LETTERS

Dear Editor

In the last two weeks, I have read two articles in The Times quoting Columbia County Commissioner Chuck Amerein, each of them a complete contradiction to the other. In the first article, “Commissioners approve $5,000 grant to The Club” printed Feb. 17,2022, Commissioner Amerein seems to suggest that funding could be withheld from this organization because they do not show sufficient patriotism by flying the American flag. He did not address the fact that The Club is a private non-profit organization providing a much-needed service to the community. He did not address the fact that the money was coming from the Juvenile Justice Fund, having no strings involving patriotism attached.

The very next week, Mr. Amerein attended a school board meeting and voiced his opinion that our school district should not enforce the WA State mask mandate because, “it’s about compliance, it’s about teaching blind obedience and I don’t think that’s something I’d like to see happen because the safety of our nation depends on the kind of people we raise in it.”

Which is it, Mr. Amerein? Are you looking for compliance and blind obedience from an organization who puts up a flag to appease you (and keep their funding), or do you want disobedience from a state-funded school to assert their freedom and independence?

Shellie McLeod

Dayton, Wash.