Letters to the Editor for July 3, 2019
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Summer reading list shared
Editor,
Human knowledge has exploded in the years since the invention of the printing press and the Gutenberg Bible (about 1450). Now, there are lots of “good books.” Here is a short list for summer reading, which could enhance a reader’s understanding about the history and nature of humankind.
“Fantasyland” (2017) traces historical factors, which have led to the political and religious culture of modern America. The journey is fascinating and enlightening. “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe” (2018) helps to identify what is fake news. Misinformation, pseudoscience and superstition can take detrimental tolls both upon the individual psyche and broader societies, remedies are suggested. “The Confidence Game” (2016) examines the human trait of gullibility. About five percent of humans are sociopaths, but 100 percent are gullible. This is a fun read. “The Consciousness Instinct: Unraveling the Mystery of How the Brain Makes the Mind” (2018) describes some of the newest neurological discoveries about how individual neurons in the human brain transfer information. It describes how neural networks, hormones, enzymes, proteins, etc., allow for the building of mental models. Some models operate without your awareness (such as digestion). Others present an experience of awareness and being singularly conscious of your immediate place in the environment. It is a moment-by-moment experience of “who and where I am.”
Closely related is the model of “who am I becoming?” The brain continually makes predictions about the decisions and behaviors of the future (immediate and distant). Survival often necessitates this. These models compete with each other for dominance, resulting in such diversification as kindness, murder, seeing faces in clouds or toast, religions, Democrats and Republicans.
“Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition” (2019) builds upon the brain’s “consciousness” abilities. It then delves further into how individuals come to adopt concepts of good (helpful toward a goal) and bad (not so much). Individuals, tribes, nations and religions build upon past generations of genetic, electrochemical and cultural influences. Humans have seemingly limitless possibilities and yet often get stuck in mires of repetitive limiting patterns.
Onsager’s call for evidence (6-26-19) is admirable. Let’s start with examining the evidence for and against life-after-death.
Gene Johnson
Polson
Elder opposes clear-cutting forest
Editor,
This letter is directed to the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribal Council and tribal members. I believe the council has disrespected an elder of 91 years and the last living Marine from the WWII era.
I can’t understand why the tribal council won’t put a stop to clear-cutting and forestry on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Now, there is no more wood for woodcutting to make a living. It’s also killing all the berries, which the grouse eat.
The treaty of 1855 has been broken by clear-cutting the woods, which were put aside for tribal members to use. Our resources for hunting and gathering plant life have been taken away. The forests are given to us. We are a nature people.
The tribal council should abolish the purchase of all ATV and horseback passes for they trample the plant life, which both non-tribal and tribal members use. I am the one who will save the mountains from being clearcut.
The porcupine disappeared from our tribal lands. Clearcutting the forest has lead to the loss of their homes and the jack pines and bull pines they use as food. Clearcutting destroys our native medicines by slashing, cutting and burning -- like they own it. Also of concern is our hunting and fishing like heron, trout and Brooke trout. No fish should be fished out. Tribal members come to me voicing their concerns seeing non-members with strings of fish, being greedy. No one is protecting or over-seeing these precious resources in our mountain lakes.
Francis Stanger
Polson
Irrigators need to vote
Editor,
In June, Flathead Irrigation Project irrigators received ballots for the Mission, Jocko and Flathead irrigation districts from Lake, Sanders and Missoula county election offices. Most important is that you vote.
Please take time to mark your ballot and mail it. Remember, billions of people in the world, don’t have this right. First, the Mission and Jocko district commissioners are asking for your support and vote to join in joint operations. This makes the Mission and Jocko irrigation district business more efficient and cost-effective. Things like hiring office staff, retaining legal advice and insurance and representing and speaking as a larger voice for irrigation in state and federal affairs.
This is also the first step in getting management of the Flathead Irrigation and Power project back to the irrigators who the project serves.
The United State wants to deal with one board, instead of three little boards for operation and maintenance of the project. Hopefully, the Flathead District will join us later.
Let’s remember that the Bureau of Indian affairs has operated the project since 2014, and the BIA has increased operation and maintenance fee by $7.50 in two years, which was $3 in 2017 and $4.50 in 2018.
I would also note that that Flathead District has two commissioners up for election. Mission and Jocko commissioners ran unopposed.
The districts have to approve, in August of each year, the assessment for your taxes, for O&M for the project, and send it to Lake, Sanders and Missoula counties. How did your commissioners vote?
I can tell you that all the Mission and Jocko District commissioners opposed the $7.50 increase, right up until the BIA threatened not to supply irrigation water in 2019. The majority of the Flathead District commissioners voted for the $7.50 increase. Before you cast your ballot, you should ask who and why.
Remember that your vote counts, those of you with five or 10 acres of irrigation are just as important as those with 1,000 acres. O&M costs at $33.50 an acre are the same if you’re a large or small operator. Please vote and mail your ballot.
Tim Orr
Mission Irrigation District Commissioner
America needs to help children
Editor,
Mr. Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
The United States is supposed to be a helper. We know ourselves as the good guys. We pride ourselves in our heroics and leadership – we’re the shining city upon a hill. We are not supposed to be a scary place, a backwards, cruel, inhumane nation.
I’m so angry and disgusted that we are denying the children at the border basic care. These are children that we have imprisoned, children who may not come to us of their own volition, children who are fleeing crime, and violence, and instability, and who have been asked to give up everything they know to travel hundreds or thousands of miles just for the hope of a better life in America.
They are children, just like ours, seeking asylum, and we have imprisoned them without adequate food, water, shelter or access to basic hygiene. These children deserve better, and America is better than this. We have to be.
Mary Stranahan
Arlee
Historic document celebrates independence
Editor,
We celebrate another Independence Day this week. In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams observed that Independence Day, “ ... will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
As you celebrate the day, consider the document that is commemorated. Read it. Read it to your family. Ponder the significance of its words, the theology behind those words. What laws of nature and nature’s God? What creator? What supreme judge of the world? What divine providence did the signers express firm reliance on?
What tyranny was “resisted with manly firmness?” Why did the signers of that document say, “It is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such [absolute despotism]?” A duty to whom? What absolute despotism? What were the grievances against King George? Are the usurpations and abuses he was accused of less tolerable than those of today?
Celebrate the day. Ponder what it commemorates.
Rick Jore
Ronan
