More Letters to the Editor

IMMIGRANT STUDENTS

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My class is working on sponsoring a national bill called Dream Act (S2205). The purpose of the bill is to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term U.S. residents and who entered the U.S. as children and for other purposes.

The bill is worth supporting because it allows immigrants to sustain a life in America so they can receive a higher education. It's a perfect opportunity for illegal immigrants to pursue a life in extensive education in college, if they so desire. Although the bill may conflict with other immigration bills, think about the cause it serves.

The Dream Act may contradict other issues on financial loans or eligibility status who are in need of financial support in order to retain an education for their future. Since society talks about "minorities" not pursuing a life in higher education, this would be an impeccable bill that would provide a small levy in order to break barriers in higher education.

Tan Lo Saeteurn
Senior, Franklin High School
Public Service Academy
Seattle

RACE RELATIONS

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For those Americans appalled at the recent examples of strong rhetoric preached by some African-American pastors, I suggest reflecting on the Tuskegee experiments, in which syphilis in black men (often poor sharecroppers) was studied, without informing the subjects about their disease, and without treatment. The study was terminated in 1972, after a Public Health Service investigator went to the media, and in response to the subsequent public outcry. This sad episode was happening while many of us baby boomers were already young adults.

Mike Bonato
Lake Forest Park

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

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Bravo to Rick Steves and columnist Joel Connelly for shining a light on America's disastrously counterproductive war on marijuana ("Travel pro Steves to challenge futile U.S. drug war," Friday).

Since our first national ban on marijuana, use has increased roughly 4,000 percent, according to government statistics. Now, marijuana is by far our country's No. 1 cash crop. All prohibition has done -- just as alcohol prohibition did in the 1920s -- is to hand over the marijuana market lock, stock and barrel to criminal gangs.

Whether you approve of marijuana use or not, this is crazy. After all, if you think marijuana is bad, why would you want it completely controlled by unregulated criminals, answerable to no one?

Bruce Mirken
Director of communications
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.

WRIGHT'S SPEECH

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Over the Past several days, there has been a great deal of media coverage regarding Trinity United Church of Christ and its pastor (now retired), the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Trinity United Church of Christ is the Chicago congregation where Sen. Barack Obama and his family are members. This church is one of the leading congregations in our denomination, the United Church of Christ and Wright has had a rich and faithful ministry there.

Because there have been some very specific verbal attacks on Wright, and because there has been so much information and misinformation about him and about the church circulating this last week, we want to provide some resources that will help you understand the situation more completely. The links below will lead you to some additional information. But we also want to let you know where we stand.

First, we know of the ministry of Trinity and of Rev. Wright. One of us, Peter Ilgenfritz, has even attended worship in that church. We stand with that congregation and with that pastor, in recognition of the ways they have lived into ministries of love and justice.

Second, we observe that much of the negative publicity about Trinity United Church of Christ and Rev. Wright has been shallow, and with cynical intent. We invite you to go deeper to learn more about that church and about Rev. Wright. The links below will help you begin.

Third, we believe that some reactions to Wright's words (very brief quotes from a few sermons taken from a life time of ministry) are based on a lack of understanding of the worship, preaching and leadership practices of liberation theology in general and the African-American experience and tradition specifically. The words of a prophet are almost always misunderstood. At this time in our nation's history, when arrogance and hubris seem to be the predominating feature of people's interactions, we are called to be compassionate listeners, and to stay engaged with and even be transformed by what we hear.

Finally, we ask for your prayers -- for the United Church of Christ leaders, for Wright, for Trinity United Church of Christ and their current pastors, for our nation, and for us. Please know as well that we are praying as well.

Don Mackenzie
Peter Ilgenfritz
Catherine Foote
David Anderson
The staff leadership team,
University Congregational United Church of Christ
Seattle

BARACK OBAMA

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I agree with Kate Bradley's Friday letter: "Obama is in the position he is in not because of the color of his skin but because so many Americans are fed up with corruption, economic disparities and racial injustice in this country." There has been a Bush or Clinton in the White House since January 1989. Eighteen years of corruption and division is enough! After the last eight years, I'd rather not vote for a Republican, but if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate, I'll vote for John McCain as the lesser of two evils.

Dante J. Driver
Seattle

The smearers are diligently at work covering Barack Obama with buckets of mud. A three-pronged attack by Republicans, Clinton Democrats and the Christian right, supported by money and the media, want Barack neutralized. The quickly sagging poll percentages of Obama are a testimony to the effectiveness of their efforts. Obama, the bright jewel in the 2008 election process, will be dragging that mud forever on the road to oblivion. He is too good and too close to success for their comfort.

Robert Eckert
Seattle

The hyperbolic response, by some, to the damning of our country by Barack Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, makes me wonder if they fearfully believe that the pastor has that kind of celestial influence. Come on people, the pastor is only human, profane at times, obviously, but forevermore -- just a man.

We recoil at the thought that God's wrath might cause the physical laws that keep our universe in a generally predictable, reliable state to be set aside just to answer someone's petition for vengeance. I hope there are some naturally reliable responses in our social order that ultimately give goodness the edge over evil.

Wright's pulpit rampage seems to us to have been over the line. On the other hand, I think we would have to admit that perhaps God does not look with great favor upon us as participants in manšs inhumanity toward man. What would Jesus say about the slaughter of our youth as well as the slaughter of the Iraqis, both combatants and certainly the so-called collateral damage of non-combatant men, women and children? How would Jesus look upon the persisting fester of America's social inequalities based on race and gender?

We would HOPE, if I might borrow his word, Barack Obama's masterfully stated rebuttal would offer some awareness awakening to address the still present overt and subliminal prejudices in our country.

Jack Ballard
Port Ludlow

GAS PRICES

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Just back from a week road trip through Western Montana. Besides wonderful driving on good highways we noticed this: crossing the Idaho/Washington border triggered a 30-cents increase in the price of unleaded gasoline. Bought gas in Helena, Mont., for $3.11 per gallon for unleaded. Same gas in Washington? Try $3.45 if you're lucky. So why a 34-cents difference? Checked around (stateline.org) and found this: Montana state gas tax is 27.8 cents. Idaho state gas tax is 25 cents. Washington state gas tax is 37.5 cents (fifth-highest rate in the nation). So Washington taxes are 10 cents more per gallon than Montana's. That leaves roughly a 24-cents per gallon unaccountable difference in the current price. Why is that?

Where is that money going? Two refineries in Washington. None in Montana. Hmmm. Are we victims of price gouging? Are the fat cats clutching the Bush coattails for every penny before the hammer falls? I hate it when people rip us off.

Steve Bunnell
Seattle

STREETCARS

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It seems that the general ridership is informed about the fact that the Seattle streetcar is a part of King County Metro except the bus drivers.

When the South Lake Union Streetcar began operation, the media had full information about fares and their exchangeability with other transportation in the area. This information seems to have eluded the bus drivers.

As a regular rider of the streetcar and buses, I continue to be harassed by some drivers who need a major explanation of the tickets when I use them as transfers. One driver made me pay again even if the ticket was still valid insisting that the streetcar had nothing to do with Metro.

Has Metro ever informed their drivers? Doesn't Metro want to get people "into the bus and out of the car"?

Vern Velez
Seattle

ELECTION YEAR

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I'm convinced that during an election year, especially the extra long type, that the voters' attention is stretched and mangled by the big issues and distracted from local concerns, to the detriment of all. Small ball, a term borrowed from baseball, refers to the notion of progress through small, incremental achievement. Fill the potholes while your waiting for the new highway.

What about our efforts to clean up Puget Sound. In spirit, neither the soap opera of Wall Street or the eventual occupant of the White House should change the task at hand. It's our Puget Sound, we are it's beneficiary and steward. And there are many environmental potholes to fix.

Art James
Port Orchard