Letters to the Editor 07/18/2007

To the Editor:

At the Quilt Show last Saturday, I saw people talking and laughing, heard birds and musicians and watched some of the local merchants happily ringing up their customers.

The remarkable thing was that I was standing right in the middle of Cascade Avenue while I observed all this.

I wasn't overcome by vehicle exhaust, didn't have to dodge cars to cross the street, and all those sounds were not drowned out by passing trucks.

It is more than restaurants and shops that keep people coming back to Sisters - it is the overall experience. We now know that being able to close Cascade Avenue for events dramatically improves that overall experience for our visitors (and residents).

What I saw on Saturday was the future of events in Sisters. Of course, we can't just close a state highway anytime we want to - which is why we need to move Highway 20 off Cascade Avenue as part of our overall traffic plan. Whether it is a couplet, by-pass, alternate route or some other plan - we need Cascade Avenue as a city street that we control.

With more than 500 homes already approved to be built in Sisters in the next few years, our traffic will only get worse - and not just during events. By getting those who don't stop in Sisters around town, it will also make it easier for those of us who live here to get into town.

When Bend was planning the Parkway in the early 1990s, many locals thought it was unnecessary and ridiculed the idea. Can you imagine putting all of Bend's traffic down 3rd Street today? For the sake of those of us who live here and those that bring valuable tourist dollars to our community, let's get moving on a traffic solution now.

Carey Tosello

•••

To the Editor:

I am stunned that The Nugget so blatantly left out the fact that Gutenberg College is a biblical school and from the sounds of it, a pretty radical one.

Reading their "Doctrinal Statement" (which is Part 3 of their "Biblical Foundational Statement") from their Web site is downright frightening to me, with statements like "every human individual is inherently evil and morally unworthy" and "Satan is real and personal and intent on frustrating the purpose of God."

Haven't we grown beyond such immature beliefs? What is most perplexing to me is how covert the college appears to be, not representing itself for what it really is - an educational facility that promotes exclusivity, negativity, division and judgment.

I cannot welcome you to Sisters.

Sandra Hayes

•••

To the Editor:

I enjoyed your article on Gutenberg College possibly moving to Sisters. The article was followed by a request for opinions on support by the City of Sisters.

As you know from my past opinions, I am liberal and a strong proponent of the separation of church and state. When I read the article I was skeptical thinking that Gutenberg was a bible school. As an independent thinker I would question its value to greater society. Wrong!

I looked up Gutenberg and examined their curriculum. It is outstanding. We should be proud to avail Gutenberg the opportunity to locate in Sisters.

Doug Wood

•••

To the Editor:

As suggested in the article, readers should visit the Gutenberg Web site and, under "About Gutenberg," review the doctrinal statement.

Gutenberg is quite rigid in the beliefs that its faculty can hold and, presumably, teach. That rigidity does not come out in this article. Sisters citizens should be aware of the values and restrictions of the school before granting any unusual privileges that might then reasonably be demanded by others.

Lou Thompson

•••

To the Editor:

I think having Gutenberg College move to Sisters is a great idea!

Drew Berding

•••

To the Editor:

My disgust meter is buried in the red. Steve Coltin's letter last week was appallingly short on facts and long on ignorance.

Coltin's only fact was that more died at ground zero than Pearl Harbor, as if this overused comparison should turn a light on in our heads that allows us to ignore the unnecessary (and incompetently managed) war that has now taken from us more precious lives than ground zero, not to mention the tens of thousands of serious casualties.

Coltin attributes the confusion to the "despicable rhetoric from our own left wing politicians." I must point out that 72 percent of Americans want the troops home by April. The situation may be a little worse than he thinks.

The radical and feckless opinions of Coltin suggest that all we need is a tougher foreign policy. I shudder to think what he has in mind if preemptive war isn't enough.

The America I grew up in was not the world bully. It stood for something great and intangible. We protected less able countries from bullies. We tried to stand for what is right and decent. A lot of mistakes were made along the way, but we persevered to earn the respect of our citizens and the free world.

We understood that guaranteeing the rights of the few guaranteed the rights of the many. We learned that we had to work against racism and bigotry at home if we were to be the champion of human rights globally. We found ways to help the poor and the elderly, and we felt proud of our achievement. Paying taxes was a patriotic duty.

My America is the greatest place in the history of earth. Coltin's America would leave us a broken down shell of democracy forgotten and authoritarianism realized.

May God grant us the wisdom to not only preserve the physical integrity of America but to also forever treasure the idea that IS America.

Dave Hydes

•••

To the Editor:

I was enjoying The Nugget when I came across a wonderful article a couple weeks ago by Jim Anderson describing the amazing efforts of local veterinarians attempting to help injured American Bald Eagles.

I was disappointed that the article omitted another local vet-hero by the name of Dr. Robert Fuller, DVM. Dr. Fuller is a local Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon who practices throughout Deschutes County. The photo accompanying the article pictures Dr. Fuller and Dr. Liedblad performing the delicate orthopedic surgery.

I am aware that both Dr. Fuller and Dr. Liedblad donate both their time and resources to help injured wildlife whenever they are presented with a case. I admire their dedication to care for and help suffering wildlife. Our community is fortunate to have vet-heroes such as Doctors Fuller and Liedblad.

Thanks for caring for nature.

Cindy Greer