Letters to the editor for Feb. 27
Guilt and sorrow are human emotions
The fear of teaching history is contagious now. Human emotions have become so politicized that reading a book now becomes freighted with fear that a young mind might be damaged? Damaged? School boards across the country now consider banning books?
When I was young, I read “The Diary of Anne Frank.” It bothered me. I felt worried and confused, along with Anne, whom I grew to admire. I cried. My mother held me and talked to me about that book. And then Mrs. Beatty’s mother visited my class and showed us her arm with the tattoo — a number. A number from a concentration camp.
I didn’t feel guilty, I felt glad she had survived.
It’s not the books or the lectures about racism, or oppression, or resilience, or difference, or change that frightens children and makes them feel guilty. The classroom and curricula, pedagogy, and conversation do not harm our curious youth.
Guilt comes and stays in a household where children are blamed. Doubt comes from being told it’s “OK” when it’s not. Fear comes when those who you love hurt you, or hurt those you love.
And therein lies history, and literature, that some do not want we who teach to convey.
Human experience is one that is unjust, but struggling for justice; one that is fearful, longing for comfort; one that is kind and gives generosity; one that endures beyond all expectation; one where brilliance defies imagination; one where reason finds its path.
Teach our children well.
Liza R. Rognas, Olympia
Goodbye, plastic
The amount of unnecessary plastic packaging on food and household products is very concerning. There are many ways to address this challenge in our own lives and in our state and country.
To start with ourselves, we can call, write and ask our local grocery stores and favorite food companies to stop wrapping their products in plastic and instead use plant-based, biodegradable alternatives. And at least, they could wrap them in one layer, not multiple layers of packaging.
We can bring our own bags and containers and refill them at a store that offers bulk foods and other dry goods. We can buy produce and other things at our local farmers’ market (which provides us with higher quality goods and supports local businesses). We can use cloth food bags, glass jars or even just reuse plastic containers that we already have.
On a wider level, we can ask our local, state and federal governments to develop policies to further eliminate plastic pollution. It’s good to celebrate the passage of a plastic bag ban in our state — this is exciting progress! Additionally, we could offer financial rewards or other incentives for companies that go plastic-free or integrate compostable packaging alternatives into their supply chain.
Together we can steward our land and water ecosystems by eliminating plastic. Our communities will be much lovelier without it, too.
Rebecca Canright, Olympia
7 reasons to save trees
Recently, on Redfin, a 1-acre property on Boston Harbor Road with a small cabin on it and beautiful big old trees was listed by the agent as “the value is in the trees.” This is a shameful way to sell a wooded lot in our county and reflects a lack of understanding of what trees are contributing to our community beyond, of course, beauty.
Trees, as part of their photosynthesis process, draw down carbon and turn it into the very oxygen we breathe. At the same time, they are drawing down pollutants, reducing asthma rates in neighborhoods with more trees.
By drawing down carbon and storing it in the tree and the ground, they are fighting climate change. Our recently passed Climate Mitigation Plan establishes that we cannot achieve our goals without significant planting and protecting of trees.
In addition, trees also provide storm water management, and they can significantly reduce heating and cooling bills for any building within 6 feet of them. Studies show just seeing a tree outside one’s window can reduce levels of depression.
Many of the trees on this property are over 100 years old and as such are the elders to those who would cut them.. We have to ask: Is this the county we want? Where trees are clear cut just so someone can make some money? Do we want to become Seattle where trees are scarce now because they were not protected in the development process?
Lynn FitzHugh, Olympia