Opinion

January 17, the American Red Cross team, Tonasket High School student volunteers and the Tonasket Americorps members hosted the 11th Annual THS Blood Drive.

I would like to thank all those community members that took time out of their busy schedules to donate blood. I would also like to applaud the handful of first time donors for deciding to give to gift of life.

We often hear someone say, “I understand and will help you understand what you are feeling, etc.”

No one can deliver that understanding to another. It is a crucial self-responsibility for personal power, the key to competence and prosperity in a competitive world.

When awareness is conjured up by others, it leads a person drifting from reality, increasing, unawareness and unhappiness. Any “authority” to have an awareness of another person is impossible. Self-awareness cannot be given from one person to another. However, by reflecting personal values, one can enhance in any individual person can never be exactly understood or fully known by any other person.

It’s easy to believe the sob story about the Tribal Tribune Editor leaving on “principle.” It’s also lazy to believe that – Think about it!

It’s just not true. That editor, like others in the past, was not worth the salary, we can see that in the product.

There are a couple of people out there that are spreading nasty rumors about Howling Ridge Rescue that need to be nipped in the bud. Here are the facts:

1.No animal is being starved at this facility. They are well fed and watered at all times.

2.Animals are not being abused. There are vets that work with Wendy who I am sure would be able to recognize an abused dog or cat.

I am writing this letter to let all of you know how Ken is doing, but also in response to the gossip mongers in the town who feel it is more exciting to spread exaggerated half-truths or, in some cases, totally false stories. It is very upsetting when I call home and hear rumors are flying about his condition including a rumor that he has died! Please don’t speak unless you know the facts! Rumors can be very hurtful and upsetting especially in such an emotional and trying time.

With all the turmoil, tension, unrest and fearful living going on today, I often ask myself; Am I my brothers keeper? Do I have to be concerned about the person who smells differently because he hasn’t taken a bath in a few weeks? Do I really have to be concerned about a person who has different skin color than I do? Or speaks a different language or who believes God doesn’t exist or has a different religious belief than I do?Well, yeah, I do, and so do you!

You have to laugh when you hear former governors Mitt Romney and Mike

Huckabee say if elected they will bring fresh faces and new ideas to Washington. Didn’t we hear that from former governors Carter, Reagan,

Clinton and Bush?

Have you been reading labels? Made in China. Made in China! Where are the milinary, clothing giants, shoemakers and other manufacturers? Did we have to give them all away for the good (?) of the global economy?

On Jan. 3 I had to go to the post office to pick up my mail because the mail carrier said that she had got stuck twice trying to deliver my mail. She had given me a notice and then a second, so I tried to take care of it with what I had, but, not good enough.

I have always considered myself a philosophical and constitutional purist. Thus I have always opposed political term limits. After all, democratic principles should guarantee my right to reelect a superb representative until death, mine or his.

However, it has now become apparent that politicians are solely self-interested equivocators (the term “liars” being too coarse). I always thought that their words held meaning. That I could, at least infrequently, rely on their promises. That they are employed by me to pursue the general welfare of their constituency and of our nation. Ideally, their positions could be equated with that of a housekeeper, landscaper, or plumber. They are hired to do a job and the job gets done.

It has become increasingly apparent that, in reality, all our politicians share two bipartisan goals: financial success and reelection for additional financial success.