| Two recent events highlight some changes in Kitsap in the past thirty years. We were neither conservative, nor liberal politically-driven, but a community of neighbors for the most part.
The Kitsap Public Library chose to “educate“ on immigration instead of honoring those killed on 9/11. My brother-in-law, Paul Jurgens, one of the first responders, was a Port Authority Police Officer who lost his life trying to save others.
Many of us, but especially our Veterans, appear upset over three ideological councilmen on the BI City Council who will not say the Pledge.
Having seen even my school district go from serving all of us, to serving all with an ideological lens, shows me the hurt and the feelings of exclusion to many citizens it promotes. One example is a teacher who would not lead his class in the Pledge, but had this on his blackboard: "I pledge allegiance to the earth and all the life for which it supports. One planet, in our care, irreplaceable, with substance and respect for all.”
Only an ideologue wouldn't understand why replacing our pledge with this is offensive.
Come on Kitsap leaders, it's one thing to say you did not mean to be offensive, but its another to go ahead and repeat the behavior because you know better then the rest of us.
It's not too hard, don't insult the folks because of their religion, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity or their politics. It's the start to liberty and justice for all.
Mick Sheldon
Kingston |
