Murphy; that team is as close as the Lumberjacks will ever come to playing a professional football team. Murphy has a college-level recruiting program that brings in top athletes from all over the West, including Hawaii. And as if this were not enough, this recruiting program extends down to the grade- and middle-school levels among the Catholic schools in the Puget Sound area.

Murphy’s original coach who set up the program was paid more than most superintendents of that size school makes and the team has several former professional NFL players as volunteer coaches. I have garnered these tidbits of information from a grandson who attends Murphy.

You will recall that after the drubbing Murphy gave Castle Rock, it was moved up to AA. Perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate their standing again. I don’t know what body has the authority over high school athletics, but it seems to me that some investigation is needed into these recruiting practices and, if parochial schools are not covered by public school rules, perhaps they should have a league of their own.

Daniel Stanley

Longview