Abortion ban would deny freedom
In reply to the letter (“Abortion: Liberals’ logic defies own beliefs,” March 17), I must reply with: Not really.Let’s look at it logically, shall we? If we were to completely ban abortion in all states, or worse, pass an initiative like the constitution-stomping CI-100, which states that “all life begins at conception,” this is the sort of chain of events we can look forward to:
• Abortions banned, “life begins at conception” initiated.
• In-vitro fertilization halted due to rate of “failed” attempts.
• Any woman suffering a miscarriage will be investigated for “murder” or harming her unborn baby.
• Parents-to-be will be held accountable for every action they make while fetus is in utero. (I shudder to think about how much extra money the “accountability” will cost taxpayers.)
• Birth control will be infringed.
• Since “life begins at conception,” there will have to be a complete revamp of parental rights and a whole new judicial system based on “interest of fetus.”
• Mothers in life-threatening pregnancies will undergo a much more lengthy “decision” process in times of emergency. Can you imagine the doctors saying, “Hmm, well ... it’s either the fetus or the mother” during a ectopic pregnancy?
Basically, it’s quite logical to leave the decision up to the parents with this intensely difficult and private choice. Once that is taken away, everyone will feel the loss of their personal rights. It’s not up to you, it’s up to the individual. Learn to live with that. Once you say a blastocyst has more rights than an established, independent person, you are effectively denying someone freedom.
Kathrena Rivera, Missoula
Think before you approve new projects
Now is not the time for new projects. If “Numerous bond, (and) levy requests (are) on the way” (Missoulian, March 17), we could be in big trouble.At a time when the economy is arguably in a recession or, at least, a downturn, local politicians and other governmental groups should not ask taxpayers to fund new projects. Any family knows instinctively that you cut spending when times are tough. The same should be true for governments. Asking taxpayers (i.e., property owners) to give more of their hard-earned cash at a time when they are already hurting is ridiculous and irresponsible.
Unfortunately, some who pay no property taxes find it easy to vote for increased mill levies on property (obviously unfair), not realizing they ultimately pay in other ways. Higher taxes show up as higher rents and prices, an even greater burden when additional taxes cripple spending power.
Missoula governmental institutions must have plenty to do without looking for new ways to spend taxpayer money. Now is not the time for expansion. When deciding to spend public money, new projects or equipment should be entertained only if simply fixing the existing situation would send good money after bad. Expenditures should be only for the absolutely necessary purposes, not to make starry-eyed local officials feel good about completing their own pet projects or “doing something positive.”
We are all in this together. At all levels, we must hold our representatives accountable for what they do with our taxes. It is not their money. Our responsibility as taxpayers must be to reject, no matter how many times proposed, any bond or levy request that deals with anything other than maintenance and repair of what we already have. There will be time enough for expansion when our economy improves.
Ward S. De Witt, Missoula
Math teachers need more training
Students in the U.S. are often turned off about math by grade four.The single most important reason is that the majority of elementary school teachers have not had any college math courses. They have minimal mathematics knowledge. They like books that seem attractive and give teachers lots of “support.” In other countries, teachers specialize even at the elementary level - so math is taught by a teacher who actually know math and how to teach it. When I taught math for elementary education majors, many of them didn’t realize that a fraction is also a division problem.
The National Mathematics Advisory Panel, charged with advising about increasing the number of engineers and scientists, recently said that learning fractions - including ratio, proportion and percents - is vital to the the U.S.’s international competitiveness. Scores from the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment showed 15-year-olds in the United States trailed peers from 23 industrialized countries in math.
Montana is regularly in the top rank for math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Both the University of Montana and Montana State University require two math courses, designed for pre-service elementary teachers, before they start in their respective schools of education. Thus Montana elementary teachers generally have better math knowledge than teachers in other states. Also, the Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics is very active in providing opportunities for K-12 teachers to learn and improve their skills.
A big difference between countries where students do well with math and the U.S. is beliefs about mathematics success. Here the common belief is “talent,” in Asia the belief is “hard work.” Those who believe “talent” means success tend to quit. Here in the U.S., it’s permissible to brag about not being able to do math while non-readers keep quiet.
Margery Fels Palmer, Missoula
Fans showed spirit, support
Wayne Schwartz wrote a letter (March 20 Missoulian) reflecting his displeasure over what he considers “rude, mean-spirited behavior” on the part of Lady Griz fans here in Missoula toward the Lady Cats during the Big Sky Conference tournament championship game.According to Schwartz, some of the crowd’s chants toward the end of the game were “bullying” in nature, after the point when MSU clearly stood no chance of getting close, much less winning.
I attended the same game. And sure, I am a Griz fan and always have been. I saw nothing, however, as far as crowd behavior, that warrants a complaint of this nature. Razzing a visiting team has always been part of the game. And I am supposed to believe that, had the game been in Bozeman and the outcome reversed, the crowd over there wouldn’t have chanted a thing or two to the team in maroon and silver? I don’t think so.
The crowd here in Missoula showed a lot of enthusiasm and support for their home team, in particular the student section at the south end of the floor. After the game, the Lady Cats were congratulated by the crowd, as was the Lady Cat named to the all-tournament team.
Perhaps Schwartz would have us here in Missoula clap politely when a play meets with our approval. This is a basketball game, not a debate competition. As for the remark about Missoula being “self-styled as 'liberal,’ ” politics has nothing to do with how we get behind our team. Left or right, we’re all Griz fans. We’re loud and we will cheer for our team. It’s how we roll over here and it’s how it should be.
John Risken, Missoula
Fans didn’t bully MSU players
This is in response to Wayne Schwartz from Bozeman’s letter in the March 20 Missoulian’s opinion page.I find it rich that he writes a letter stating how shocked and angered he was because “the Lady Cats were subjected to loud chants about their performance.” I happened to record the game and have watched it twice. I still haven’t heard what Schwartz alludes to in his letter.
Earlier this year, while listening to a Griz/Bobcat game on the radio (the game was in Bozeman), the Bobcat fans chanted, “Poor Grizzlies” when it became apparent the Griz would lose. I find Schwartz’s letter offensive only because people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I’m guessing Schwartz either does not attend home Bobcat games or in his book it’s OK for Bobcat fans to “bully” Griz players.
Darlene Betz, Missoula
New building, sergeant separate issues
After reading Patsy Kosena’s letter to the editor (“Scrutinize how our tax dollars are spent,” March 20), I found it interesting that there seemed to be more beef about the suspended sergeant, or is it the Missoula police in general, than, say, the overcrowded police department’s need for more space.Kosena will vote as she may as far as the new Missoula police headquarters goes - that is her given right. As for the Missoula police sergeant and any other person in this country, they don’t have to face her guilty-until-proven-innocent attitude.
Douglas E. Waldron, Seeley Lake
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