People too quick with harsh judgments
I am the grandmother of the 7-year-old who is the co-accused in starting the Mount Sentinel fire.
I have raised my grandson since he was 1 year old. I am an excellent parent and have never been neglectful.
I went to court yesterday with my grandson to face his charge and was told about a couple of letters that were in the paper. Today I read them and I am very offended by Meredith Sheane’s comment (letters, July 16). How dare she say what a bad, neglectful parent I am. She doesn’t know me and what the circumstances were that day! It’s very disheartening to know that there are people out there who are so quick to make judgments on people they don’t even know.
Aside from that, I would just like to say I am sorry to the people of Missoula for ruining your Mount Sentinel and most of all, for putting people in danger. Thank you, firemen, for your hard work.
Gloria Stonechild, Missoula
Women in photo had no life jackets
This is regarding the Missoulian’s photo selection that accompanied “Be safe on Montana’s rivers, lakes” (July 3).
I found your choice of the four woman boating in May a curious photo to connect with a water-safety article. The photo showed four woman and a dog in the water on the Clark Fork, in May of this year, boating with no life jackets on or visible, no throw bag; they were drinking and were not wearing any type of wet or dry suits.
The water at the time of the photo was incredibly cold, big, fast, dirty and debris-ridden. I guess the dog was thinking because he was wearing his vest.
The photo would have been fine if you had pointed out their many errors as a what not to do, but I believe the photo referred to the ladies having fun on the river. My river guide friends pointed out many more errors these ladies were making that created a very unsafe boat.
Why, when so many of us choose to boat safely, did you not show a better picture? There are so many photos of people boating safely, why not use one of those or use the one you chose to point out the wrongs?
Your article and photo choice was incredibly irresponsible for a journalistic entity such as yourself. If you are trying to educate, you may want to think and choose in an educated manner or you look as dumb as those lovely ladies.
At least the dog was thinking that day.
Kevin Pierce, Missoula
Letters loaded with false accusations
Why the Missoulian chooses to continue to publish the “same” letter from the “same” band of rogue seniors - letters overloaded with false and inciteful accusations - is unfair.
There is a handful of troublemakers who are mean enough and stubborn enough to place their own selfish desires ahead of those of the Missoula Senior Center and its hundreds of other members. Why and when they took it upon themselves to vehemently criticize Randal Wolfe, the elected director of the Senior Center, the board of directors and the executive committee - all duly elected - is a mystery. I dare say a mystery that the naysayers can’t possibly explain or understand.
The Missoula Senior Center is a thriving establishment where many citizens, seniors and non-seniors enjoy countless activities, despite the attempts of a few to disrupt some and/or all of them.
Let not a few really rotten apples spoil the whole barrel; removing them when they begin to spoil is the only way to save the rest.
S. Podlish, Missoula
Stop with the hate-filled attacks
OK, hold it!
I have read enough hate-filled attacks on proponents of CI-100. On April 29, Don Michels’ letter called us “religious zealots” and aligned us with the Taliban. Now I read Jack Fleming calling 21,280 of us cave people (letter, July 18).
How long has it been since that election? This was another unprovoked attack on the freedom of all people to express their opinion in a peaceful manor. All we did was support an initiative we believe in. These two gentlemen have done exactly the opposite of what our Founding Fathers established. No American has the right to degrade and demean a group of people for standing up for their beliefs - 21,280 of them!
I am appalled that the Missoulian would allow such obvious hate language to appear in their pages. I would expect a more professional approach. I’m sure that these men who wrote these letters would be just as offended if I were to refer to them as the radical extremist, oppressive dimwits they called my wife and I.
Randi Stewart, Missoula
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