Our readers' views

AP aligns with school involvement

As a recent graduate of a Clark County school (Go Papermakers), Iapplaud the Dec. 31 editorial, Kids these days, on the Running Startprogram. I had friends who were successful in Running Start andgained both credits and skills that served them well in four-yearcolleges. However, I would also encourage students to look at theAdvanced Placement programs. Not only are AP classes at least asintellectually engaging as college courses, but they allow studentsto have more of a holistic experience by staying more closelyinvolved with their school. The best and brightest students deservea challenging education, but ought to experience the wealth ofactivities in high school and use their talents to give back totheir schools community.

Like many AP students, I was involved in band, drama, studentleadership, sports, and mock trial over the course of my high schoolcareer, and thanks to AP classes I ended up with three semesters ofcredit at a state university. Students should look at all theoptions, but AP classes are a great way to enrich education both inand out of the classroom and get the most out of their time in highschool.

J. Jacob Marsh

Vancouver

Things learned in 2010

I learned that the Earth is not flat.

I have learned that most politicians are good honest people.Most. And the number keeps changing.

I learned that not all Democrats are looking out for myinterests. I learned that not all Republicans are either.

I learned that not all reporters are honest news gatherers.

I learned that most still are, but not as many as before.

I learned that deep down inside people are good, and truly careabout their neighborhood, city, state and country. And if push cameto shove, pretty much everybody would drop whatever pettydifferences there were and stand shoulder to shoulder to facewhatever may come our way.

I learned that for some it takes a push and shove about equal toa 7.9 earthquake during a level 5 hurricane to get them there.

Most importantly, I learned that the Internet and all that itholds, blessing to us it may be, is only two-dimensional. It haswidth and height, but without editing and human interaction thatcarries with it the nuances and subtleties of communication, it willalways lack depth. And I have learned I am nowhere close to beingdone learning. May 2011 hold more of the same.

Rob Figley

Vancouver

Two acts of heroism stand out

The year just passed is hardly one studded with heroes in theolder sense: a person of distinguished courage or ability, admiredfor brave deeds and noble qualities. The leadership of our countrywas particularly bereft of this heroic spirit. There are two whostand out, at least in my mind, as heroes: Bradley Manning andJulian Assange.

U.S. Army Pvt. Manning has been accused of the exposure,appropriation, or theft (choose your word) of government documents,which at the least are an embarrassment for a government based onhypocrisy and avoidance of the rules of law. His punishment, alreadycommenced without the troublesome inconvenience of a hearing, is 23hours a day solitary confinement.

The other hero is Assange, founder of WikiLeaks. Assange releasesto the world documents leaked to his organization by whistle-blowers like Manning. His avowed goal is to make the worlds largeorganizations and governments more open and honest by exposing theirdark machinations to an oblivious public. Whether the Americanpublic, cowed by a declining economy and illogical fears, and numbedby the circus that has become modern culture, is even capable ofunderstanding, much less outrage, is yet to be seen. Regardless, theheroism of these two deserves our praise.

William Sterr

Vancouver

Uncover the beauty in politics

I recently jotted down names of the first prominent conservativewomen that came to mind, a couple of politicians and the othersmedia types. They were Sarah Palin and Nikki Haley, Megyn Kelly,Monica Crowley, Ann Coulter and Tammy Bruce. Prominent liberal womenselected in my same random manner produced the names of HillaryClinton and Janet Napalitano, Joy Behar, Roseanne Barr, RosieODonnell and Whoopi Goldberg. Being direct, articulate and charmingdefines most of these conservative women while the liberal womenare, at least to varying degrees, known more for being evasive,strident and vulgar.

Does the unfortunate lack of physical beauty, perhaps even alittle self-loathing, somehow lead some to follow the ideologicalpath of liberalism? Is conservatism a manifestation of inner beautythat sometimes even displays itself as physical beauty?

During his recent Senate race, Nevadas Harry Reid said he couldntunderstand how any Hispanic could vote Republican. Other notableDemocrats have expressed similar puzzlement at how any black or gaycould be a Republican. They seem to suggest that someones appearanceshould dictate their politics. If Democrats are correct, the timemight be right for physically attractive members of all three groupsto question their political beliefs and consider changing parties.

Pat McCarty

Woodland

Lets be as diverse as our meals

If we can manage to get along with such diverse Christmas evemeals, as I polled among family and friends, there is hope for theworld after all:

A seven fish dinner with chowder for my Rhode Island Italianfriends.

A buddy had clam chowder, salad and garlic bread.

Turducken (Chicken inside duck inside turkey) for my chef friend.

My mailman had a vegan Thai dinner.

Sister tacos, of course. Tater tots, chocolate chip cookies andpeanut clusters (homemade).

A doctor friend splurged on deli foot-long turkey sandwiches.

Palm Springs friends had lasagna, Caesar salad and rolls.

A Jewish friend had traditional breakfast of Matzoh ball soupwith chicken, bagels, cream cheese, lox, brisket and Matzoh brie.

A gym buddy had spaghetti, rice salad, pickled shrimp, homemadecookies, toast and dip, and homemade brew.

Sister, traveling in Spain, had tapas, salad, fried potatoes andred wine.

Gym trainer had peanut butter and honey sandwiches on the way toMt. Hood. No surprise, he always eats that.

Local store clerk had two cheeseburgers after work followed bylate-night Chinese dinner.

Me? Hotel warmed-up pulsa sausages, eggs, toast, beef ribs andfried potatoes.

PS: Ill admit that most went back to traditional ham, roast orturkey dinner on Christmas Day.

Robert Henry Walz

Vancouver