Letters to the editor Dec. 29
Acts of random kindness
The Blue and White Motel would like to express our sincere gratitude for the members of the churches who graciously put together Thanksgiving meals and distributed them individually to those wayfarers who stayed at the Blue and White Motel during the holiday season. It was an act of brotherhood, true caring, love for our country and creator.
Without the generosity of Kalispell’s churches and their members taking time out from their own families and busy lifestyles, some of our guests and longterm residents would not have been able to enjoy this bounteous holiday. Some guests were not well enough, others lonely, and all fretted at trying to roast a turkey in a microwave.
Then there came these good folk with boxes and boxes and dishes of delectable, aromatic, home-cooked turkey with all the trimmings. Messengers young and old with huge happy smiles delivered the delicious manna and all hearts were happy and uplifted. Meals were delicious, generous in proportions and delivered with grace.
It is members like these who reinforce the fact that there are still good people doing great things in this world. People who believe in a creator all over this world are still present here. Their small acts of random kindness have touched the hearts of all.
—Grimm Storli and Winnie Storli, Kalispell
Responding to Board of Health appointments
I’d like to respond to the excellent article (Inter Lake, Dec. 22) by Colin Gaiser about my not being reappointed to the Board of Health by the county commissioners.
First to Larsen’s wife, we didn’t disrespect him, he disrespected us. He demanded something we didn’t have the staff to do and we tried to reach a solution with DEQ. You didn’t bother to participate. The board doesn’t need your self-proclaimed expertise. We already have an actual septic engineer with decades of experience who is also chair of that subcommittee, Roger Noble. Perhaps if you did a better job reviewing your submissions to DEQ, they wouldn’t be returned for changes as often.
Bukacek’s stance against vaccination is dangerous. She should not be given a platform to advance something that could harm the children of our valley.
Clearly Holmquist and Mitchell acted to get rid of the two board members who stood for sound public health policy for 10 years, and while Mitchell is correct that he has “a right to put anybody on the board we want,” replacing experienced people on a well functioning board with two people who have agendas that, if implemented, would interfere with the department’s goals is foolish. But, apparently, as Holmquist has admitted, it’s just politics. I believe it is shameful to play politics with the health and safety of our citizens.
As for claims that I was “disrespectful” or “unprofessional,” Holmquist should exhibit some introspection of her own performance on the Board of Health. I can’t think of a single contribution she has made in the eight years she has been on the board, unless she believes eliminating rabies vaccination of cats and dogs would have been an accomplishment! But, heck, it’s only been eight years. Perhaps we just need “to give her a fighting chance.”
—David Myerowitz, Columbia Falls
Appointment undermines Board of Health’s work
Open letter to Flathead County Commissioners:
I am deeply disturbed by the appointment of Dr. Bukacek to the Board of Health. What are you thinking? Is this really the message you want to send to families regarding the serious issue of vaccinating our children? Have you researched at all how this whole issue has been addressed and debunked not once, but over and over again?
Yes, she has a right to her opinions and to expressing them in a public forum, but by placing her on this board you have given her unsubstantiated opinions the imprimatur of having some value to the Board of Health. They absolutely do just the opposite. Her presence undermines the important work they are charged with accomplishing.
I repeat, what in the world were you thinking?
—Kristin Bruninga, Kalispell
No more resources
Recently, Noam Chomsky, one of the wisest of our wisemen, reminded us that our worst possible future will come with the exhaustion of our resources. No more resources means the end of civilization as we know it and, possibly, the near-extinction or extinction of our species.
The thought of no more resources is so awful that many of us don’t dare think it, so we continue to find excuses for removing resources without replacing them.
Is it crime to reduce a resource? It is a high crime, given the ultimate cost? How can we convince people (particularly those in authority) of the necessity of preserving a future for coming generations?
—Robert O’Neil, Kalispell