Letters to the editor for Feb. 5
Technology: Convenience or dependence?
How is it we used to just turn around and look behind us as we backed up our cars? How is it we used to open our refrigerator to see what was in there? How is it we used to look at and listen to one another and be present over a meal?
The need for the latest technological upgrade or innovation is found in most families. But do we truly have need of them or have we been convinced we do? What have we lost or forgotten in exchange for these “conveniences?”
I submit that as prevalent as sugar, sex and street (or prescription) drugs is the addiction to technology, and we’ve all been targeted and marketed for it.
Convenience: something conducive to comfort or ease; freedom from discomfort.
Dependence: the quality or state of being dependent; the quality or state of being influenced or determined by or subject to another.
Are we safer, smarter and more efficient or just more dependent on it all? The more dependent we become to things out of our control, the more vulnerable we are to being under the control of someone or something.
Open that fridge, it may need to be cleaned. Turn around when you back up and smile at those in the backseat, they need to be seen by you as much as whatever is behind you. And may the voices at the table be loud and rambunctious!
Political hypocrisy
If President Hilary Clinton had delayed foreign aid to Ukraine until they announced they would be investigating Trump family business dealings in that country, would our Senate Republicans and Fox News be so eager to dismiss her actions as inconsequential? Would they not foresee the danger of unchecked presidential actions?
Olympia’s limited winter options for kids
We love our gorgeous green state, but what is the major downfall of all this greenery? Rain. Saturating our landscape 150+ days a year. My 7-year-old, 6-year-old, and 2-year-old are bouncing off the walls.
Where do we go in Olympia to seek refuge from this weather and find a solution to the destruction of our homes? A mall playground? Fast-food play yard? Public library? The WET Science center is a great, but is not ideal for small children. These few free(ish) options for indoor recreation are insufficient and are not age appropriate for all.
Next our options are paid visits to businesses that cater to children’s activities. The Hands-On Children’s Museum is fantastic, but can the cost be afforded? You have bounce parks, Chuck-E-Cheese, and trampoline park businesses, and the local Y. Can these recreational activities be afforded? And 150+ days a year? Considering multiple children?
Our children need indoor physical recreation options that are limited in cost or free of charge. Inactivity for children is a contributing factor for chronic health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and Type II Diabetes.
The Olympia Center has halls available for rent. These could be converted seasonally to create play spaces for children. Empty businesses in our area such as Toys ‘R’ Us are big enough to ride bikes in, and have an indoor basketball or racquetball court.
As our state’s capitol, we should stand as an example for creating low-cost resources for our youth that promote physical activity year-round.