Letters to the editor for Oct. 2

Sen. McCune, what is your definition of CRT?

Sen. Jim McCune stated that a ban on teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) will be included in his legislative agenda.

“Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies,” wrote Stephen Sawchuk in “What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?” published in Education Week.

Is McCune’s “CRT” a way of understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, or is it a way to discount the accomplishments of Black Americans? Or is he simply parroting the GOP talking points without understanding the issue?

I plan to testify against his version of the Parents’ Education Bill of Rights and I hope you will join me.

Madeline Bishop, Olympia

Religious assumptions about life

The Olympian published a column by Jay Ambrose about abortion. Though he is entitled to his opinion, the choice to publish him was giving a platform to an extreme Christian ideology.

Ambrose states that life starts at conception. We are a country of many faiths including Jews, Muslims, moderate and progressive Christians and atheists. We do not agree on when life starts, which is a healthy discourse.

But when this one assumption that life starts at conception leads to laws forcibly preventing action based on a woman’s own belief system of when life starts, it becomes a dangerous, costly, and heart-wrenching experience for newly pregnant women across our country. Many laws are enacted based on this statement. It is reckless to continue promoting this as the one ideology that must be followed.

Let’s work instead on proper sex education, understanding of consensual and safe sex, and more effective contraceptives.

Kathy Pruitt, Olympia

Vote for democracy

The Republican budget plan, written by Florida Sen. Rick Scott, plans to sunset all federal legislation in five years, promising that a Republican Congress will only reauthorize it if it is worthwhile. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson has gone further, calling for moving Social Security and Medicare spending from mandatory spending, which is protected, to discretionary spending, which must be reapproved every year, thus making it vulnerable to cuts or even elimination.

In June, Republicans championed the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision protecting the right to abortion, and sent the question of abortion rights back to the states. Now, Republican lawmakers are calling for a national law outlawing abortion everywhere.

In 2019 Pennsylvania state senator Doug Mastriano, now the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor, said that women obtaining abortions should be charged with murder. Mastriano last week at Pennsylvania’s March for Life called abortion rights “the single most important issue … in our lifetime,” and he has said he looks forward to signing restrictive measures.

If you believe that American women should become second-class citizens, that programs like social security and Medicare should be eliminated, then follow the Republican Party line. However, if you believe in a democratic society for all, avoid voting Republican like the plague.

Robert Swanson, Olympia

Thank you veterans and active-duty military

On Sept. 12, my husband and I were in a local restaurant having breakfast and a gentleman walked by our booth and thanked my husband for his military service (my husband was wearing a ball cap embroidered with the Marine Corps emblem). We thanked him as well – he was in the Army.

Then as we were preparing to leave, our waitress informed us that this gentleman had paid our breakfast bill. We were very touched by his kindness. We found out his name is Anthony. So, Anthony, thank you so much not only for our breakfast, but for your military service, and for honoring my husband’s service to our country.

You did not know of my position with the Quilts of Valor Foundation, but now you do! I would be so honored to wrap you in a comforting Quilt of Valor to honor you for the sacrifices you have made for our country. I left my business card with the waitress, who said you came to the restaurant frequently. Please reach out to me!

And to all our veterans and active-duty servicemen and women, thank you for all you have done to allow all of us to live freely. Anyone can go to the Quilts of Valor Foundation website and nominate someone to receive a “comforting quilt to honor those touched by war.”

Cindy Hoover, Lacey, Quilts of Valor Foundation