Editor,
Three recent articles in the Cascadia deserve mention. Your piece of a couple of weeks ago on Jim Quist of Quist Violins (CDN, Oct. 10, 2024) was a delight. Recognition of Jim’s contribution to our community is overdue. As a former fiddle student of his for a number of years, I found him to be wonderfully patient, attentive and, of course, skilled in teaching novices such as myself. Plus, he plays a mean violin. He deserves every good thing that comes his way.
And actually the same goes for the Lions Club (CDN, Nov. 7, 2024). What a wonderful resource! We discovered firsthand the vital role that they play for folks who are unexpectedly slammed into a need for all the medical equipment that goes with recovery from a serious accident. They are staffed by such gracious, capable people! A hearty thank you to the Lions Club! They deserve our donations.
And finally, sigh, the impending loss of the most wonderful Boundary Bay (CDN, Nov. 8, 2024). My heart sinks. As a past kegerator member with a BB tap handle (not something easily acquired anymore), I will mourn the loss of this public institution. They have been gracious in sharing their expertise with new brewpubs in our community and fostered a climate of cooperation and support. And the fish tacos … yum.
Leaf Schumann
Bellingham
Editor,
While I can understand the despair Canadian writer Steve Burgess expresses in his column (CDN, Nov. 8, 2024) regarding the dark turn American politics has taken with the reelection of Donald Trump, I believe — I must believe — that there is always another turn of the wheel. U.S. history supplies many examples where the threats to democracy engineered by self-serving politicians ultimately fail as voters get hip to the dangers of their designs.
As Trump’s horrifying policies begin to take hold and commence to do economic damage to the lives and well-being of all Americans — not to mention the power plays he has planned to inflict on his political enemies, the immigrant community, the free press, the safety and health of the environment, etc. — the country will surely turn against him. Let’s remember that in two short years, we get to elect a whole new House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Nothing can change that; nothing can stop that. Trump’s policies will soon result in an awakening that will render him impotent.
At any rate, this is my hope, and I refuse to give it up. Mr. Burgess should have more faith in the resilience of his American neighbors. Emily Dickinson said it beautifully: “Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul/And sings…/And never stops at all.”
Clyde Curley
Bellingham
Editor,
The election results surprised many in our country and outside.
The answer to [Steve] Burgess’ question, “What’s left to hope for?” is us. We elect those who represent us in Congress, now it is time to direct them, reminding them what matters. For example, battling poverty and disease. The House passed The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act with a large bipartisan majority. There is still time for the Senate to pass this ladder out of poverty that includes affordable housing and extra money for the child tax credit that both candidates promised.
The House, for its part, can pass the End TB Now Act that has passed the Senate, again in a bipartisan way and will focus America’s efforts where they will do the most good against the world’s number one infectious disease.
Our calls, 202-224-3121, and letters to those who represent us can direct them to take these actions before the end of the year. Then stay in touch with them to pass a farm bill expanding the SNAP program to cut hunger. These actions strengthen our democracy and help create a better world.
Willie Dickerson
Snohomish
Editor,
Feeling anxious and dejected, I attended a Whatcom County Council meeting on Nov. 6, the day after the election. I went with a group of activist friends to hear a presentation on local boards of health. The council has set up a task force to examine whether to reform and expand the Whatcom County Board of Health, which currently consists of the seven elected council members, to include public health experts, consumers, and providers, in line with a Washington State law passed in the wake of the pandemic. As a charter county, Whatcom is exempt from this law’s mandate.
The subject is esoteric, some might say trivial and boring, given the seismic shift that has just happened at the national level. But I was impressed by the attention and intelligence our council members applied to the presentation. These are hard-working folks, not motivated by money or a lust for power. They just want to do the right thing for the citizens of Whatcom. I left the council chambers heartened by the company of my friends and the knowledge that, far from Washington, D.C., the “other Washington” still takes public service seriously at the most local level.
Marian Exall
Bellingham
Editor,
CDN readers likely are not surprised to learn of my deep disappointment with the results of the Nov. 5 election, the 17th general election in which I have been a participant. Frequent readers know my political views and may think that I’ll spend the next four years crying in proverbial beer. If so, they are mistaken since the election is history and cannot be changed. It is what it is.
I will continue to let the CDN editor know my opinions. I will continue to care for my family, to seek improvements at the local level, to volunteer in my neighborhood, to keep singing in my church, to play pinochle with friends and to advocate for community betterment. If there are other opportunities to do good things in Bellingham, I will, to the best of my ability at 85, step forward. I urge others to do the same.
I thank God and Washington state voters that I live in a blue state!
Jerry Hunter
Bellingham
Editor,
While the finger-pointing over the loss of Harris to Trump goes on unabated, the cold hard facts are that the disinformation spread by MAGA Republicans was swallowed whole by a lot of people looking for simplistic explanations. Social media gave them that in spades.
In America, every American who wishes to vote can do so in spite of education, or awareness of the complexity involved in issues. One can vote based solely on their prejudices or even solely on their malicious intents.
Trump played directly to all the basest of human fears. Racism, sexism, ageism … all the -isms of the dark side were rolled out to cause fear and confusion.
Statistics show registered voters of the boomer generation voted in the highest numbers at around 90%. At the lowest around 40% were 18-24 year olds. And 24-40 year olds voted around 60%. The difference between levels of education verified some suspicions.
The GOP was quick to blame Biden and the Dems for all sins from the dawn of man. The coming years promise to be a rude awakening for the GOP and their devotees. The wet running down the face of Lady Liberty could just be rain or it could be tears.
Michael Waite
Sedro-Woolley
Editor,
I write this after Election Day. I admit, I was not prepared for the psychic trauma that has occurred within me. Mainly, because I was and am ready for a woman to lead this country, and cannot understand those who refuse to judge women on a level playing field.
A strong woman does not intimidate nor threaten me. Women are not weak, they are the stronger sex. Kinder, more concerned with the greater good, with less ego, and far less likely to send someone’s children to war.
My very first love, my mother. Then, as I grew up, my first romantic love as a teen, another woman. Special teachers who helped me see my value and potential were all women. And when I had a very profound health issue, the doctors didn’t know what to do — so they did nothing. It was the nurses who comforted me when I needed it most and gave me the will to pull through a terrible ordeal. So impressive were they, I had to write them a letter of thanks and praise after I had recovered with their help. Again, women.
And finally, my wife, the woman I love most in my life, for having all the qualities of being a woman she brought with her. Though my chosen team lost, I will not storm the Capitol, or wreak havoc on my fellow citizens who chose differently than I. I am still convinced a woman can and will make a good leader for America. Maybe next time.
Gary Meader
Nooksack
Editor,
Our food does not come from the grocery store.
Most of our domestic foodstuffs come to us through immigrant Hispanic hands. Virtually all domestic hand-harvesting (lettuce, apples, avocados, etc.) is done by immigrant Hispanics. Much of the other farm work, like driving harvesters, tractors and trucks, likewise.
Animal agriculture is the same — milking, shearing, etc. Food processors are the same. I have been on farms and in food processing plants across this country and what I see are immigrant Hispanics. Who is going to do that work? The employment pool is pretty slim and not the quality of workers they will be replacing.
Will we in America have to rely on imported food? It will be more expensive and of a lower quality and not as reliable. How is this better for us U.S. citizens?
Craig MacConnell
Bellingham
Editor,
Americans collectively want and deserve better than just either the usual establishment callous conservative or neoliberal candidate thus president.
Way too many people, perhaps an all-time-high percentage, have to choose between which necessities of life they can afford. It’s a populace increasingly too overworked, worried and even rightfully angry about food and housing unaffordability thus insecurity for themselves or their family — largely the result of inflation, corporate greed and insufficient income.
Yet, besides her campaign promise to “protect democracy,” Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (likely because of bad advice) seems to have relied too much on constitutionally enshrining or federally protecting abortion rights nationwide to motivate enough voters to get her elected.
Apparently overlooked were the very large and likely still growing electorate who, due to their formidable unaffordability struggles, don’t have the luxury to make democracy and/or abortion their primary vote-determining concern(s). A very large percentage of Americans are financially struggling just that much.
Therefore, unless such unaffordability significantly improves, it may no longer be sufficient for a campaigning candidate to focus on non-fiscal social issues, which, besides abortion, mostly consist of race, sexuality and gender.
Missing this may have made her appear even more elitist than what’s usually perceived by voters at election time.
Frank Sterle Jr.
White Rock, British Columbia
Editor,
“Somebody needs to do something about this” was the remark at a PFLAG meeting in Blaine a few years back after the attempted murder of a transgender middle school student on campus. Subsequently, Blaine School District voters elected an openly anti-queer candidate to the school board.
Now that the bigots of America will again have a champion in the White House, the targets of bigotry (Jews, Muslims, Blacks, American Indians, queers) will be fighting for their lives. Financial support for equality advocates is good, but it will not be enough. What they need is our commitment of time.
Research is key to the success of equality advocates, providing background information on organizers of bigotry and what they are up to. We took down one violent bigotry advocate when we exposed his conviction for child molestation. We took another one down when we exposed him hosting vigilantes who advocated murdering liberal judges.
Pious posturing, often employed by well-meaning do-gooders, accomplishes nothing. Holding bigots —including local media — accountable requires determination and commitment. That involves a lot more than just sending a check to a charity. The American Taliban is already in our communities.
Jay Taber
Blaine
Editor,
The subject of ocean levels rising was in a recent Letter to the Editor. I wonder how many people know how ocean levels are measured?
First, they take measurements from satellites to the surface of the ocean. That tells us how high the satellite is (within a centimeter or so). Then they calculate the distance between the satellite and the center of the earth. The exact center is tricky, but they can get within 20 kilometers or so (1,000 mm x 1,000 meters x 20 or so).
Then they subtract the first from the second measurement, and tell us the ocean level within a couple millimeters or less. Hey kids, ask your math teacher if that’s how math works. But they have rulers on rocks on beaches around the world and they also use them.
Well, that measurement is a good indication of whether that side of your continent is sinking into or rising from our oceans. There is no fixed, solid, unmoving place on earth. And also any saltwater fisherman can tell you that the ocean never stops moving.
So there is no good way to measure our ocean levels. Ever hear of Cascadia Rising? Our state is spending millions to move coastal communities farther from an ocean from which our coast is rising. I hope this helps explain how the science has been twisted to fit a narrative.
Mark A. White
Port Angeles
Editor,
What a lovely tribute to one of Bellingham’s “hidden gems” and to the volunteers who care for it. The towering trees stand like guardians over the delicate forms of the Japanese maples. And, as you walk the paths, the sculptures provide a moment of contemplation. In the spring, the rhododendrons offer a blaze of color. I come here often and always leave with a sense of beauty and peace.
Without the steady stewardship of the volunteers, imagine this beautiful park whose paths are overgrown, the plantings are dead from lack of water, the sculptures are covered with moss, the wooden fence slats in disrepair. Yet, this is the reality of the Parks Department previously underfunding Big Rock Garden.
Reading that the Parks Department has earmarked $180,000 for the Garden IF the budget in 2025 is approved, I strongly support this expenditure.
Helen Moran
Bellingham
Letters to the Editor are published online Wednesdays; a selection is published in print Fridays. Send to letters@cascadiadaily.com by 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Rules: Maximum 250 words, be civil, have a point and make it clearly. Preference is given to letters about local subjects. CDN reserves the right to reject letters or edit for length, clarity, grammar and style, or removal of personal attacks or offensive content. Letters must include an address/phone number to verify the writer's identity (not for publication).
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