Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 5-20 -21

Horn: one of the best in public service

In his letter to the Lakeville Journal published a week ago, John Grant, the head of the Kent Republican Party, set forth the Republican position on key issues. I printed up Mr. Grant’s article and have been considering his party’s stand. 

I do not speak for the Kent DTC, although I am a member, and would like to first address his concluding sentence about “the facts” and his reminder or plea to state Rep. Horn that she is “aligned with your state party and not that of the people who voted you in.” I am not sure how to parse this sentence, but have some thoughts on a response.

Elections have consequences. When Clinton gracefully acknowledged, on the night of the previous election, that Mr. Trump had won (although she won the plurality of votes), the new Republican government immediately passed that enormous tax break for the wealthiest in our society. It was the old trickle-down theory of the Reagan years. It is true that Litchfield County cannot solve the world’s problems, but that tax break, which  recipients pocketed, could have been used by the government to address some of the items Mr. Grant discusses. Was the president speaking for his country, or “people who voted” him in, or major donors? 

Jumping forward to Connecticut today, a shortage of funds in previous administrations means our state has neglected “the basics of clean air and water” (Connecticut Magazine). Meeting the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pollution while conserving open space is a struggle we are not presently winning. Does that mean we are going to give up trying to meet those goals and let our planet suffocate? 

With the advent of the pandemic, every “For Sale” sign vanished, making the already scant assortment of affordable housing non-existent. Do we want to live in towns where only the wealthy reside and volunteer agencies have to hire people for the emergency services? Affordable housing pays taxes and provides a rich balance of skills to our towns. Time has shown that this isn’t going to happen without structural changes to our present zoning, which is why the state is requiring all municipalities to have an Affordable Housing Plan in place by next year, 2022.

Change is hard. That doesn’t mean we should stop trying to reach goals drawn up to make life better for all, both now and down the road. Connecticut has been a leader in looking forward and moving in directions good for our environment and our people. Her constituents view Rep. Horn as an embodiment of what we want in our elected officials, which is why they elected her twice. She gets to all points of her district, she listens, she keeps her constituents updated weekly, she has been appointed to key positions in the lower house. This is an example of the best in public service, not Democratic politics or Republican polities.

Betty Krasne

Kent

Be informed on genocide in China

To the residents of the Northwest Corner and Tri-state area: Keeping up with not just local, but national and international news is vital as a member of society. It not only educates you, but also enriches and widens your perspective, exposing you to a variety of different cultures you otherwise do not experience in your everyday life. Furthermore, it illuminates the truth, allowing us to take action on important issues that we learn about. During our human rights class at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, myself and two of my group members were exposed to the truth about a genocide in China that has been kept under wraps for the past few years, one that is so radically wrong and against anything America stands for that it was hard to believe.

It is estimated that around 1.8 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Hui, and other predominately Muslim ethnic minorities have been arbitrarily detained in a system of extrajudicial mass internment camps where they are subjected to forced labor, torture, and political indoctrination. These innocent people are denied basic human rights and are denied the right to pray, wed, attend mosque, celebrate Eid, mention Muhamud, spread Salam (a greeting which means peace), and contribute to other fundamental pieces of their religion. If there is a failure to comply, not only will the people be punished by any means necessary including sexual assault, but the children can and will be denied education and food.   

Not only does this very pressing and current issue teach us about the steps we can take as a country to solve this, it also teaches us how we can apply these lessons to our current community. The concentration camps were created out of hate, out of discrimination for a population that stems simply from fear of the unfamiliar. When encountered with what is unknown, it is an intrinsic human reaction to shun, not embrace, what could possibly have no danger at all. By choosing to educate oneself on different cultures, religions, sexualities, ethnicities, genders, and more, one is able to widen their perspective to accept everyone in their community as a unique individual, rather than refusing to acknowledge them as even a human being. Though we as a community cannot alone remedy the events in China, we can take steps to prevent such hate from escalating in this tri-state area by educating ourselves on the happenings and different identities of the world. By educating themselves, we will be able to support other fights for human rights outside of our community by contributing to their causes as well as taking the step to see them as human beings ourselves.

To learn more about this crime against human rights, please visit our website at www.cpclulow.wixsite.com/uyghur-genocide and support the Campaign for Uyghurs.

Charlotte Clulow, Tabitha Maffucci, Michelle (Mia) Tittmann

Falls Village

Climate change solution

The Lakeville Journal for May 6 carried two letters (from John Grant and John Morris) expressing concerns about Connecticut adding a carbon tax on top of an already burdensome load. There is an alternative federal proposal (HR 2307) called the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act that places a fee on fossil fuels (hence discouraging their use) but returning that fee to families. 

This is not a tax because we the people get the money deposited monthly into our checking accounts that we can use to offset higher prices for fuel, electricity and heating. Eventually alternative energy will replace fossil fuels and the fee becomes unnecessary. My first thought was that I might get enough from Uncle Sam to buy a Big Mac, but it turns out the fee is projected to add more than $200 into our accounts per month! 

Economic simulations prove this can work and has the endorsement of scientists and economists. You can learn more by going to www.energyinnovationact.org/how-does-it-work. Connecticut politicians mean well because the rest of the world needs to see the USA doing its part and pulling its load or else global warming will overwhelm all of us. 

However, we also need to protect family budgets as expressed by Grant and Morris. Urge your legislators to aim their attention at this alternative solution to climate change. The Biden administration will take action but it need not punish our pockets to such a full extent.

Ted Spickler

Taconic

Tourist map is incorrect

A Falls Village resident reached out to Hart Marketing Enterprises LLC months ago noting that the local tourist map that they publish indicates the Great Falls from dangerous access points; this has been a serious hazard for visitors unfamiliar with the area and the danger. The appropriate viewing would be from the Amesville Bridge, not a ledge halfway down the Falls.

Moreover, this map erroneously indicates access to the Great Falls from the east shore via Dublin Road in Falls Village. Local traffic jams occurred there last summer as misguided tourists followed this map. Temporary signs went up. Permanent signs were authorized warning tourists to go back, there is no access here.

In the spirit of no good deed going unpunished, the publisher did not correct their publication when the problem was brought to their attention. Indeed they wrote a complaint letter to Falls Village First Selectmen Henry Todd who inexplicably read the complaint into the minutes of the Selectmen’s meeting May 10, 2021, just one week ago.

With the danger of the Great Falls on a tourist map,  perhaps Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand could ask the map publisher to address the problem. Old maps should be recalled, a new publication with correct information distributed, and perhaps a public apology issued for refusing to respond to a warning.

Daly Reville

Falls Village

Towers versus poles

Although it’s easy to see the proposed wireless towers as an eyesore in our beautiful surroundings, I’d encourage people to consider that telephone poles lining the roads must have been a mixed blessing when they were first installed. It must have been a visual shock, but outweighed by the services people received. We accept them as a necessary part of our landscape because, to most of us, they’ve always existed.

Lynn Curtis

Salisbury

Thanks for the support, from the Kent Food Bank

As we cautiously emerge from the binding restrictions of this past year, it is literally like taking the first step out of doors after a very long winter and feeling the warmth of the sun on our faces, while taking a very deep, appreciative sigh of relief.

The Kent Food Bank, and its members, are eternally grateful for the generosity of so many individuals, local restaurants, food vendors and all of our local businesses for their consistent undying support. This support has never been more important or appreciated than it has been through this past year of unexpected hardships, and these hardships have manifested themselves in so many aspects of our lives, both personal and professional. 

The support of our community seems unending, and we thank you all. Our gratitude goes out to all of our individual donors for the financial support we receive from so many, those folks who consistently show up at our door with a bag of goodies, The Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, St. Andrews and Sacred Heart congregations, Marvelwood, South Kent and Kent Schools, all of our local farms who so generously share the bounty of their efforts, the “egg man” (and you know who you are), and all of the chicken aficionados who keep us supplied with this key ingredient needed for pancakes, (we have learned that an egg is not just an egg).

We thank our ever so supportive local lGA and the kind and generous people who have kept the store going above and beyond what would be required during this untoward madness, Sundog Shoe and Leather who turned the food bank into a fashionista’s dream, the efforts and the time that our generous volunteers give each week, and the countless others who donate time, skills and support of all kinds to The Kent Food Bank. We thank you all.

Leah Pullaro, LMSW Director of Social Services 

Debbe Christensen, Administrative Assistant 

Kent

Religious and other traditions give us guidance

In May, Shavuot marks the time of the the Jewish people receiving the Old Testament or Torah. The ascension into heaven of Jesus in the Christian religion is also in mid-May. Every Sabbath for for Jews from Friday sunset for 24 hours or Sunday for Christians is a time of prayer and gathering around the world, with many online services, which reach more people.

Facebook is the biggest way people are in touch and many have created Zoom rooms to meet with main talks by a panel and break-out rooms or reunions, graduations and more allowing people to stay connected. 

The messages from traditions inform our laws and social practices regarding when life begins (whether eggs and sperm in a person, used for in vitro or even frozen embryos.) 

Who is sharing WIT “What If Thinking” that factors in more views from around the world about life, death and beyond, the value of having core values of dignity and respect and informed choices with support for equal options for all or discussion about why that is not the case? 

We need insights from EdgarCayce.org which has many resources to explore the mind-body-creation connections, the oneness of God and his psychic readings that cover major topics. While we are seeking guidance in these times for spiritual or practical matters, no one should feel alone. “Faith without works” is debatable and also legally worth updating (in terms of licenses, permits, consent and more.)

Hopefully we can bridge efforts and form coalitions to pay respect to each person equally and honor the meaningful connections people choose to keep communities, states and countries ‘fun’ctioning and supportive for shared success.

Many organize for destructive reasons, so everyone has choices to make and reasons to grow as team players with gratitude and accountability growing stronger among teams and towns, states and even countries (among people, sentient beings, plants, animals and loving divine beings.) Honoring the legacies and lessons of those who have journeyed is key to our growth in “Good Will Toward All.”

Catherine Palmer Paton

Falls Village