Letters to the editor March 17

Imagine life without art

Thank you to the Daily Inter Lake for calling out Sen. Fitzpatrick, the man who so blithely insulted the hardworking and dedicated people who promote art and culture in Montana.  

As you pointed out, the arts bring in some $2.23 billion and account for 3.34% of our total economy per year. I also think it important to note some of the other benefits of these funds.

Of course, many of us will visit Glacier or Yellowstone Park this year but we might also look forward to seeing a play, visiting a museum, enjoying a concert or watching a movie.

If we happen to visit Washington, D.C., perhaps a visit to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial is an important destination. All of these are brought to you by artists. That art is not created in a vacuum. It must be nurtured by a great society. It is nurtured in the classroom and inspired by those who have gone before us.  

The car you drive, the clothes you wear, your smartphone and coffee maker all started out on an artist’s drawing table. Creativity, innovation and the promotion of curiosity are all keys to a successful society and they must be encouraged, not demeaned.

As a teacher, I see how the arts positively affect those around me. From the child with autism and the veteran with PTSD, to someone dealing with a serious health or personal crisis. Students with a grounding in the arts have higher GPA’s and lower dropout rates. For the disadvantaged they level the playing field. Arts funding might help a talented child play an instrument that the parents otherwise couldn’t afford.  

Imagine your life without the arts and I hope you will agree, it is really no life at all.

— Karen Leigh, Kalispell

Make the call

If you are alarmed at the destruction that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are unleashing on our precious democracy, our economy and our standing in the eyes of the world, then I urge you to call your elected representatives and let them know exactly how you feel. 

Our senators are Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and our representative is Ryan Zinke. Their job — their only job — is to represent their constituents. 

I highly recommend an app which you can easily install on your phone, called “5 Calls,” which makes calling extremely easy. The app links you to all the appropriate phone numbers, lists the major issues, and even gives you a script to follow if you like. If you are phone shy, simply call after hours and leave a message. 

Please call often — every day if you can.  I’m told that congressional offices are being flooded with calls. Our representatives need to hear from us. Our democracy is at stake.

— Irene Stone, Kalispell