Thoughts on Trump, Richland School Board and other Tri-City Herald letters to the editor | Opinion

Donald Trump really is to blame

Ad hominem (Latin for ‘to the person’), wherein one attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making a statement, rather than dealing with the substance of the statement itself.

It’s not Trump’s fault for misappropriating campaign contributions to silence his relations with both a porn star and Playboy model (while Melania cared for their newborn son). The Republicans rally behind Trump to blame the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, for doing his job. The grand jury was fooled by a liberal.

It’s not Trump’s fault for being recorded telling Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger “I just want to find 11,780 votes...” The blame is entirely on the Atlanta area district attorney, Fani Willis. Again, the grand jury was duped.

Being impeached for the “perfect” black-mailing of Ukraine’s president to “do us a favor” was blamed on the House of Representatives.

Pence’s dereliction of duty is solely responsible for the Biden presidency.

Perpetrators of the Capitol riot are the victims of zealous federal prosecutors.

E. Jean Carroll is pressing rape charges, but “She’s not my type.”

The Washington Post tallied “30,573 false or misleading claims” (lies) during Trump’s presidency.

Forget Trump’s crimes; just kill the messenger.

Michael Harrington, Pasco

Support child abuse awareness

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is important to raise awareness of child abuse within our community. Last year in Benton and Franklin counties there were 367 interviews conducted of alleged child abuse. This does not include cases that go unreported.

Community members can show support. One way to become involved is to simply talk about the issue of child abuse in our community. Bringing this issue to light can help others be aware and protect the children around them. If you suspect a child is being abused, report it! Reporting does not necessarily constitute a proven fact — it is raising a question about the condition or state of a child.

Another way to get involved is to attend our community awareness events happening in April. The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center is organizing some child abuse prevention awareness displays which include The Clothesline Project, & The Little Hearts Project. Our Community Education Night which includes education for parents, and presentations for all ages of kids, will be held on April 27th, 2023 at Amistad Elementary School in Kennewick. All are welcome to attend!

For information, call SARC at 509-374-5391.

Denise Martin, Pasco

RSD board needs reset button

You would think that candidates for public office would be committed to obeying the laws governing the position they seek. Not so for Byrd, Bird, and Williams, who currently serve on the school board in Richland. Their plan to make schools more kid-friendly was to disobey state law and current health regulations with blatant disregard for science.

What a fine example to students they have set!

I am a former teacher and teacher leader in the Richland schools. I have found the current situation demeaning to the district’s fine reputation, creating further divisiveness at a time when our students and communities need to come together once again and deal with our differences peacefully, wisely, and democratically.

Richland should require nothing less of their school board members. I would encourage all Richland voters to sign the recall petition. A signature on a petition neither indicates support nor rejection of the recall, but it does help provide Richland voters a chance to weigh in on the continued worthiness of Audra Byrd, Semi Bird, and Kari Williams to serve as school board members in Richland.

Pam Sebelien, Pasco

Remember civility amid RSD debate

As a 33-year resident of the Richland School District and a former member of the Richland School Board, I’m writing to address the growing tension surrounding the recall issue.

One thing that my experience on the board imbued in me was a firm conviction that once sworn in, I was morally obligated to serve not just those who elected me, but also those who had voted against me. Sometimes that meant seeking compromise. When compromise wasn’t possible, I was still obliged to seek understanding of the opposing viewpoint.

Unfortunately, there are those on both sides of the issue who do not feel that obligation. As a result, recent weeks have seen an escalation of threats, vandalism, demonization and pettiness, with plenty of blame to share between those opposed and those in favor of the recall.

I am asking the Richland School Board to go on record — by formal resolution, or the much louder platform of social media, and make a call for civility.

People need reminding that it is not our beliefs, but our actions, that separate participants in a democracy from an angry mob.

I hope the board will go on record as advocates for civility.

Scott Butner, Richland

It’s time: Let’s grow up, America

This nation, in sports, seems to worship winners. In other areas, we seem to have become a nation of wimps. The media is full of individuals who think they are victims when in most cases they are experiencing the results of their own poor choices Often the “victim” claims their problem was caused by drugs they took by choice. During the pandemic, folks were upset when they had to wear a mask. Richland has a school board with three members who tried to defy the law because their poor children had to wear a mask in school.

I think it is time for this country to grow up. My grandfather’s education stopped at 13 when he was apprenticed to an uncle to learn carpentry. He managed to have a successful life as a contractor. My father was orphaned at 14 and had to work on his own to support his siblings. He eventually worked his way through college and managed to support his family. Instead of this continuous complaining, we should look at what is happening to people in the Ukraine, Turkey and Syria who have real problems and would look at ours as truly insignificant.

Ralph Curran, Richland

Project aims to help Ukrainians

It has been more than a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, displacing thousands of her citizens. While many have been able to escape the country, many are still trying to survive amid buildings reduced to rubble.

The need to help refugees from the fighting in Ukraine continues in this second year of conflict. Our Richland Knights of Columbus council is collecting donations to be sent over to councils in Poland, Ukraine and other non governmental organizations. All of these funds go directly to those affected by this war to provide temporary shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and other humanitarian and religious needs.

A fund of $50,000 was set up and will match each dollar given to be put with donations from K of C councils throughout the country. So far over $20 million has been donated by caring people in our country, but the need is still very urgent.

If you would like to help meet this need, you can make a tax deductible donation online at: donate.kofccharities.org/team/429132, or mail a check payable to: Knights of Columbus Charities Inc, 7500 Chester Road, Richland, WA 99352.

God bless you for helping these suffering people.

Mary Sue Davis, Richland

Looks like we’ve got our answer

The Atlas Agro plant will require the amount of electricity of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR). Atlas Agro and SMR could be built simultaneously for the electricity needed to operate such a demand-intensive project.

The question: “ But WHO will buy the SMR electrity?” has just been answered.

Carl Holder, Richland