Human trafficking, Richland recall and WA statewide initiatives among Herald letters | Opinion
A sad chain of broken people
Recently we read a series of articles about shady massage parlors that held women against their will and follow-up arrests. Let’s see who is involved in all this. First ,we have the reporter, who is reporting the facts as they are emerging. Then the police are involved, making arrests. Then, there are the owners/managers (really!? women?!) who kept these girls hidden, ashamed and used. Next are the well-intentioned workers who rescued the girls and would try to get them home or reunited with their families. Lastly the victims themselves — the women or girls who were hidden away under the guise of giving relief to sore muscles in massage. I hope these women are healing of their hurts.
But who is missing from these stories? Men. Men whose physical lusts invite devious people to devise ways, hidden from the rest of us passing by, to fulfill those lusts, themselves victim to others with their own lusts of making a fast buck at the expense of others. Men who deprive their own wives their attention. Men who will look in the shadows of the night for pleasures that they want hidden from the rest of us. Men who will take what they want, feeding an industry that we try to look away from.
It is sad. We live in a fallen world. I have no solution. None of us do. No one can legislate morality. It is the condition of all mankind. In different ways we are all “broken” and need something, someone outside ourselves to lift us up from the futility of the day-to-day selfishness, pride, greed, whatever we all live with. “… they weary themselves to commit iniquity.” It’s just sad.
Irene Russell, Kennewick
Read findings of court on recall
I have read the responses to the recall charges that the three affected Richland School Board members have made in the Voters’ Pamphlet, and I would like to share my observations.
For each response, I note that what is relevant is not true, and what is true is not relevant.
Some claim that no judge has ruled that they are guilty of anything.
The truth can be found by reading the April 27 filing of the State Supreme Court (which can be found by searching on “Superior Court No. 100976-3”). It gives a good “who did what, and when did they do it” summary of the situation.
The court document also describes the procedures by which the recall came to be. It draws clear lines between the allegations of the petitioners and the determinations of the court.
The statute under which the case was brought says, “The court shall not consider the truth of the charges, but only their sufficiency.”
But for the timely action of Superintendent Shelley Redinger, the actions of these three could have resulted in the Richland School District losing more than half its funding. That outcome would hardly be in the best interests of our children.
Harold Kirkham, Richland
6 initiatives aim to block new laws
The Washington State Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee have created many new laws that are supposed to reduce “death on the roads,” “greenhouse gas” emissions, long-term care costs, called “life-saving care,” along with pushing for an income tax, which may be against the Washington State Constitution and promoting the loss of parents’ control of their own children.
Each one of the new laws is costing a great deal of money for the most vulnerable and lower wage employees.
Gas prices are the highest in the nation, thanks to the Carbon Buyback program. Speeders, racers and criminals calling 911 and laughing at the operator, narrow guidelines for re-reimbursements and creating a new income tax and lastly; children are being taught things and their parents will lose control.
Six new Initiatives will help stop the greedy and dangerous laws and get them repealed:
I-2113 – Reasonable Police Pursuit
I-2117 – Stop the Hidden Gas Tax
I-2124 – Opt out of State-run Long Term Care Coverage Act
I-2109 – Repeal the Capital Gains Tax
I-2111 – No State Income Tax
I-2081 – Parental Notification – Parents have the right to know
Information for signing the initiatives and information about them are found at letsgowashington.com.
John Van Dalen, Everett, WA