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‘United we stand; divided we fall’

I wrote the following letter to Rep. John Lewis on Jan. 18, when he announced he would not be attending the inauguration.

Dear Mr. Lewis: Though it will likely be too late for the inauguration, if and when you see this, my hope is that my words will help you have a longer view and better perspective of what is your real duty.

I am writing because I am gravely concerned about the boycotting of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump by you and other Democrats. This is a childish and very selfish act and not in the best interests of our country. It is, at best, a poor example for everyone including a generation of Americans coming of age in our once great nation.

To begin with your job is not about you. It never has been and never will be. We are a nation on the brink of collapse because of the divided nature of its people, a division showcased by our government. Have you forgotten that you once worked alongside a man who died working for unity and equality among men? Do you not know, it is GOD who puts people in positions of power (Romans 13:1-2) so that “... the one who resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Consequently, it is our job to support whoever is in office and you don’t help anything by opposing our president-elect. This doesn’t mean that you will agree with everything he says or does, but we are again called “... in as much as you are able, live peaceably with all.” Our system only works on mutual respect and cooperation. To not support our system and our president is to work against everything that has made, and has the power to make, this country all it was created to be: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.” Let us not forget WHO we are and WHOSE we are or we will cease to be who we once were.

Please support our country by supporting our president, today and throughout his administration. This is your duty as an elected official of the UNITED States of America. And, I believe Martin Luther King himself would be disappointed in your attitude and your actions. “United we stand. Divided we fall.” It’s not rocket science, but it is a matter of the heart. We are a house of cards unless we work together for the greater good of all people. We need a stronger foundation in our elected officials and I will be praying for you that you will be just that. —Kathryn Berg, Bigfork

Let’s keep state safe from Canadian bacon

Well the great Montana lawmaker Ed Butcher is in the news again. You may remember this genius exclaiming, “Only people who have a job, should have the right to vote.” Now he is in the forefront supporting this bill, which would prevent sharia law from being implemented in Montana.

What about Mexican law? Jewish law? Canadian law? I, for one, refuse to be forced to eat Canadian bacon instead of good old American bacon. But that’s exactly what will happen if we don’t act now and stop these Canadians from taking over our legal system. And don’t get me started on the whole issue of circumcision. We have to stop those Jews from taking over. Not to mention refried beans for breakfast if the Mexicans have their way.

Come on Ed, get with it. Sharia law is only the tip of the iceberg. Get your head out of the sand! —Jerry Clemens, Bigfork

Why we need SB97 in Montana

Thank you, Sen. Regier, for introducing SB97, the act to “Prohibit Application of Foreign Laws in Montana Courts.”

For more than two centuries, hundreds of thousands of courageous men and women have given their lives to protect America’s sovereignty and freedom.

American cConstitutional rights must be preserved. State legislatures have a role to play in preserving these constitutional rights. If states did not have such a role to play, why then do states have constitutions which often mirror, echo and reinforce the U.S. Constitution.

America has unique values of liberties which do not exist in some foreign legal systems.

Included among, but not limited to, those values and rights are:

• Freedom of religion.

• Freedom of speech.

• Due process.

• Right to privacy.

• Right to keep and bear arms.

Civil and criminal Law serve as the bedrock for American values: We are a nation of laws. Unfortunately, increasingly, foreign laws and legal doctrines are finding their way into U.S. courts, especially in family law cases. This is a means of imposing an agenda on the American people while circumventing the U.S. and state constitutions.

Born and raised in Belgium, I became a U.S. citizen in 1995. I fear that we might be losing our rights. Freedom of speech comes to mind. People like Brigitte Bardot, in France, Oriana Fallaci in Italy, Geert Wilders in Holland, Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff in Austria were hauled to court for speaking out against a certain group. Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant were summoned before a tribunal. Others were fired from their jobs. If we import foreign ideas, that could happen here, too. The embrace of foreign legal systems, some of which are inherently hostile to our constitutional liberties, is a violation of the principles on which our nation was founded. —Caroline Solomon, Bigfork

Law should protect people

With great interest and some sadness, I read the Jan. 24 letter from James Lester to the editor in which he praised the commissioners for voting against the “mob” in the Egan Slough matter.

Although it pains me to disagree with a fellow Marine, I cannot let his views go unchallenged.

Just as we do not protect an individual’s rights who yells “fire” in a crowded theater, we owe no such protection to an individual who wishes to ruin his neighbor’s property and despoil our valley by taking our most precious resource — WATER — for his personal profit.

It is my opinion the commissioners took the easy way out and did not act bravely.

Perhaps it is time for a new set of commissioners who will act in the people’s interest. —Dick Syverson, Bigfork

‘Busy’ legislators

Wow, guns in the post office and dangerous immigrants disguised as humanitarian refugees! Our Legislature is busy!

I don’t know how many people have felt threatened in the post office, or how many of these dangerous refugees have been allowed to settle in Montana, but I do know that health care, early childhood education and infrastructure improvement are real issues that affect all Montanans. Hope the Legislature has the time to address them. —Marcia Peck, Bigfork

Thanks to FEC

The Whitefish Theatre Company would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Flathead Electric’s Roundup for Safety program.

This past month, WTC received a grant from the Roundup for Safety program that provided partial funds to replace our old, outdated lift with a new scissor lift. Not only does this new model make it much safer to build and paint sets, change lights, and adjust equipment in the ceiling grid, but it saves WTC staff and volunteers a tremendous amount of time to be able to drive the lift by themselves. This lift assures that WTC can continue to provide theatre, music, and dance shows throughout the year by allowing staff and our several hundred volunteers to safely complete their work, as well as maintain the O’Shaughnessy Center.

The Whitefish Theatre Company is grateful for this generous grant and everything the Roundup for Safety program does for our community. —Gayle MacLaren, Whitefish, executive director, Whitefish Theatre Company