The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • B5

NEWS 5B Keep pressure on Goodlatte Thank you for your excellent coverage of Bob Goodlatte lately. I see that he replies to you the same way he does to constituents, by sending a form letter that says nothing. We all need to flood his meetings (with a staff person, not even though they are worthless. Evidently, the form answer to every question is, speak for the What good is this? The staffers even say what legislation working on. But by showing up, we will show that not going away! We must keep the pressure on.

This man is representing all of us, whether he likes it or not. NANCY PYLE Staunton Waynesboro reject South River settlement Correction: Updated the name of the writer of this letter. Over the past five months, leadership have had candid and productive discussions with trustee representatives of Gov. Terry administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, regarding potential projects that could be included in the proposed natural resource damage assessment settlement involving mercury contamination of the South River.

There remains in the community frustration around the apparent inability for certain projects to be included in the restorations plan. The proposed trout grow-out facility is at the center of much of that frustration. The substance of the opinions expressed by various organizations and individuals, disappointed or frustrated by the proposed restoration plan, are important. The attendance at the public information session in January was impressive. We would encourage all interested citizens and stakeholders, however, to consider a larger perspective and longer view with respect to the settlement and restoration plan.

Feedback concerning the prospects of various projects has been consistent and clear especially with respect to the trout grow-out facility. It does not sufficiently address restoration criteria, and will not be funded. Should the state or federal government ever decide to construct such a facility, the City of Waynesboro would welcome that investment. That said, the proposed NRDA settlement is important and historic, and one that should be celebrated for all the benefit it will deliver to the South River, its biology and ecology, and enjoyment. We encourage interested parties to resist the urge to pick the proposal apart for the set-aside projects identified in the resource plan.

The truth is this, a settlement is poised to contribute substantially to our community, and will provide important ecological, recreational and water quality benefits to not only the City of Waynesboro, but for all Virginians. While advocacy and interest groups will continue to voice their opposition to the settlement, it is important that all citizens understand that a exists, and that the City of Waynesboro is actively en- gaged to ensure that signature projects within the city are directly acknowledged as the roll-out of the settlement begins. Our city will not step over a dollar to pick up a dime. TERRY R. SHORT JR.

Waynesboro Goodlatte works to keep secrets Ihave sincere concerns about the integrity of Rep. Bob Goodlatte. Despite his failed attempt to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics earlier this year, it seems he is now leading another ethically questionable charge to block an inquiry that might bring closure to the concerns of many Americans and help solidify authority. According to a Politico article and titled to bury House resolution on Trump the House Judiciary Committee will review a resolution asking the attorney general to provide documents related to President ties with Russia and business conflicts of interest. The committee is expected to kill the resolution on Tuesday.

As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Goodlatte is in a unique position to ensure this investigation takes place. Instead, he plans to keep this information shrouded in secrecy. Americans know about ties to Russia and conflicts of interest? This is not in our best interest. If nothing is found, that can only solidify position as leader of this nation. If, however, something concerning is found, it better to know? That is the only way Congress can properly provide oversight and watch out for the interests of the United States.

If Trump has personal interests in his heart, then he could be placing the lives of our soldiers at risk. He could be placing the financial security of our nation at risk. Knowledge, whether good or bad for President Trump, is certainly what is best for our nation. I believe only Democrats want to see answers to these concerns. we all like to settle this issue once and for all? I for one want to be hearing about it for the next 4-8 years.

Iencourage anyone who feels strong- ly about this issue to contact Mr. office on Monday and voice your opinion. Democrat, Republican, and Independent, he works for us and listening to his constituents is the only virtuous move he can make. KIM CHEEK Stuarts Draft Compassion sorely needed It is so easy to see how a well-intentioned and spontaneous lesson in a sixth-grade class balloons into an particularly during these times when so many of us are concerned about marginalization of underserved groups concerned about issues of justice. Aparent hears her son has played a slave and, understandably, all kinds of alarms go off.

It matter if she know that it was not an African- American slave, that the slave was actually a freed man in Haiti who had overthrown his French oppressors and victoriously helped to establish the first Black country in the Americas. Alocal TV station runs with a in the public story, the reporter admitting he had not first checked the facts. And our local paper does the same, continuing to repeat the error of the students portraying black slaves with their white slave masters. The whites in this reenactment were actually the American leaders, not these masters, who were negotiating with the French former rulers of Haiti for the purchase of the Louisiana territories. The school administrators saw the news reports and heard from the angry mother, and they are worried about the reputation of their school again, understandably.

But what about the teacher of this history lesson? Although remorseful for offending anyone in her efforts to teach a difficult SOL-required lesson, she was suspended from in the classroom indefinitely, without any support from her administrators. They did not make an effort to bring the parties together to discuss the situation and to try to move forward in a positive manner. Rather than support, they have done everything possible to humiliate, belittle and isolate this teacher. As a former educator and as a former volunteer of many years with the Staunton City schools, I am appalled by this lack of compassion for their faculty and lack of professionalism in handling this incident. BARBARA BROTHERS Staunton the introspection? voted in three presidential elections since had the privilege to vote.

Never have I voted for a Republican or a Democrat for president in any of those general elections. I could vote for either candidate in the general but it would be easier for Democrats to convince me than Republicans. That being said, seen very little introspection from the Democratic Party since loss. The biggest issue with both of the main political parties is that their campaigns are financed by corporations. There should be no debate that politicians serve the interests of those that finance their campaigns.

That fact alone means that our country is more an oligarchy than a democracy. Show some introspection Democrats. If you stop accepting corporate contributions millions more people will turn out for you in future elections. If you stop accepting corporate contributions then you learn your lesson. TIM WEAVER Staunton Whitesell brought Nichols mess Has anyone considered that (newly appointed Staunton School Board member Angela) Whitesell was behind the employment of Dr.

Stephen Nichols for the position of superintendent of Staunton City Schools and was also a staunch supporter of keeping him in his position after so many concerns were raised? How did that work out for the benefit of the school system? PAM COLLINS Staunton Will Goodlatte probe or protect? As member of the House Judiciary committee, Bob Goodlatte is protecting President Trump from being investigated by a special prosecutor for suspicious communications between campaign staff and the Russian government while Putin was alleged to be hacking Democrats and manipulating information for the purpose of tipping the scales towards Donald election. If those contacts were to facilitate that purpose, that is treason as defined in the U.S. Constitution. We are under attack! The Republicans are rolling over because they are partners in that attack. Is Goodlatte going to defend the Constitution or the Republican Party? We want aspecial prosecutor to be appointed that has the approval of both Democrats and Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee that has the resources to determine if treason has occurred.

Doing less Goodlatte becomes part of the cover up. Republicans cannot objectively investigate themselves. ELI FISHPAW Lexington Letters to the Editor AShaker community once had a problem with thieves coming in the night stealing their crops out of the field. What to do? They decided to plant more crops, some for themselves, some for the thieves, and some for the crows. Thieves and crows have to eat too.

Iget the impression that Americans are more focused on people are getting things they deserve than failing to get what they need. I suspect we would have hired guards with guns to protect the field, even if it was more expensive than planting additional crops. Shakers formed Christian communities who held all possessions in common, practiced celibacy, believed that all their labor was an expression of their faith, and produced furniture and buildings of astonishing beauty that we will value long after the Shakers are gone. (There are only two living Shakers.) The Shakers had many admirers, and they practiced hospitality. Every fall people would turn up proclaiming that they were considering joining the community.

They would stay through the winter, and when spring came, leave. The Shakers knew very well were just looking for a warm place to stay, but they never turned them away. They were unusual in many ways, not the least of which is that they were more worried that people might not have what they needed than that undeserving people would take advantage of them. Everyone in the community had to work and worship together. They running hotels; they were running communities.

(One community did for a time did run a commercial hotel). They took in unwanted children who could stay or go when they became adults. They knew everyone was not called to the Shaker way of life, but it was ajoyous life. No dour, disapproving people, these Shakers. Americans seem to be in a more sour mood.

A substantial percentage of us believe that poor people have it easy. We are apt to eye each other with distrust, alert to any situations of people getting what belong to them. Is there as much energy spent on worrying that people get what they need? Or deserve. Those are not the same things, but once you throw in the word people get testy. We are not sure that people should have health care regardless of their ability to pay.

Education beyond high school can be very expensive, and we drive students into debt. Reducing the burden is thought to be too expensive, and that is a real concern, but we could figure out a way if we truly believed in universal education. Isuspect we get hung up on thinking people should have to pay. It is as much a moral issue as a budget concern. People should not get something they are not willing to sacrifice money to get.

Do we fear that more than we fear people failing to get the education that they need to support themselves and to contribute their best to the rest of us? Is education a private good, or does the investment of the public in education create an obligation to give back? People are people. There will be slackers and takers, weak ones and immoral ones. The Shakers were well aware of that, but they did not obsess about it. Their center was a life of joy and simplicity rooted in their faith. None of us who were born here being Americans.

We won the birth lottery. Think of us as the trust- fund babies of the globe. What do we do with this political system and nation we inherited? Do we focus on fears that someone somewhere will get something they deserve, or do figure out how to take our inheritance and make it even better, for ourselves, for future generations, and for the larger world? Do we turn on each other like bitter siblings fighting over the will, or do we turn toward each other to create more than we were left? Plant more crops or hire more guards? Email Staunton columnist Patricia Hunt at Shaker life centered on joy, simplicity Patricia Hunt COLUMNIST One would think that once we reach a certain point in life, have most things that cause everyday mishaps pretty much figured out and be smart enough to avoid them. However, lately been starkly reminded of the old saying Never Too Old To Irecently shared with some friends a particularly boneheaded thing done not too long ago and was surprised at the hilariously similar things they were willing to tell on themselves. It was not only funny, but it also made this slow-learner feel a little less alone in the world.

Roger Miller taught us that we roller skate in a buffalo herd; I think we pretty much already knew that one, but it made for a great song lyric and those are the kinds of stupid things talking about here: the ones where you realize just how stupid you were the nanosecond after you did whatever it was you just did. One of those your moments. go first. For the first time in my life, I recently purchased an electric toothbrush. I mean to brag, but this toothbrush was the granddaddy of all toothbrushes.

It rotated, vibrated and gyrated at warp speeds that only the starship Enterprise could reach. My mistake with my new supersonic toy was activating it just after placing the glob of toothpaste on the bristles, but prior to placing it into my mouth. probably way ahead of me here on the result. Yep, that glob of toothpaste flung off the end of my fancy new toothbrush into parts unknown. not kidding, I never did find it.

I can only guess that perhaps now one with the wallpaper, or maybe it hold up against the forces of light speed and disintegrated mid-flight. not sure they should even make toothbrushes that can do that. At the very least, one should earn a license before taking that thing for a spin. Okay, go again. Earlier this week, I was not driving my usual car when I stopped to fill up the gas tank.

I realized after got out of the car that the gas cap was on the opposite side from what I was used to, so I got back in and drove around to another set of pumps only to discover that done the same thing again. After sheepishly looking around wondering how many others may have noticed my seemingly insurmountable problem, I finally nailed it on the third attempt, but, seriously, I had to concentrate! Okay, one more. in a hotel, already showered and shaved and the only thing left to do is put my contacts in. I have a few minutes before I need to leave for my appointment and I notice the winter dryness is showing up on my face and hands. So I take my glasses off and reach for the lotion on the counter.

As rubbing it on my face, I think to myself that this is the worst lotion ever made. Upon a second and closer look, I realize just plastered hair conditioner all over my face. It had a worse texture than that gloppy paste we used in Kindergarten craft class! My first thought is that just cruel to have all three lotion, shampoo, and conditioner all lined up on the counter together with very similar looking bottles. But then I realized just how blind I apparently am without my glasses on or contacts in. New travel rule: only apply lotion after the contacts have been put in.

Iknow all of you reading this have your own similar stories; those everyday little bobbles that can be embarrassing, but make us laugh at ourselves at the same time. And maybe they stay with us all our lives for just that reason to make us laugh at ourselves during an otherwise hectic and stressful life. got more, but you first! Langdon Reid is a native of Staunton, songwriter and performer. Email him at Sometimes, you just have to laugh Langdon Reid COLUMNIST.