Letters and Comments for January 28, 2010

Letters and Comments for January 28, 2010

Keep pool open

To the Editor:

The Veterans Pool is a vital part of the Union County community.

I have an adult daughter with autism. She participates in the Union County Special Olympics, and two of her favorite activities are bowling and swimming. We have already lost our local bowling alley, which has necessitated busing our athletes to Baker for bowling. If we lose our local pool, we will again have to take our Special Olympics athletes to Baker, thus spending money in another community and not keeping it in La Grande.

In addition to our athletes using the pool to practice for Special Olympics, many like my daughter also use it for recreation. Many disabled people do not have the skills and strength to swim in the local creeks and rivers during the summer, and have very little recreational options during the fall and winter months. The pool gives them a safe and warm place to exercise and play all year long. Low-income families and the elderly also need a safe, inexpensive place to exercise and play.

I know the city is concerned about money, but their support of their disabled citizens should also be of importance. A community is judged by the way they treat all citizens, and most importantly how they support those who need the support the most. Does the city of La Grande want to be known as a community that cares more about the bottom dollar than the neediest of their citizens?

I urge the citizens of Union County to let the city council know how important the pool is to them.

JulieKay Dudley

La Grande

Massachusetts revolt

To the Editor:

The election in Massachusetts on Jan. 19 gave me a feeling of déjà vu. Thinking back into history, I realized that this election and the victory of the minutemen over the British at the old North Bridge outside Concord, Mass., in 1775 struck a close parallel.

In both cases, there was a revolt against loss of democracy and oppressive government. In 1775, it was taxation without representation under the crown of England. Today, it is the same treatment from the elected government of the United States.

Our elected representation held many town hall meetings throughout the nation and there was a plethora of tea parties where the citizens left no doubt to their opposition of government health care takeover. As envisioned by the current administration, health care was to be the foil for conversion to complete socialism and government control of freedom. Instead of listening to the citizens’ voices, they ventured to Washington and it was business as usual.

This victory in Massachusetts is a true epochal event in American democracy. Instead of guns on the old North Bridge, it was bullets in the ballot box. In a state that is 50 percent Independent, 38 percent Democrat and 12 percent Republican and covered with the Kennedy aura, this was a courageous demonstration by the Massachusetts voters. It was their duty and they responded by representing every citizen in this nation in sending a clear message that “enough is enough.”

It is now the duty of every voter to fulfill their responsibilities in this fall’s elections and further stop this insane juggernaut that characterizes our present government.

Dale Potter

Enterprise