Letters to the editor for June 12
Ahmaud Arbery is us
I was a runner for over 40 years. The feeling of transcendence from the perfect union of body, nature, fresh air and soul is like no other. The running community is a true community. Running is the great equalizer – go to any community race open to the public, and you will see the very old and the very young, runners wearing T-shirts indicating they are raising money for various causes, Moms and Dads with baby joggers, and runners of all races and nationalities.
As a female runner, I was cautious. Fortunately, the worse thing that happened to me was a man throwing a giant cup of orange drink at my legs. I knew that if I ran in broad daylight in a populated area, I was safe. Now I realize that I also was privileged.
On Feb. 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was doing what I did thousands of times over the years – enjoying the unique sense of freedom and well-being that running provides. Why was he confronted in broad daylight by two armed men, and I never was? Because Ahmaud Arbery was black and I am white. Why did it take over two months for charges to be brought against the killers, and only when the Georgia State Patrol was brought in? Because Ahmaud Arbery was black.
Running, the most benign of sports, is not the great equalizer unless each of us and the running community speak out. Mr. Arbery is not just a statistic; he is us.
Sally Coats, Olympia
The caring change we need in Thurston County
When I look at a candidate for office, I look for several things. Do they understand the values of our community? Are they intelligent enough to understand the specific office they are running for? Are they empathetic?
I’ve been lucky enough to see those values in Rory Summerson. Rory’s running for Thurston County Commissioner position 1 and sits on the board of Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE). He also is on the board for Mpowerment, a sexual health advocacy group. Both groups work to help marginalized communities. Also, one of the first times I spoke with him, it was at a rally against the detention of immigrant children.
When the pandemic started, Rory was several months into his campaign. He set the campaign aside to start helping organize our community, dropping off food to friends who are considered high risk — despite being high risk himself — volunteering to bring supplies to PiPE, and working on Olympia Facebook groups to help connect people to vital services.
He is now shifting focus back to the campaign and doing weekly YouTube videos that aren’t just about him but also about how we can get involved in helping, what services are out there, and even non-partisan resources for representing all political voices equally.
Putting people first isn’t just a platform plank, it is how he lives his life. He cares about our environment. He holds the commission and the county government accountable when there are budget issues.
I hope that everyone will support his candidacy at voterory.com.
Tracey Carlos, Olympia