April 1 Letters to the Editor

Time to put the derision to bed

Editor:

Unfortunately, both Ms. Anderson and Ms. Starrett misrepresented my situation with Commissioner Engels.

When he first was sworn in, I searched Emily Post Etiquette (there is a website). Apparently, men should remove hats “in public buildings such as a school, library, courthouse or town hall.”

The second and only other time is after I spoke to the sergeant-at-arms of the Nevada Legislature, and was informed that hats are allowed in the hallways or as a visitor in the gallery, but not when a senator or legislator is conducting state business. Why should it be different at an official commissioner meeting?

Engels erupted when I was speaking about the Park development. I have never been in a situation where I ridiculed Engels. The only time I had been in the same room with Engels and his wife was many years ago at the Austin House fundraiser at the Community Center. It has been over a year since the commissioners had a meeting other than virtually and I have never mentioned his name. All of the meetings were recorded; they can be viewed.

Let us hope we can put this ridiculous, malicious derision to bed.

Danna Meyer

Gardnerville

Thanks for the great work

Editor:

Your coverage of the abbreviated Women in Agriculture program was wonderful. We had three women who deserved to be noticed and you made sure they were. Thank you very much for your continued support of this project and the Douglas County Historical Society in all of its efforts to share the history of this valley and county.

For those who may be interested in seeing a little more about our three women, the museum has on display some wonderful memorabilia from each one of their family histories. This display is in the Women's Room. The museum is open from 10- 3 each weekday.

Linda Reid

Caro Aldax

Mary Glass

Gardnerville

Thanks for supporting Jump Rope for Heart

Editor:

On behalf of Scarselli Elementary School I would like to thank the greater community for its support for the 2021 Jump Rope for Heart program, facilitated by the American Heart Association.

Scarselli Heart Hero students raised an amazing $8,400. This money goes directly to the American Heart Association to help fund doctors and researchers in their efforts to find a cure for heart disease.

This proud tradition at Scarselli, over the course of many years, has raised substantial amounts of money for this worthy cause. It is a comforting thought that so many people in our local community are willing to embrace the concept of helping others, especially in these difficult COVID times.

Doug Odell

Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator

Thank you social workers

Editor:

Tahoe Youth & Family Services would like to take this time during Social Workers Awareness Month to honor our social workers. As the executive director, I feel fortunate to have such outstanding and professional social workers as part of our team at Tahoe Youth & Family Services. They are essential!

They are caring individuals who are sincere in their belief that this world is a better place when we reach out and help others. Their empathy, professionalism and steadiness when working with individuals who struggle with numerous challenges is heart-warming! They confront some of the most challenging issues facing individuals, youth, and families in our community. They help people reach their full potential and make our community a better place to live.

Their ability to look at the big picture as it relates to their clients and the community is a necessary quality. This skill helps their clients look at their lives with new perspective. Tahoe Youth’s social workers help the people who walk in our doors move forward and make the necessary changes to be successful.

I would like to give a shout-out to all the social workers and social work interns who work at Tahoe Youth & Family Services for their outstanding and essential jobs they do to make our community healthier and happier: Brian Gomez, Michelle Brooks, Tasha Hamilton, Patricia Damian, Sandy Granvcci and Shelly Fowler.

Karen Carey

Tahoe Youth and Family Services

Concerns go both ways

Editor:

For Kenneth Bezich, who is concerned about the end of the United States, I have compassion for your concerns. I had my own under Trump. Let's put your fears into perspective.

I am not concerned about the many executive orders Biden has signed. There is much to undo of Trump's executive orders that made it easier to pollute our air and water with impunity. We survived Trump undoing Obama's executive orders. We'll survive Biden undoing Trump's.

I am not concerned about being invaded by asylum seekers. Our country has had a long history of mass migrations seeking asylum in our country. There has always been push back by some segment of our society. Italians, Scots, Irish, Chinese and, now, South Americans have had to deal with prejudice in their time. Our country has survived and benefited from them. We can work together to make our borders safe without losing compassion.

I'm not concerned about Biden's mental health. I was very concerned about Trump's mental health. He appeared to me to be totally disconnected from truth. From his lies about COVID-19 being no worse than a cold to lies about winning the election, our country barely survived his assault on democracy. And yet, we survived him. Biden's mental health will never reach that level of dysfunction.

What I find concerning is Republican leadership seems intent on destroying the very foundation of our democracy by attacking our right to vote. They are blatantly targeting people they think won't vote for them. In spite of a resounding lack of support of their constituents, these kind of laws to disenfranchise voters have been signed into law.

I do not believe this assault on our democracy will be upheld. We the people are our government. Our representatives only have as much power as we relinquish to them. I trust the changes that have occurred during Trump's term. The Million Women's March, the Me Too Movement, Black Lives Matter, and an unprecedented number of voters last November reflect an unstoppable awakening of people reclaiming their power. People refusing to be victimized any more will not be victimized by this unprecedented power grab.

What this backlash represents is a symptom of a larger problem based on fear, blame and jealousy. Fear of anyone who looks and thinks differently. Fear that as others reclaim their mattering and their power, that those who have empowered themselves by dis-empowering others will lose their mattering, lose their power. In response to that fear they've victimized themselves to change.

We do not need react to that fear with more fear, with more blame. We can respond by demonstrating power and value does not lie in whiteness, maleness, or how much money is accrued. It lies in being... in caring, courage, creativity. It lies in one's character and integrity, in one's capacity to love. The challenge is trusting who you be... to be enough. When you trust yourself, there is less distrust in the world.

Joan Costa

Gardnerville

AB286 is a bad idea

Editor:

The recent shooting of 10 innocent people in Colorado, including one police officer, is nothing short of sad and shocking. We can only pray we don't see an event like that here.

That said, the odds of a shooting like this could be an unintended consequence of the current bill AB286 being pushed through the Nevada assembly. Why? The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. AB286 will limit armed law-abiding citizens, and bad people, twisted as they are, don't care about the law. AB286 is a bad bill.

William Middleton

Gardnerville

Dems and ‘The Communist Manifesto’

Editor:

When we allow our religious faith, morals, values, culture and our history to be marginalized, we regress into internal conflict: race against race, haves against have nots, as we cede control of our lives from the banking system, communication, transportation, education, and healthcare to the government.

Politicians already decide in some states, like New York, who lives and dies. The Democrat Party is working feverishly to make the United States a totalitarian country in which they will decide who flourishes and who lives in misery and poverty. Look carefully at the legislation they're passing and compare it to "The Communist Manifesto" by Marx and Engels.

Maureen Morris

Gardnerville