Give Helena 'boys’ maximum sentence
Brandon Hartford, Andrew Welch and Kyle Hallowell, the three Helena “boys” (can’t call them men) accused of “burning, stabbing, beating, slaughtering and torturing” between 16 and 20 cats, have all pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty. Now it is the judge’s decision to hand down sentencing.
To that judge, I would beg to give them the harshest sentence under the law. I would also remind him that serial killers quite often start by killing and torturing defenseless animals.
Jeanette Copeland, Missoula
No reason to be afraid of next president
To all the people who are afraid of Barack Obama and his messages of hope, peace, global cooperation, national pride and unity, and we gotta say it, love, your fears are unfounded.
We don’t understand your fear. Is it the fear of love or the love of fear? The only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Remember this, love is not a weakness, fear is. Try not to be so afraid and angry, you will be happier, we guarantee it. Remember to think positive because thought creates reality. Like bugs in a jar, we really are all in this together.
Sherron Mitchell, Missoula
First voting experience was amazing
I would love to share my first voting experience. I just turned 18 in August and was looking forward to my first election.
I walked up to the desk where the woman asked me for my ID. As I gave it to her, I peered over her shoulder to see what the voting range looked like; it was all it was cracked up to be n dynamic and lively. After she told me my booth number, I entered the voting area. I felt a surge of importance overwhelm me. I entered the confined space of a booth with my ballot. Thoughts were swooshing through my head about the future that I was helping to forge. I finished marking my ballot and handed it to the woman.
On Nov. 4, I walked out of that gym with a feeling of accomplishment. It is a privilege to vote and I was honored to be a part of that privilege.
Blaine Potter, Missoula
Letter was racist toward blacks
I am disgusted that the Missoulian chose to publish Mike Miller’s racist jab at Barack Obama on its oped page (Nov. 6).
Miller’s one-sentence submission expressed his disappointment at Obama’s election with a play on the phrase, “there goes the neighborhood.” This phrase refers specifically to black people lowering property values by moving into white neighborhoods during integration. Though couched in a play-on-words, Miller’s choice of words reveals a straightforward statement that Obama is not welcome because he is black.
I am appalled that the Missoulian would offer a platform to such hateful speech.
Zach Wallace, Condon
Voting for GOP doesn’t make you a racist
In response to Cheryl Bramsen’s letter (Nov. 9): I also wept over this election but they were not tears of joy.
It’s no wonder this country is divided and in the shape it’s in. It’s partly because of people who think like Bramsen does. For Bramsen to imply that we are racists because we didn’t vote her way is insidious, asinine, ludicrous and just plain ridiculous.
In case you didn’t notice, half of the American people voted Republican (including in Montana); unfortunately, it was the half that had the least electoral votes. Perhaps we voted Republican because we looked at the color of Obama’s character and his experience, neither of which have anything to do with the color of his skin. Very little is known about Obama because he wants it that way. But we are soon to find out if he is who he says he is and does what he says he will do.
For reasons known only to God, Obama has been placed at the helm of this country, for it is God who places men in power and it is God who removes them. If you don’t believe that, look it up. It’s in a book called the Bible.
God also tells us to respect those in authority whether we agree with them or not, and that’s what I intend to do. That, my friend, is the true American spirit and it has absolutely nothing to do with racism. God made us all and He made us different colors, and color has never been or will ever be an issue for me.
We all want to see changes made. I just hope Obama is the man for the job now that he has been elected. Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.
Carmen Entzel, Missoula
More government isn’t the answer
This letter is in response to a recent letter, “Some letters display shocking ignorance” (Nov. 12). Is the pot calling the kettle black? This letter is nothing more than ignorance itself.
It seems to me that most of Obama’s supporters see him as the Messiah, and he will magically solve all of the world’s problems. I would love to be proved wrong, but I don’t see this country changing for the better until all Americans realize that the current form of government is the problem, not the answer.
The writer claims that the Obamessiah (thank you, Will Grigg, for the nickname) will lower taxes and at the same time provide health care, education and broader national security for every man, woman and child in America. How is this possible? It isn’t. The government has zero ability to pay for anything without stealing (taxation), printing or borrowing. All three options are detrimental to the spending power of the average person.
The writer claims the Obamessiah will provide “green jobs and save the environment.” I did not know that the president had the power to create jobs from thin air. Remember, he has no money of his own to spend. He can only spend more of yours and mine. He will increase national security only at the expense of civil liberties. I feel more like a terrorist than an American citizen every time I go through airport security.
Ignorance is a problem in our country, all right. Too many see government as a solution. In reality, it is the problem, unless you prefer communism, socialism or fascism. Just look at everything going on. Behind every problem, you will find a politician calling for more of your money or more of your liberty.
Chad Krahn, Lewistown
McCain would have been wrong choice
The letter by Daniel Shevlin in the Nov. 6 Missoulian is so typical of far-right-wing Republican rhetoric that it makes me shudder to think what my country could have become if John McCain had won the election. McCain ran a desperate campaign filled with lies and hate, all the while trying to convince voters that he was the only honorable and patriotic candidate for president, and that Barack Obama was “risky,” which can be interpreted as conservative code for “inferior black man.”
Shevlin seems to hate the characteristics and ideals that swept Obama to his historic win: decency, truth, intelligence, fairness toward all. He also seems to be very worried that Obama will legislate his God out of being, that he will take away his right to own and use assault weapons, that his right to freedom of speech will be ended, all of which are absurd.
He makes predictions that because of Obama’s desire to level the playing field, unemployment will soar to 10 percent to
15 percent within two years; our borders will cease to exist, thus allowing illegal alien criminals to flood into the country and be supported by American tax dollars; “hate crimes” (his quotes) cases will fill our courts (no doubt he sees himself filled only with love and totally lacking hate because he is a good Christian.) His predictions regarding the abandonment of Israel and 20 percent tax increases for all Americans are indications only of Republican brainwashing.
Anyone who fails to see that Obama is a most honorable and good man who will try to help our country recover from eight years of Republican hypocrisy under Bush has my sympathy. Hate has many faces, several of which Shevlin displays with pride.
Leonard L. Oakley, Bonner
Not all liberals looking for welfare
In response to a letter by Daniel Shevlin (Nov. 6) claiming all liberals are just for welfare:
I am 79 years old and have worked every year since the age of 12, delivering newspapers, as a drug store clerk, for two summers in the Forest Service, doing Montana Power gas line construction line work, then doing telephone installation and repair, until falling 20 feet in Washington at 61 years of age.
My five children all worked during their school years and have never been unemployed. My grandchildren all worked through school years and are all working. I wonder what Shevlin has done.
Earl F. Matthaes, Missoula
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Mike Miller wrote on Nov 15, 2008 10:25 AM:
" It seems like people don`t like my my one liner comment of Obama. I`d like to thank the Missoulian for granting me free speech, first off. Secondly, I expect uneducated, emotional people to have that knee jerk reaction. I`m not racist, I`m realist. On the flip side of this, are the 97% black people that voted for Obama racist? What about the hateful comments made by Jesse Jackson towards Obama? Were they racist?! Find a black neighborhood, or country for that fact, that is successful and prosperous. Then you can call me a hateful racist. Until then, I rest my case! "
Steve King wrote on Nov 15, 2008 5:05 AM:
Letter was racist toward blacks
I am disgusted that the Missoulian chose to publish Mike Miller’s racist jab at Barack Obama on its oped page (Nov. 6).
Miller’s one-sentence submission expressed his disappointment at Obama’s election with a play on the phrase, “there goes the neighborhood.” This phrase refers specifically to black people lowering property values by moving into white neighborhoods during integration. Though couched in a play-on-words, Miller’s choice of words reveals a straightforward statement that Obama is not welcome because he is black.
I am appalled that the Missoulian would offer a platform to such hateful speech.
Zach Wallace, Condon "