Letters to the Editor: Make sure to have facts before having opinions

Make sure to have facts before having opinions

Michigan-made seatbelts mandatory in 1985 because the data showed seatbelts save lives. However, deniers insisted being thrown free from a car during an accident was safer than being held inside with seatbelts. Another version of this story included an anonymous cop (a friend of an uncle, perhaps) surveying a recent accident, telling the person thrown from the car that it had saved his life, insisting he would have been crushed by the steel now occupying his mangled seat. Thirty-five years later, seatbelts are unquestioned, but we can see the myth’s power to lend credence to deniers.

We have our share of deniers today. We have mask deniers, COVID-vaccine deniers, election deniers, global-warming deniers, and even Obama’s-citizenship deniers. For reasons known only to them, deniers will not allow facts to change their beliefs. Doubling the facts only doubles their resistance. New invalidating facts have no effect; deniers counter with new and stronger evidence-starved claims, as if reality is no match against vehemence and certitude. People like Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson reap millions feeding deniers fictitious propaganda, a meal they eat without inspection or reflection.

Democracies cannot survive when half their citizens believe their national institutions are corrupt, that our elections are stolen, and our leaders are not legitimate — particularly when such serious claims are unsupported, indeed, when there is plenty of evidence they are false.

There is a religious ethic that values constancy in one’s beliefs despite the evidence. Deniers bring the same religious zeal into our secular world, as if by insisting that their conspiracy theories are true, they become true. That is not how facts work. When the evidence piles up against you, and your beliefs are merely the claims of your tribe or party — claims without facts — it’s time to renew your thinking. Facts matter.

Richard KamischkeGrand Haven Township

It's that magic time of the year

Just a short time ago, the people in power were dictating many of our normal daily activities.

Now the magic season has arrived and these same people have transformed into sweetness and sunshine, telling us all the wonderful things they have done for us.

These same people in power have also turned into fortune tellers, repeating over and over how candidates challenging their power, will change what we do, and take away anything we still have.

Take a few moments, sit quietly, away from the constant droning and listen to yourself. What do you hear?

J.R. HirtHolland

But what about the fireworks workers?

Dear Citizens’ Climate Lobby,

Hello, my name is Hunter Maung, and I am a first-year student at Grand Rapids Community College.

After reading the article, it is hard to disagree with anything that was stated. All the effects are such a big impact to pretty much everyone who is around fireworks. Now the only problem I see is if everyone were to stop going to these displays and buying fireworks, that would just put people in the industry out of a job. There are roughly around 150,000 directly involved with the firework industry that would be put out of a job and roughly 500,000 employees that work are connected to that industry.

Although all the reasons for boycotting fireworks are valid and can’t be argued against, it doesn’t put the employees' view into play. Unless there is a way to completely ensure that the employees have a job afterward it just wouldn’t be fair for them.

I look forward to hearing your response soon.

Hunter MaungWest Olive

DeBoer a visionary we need in Lansing

As Holland’s former mayor, Nancy DeBoer has demonstrated her visionary leadership skills in the revitalization of the Holland Civic Center, the Waterfront Vision for Holland, and overseeing the opening of a natural gas plant which has captured the attention of other cities both here and abroad.

As former educators, it is her common sense, forward thinking, and visionary skills with regard to Education that resonates with us in particular. Nancy favors empowering K-12 students with knowledge of future career opportunities as part of their K-12 learning. Her plan includes a goal of creating a culture of career awareness forged by partnering with parents, school officials, and local business and industry leaders. These partnerships could create learning opportunities for ALL students through site visits, guest presenters, career fairs and internships and apprenticeships in all areas of career potential.

These experiences could prove to be invaluable in inspiring all students to find their strengths and interests while in K-12 education that they can build on and pursue for future careers and life goals.

As longtime Holland residents and public school educators for over four decades in West Michigan, we see the value of Nancy’s visionary ideas for career, college, and life readiness.

Please consider joining us in voting for Nancy as our state representative.

Keith and Jan SchaapHolland

Double colors could lead to confusion

My name is Sam Cahoy, and I am a student at Grand Rapids Community College. I attend the Lakeshore Campus here in Holland as well as live here.

I am writing to you about the article "double red flag" system introduced at Grand Haven beach, coming to Holland State Park. My take on the new rules coming to the state park here in Holland is that instead of two red flags to indicate that the beach is closed, they should have used a different colored flag. I think using the same color twice could lead to confusion among those who are not aware of the new implementation.

I propose that they should use a different flag that sticks out as much as possible — maybe one with many colors on it. The other way they could do this is by changing the red flag which means high hazard with maybe an orange flag.

I look forward to hearing your response soon.

Samuel CahoyHolland

We need to help the struggling students

My name is Saraylla Blystra, I am a student at GRCC.

I am writing in response to an article regarding Whitmer not being above Michigan's reading law.

I agree how Whitmer is being a bit hypocritical when she goes out of her way to avoid a law. While it is an issue that students aren’t able to read, I believe there should be programs put in place to help students learn to read. There should be separate/extra classes that they can take to improve. A lot of times parents don’t have the time to take their kids to tutoring, a separate class with extra help could benefit the students in a significant way.

I look forward to hearing your response soon.

Saraylla BlystraZeeland

Women should have control over their own bodies

I am a student at Grand Rapids Community College, and I am emailing in regards to the overturn of the constitutional right of abortion.

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, multiple states have banned abortion with no exception. The no exception ban makes it illegal for women to get an abortion even if the cause of pregnancy is due to rape. Women, who were forced into sexual acts, should not also be forced to carry their rapists baby to term. It should be a women's choice.

I understand why in some circumstances people believe abortion should be illegal, but I believe under certain circumstances it should be allowed. If abortion becomes banned in Michigan, I don’t believe it should be a full ban. I believe that women should still have a right to this medical procedure if it is putting their mental, or physical health in jeopardy.

If a woman can die if she carries to term she should be allowed. If it is a pregnancy due to rape, or incest, she should be allowed. The ultimate goal is to keep abortions available to anyone but if we do not succeed, abortions with exceptions would be next.

I look forward to hearing your response soon.

Sandra RodriguezHolland

Deputy should have faced more serious charges

My name is Summer Cronen, and I am a student at Grand Rapids Community College.

The issue I see here is that Thomas Goggins, the deputy at fault for this death, was only charged with misdemeanors. While, if it were to be a regular civilian involved with the crash, they would be charged with manslaughter. The punishable fines that Goggins received was very minimal compared to what a civilian could potentially receive in this circumstance.

The suggestions I would make, are to give equal punishments as we would to a civilian that committed the same crime.

I look forward to hearing your response soon.

Summer CronenHolland

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: Make sure to have facts before having opinions