I’m concerned about the attitudes expressed in a recent Letter to the Editor titled “Story About Mormon Church Dis-appointed.” I am not, nor have I ever been, associated with the Mormon Church. I am, however, an advocate of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.
The letter titled “Story about Mormon Church Disappointed” was chilling. This is a free country. Everyone is entitled to her point of view, and each person has the right of free speech to express it. If we silence any minority, we all lose out on various points of view, and we become less rich for it. If people are “unapologetic” about their opinions, that is their right.
As I sip my coffee at the Roasterie at Center, I contemplate the recent developments in this historic intersection.
On Sunday evening, Oct. 21, as the rain stopped and the crescent moon broke through dark, retreating clouds, the first of almost 300 attendees to the Shelter the Flame marriage equality event and candlelight vigil emerged from Vashon Theatre.
In reading The Beach-comber’s editorial (“The politics of yard signs and marriage equality”), I found myself in complete agreement with concerns about the lack of tolerance shown when someone’s political views are marginalized, and in the case described, vandalism by the removal of signs from a yard.
Difficult as it is to challenge the opinions of someone you respect, I feel compelled to weigh in on abortion and its political implications (“Choose someone who won’t fund abortion,” Oct. 24) and perhaps expand the debate.
When my mother died, it was my father’s wish that her body be cremated immediately. A friend of our family, a priest who had been close to my mother, convinced us to wait until after her funeral Mass. The presence of her body — honored, blessed and consecrated by the ritual of the Mass and the healing and solace for all who would attend — was important. “Let the ritual do its work,” the priest said and we agreed. When the Mass was over and still, years later, our family is truly glad we followed the priest’s advice.
The Seattle Times has announced quite a remarkable decision, to spend newspaper money to place ads in their paper in support of Rob Mckenna’s candidacy for governor. Over the history of newspapers, there has always been a careful division between at least an attempted objectivity in reporting news on the one hand, and on the other, announced editorial page opinions favoring one candidate or another. Their decision strikes me as dissolving this line.
I subscribe to The Beachcomber to get local news and events. I was disappointed to see yet one more “political” article but thought from the title that it would condemn the excesses on both sides as well as the propensity of all politicians to dodge the tough issues and kick the can down the road. Instead the article opined that Europeans think and Americans don’t. I immediately thought of the brilliance of Spain, Greece and Italy. Examples of American “non-thinking” only cited those from supposed conservative sources.
In this election we face the choice of a candidate — President Obama — who supports abortion, or a candidate who does not — Mr. Romney.
I want to thank the many Islanders who have stepped into our lives and helped us in untold ways during the past two weeks.
Early in the morning on Oct. 4, we received the most devastating telephone call we have ever received. We were told that Palmerston Robert Kelly Burk, the youngest of our eight grandchildren, had died.
My sincerest thanks go to the counselors and staff at Vashon Youth & Family Services, Vashon Island School District and Vashon’s independent counselors.
