OPINION & LETTERS
Friday, February 21, 2014
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Why would a conservative vote for the Real Hope Act? BY SEN. TIM SHELDON The state Senate recently approved a measure that would extend state financial-aid eligibility to undocumented Washington students. I was one of 35 bipartisan votes in favor of the bill; many of you have questioned why a self-proclaimed conservative would vote in such a way. My maternal grandparents came to this country from Sweden in the early 1900s – without documentation. Neither spoke English at the time; my grandfather made a living in the woods as a choker setter and my grandmother as a domestic worker. Their desire for a better quality of life produced a legacy of determination and
hard work in my family. Their two daughters went on to graduate from the University of Washington because luckily, we don’t live in a country that punishes children for their parents’ indiscretions. In America, we don’t take away children’s freedoms because they weren’t born here; we don’t withhold food or shelter or their chance to thrive. I am glad that we live in a country that encourages children to flourish, regardless of legal status. I’m not excusing the actions of those who are here illegally. I hope all undocumented residents work to obtain citizenship, and I hope the federal government continues to work
State Sen. Tim Sheldon on immigration reform to make the path to citizenship more attainable. Our hands are tied in Olympia because only Congress can make laws regarding immigration, while the state can
only address limited issues such as financial aid and eligibility standards. Because the measure we passed improves on what is commonly referred to as the state “Dream Act,” it’s been renamed and is now known as the Real Hope Act. Not only does it open eligibility to undocumented students, it also commits $5 million more to the State Need Grant – a financial aid program for low-income students. The program is currently underfunded, leaving about 32,000 eligible students without aid. An additional $5 million will benefit all eligible students, not just those who are undocumented. It’s important to point out that undocumented stu-
dents would have to meet strict requirements prior to eligibility and they wouldn’t go to the front of the line; they would simply join the pool of those already eligible for state financial aid. I am glad my grandparents came to America and I’m proud of the values they instilled in their children and grandchildren. Today, I’m honored to manage the family-owned tree farm that my grandfather established all those years ago and to have received an education at my mom’s alma mater, the University of Washington. We are all shaped by life experiences – things that give us our identity, and form our opinions and actions. My family’s story helped shape my opinion
when it came time to vote on Senate Bill 6523. The measure passed overwhelmingly with support from members of both parties, which tells me this isn’t a matter of political stance. As with many things, I think we can find bipartisan solutions to our problems if we just continue to work together. Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, represents the 35th Legislative District, which includes Mason County and portions of Kitsap and Thurston Counties. He is president pro tempore of the Washington State Senate and a member of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Olympic Gymnastics Center, a gem of a gym This letter is in response to an article about Cascade Elite Gymnastics West (CEGW) published Feb. 9, which stated several times that it has a “family atmosphere” in contrast to any other gym in Kitsap County. As parents of a gymnast at Olympic Gymnastics Center (OGC), we find that remarkably inaccurate. OGC was founded by its head coach, Greg Mutchler, more
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This proposed law is wrong. We’ve come too far for this. Having grown up in the era when civil rights were extended to African Americans, this law, which allows discrimination based on sexual preference, is a step backward. Claiming religious freedom is just a way to legitimize discrimination. You don’t have to agree with, or even like someone, to serve them, to do business with them, or to have them as a member of your club or
than 30 years ago. We find the gym, its staff, the girls on recreational and competitive teams, and their parents to be a large second family. OGC coaches, young and old, have provided consistent support and care for their athletes. Their guidance, training and inspiration have been a major part of the growth and development of the girls. They have gained confidence and skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. When Frank Lee left OGC in 2011 with six gymnasts, it
group. Having roots in Kansas, legislation such as this is embarrassing to me. It’s important to know that while they are the minority, there are residents in Kansas who, like me, think this action is wrong. Not all Kansans are conservative. Not all Kansans think like the Phelps. Politics is politics. But the law is more. Every American should be treated the same under the law. Here in Washington, we can be proud that the majority of us are more open minded.
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was a devastating loss to the OGC family. It still saddens us to think Mr. Lee did not appreciate the atmosphere that continues to thrive at OGC, though we are happy to hear he and his partners are content with the environment at CEGW. OGC is highly respected in the state and region, with a long track record of success, experience, ethical practices and support for its own athletes as well as those of other competitive teams. We are proud of the banners and trophies celebrating the success of so many current and former competitive gymnasts at OGC. OGC has made a huge difference in our daughter’s life. We are thrilled to be a part of the OGC family, and we are so happy to have found this gym.
Jill and Erik Schweitzer Silverdale
NK School District owes principal an apology The news of the principal of Poulsbo Elementary School
returning to duty is another example of politically correct hypersensitivity run amok. Claudia Alves, a respected long time educator in the North Kitsap School District, was put on paid leave for discussing two words related to the black population. Both words are in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. One is an old derogatory slang term that nowadays is wrongly and most frequently used by black rap singers. A number of these awardwinning “singers” rake in millions of dollars from sales of their music in spite of this. Who is buying this “music” and why are they not offended? The second is a term that was used for decades as a racial identifier, included in memorable speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King. In fact, a long time organization, the United Negro College Fund, Inc., still proudly carries this word in their copyrighted title and solicits and obtains millions of dollars from donors. According to a recent annual report they received
$167,085,418 during 2012 from contributors. Apparently these donors are not offended by the use of this word. The hypocrisy is jaw dropping. In a discussion in an academic setting, must we now spell out certain words in the dictionary letter by letter? A “mistake” indeed was made, which was putting Ms. Alves on leave for doing her job. She deserves a published apology from the school district.
William Rieger Bremerton
Thanks from CKSD On behalf of Central Kitsap School District and the Board of Directors, we want to thank voters for passing our school support levy. We’ve had a levy in place for almost 20 years, and we are grateful for this steady support. Levy dollars will help us bridge the gap between the funding we receive and the true cost of running a district. The school support levy makes up
20 percent of our budget and will aid nearly every area of our operations. It also gives us access to an estimated $9 million each year in additional state and federal money. This levy renewal is a clear message that our community expects us to provide students a well-rounded education. But our community’s expectations go beyond student achievement. We also have a responsibility to use these tax dollars wisely. Our promise to our community is that we will keep your trust by being honest and open in all areas of fiscal management and district operations. We encourage citizens to attend our meetings, review our budgets, ask questions and get involved in our schools. Thank you, once again, for your support. Mark Gaines President, CKSD School Board Hazel Bauman Superintendent
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