Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Opinion & Editorial

by Adele Coon, Hamilton

In response to a Letter to the Editor (Ravalli Republic, Tuesday, May 12, 2009) written by a woman complaining about library books portraying gay/lesbian families:

I am very glad to know books portraying loving, responsible gay and lesbian people and their families are being written for young children and that some are available in the Bitterroot Public Library. Hopefully such books written for older children are also there and in the schools. Public libraries and schools cater to more than one segment of the population and lots of people here are living alternate lifestyles. Parents are free to regulate their children’s exposure to books, just as they do with movies, TV programs and video games. They don’t have the right to regulate what everyone else’s children read or watch or believe.

The following are statistics taken from a School Policy Brief written in Portland, Oregon, to address issues of prejudice, slurs and bullying in schools relative to this issue:

"According to recent studies, up to 30% of a typical secondary classroom consists of students identifying as, questioning, or otherwise being directly impacted by lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered classification (LGBT). An estimated 10% of students are exclusively homosexual and 9 million dependent children in the U.S. have lesbian or gay parents. Many other students have family members who identify with homosexuality.

"Adolescence is a stressful period for any youth due to major physical, psychological and cognitive changes and is a time of questioning relating to one’s identity and self-concept. LGBT youth are 3 times more likely to drop out of school than their heterosexual peers. Youth in the general population commit suicide at a rate of approximately 10%. Young people who identify as LGBT commit suicide at approximately 4 times the rate of general population youth."

Sexual orientation is determined prior to birth. People do not choose to be born gay or lesbian any more than they choose to be born Caucasian or left-handed. Homosexual children begin to understand very early (certainly prior to entering puberty) that they are somehow different from many of their peers. They quickly learn to try to hide these differences and yet they agonize over them. They want only to be like everyone else, but they must suppress an inherent part of themselves to appear the same as others. This causes tremendous internal conflict which can have devastating results. Enlightened parents, teachers and peers can greatly assist these children to grow into productive, responsible, healthy adults - just as prejudiced people can increase the numbers of tragedies experienced by innocent children.

Being homosexual has nothing to do with morality or personal choice and it is not an easy way to live in our society. The difficulties are strictly due to the attitude of others rather than anything inherent in these alternate lifestyles. Why would any person intentionally subject him- or herself to the prejudice, anger and sometimes legal bias of people who torment and even kill others simply for being born in a minority?

No book or movie or exposure to people living alternate lifestyles can make someone become a homosexual, no matter how young the person or how appealing the book or movie. Also, no amount of training, education, punishment or even intensive psychotherapy can change a person’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual.

Books do help to increase knowledge, understanding and kindness and we need a lot more of those characteristics in our society. A child’s life could be saved or at least made less painful when he or she reads about others who have similar feelings and concerns. Children who are taught unfair prejudices at home could learn to think differently, thus breaking a cycle of ignorance and hatred.

I’ve been unable to find any evidence that growing up with same-sex parents harms children. I have found studies (not conducted by gay and lesbian organizations!) showing children raised in a loving, supportive environment, regardless of the gender of parents, are much healthier and better adjusted than those in less nurturing homes. Studies also show the percentage of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) children in these homes is the same as in heterosexual families, further evidence (if such were needed) that sexual orientation is determined prior to birth.

Gays and lesbians, like most other people worldwide, want the same things in life: to be accepted by family and peers; to have a rewarding career with which they support themselves and their families; to make a personal, legal and perhaps spiritual commitment to another person with whom they share their life; to raise and educate children in a safe and healthy environment; to worship or not as they choose.

Just as in the heterosexual population, only a small percentage of homosexual people harm others and people who do so, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be dealt with by our justice system. Otherwise, LGBT people deserve all the same rights as heterosexual people, including legal marriage and parenthood, with the benefits and responsibilities of both.

Real life airport comparison

Dear Editor,

What happens when airplane owners and their pilots continue to push airport safety and noise parameters knowing full well that their private Gulfstream and Falcon 50 private jets will continue to generate complaints from the residential community surrounding the airport? This real life problem has grown to the point that their own Airport Advisory Board, FAA and airport manager are seeking to close the airport and relocate to one of three targeted sites located in the county of Blaine. Yes, this is current day stuff going on at Hailey, Idaho. An airport better known as the Sun Valley Airport. The battle is on as wealthy jet owners and destination ski resort businesses prepare to defend their jet-setter customer lifestyle. After all, Hailey airport is 13 miles from the Sun Valley lodge and custom log homes that these upscale commuters are destined for which is far from the area they land their planes. Noise abatement isn't a concern for their community in Sun Valley whereas the Hailey community is left with a real nightmare.

I have watched this nightmare grow from acceptable twin engine King Airs and Cessna Citations to allowing group CIII and D aircraft to land as upgrades demanded by the FAA for safety reasons. Sound familiar? I pick this comparison because today our County Commissioners are dealing with this same set of circumstances. Allowing a plan to eventually set in motion the progression of aircraft type and size that will land here at Hamilton if the pro airport expansion and Airport Advisory Board have their way. This is why I am opposed to any runway addition, expansion that will accommodate these bigger and louder jets. The pro airport people know this to be the case since they publicly support only the 400 ft. solution. The 400 ft. solution is the separation chosen by them because this is the minimum distance allowed by the FAA for group CIII and D aircraft. Planes that are very large, fly fast and make lots of noise. Nearly every pro airport viewpoint article this winter has articulated this choice. They know that this choice will address the growth issues that have impacted other first class recreational areas throughout the west such as Sun Valley. This is their plan for your community airport.

I find this push to be totally unacceptable and selfish. Folks living in the Hamilton Heights, Golf Course and Fish Hatchery areas may soon realize the agony expressed by Hailey residents if this runway extension goes forward. I have no quarrel with successful business people wanting a luxury lifestyle but to ask this community to sacrifice their serenity this valley paradise offers is beyond my comprehension. One only needs to monitor the Idaho Mountain Express website at mtidahoexpress.com to track the status of their airport relocation project. Yes, a 7500 ft. runway will be destroyed and relocated along with high dollar hangars.

As a final reminder to those who question the authenticity of my sources, check the web page I have given as well as the district office of the FAA in Seattle, Washington regarding their code requirement for level CIII and D aircraft.

The residents of Ravalli County spoke loudly in 2001 when they signed 6000 signatures to a petition to abolish the idea of an airport authority, an authority that if implemented would have given full authority to airport directors without input from the commissioners or more importantly the citizens of Ravalli County. In addition, the commissioners agreed in Resolution 1244 that they reserved nine powers to themselves that only they could make a determination. Item No. 2. Power to enlarge, extend runway with vote of registered electors of Ravalli County. Law states we have the right to vote for enlarging or extending. Somehow, this too has been conveniently ignored by the pro expansion and airport advisory board members when working the club circuit to sell their agenda. Could it be that the taxpayers of Ravalli County would oppose their expansion plans if taken to a vote? You decide.

It is time the final message be delivered to the flying elite. Recreate here yes, use Missoula International Airport as your corporate jet planes headquarters, not Hamilton. They have designed an airport to accommodate your plane and your passengers in a real first class fashion.

Mike Jorgensen
Corvallis

Response to Smith letter

Dear Editor,

I feel called to write concerning the letter from Ray Smith published on May 6, 2009.

Mr. Smith, my main objection to your letter is to your reference that any improvement to the airport in Hamilton would come at "zero cost to the local taxpayer." I'll surely have to cut you some slack there, because you stated you are new here, but you hit my pet peeve. The only way it would not cost the local taxpayer any money is if a private financier were to come forward to fund the whole thing. In fact local taxpayer money has already been spent on it for studies, etc. You being new here and all, you may not realize that many people who live in the Bitterroot Valley are still reeling from the trauma of giving a sizable portion of their annual income to the state and federal government in the form of taxes. Now, if government money of any kind is involved in anything, where does it come from? Why, taxes naturally, since the government seems incapable of making money any other way. They've learned how to spend it, just not how to earn it! So it goes to follow that if government money comes from taxes, and local taxpayers pay taxes, then local taxpayers surely do have a stake in this issue. Consequently I find your "zero cost to the local taxpayer" to be patently false. Here in the Bitterroot, we generally call that a lie. I'll refrain from what that makes you out to be.

I certainly don't want to come across as one of those objectionists you mention who have time on their hands and suffer emptiness in their lives. I really don't care what action is taken at the airport, but I sure wish they'd do something. I've been reading letters to the editor for probably more years than you've lived here and I am tired of all the picking and pecking. Do something and put it to rest. Oh, Mr. Smith, just so you know, I have four generations of ancestors buried at Victor Cemetery and have lived here a long time. One thing I've learned is that name calling and calling into question other people’s character generally is a bad idea. Oh, and we've about had it with the fear mongering as well. If someone is disposed to file a lawsuit, they'll likely do it no matter whether option 1 or option 4 gets picked. We just have better things to do than try to second guess all the options and worry about the consequences.

LaRoy Williamson
Hamilton

Response to Cooke letter

Dear Editor,

This letter is in response to Mr. Cooke’s letter in the May 13th edition of the Star.

Cooke ends his letter in stating that we have all been brainwashed with lies about this cruel predator (wolves). I would argue that people like Cooke are trying to do just that, with their lies and misconceptions in regards to the way that these wolves kill.

First, I would like to argue that wolves do not typically seek out and kill the sick and the weak. If you watch videos of wolves hunting, they more often than not pass up the smaller, older and certainly weaker animals, only to pursue and horrifically slaughter an animal that is bigger and stronger, only to leave (in most cases) the majority of the animal untouched. Wolves are very capable of killing trophy deer, elk and moose. If you check Montana’s FWP website, you will learn that in some areas wolves prefer the male species of elk.

We are now seeing patterns in wolves taking down pregnant animals and ripping the unborn fetus out of the animal, oftentimes while the helpless mother is still alive. Does that sound more like the fun loving, noble, fair chase that Mr. Cooke speaks of?

Mr. Cooke also states that in many areas, some game populations are at or above management objectives. That doesn’t mean that the populations aren’t dwindling, now does it? Just wait until the wolves really take their toll. We’ll all be looking for wolf cookbooks.

I challenge everyone who reads this to visit the following website: http://www.saveelk.com/wolf_002.htm, then make your argument.

Mr. Cooke speaks of fair chase. Talk about having the wool pulled over one’s eyes.

Shawn Woods
Darby

Legislative session assessed

Dear Editor,

The legislature is finally out of session and the principal duty with which it is charged was accomplished, passing the general funding bill known as House Bill 2. It was a compromise, as always. As a practical matter it had to be passed, and many different constituencies at least partially satisfied. The Democrats were particularly keen to increase the funding for education and to fully fund the Montana Healthy Kids program at 250 percent of poverty; the budget was of secondary importance. The Republicans were particularly concerned about not growing government, and addressing what I believe is a revenue shortfall when passing a budget.

The legislature will be back later this year, or early next year, in a special session to adjust the budget downward because it must be balanced with incoming revenue. The whole budget is predicated on the economy growing 3.2% per year, even though it is now clearly shrinking. The University of Montana predicts a growth rate of 2.2% per year. I believe that, at least in the first year of the two-year budget, Montana's economy will not grow at all. For example, year to date state income tax withholding is down $129 million and unemployment has gone from about 2% to over 6%. If the stimulus works, and I doubt it will, it will take a substantial amount of time to turn Montana's economy around.

On a related note, while some government intervention in the economy was necessary when Wall Street crashed and burned and low interest rates and easy credit caused the economy to go south, even lower interest rates and relaxed credit will not solve the problem and long term they will make the situation worse. It is like drinking a quart of whiskey, waking up with a hangover and reaching for another bottle. The second hangover will be worse.

Jim Shockley
Senate District 45

Thanks from potential flood victims

Dear Editor,

“Smut” and June Warren want to thank our friends and neighbors here in the valley for coming to our rescue during this year’s flood stage.

Word got out that we might have a real problem so Chuck Ridder brought us 50 sand bags, Gahunga dropped off a 5-ton load of sand in the yard, Job Corps sent a truckload of young people up, and the Darby school sent up a busload of students to help sandbag “Santa Smut’s” riverbank. Angela McConnell’s son was one of the students so she closed her restaurant down and came up and helped with the sandbagging herself.

All the years of being Santa (and he really thinks that he is) was more than reciprocated with this turnout of love, concern and caring. Due to health, the days of being the “good neighbor” and the North Pole Conner Annex Santa will now just become (hopefully) wonderful memories.

May God bless all of you and please keep “Smutter” in your prayers.

June Warren
Conner

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