Letters to the editor

The following are letters to the editor that appeared in the Sept. 16 print edition of The Peninsula Gateway. To submit a letter, e-mail gatewayeditor@gateline.com. Please keep letters submissions to 250 words.

Regardless of politics, president knows how to talk to children

Before President Obama gave a speech to our nation’s school children, a friend said, “Well, he’s so liberal, parents don’t know what he’ll say.”

What? Huh? He’s the president, a bright man. He will be talking to young children, so he’ll say stuff like, “Study hard, be good, be responsible.” As a constitutional scholar, he might say, “Our country has a set of rules, like your school does. Those rules are found in our Constitution and are the laws of this country.”

Is there nothing on which we can agree and be more reasonable? Don’t we all tell our children to be responsible citizens? It’s a parent’s job to talk their children, but aren’t we pleased when other adults reinforce important messages?

The president cares about kids. As angry as I was when President Bush was trashing this country in a variety of ways, I would never have objected to his offering a word of encouragement to the nation’s children.

This suspicion was absolutely unwarranted. It’s tragic how people have been manipulated.

The president is different. His name and background are different. Human beings sometimes have trouble with different. This is his Jackie Robinson period. Too bad we can’t get beyond that thinking.

Charmian Jondall, Gig Harbor

Peninsula School District should have aired president’s speech

I am appalled by the decision of the Peninsula School District not to air President Obama’s message in school. The fact that the president’s talk is now on the Web site in written form and video is little consolation to the petty decision not to air it when he spoke.

In addition, it is abhorrent that parents weren’t notified that this decision had been made.

As I read of the people objecting to his speech last week, not wanting their children to hear the President of the United States talk about hard work, reading and the importance of education, it didn’t occur to me that the decision not to air the president’s speech would occur in my daughter’s school.

Elizabeth Corcoran Murray, Fox Island

School district listened to all and made a wise decision

I commend the Superintendent of the Peninsula School District for considering the strong opinions of the community regarding the viewing of the education speech by President Obama.

There are many community members and parents with strong views on both sides of the issue.

The simple fact that we have a president who is passionate about our children’s success should be reason enough to allow the viewing of the speech. But that’s my opinion and should not be imposed upon everyone.

Our children will still get the opportunity to view the speech — just in a more structured and creative approach.

Parents who don’t feel the content of the speech is a positive message can have their way. But don’t deprive my children of this tremendous learning experience and opportunity to inspire thousands of young minds.

My son went to bed after viewing the speech with a new sense of responsibility for himself and his country. My daughter went to bed excited and ready to put into practice many of the ideas President Obama presented to her.

This was an amazing opportunity for our children to feel a part of the world outside their small view of everyday life. I am excited to learn how the teachers incorporate the speech into their instruction and what new ideas this will inspire in them.

Hayley Nichols, Gig Harbor

Julie Anderson is right on Pierce County’s Proposition 1

I agree with Julie Anderson’s comments about Pierce County’s Proposition 1, which is about two very different subjects. Increasing term limits and changing election years should not be cornered into voting on them as a package.

It’s disturbing that the appointed auditor did not take a position on this issue, and the issue of what happens if Proposition 1 is approved and 2 rejected, or vice versa. Pierce County taxpayers could be paying for a major county election in odd and even years.

The main winners — should Proposition 1 be approved — are those on the County Council, which will be able to seek another term, rather than leave political office, which was the intent of those who first voted in term limits.

I support Julie Anderson and her candidacy for Pierce County auditor. Even though I no longer live in Pierce County, I still have family and friends who do, and I care very much about what happens there.

Alison Henderson Sonntag, Port Orchard