Letters to the Editor for March 22
Ending nuclear terror is no fantasy
Your recent editorial on nuclear weapons began with the conclusion that Americans and the world have “grown perilously comfortable with the massive dangers of nuclear weapons.” That was the last accurate or relevant statement in a litany of excuses for pretending that these genocidal weapons keep us safe. The editorial simply dismisses the idea of eliminating nuclear weapons as fantasy. What a truly immense failure of vision and hope! De-nuclearization may be difficult but the history of accidents, near misses and breaches of command and control demonstrate the dangers of nuclear weapons even in peacetime. Those dangers become apocalyptic in the event of nuclear war.
Yet the world — most of whose countries do not possess nuclear weapons — must endure this existential threat because a small number of nuclear-armed states decided that using weapons of indiscriminate mass destruction is legitimate national security policy. The nations of the world do not believe that de-nuclearization is a fantasy. In 2017 two-thirds of UN General Assembly member states approved the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Since then 70 nations have signed the treaty.
The United States has been a leader in developing and deploying nuclear weapons since 1945. Our leadership legitimized nuclear weapons and gave adversaries incentives to pursue their own nuclear ambitions. American leadership to eliminate these most dangerous weapons would send the world a powerful signal. We are unlikely to ever demonstrate that leadership if we continue to dismiss alternatives to nuclear terror as fantasy.
Help your neighbor
A letter from Debbie O’Dell about the recent snowstorm brought back memories of growing up in Glendive, Montana, a town similar in size to Shelton. Glendive had a tradition, an expectation, perhaps a law, that said the public sidewalk in front of your home or business must be free of snow within 24 hours after a snowstorm. For those unable to clear their sidewalks, the Boy Scouts cleaned them for you. Often we cleaned the individual sidewalk and porch steps also. As an 8-year-old Cub scout, I helped? on a few homes. There was a scout leader or parent and an older Boy Scout watching out for us and helping us. Often we were rewarded with hot chocolate and a warm cookie by the grateful citizen.
We had good people in Glendive. Where were the good people in Olympia? Lacey? Tumwater? Citizenship is a phrase often spouted but rarely practiced. Don’t Boy and Girl Scouts do good deeds anymore? Where is neighbor helping neighbor?
Ms. O’Dell was right; it was a slap in the face to all, but the shame should go to the citizens, not the cities. I disagree with Ms. Dell on expecting government to do it. Why should government clean the sidewalk in front of your home? I do agree that those clearing the streets were more interested in auto traffic than foot traffic. They could and should do better next time.
This story was originally published March 20, 2019 at 3:48 PM.