Letters to the editor June 13

Personal liberties

I am finding it difficult to put into words how disturbing I find the recent government-mandated dress codes for children’s story time readers in Montana (yes, it sounds different with all the culture war hysteria removed, doesn’t it?).

I’ve never attended one of these events that are now banned, but a doctorate and 15 years of experience in the field of post-conflict reconstruction have left me convinced that you cannot put too high a price on anything that helps children understand the importance of difference and diversity and that one doesn’t need to understand or even like another’s dress or identity to give them a basic level of respect.

Because of my ethnicity and culture (I am an Irish citizen), I often wear a kilt. A few times over the years of living in the U.S., I’ve had complaints from a parent that it might confuse their child to see a man in a “skirt.” But all that’s necessary is to say, In some cultures, a skirt can be a male garment.

But I don’t think this new law is about protecting children and making sure they aren’t confused. I think it’s about something far darker and more dangerous.

I’ve worked in Flathead Valley schools for a decade. I’d hate for the state government to make it illegal for me to wear my kilt around my students. I’d hate for the state government to make it illegal for a Jewish man to wear his yarmulke around children. I’d hate for the state government to make it illegal for a native American woman to wear her ribbon skirt at the library.

My understanding of freedom does not involve the continual curtailment of personal liberties and expressions, and I want no part of it.

— Jon Hatch, Bigfork

Pray for me; I drive 93

The dreaded highway construction north of Lakeside has started to provide commercial access for the controversial alpine coaster.

Residents, and users like me, have long known that U.S. 93 between Polson and Somers is dangerous. It carries 11% more truck traffic than other similar rural primary Montana highways. Flathead County issues more impaired driver DUI tickets than all other Montana counties.

When the coaster developers first tried to get a zoning variance for Lake County they were turned down because the Lake County commissioners said U.S. 93 couldn’t handle the increase in traffic. So, they moved north 8 miles into Flathead County where the summer traffic count is 55% higher than Lake County.

The developers told the Lake County commissioners the average daily cars turning into the amusement park would be 300 cars to per day. Yet when they applied for a highway access permit in Flathead County, they said the average cars per day would be 200 — even though there is a higher average daily traffic count. Moreover, they recently told the Daily Interlake daily traffic into the facility would be between 200-300 — a 50% increase.

Somewhere between when the original northbound left turn lane was proposed to MDT and when the final plan was approved, the northbound, left turn lane decreased from the Federal Highway Administration’s recommended standards of 750 feet for traffic traveling at 55 mph to 480 feet – 36% shorter!

Ironically, MDT has slowed traffic down to 35 mph for a few construction vehicles. But will reinstitute the 55 mph when 300 cars a day are entering the park.

I believe it is imminently clear that the MDT has engaged in either willful ignorance, malfeasance, or chicanery by allowing commercial access for the coaster. Perhaps it’s time to bring back the old bumper sticker, “Pray for me; I drive Highway 93!”

— Barb Hall Barz, Polson