Letters to the editor for July 7

Life is more than birth

Now that the pro-lifers have the U.S. Supreme Court decision they wanted, it’s time for them to step up to the plate and show the rest of us how pro-life they really are.

I hope to see them carrying their picket signs in support of universal maternal and child health care, see them shouting through their bullhorns in support of subsidized daycare, raising their hands in prayer for a living wage for all workers, and watch the tears flow down their faces over the injustice of the death penalty. How about regulating the guns that terrorize and kill so many of our young people, especially those forced by poverty to live in neighborhoods where violence is common?

Will they advocate as rigorously for the child as they did for the fetus? I’m not holding my breath.

Sandy Nygaard, Olympia

U.S. Rep. Strickland fails to respond to constituents

Several months ago, I called Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s office to urge her to support HR 2590, a bill defending human rights for Palestinian children. I called during business hours, but I had to leave a voicemail. In my message, I requested a call back from an aide. I’m still waiting for that return call.

Last month, I called Strickland’s office during business hours to urge her to sign on to Congresswoman Cori Bush’s letter condemning the ethnic cleansing of Masafer Yatta, a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank. Again, no one answered, and I had to leave a voicemail requesting a call back.

Last week I received a form letter via email from Strickland’s office thanking me for my call. The subject line read “Responding to your message” but there was nothing in the email even remotely mentioning the reason for my call. This infuriated me.

It seems like Strickland can’t be bothered to have an aide respond to my actual concern. ... What is going on there? Does she even know what the term “representative” means? Or is “representation” reserved for her biggest donors?

The ability to connect with constituents is a basic task for a representative. Marilyn Strickland is failing this task. We deserve better.

Shellee Billings, Tumwater

Fascism is a real threat to democracy

I recently watched a documentary, “The story of fascism in Europe,” about the situation preceding World War II, produced by Rick Steves for PBS. It revealed some shocking similarities to today’s events.

Listed below are the basic fascist tactics that both fascist Italian leader Benito Mussolini and German dictator Adolf Hitler used to subvert democracy and promote populism and authoritarian rule.

• Promote simple solutions to complex problems.
• Tell BIG lies and repeat them over and over and over.
• Blame others for the nation’s problems.
• Promote conspiracies and lies to create confusion and discredit political enemies.
• Attack the free press and freedom of speech.
• Outlaw and/or destroy books contrary to party ideals.
• Suppress education.
• Promote racism and hate.
• Hold big rallies to stir up anger, fear and promote nationalism.
• Restrict or eliminate the right to vote.

Think about what former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are currently doing. Violence is the tool of fascism. Trump has conned the far-right Proud Boys, Oath Keepers militia and other hate groups to commit violence and generate fear. Abolition of a women’s right to abortion is a first step. Contraception, same sex marriage, mixed race marriage, LGBTQ+ rights and even the right to vote are threatened. Our democracy is threatened by fascism.

If you want to keep Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and environmental protections, don’t vote Republican. If you want to see federal action to address meaningful gun control, climate change, health care and the right to choose, don’t vote Republican.

Please educate yourself and vote Democrat.

Bill Justis, Olympia