Letters: August 22, 2019

Brock letter

Our hearts break again and again as we read headlines in the news about the murders in our land. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were no murder. Ever. If everyone just determined within their own being to NOT murder. That would make our world a so much much better place. Can you conceptualize it?

Of course we have laws against murder. But, they don’t really work. External laws never do. Internal laws operate from the inside out.

While we are imagining, let us imagine a world without stealing. If everyone just determined to not steal anything from anybody. Wow. That pops the mind. Now just extend the no stealing thought to include not stealing the affection of another person’s spouse. World changing thoughts. Of course to banish all theft first people must NOT have the mental wish to take other peoples stuff away from them.

Then to put a little polish on this new world let us conceive of a world where everyone self determines to only tell the truth about others.

Top that off with every person honoring their parents. In addition, let's have everyone take one day a week off from all their labors. Great ideas, huh!

Now the clincher―no one does evil in the name of religion. And all believe that they will be one day be held accountable to a mighty and powerful “God” should they even think about violating any of these good ideas.

Of course you may recognize these ideas as some ancient wisdom literature commonly referred to as the Ten Commandments. Just paraphrased and reordered a bit. These are not new ideas, but rather rules for behavior that were established over 3,500 years ago. Guidance that is common to all major faiths. If they were universally imbedded in everyones minds and hearts, they would change our dystopia into a true utopia. Guaranteed.

So, why would anyone want them NOT taught to all kids in all schools throughout the world? In fact, why do some folks want them banned from being taught to anyone anywhere at all? Why do some folks want to remove them from the public square and even keep anyone from reading them or talking about them?

Maybe those who would oppose the Ten Commandments have a different agenda and really don’t want us to live at peace with one another.

Travis Brock,

Colfax

Newspaper need

I was visiting my son Sunday night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper.

"Mom, it's the 21st century." he said. "We don't waste money on newspapers. Here, you can use my iPad."

I can tell you this, that damn fly never knew what hit it.

Sue Hinz,

Pullman

Boycotting

July 4, 2019, Independence Day – a day to celebrate our freedoms. What many people of Washington State don’t know is that our senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, voted to limit our freedoms – freedom to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS). They supported S.1, Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act. This bill contains “Combating BDS Act” which encourages states and local governments to deny contracts to any business, nonprofit organization or individual boycotting for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality.

More recently, Representative McMorris Rodgers shamefully voted for H. Res 246, which is the House equivalent to the Senate Bill, restricting our freedoms to BDS.

Boycotting has always been a nonviolent way of fostering justice for centuries, and guaranteed in the First Amendment. The Quakers, for example, boycotted cotton to support the movement to abolish slavery. For those who believe that Israel has violated human rights, this economic, peaceful way of protesting unlawful settlements, jailing Palestinian children, and seizing the Golan Heights should be available.

BDS is not anti-Semitic, as some would decry. It is designed to promote human rights, and curb Israel’s lawlessness. BDS is supported by Jewish Voices for Peace and at least 10 faith traditions, including the Unitarian Universalists of America which met in Spokane in June.

Nancy Street,

Cheney