Letters to the Editor: June 15, 2022
Letters to the Editor published in the June 15, 2022 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.
NOTE: The following is a paid Letter to the Editor.
America is a Democracy, not a Dictatorship
I had a dream. I dreamed I was in Lincoln County attending a meeting where residents were gathered to discuss current issues and needs of our county. The chairmen and members of the Board of Supervisors were present. Many differences of opinions were offered and examined. Everyone had a voice. People were willing to compromise for the good of all. We enjoyed a Democracy in action.
I awoke on April 20 to realize Lincoln County had become a Dictatorship on April 19, 2022. The new Chairman of the Board of Supervisors now chooses who will lead the committees without consideration of their knowledge and expertise. He had the authority of the Corporation Council removed and declared she would only be a guide. He would become the final authority on Parliamentary Procedures.
This change basically cuts out any checks and balance on legal issues. The changes he has made creates a dictatorship with him at the head.
As stated in many of their published election campaign statements, new Supervisors claimed they were interested in cleaning up corruption, creating transparency and checking overspending. What were they basing these statements on? Where did they get this information? Not by attending committee and Board meetings.
I plan to work to remove this Dictatorship. You can become informed by attending committee meetings and Board meetings either in person or by Zoom. Contact the office or go on line for meeting times and attendance directions. America is a Democracy, not a Dictatorship.
Judy Woller
Merrill
Pride Month
June is Pride Month; when we are reminded we live in a country where we proclaim all people have equal rights regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, or sexual orientation or identification.
It is a month for us to celebrate and to bring awareness to the contributions to society by, and plights of, the LGBTQ community especially the LGBTQ and non-binary youth.
The Trevor Project, a research support group for LGBTQ youth, reports in 2021 “nearly half of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide.” Further, the LGBTQ youth suffer from “four types of stress based on physical harm, discrimination, housing instability, and change attempts by parents and were twelve times at greater odds of attempting suicide compared to youth who experienced none!”
Research suggests one-third of LGBTQ youth experience parental acceptance, one-third experience parental rejection, and one-third did not disclose their LGBTQ identity until adult-hood. Thirty-six percent report they have experienced physical harm and bullying and seventy-three percent report they’ve experienced discrimination. The American Journal of Public Health found those who underwent “conversion therapy” were twice as likely to attempt suicide.
These are our children, our grandchildren, our nephews, nieces, neighbors, and our students. I’ve seen too many young people, over my many years of experience in schools and public service, who die by their own hand or by “accident.” My heart breaks with every one! Must this continue?
Those who know me know I believe “I accept you for what you are, no more, no less and I expect you to do the same toward me.” Isn’t this what our LGBTQ and non-binary youth are asking of us? To accept them, to love them, to affirm who they are, protect them from those who would do them harm or from themselves?
Hold their confidences close to your heart; they need us, desperately, now more than ever!
Curtis Powell
Tomahawk