Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
This is the third year I have participated in the Whatcom County 5k Human Race held in Bellingham, I walk for Stafholt Good Samaritan Scholarship Fund. This year Betsy Harmening, Marsha Hawkins, Debbie Gerhardt and Marjorie Reichhardt, from Blaine, walked with me, which was great! I want to thank my many friends who have supported me with their generous donations for this wonderful cause. I am sure the recipients of these scholarships are very grateful to you; without your support this could not have been accomplished. Thank you again. God bless you and I do, too.
Vivian M. Campin
Blaine

The Editor:
The Blaine elementary school recess staff would like to thank the very generous local merchants in our community for their donations toward our annual “Feel Good Walking Program.” This program starts in April and runs for eight weeks. Two times per week, students can choose to go to the high school track during recess and run or walk as many laps as they can.
Thanks to these merchants, we were able to provide many wonderful prizes for 145 boys and girls who met and surpassed the 40 lap or 10-mile goal: PAC CAN Duty Free stores, Blaine Insurance Agency, Norman G. Jensen, Inc., Blaine-Bay Refuse, Inc., Drs Marta Kazmyra and David Allen of Bay Medical Clinic, 20th Century Bowl, Horizon Band, Whatcom Sports Commission, Blaine Elementary Parent Involvement Committee, Blaine Elementary Parent Advisory Committee and the Blaine Elementary Booster Club. Thank you for all of your support.
Janice Belding, Tami Kohonen, & Chris Olason, Blaine elementary school
Blaine

The Editor:
I would like to try to make a small response to Susan Livingston’s letter about the grave marker display. Winston Churchill said that World War II was the unnecessary war, because if the democracies had acted sooner to stop the totalitarian states, then maybe we would not have ended up with a war that killed some 70 million people.
The Islamic militant factions in the world declared war on us in order to eliminate our personal, political and religious freedoms, equality of men and women, our art and music and literature; and all other aspects of what is generally called Western civilization. During the 1980s and ‘90s, these factions killed us in Lebanon, the first World Trade Center attack, the African embassies, the Khobar Towers, Mogadishu, the “Cole,” and individual attacks on tourists, diplomats, business people and other Americans around the world. They have attacked both fellow Muslims of different sects and people of other religious groups – Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and so on. For some dozen years after the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein tried to down U.S. and British plans protecting his citizens in the no-fly zones in Iraq, with weaponry acquired under the UN’s inaptly named “oil for food program.” After 9/11 we realized that the Islamic militants’ declaration of war on us was definitely real.
Our military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with parallel efforts to encourage more democratic societies and better economies in nearby countries and in Africa may make the difference against the very serious threat of the Islamic Jihad mentality that besets us now. We do not know the outcome, but, to recollect Churchill again, if we fail, there is surely a great deal of darkness in our future. Ms. Livingston honors her brother’s memory in the grave market display. I am sure that most of us remember our troops and their families in prayer – in gifts and email sent to those overseas – in contributions to military education and disability funds – in expressing appreciation to service members we may meet – and in trying to be informed citizens. Two good blogs written by people who are with our troops are www.counterterrorismblog.org and www.michaelyon-online.com. Current books of interest include those by Claire Berlinksi, Bruce Bawer, Melanie Phillips and Oriana Fallaci, Bernard Lewis on Islamic culture and history, and by Robert D. Kaplan on our military and on the Balkans and Central Asia. KVI radio has Brian Suits as late afternoon host. Suits served two terms in Iraq, as well as in the Gulf War and in Bosnia. He often has interesting discussions on military events.
Lucy Chambers
Blaine

Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
E-mail:editor@thenorthernlight.com

Letters Policy

The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com