Letters April 16, 2008

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

By Planet User

Honor and dishonor
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Just a note of appreciation to Scott Terry and his staff for getting those flags returned to JH and the effort that went into tracking it all down. And, for the ceremony to give them to the Julian family, it was an honorable process. Too bad several other locations around town that knew of Julian’s death didn’t lower their flags on the appointed day as well. Which was worse?

Our vice-president was in town this past weekend. Rather glad he didn’t attend the ceremony or even know about the flags being stolen. Those two opportunists were from England. If the veep had heard about it, we’d have had to invade our best (?) ally, kidnap the perpetrators, render them to Chad or Turkmenistan or wherever, put snarling dogs in their faces, call them terrorists and ultimately ship them down to Guantanamo, raise fears that it didn’t happen in a big city but in little ole JH, and we probably still wouldn’t have the flags back. That’d make the flag-raisers on Guadalcanal proud of how far we’ve come as a country today. 4,000+ Americans dead from duty in Iraq, tens of thousands more injured with inadequate health care back in the states, and for some reason, we’re still understaffed where it counts: Afghanistan. Where’s Osama, Mr. President?

Snow’s melting, winter litter is coming out before the flowers, come on folks, use your backseat instead of the side of the road for your fast food trash, beer cans, cigs, et al. The veep was probably ashamed of his home town as they drove to and from the airport, or, maybe not.
 - Walt Farmer
Jackson, WY

It was me
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I did it. I’m the one that took to the town square on Friday in a one-person protest against China. I didn’t want it to be just one person, but I didn’t have the time and knowledge of how to get like-minded people together. But, why did I do it? 

I protested because earlier that morning I read an article about how Chinese-Americans in the U.S. were possibly going to protest the Dalai Lama’s meetings here. One would think that this was in retaliation to protestors all across the globe protesting the Olympics in China.

One does not have to search very hard to find reason to protest China aside from the Olympics. They have controlled Tibet for many years and have kept the Dalai Lama in exile in India. How a country as huge and as powerful as China and with such a rich cultural history can be so obsessed and agitated by such a small and extremely peaceful country and its residents is beyond me.

Besides Tibet, China has not stepped in to oppose genocide in Darfur.
Then we have our famous Made In China products. Nearly everything is made there, from cheap pet food and toys at discount stores, to our supposed rugged-outdoor clothing which still bears the “rugged outdoors” slogans and names. These products, some actually originating in Jackson, are ripped from American seamsters’ hands and sent to arguably brutal (on their workers and on the environment) factories and made for a fraction of the cost. These products are sent back stateside and sold to unsuspecting consumers at clothing stores for a LOT more money than was paid out to the manufacturer. Who makes the money? Not U.S. seamsters or shippers, but the corporate heads and the “hired hands” living in third world countries.

One gentleman approached me, asking why I was out protesting and why I was not standing in front of one of our big outdoor/ski shops. He pointed out that we have to largely blame the U.S. for exporting these jobs and products overseas. Then he wagered me that all of my clothing was made in China. I was proud to point out what I try to live by (supporting Americans and environmentally-friendly companies) that my Chaco sandals were made in Durango, Colo., my Carhartt pants were made in Lansing, Mich. and my coat was made somewhere in the U.S.A. He seemed a little surprised and slightly disappointed…I don’t know why.
 - Ben Kinkade
Jackson, WY

Stimulate this!
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We should all be receiving our Economic Stimulus checks in the mail fairly soon. Most of us will receive $600, with the government’s hope that we spend $1200 on some preposterous gadgetry or plaything that diverts our attention from the sheer idiocy of the charade (to quote Sterling Hayden). As for me, I decided almost immediately to donate any rebate money I receive to charity. The question then is, to whom do I donate?

Well, last Wednesday a good friend of mine invited me to see Greg Mortensen speak at Snow King. No more than five minutes into his presentation and I realized I had found the charity I was seeking.

I’m an average working class guy trying to earn a living here in Jackson. Certainly poor by Teton County standards; no second home, inheritance, or trust fund. I realized that while I may be poor by Jackson standards, I was wealthy beyond belief by most third world country standards. As soon as I receive my rebate check, Greg Mortensen’s organization (the Central Asia Institute) will receive my donation.

I would encourage everyone to take stock of their own situation and if at all possible give your time or money to those who truly need our help.
- Chris Moran
Jackson, WY

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Letters April 16, 2008 | Planet JH News Article: Letters To Editor

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