Letters to the editor Jan. 28
Rhetoric and attacks
Flathead Prolife is actively proving that they are anything but pro life. They are currently sending postcards that attacks transgender Montanans, Democrats and the Montana Supreme Court. The claim to be pro life but then attack the lives of anyone who doesn’t agree with them.
They claim that Rep. Courtenay Sprunger voted to allow “biological men to use the women’s restrooms in the state Capitol.” This statement attacks transgender individuals in a blatantly inaccurate manner. Conservative groups like Flathead Prolife consistently over simplify human biology in a way that benefits no one and hurts us all.
This postcard purports to be about Sprunger but then includes small type saying “Liberals think transgender operations on minors and dismemberment abortion procedures are ‘medical care.’” This again shows their extreme lack of knowledge about transgender individuals and abortion care. According to the Harvard School of Public Health “gender-affirming surgeries are rarely performed for transgender minors, suggesting that U.S. surgeons are appropriately following international guidelines around assessment and care” and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that abortion is essential health care.
Instead of asking Sprunger why she supports equal rights for all human beings, as Flathead Prolife suggests, I recommend that we ask Flathead Prolife why they distribute hateful rhetoric that attacks the rights of specific groups of humans.
— Amy Weeks, Columbia Falls
Legislative decorum
Over the last few weeks as bill hearings of the 69th legislative session have gotten underway, I have had the misfortune to observe our elected officials walk in and out of the room, hold side bars in the corners, and fail (refuse?) to lift their heads from their cellphones and papers during public testimony. (We can see you, senators.)
I respect, appreciate and observe the decorum that the chairs of each legislative committee dictate to those who exercise their fundamental right to testify. However, may I remind them that our system of governance is a system of consent by the governed? And that the sovereign expects a certain semblance of decorum as well?
In regrettable situations when respect for one’s constituents has not or cannot be displayed — due either to a lack of character or the presence of a character flaw — his esteemed colleagues shall counsel him quickly on how to put on that game face and how to play that game.
— Sara Hudson, Lewistown
Soft on crime
President Donald Trump has pardoned over 1,500 persons convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 even though many, if not most, used violence to confront police officers defending the Capitol.
If the president believes violence, even against police officers, is OK if it is done in support of him, we can expect a lot more violent crime in the future. We can expect a lot of people will act violently now because they will believe it is not serious or the president will protect them. All citizens are a little less safe.
What should we expect from a president who, himself, is a convicted felon?
Of course, some Republicans will say they disagree with Trump on this, so don’t blame all Republicans. However, how many Republicans are publicly condemning Trump? Failure to act is not a good excuse when we are faced with more violent crimes.
Let the word go out from this time and place that it is the Republicans, not the Democrats, who are soft on crime. Don’t expect Republicans to protect you from violent crime.
— Thomas E. Towe, Billings