True teaching

An open letter to Rev. Ken Hutcherson:

I am deeply saddened, but unfortunately not shocked, by your actions this last week in regards to the Day of Silence protest at Mount Si High School.

These students were not demanding special rights or using violence to get their way. Rather, they were trying to visually demonstrate the painful silence they must employ to keep themselves safe from people who see them as threats or abominations.

It is unfortunate that Antioch Bible Church missed yet another opportunity to showcase the true teachings of Jesus Christ. Instead of promoting division through phrases like “black and white in a grey world,” Jesus taught his followers to exercise compassion and love for one another. He would have urged you and your congregation members to look into your hearts, and if you did not find peace and acceptance there at the very least you might have found tolerance.

Instead, you chose to demonize a group of young people for personal, selfish reasons. It continues to amaze me that, as an African-American, you make no connection between the long-time struggles of the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered] community and the battles fought by blacks throughout the history of this country. Both groups have had to face horrible violence, name-calling, alienation and second-class citizen status. Where is the righteousness in shunning our own brothers and sisters in an increasingly hard and difficult world?

I imagine that in your own mind, you have only God to answer to on judgement day, instead of hearing the many voices of disgust that surround your bigotry. That may be the case, and if it is so, then I feel very sorry for you. I do not think God will look favorably on the culture of hate and fear that you have created in this community.

I would wish for you to find peace in your own heart so that you may better reflect what it truly means to be a Christian.

Stephanie Hartford

Bellevue

Another bond vote

Regarding the Snoqualmie Valley School District, Superintendent Joel Aune, let me remind you that in an article in the Valley Record you stated there would be no new bond vote in August of this year; you were also quoted as saying the same in the Seattle Times. Now, upon reading an article in the Valley Record dated April 16, 2008, you sound like you may have made a statement that could be untruthful.

It would be in poor taste, and quite frankly misleading on your part to run another bond issue after seeing it defeated twice and admiting to the entire Valley [that] we need to take another look and come up with more options. Read my lips, Mr. Aune, no more taxes until you have a series of offers to hard-working people of the Valley. Staff cuts at your level, and how about a salary decrease off your paycheck, to help out. You promised no bond in August, so keep your word and come up with some ideas we can afford. You are acting like a politician rather than a superintendent. We said “no” and you are still asking why. It is too costly and poorly planned. Hold off like you promised, and come up with a plan we can help the Valley with. “No” voters, do not back off until the school district comes up with a compromise that we all can afford. This is a tax we have control over, so remember, Olympia will be coming up with taxes we have no control over. [Letter writer Jerry] Venera has a great article that needs strong attention by Mr. Aune in the Valley Record, also on April 16, 2008.

Ron Sorenson

Snoqualmie

School moratorium

What bothers me and should be a concern to all of us is the growth the city of Snoqualmie is considering. A couple of weeks ago, an article identified the City of Snoqualmie making joint plans with developers and King County for additional growth at the Mill site. At the same time, King County is proposing a re-zone of the proposed hospital site to allow for more homes per acreage. Mean[while], the school district can’t keep up with the present approved growth. Ouch!

With three school bond failures, the economic and housing crisis, and developer school mitigation proven not efficient to solve the school crisis, it’s time for the school district go to the Valley city councils and demand a moratorium on future development until the school issues are resolved.

The city councils, being responsible government bodies and supporters of the school district and advocates to ensure quality of life, should act accordingly and approve a moratorium on development. The time is now for the school district to make this demand to the city councils before the city governments get too far in agreements with the developers and county.

Who knows, maybe the councils can demand a school or two be built by developers as part of any development/joint planning agreements. Only during this stage of negotiations can the city make such demands.

Tony Yanez

Snoqualmie

Plant sale a success

The ladies of the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Auxiliary would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Snoqualmie and North Bend businesses who displayed our plant sale advertising flyers and to the many Valley residents who so generously supported our fund-raising efforts May 3. Special thanks to Carmichael’s True Value and Ace Hardware for their wonderful donations, to the North Bend QFC for providing the space to sell our garden raffle tickets, and to the Mount Si Senior Center for our plant sale site. Congratulations to Nancy Shay who was the lucky winner of our garden cart. Again, thanks to one and all for making our fund-raiser a stellar success!

Gretchen Wilson,

Member, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Auxiliary