Your Voice

The State of Patriotism in 2022

I saw a poll recently that only 39 percent of Americans are proud of their country. That left me livid. I’m sure there are millions of veterans who are turning in their graves.

My mother, during WWII, had my sister and me sit and listen to the news so I learned at an early age to respect our military heroes who fight and die to keep us free.

My late husband, Glen, would say to me “Glenda, you’re so patriotic, your patriotic is patriotic.” I’d reply, “Guilty as charged.”

Senior year in school, my speech was about one of the bloodiest battles in US history, February 1945, the battle of Iwo Jima, where six brave Marines battled their way to the top of Mount Suribachi to raise our American Flag. During my speech, the school bully was shooting spit wads at me. When I sat down, my friend, Dorothy, said to the teacher, “Mr. Gilmore, I’ m not going to stand here and get killed like Glenda did,” and she left the room.

My favorite lyrics are, Merle Haggard’s ,“If you’re running down my countryman, you’re walking on the fighting side of me” and Lee Greenwood’s, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”

“The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.” Frederick Douglass

God bless America!

Glenda Pittman Spokane, WA

From what I experienced Sacred Heart has left it’s Christian foundation and adherence to the hippocratic oath . My wife and I had no say in the treatment she received . There was little informed consent. I was not allowed to see her in ICU for 23 days . When their treatment plan failed they refused to try ours. When they decided it was time for her to die they put her on “comfort care”. I had to negotiate to see her on the day she died. I had no idea about the drugs and end of life sedatives used on her . The hospital refused to talk to me in person after she died. They gave me few satisfactory answers to the questions I had about her treatment. When hospitals are willingly accepting monetary incentives from the Federal government to treat people with ineffective and life threatening treatment protocols you know something is very wrong. People are calling this partnership between the corporate hospitals like Providence and the federal government the nazification of American medicine. I agree! Totally ungodly, evil and inhumane . The covid plandemic has proved to me that government and medicine is truly a deadly mixture.

Steve Dunham Spokane WA

Make a Difference How does our Constitution/ Republic worK? It was founded on two very important principles, God and “We the People”. We are created with unalienable God given rights. They are ours if we are involved in the process of government through voting and even participating as elected officials. Today August 10th at the Ag Trade Center in Colville from 2pm to 7pm, “We the People ‘’ can exercise our God given right to make a difference in our state. There are 11 initiatives Let’s Go Washington put together to repair some of the very worst laws on Washington State books. If you are not registered to vote, there will be an opportunity to do so. If you have questions on the initiatives they will do their best to help explain them. It takes about 15 minutes of your time and you can choose to stay and meet local candidates, asking them questions and bringing your concerns to them. Please become “WE THE PEOPLE” by coming out to make a difference. We face many serious issues locally, in our counties, state and nationally. The only way our voices will be heard is by voting and participating at school board, city and county meetings.

“WE THE PEOPLE” CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Rogene De Jong Kettle Falls

Who has more mental problems-- the perpetrators of gun violence or congressional Republicans, including our own Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who lack normal compassion and regard for human life, even of young children? Congressional Republicans have once again copped out of their responsibility to do anything significant to stop the mass killings by effectively acting only on mental illness measures. At the least, their social- emotional development has been severely stunted.

Using the Second Amendment of the Constitution as their crutch, they ignore its original intention: to make certain that southern colonies would join the union by assuring white militias for squelching slave mutiny. By their “well- regulated militia”, the founders undoubtedly didn’t envision the country- wide, out- ofcontrol proliferation of expert killing machines that indiscriminately eliminate its own people.

Whatever the mental health of the perpetrator, using an assault weapon or high- capacity magazine hugely increases the number of people killed; so the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 to 2004 should be revived, at a minimum. Opposing that indicates a mentally unhealthy lack of compassion and regard for the sanctity of human life.

Yes, guns do kill people. Our extreme availability of guns make it the easiest method of killing people, guaranteeing the greatest finality. Contrast this with murder and mass killing rates in countries with stricter gun control laws. For example, recently the Japanese people were shocked that someone (former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe) could be killed by a gun; not surprisingly, it was self- made rather than purchased.

Norm Luther Spokane

An open letter to Brittany Grimer,

Hey Brittany! Just a few lines to to help you of out of your situation in Russia. I hear that you are appealing to the U. S. and its President to get you home. From what i’ve seen and heard is that you really don’t like the U. S. very much and don’t have much good to say about it. Well nows your chance, even if Russia keeps your for awhile, you can petition another country to welcome you to come there. I am sure they would welcome you with open arms because of your hatred of the U. S. where you are an oppressed black lesbian female and have never had anything good happen to you or others like you.

I just don’t understand how you become such an icon in this racist country? You overcame all odds and became a superstar with all accolades and privileges that most of us never realize.

Now that it appears that you wish to come back home to the USA and that may be a problem you see, there is soo much racism and white privileged in your home country, it will be hard to convince Russia that we want you back. We pray that Russia will show you all its mercy which it has shown in its past and release you to a country you despise. The next time you may travel to a foregn county please remember that other countries are not or will ever be as free, kind, generous and merciful as this great United States of America, God Bless America

Joe Machala Kettle Falls