Letters to the editor, 11-24

November 24, 2004

Teaching support

Nov. 17 marked the 17th annual observance of Education Support Professionals Day, a day set aside to salute our education support professionals and the contributions they make to education. The interaction between children and support professionals is vital to the continued success of public education. Their work is something to celebrate.

Support professionals do more than provide nutritious meals, transport our children, keep our schools clean, make deliveries, and work beside teachers as paraprofessionals. They also serve as positive role models. They are essential education partners.

Along with our salute to support personnel, Nov. 19 was designated as Substitute Educator's Day. These employees are called in to temporarily replace regularly employed teachers or paraprofessionals. Substitute educators are serious about the education of our community's children. They are professionals who are skilled to step into a variety of classroom situations. Substitutes are a valuable asset to our schools.

Thanks to all staff for their contribution to our schools and community as we celebrated American Education Week, Nov. 14-20.

NANCY KROEGER

Co-President, Rapid City Education Association

Americans first

I am shocked to see how bigoted the anti-Republicans are. I call them such because not all of the Democrats are guilty of accusing 51 percent of the country's population of being either thoroughly ignorant and gullible, or willing co-conspirators in a plot to take over the country and establish some strong-armed dictatorship.

The democratic process worked; now try to make this place better instead of acting like spoiled brats and throwing tantrums because you didn't get your way.

Of course, the way most say to make it better is to make it harder to get anything done unless it agrees with their political agenda and then blame the further fragmentation of our society on the president, as if he has the power to run the country by himself.

In these anti-Republican responses, I see the same hatred and disregard for society as I see in the historical video footage of the Southern resistance to integration five decades ago. It's fueled by hate.

At least Sen. Kerry was responsible enough to avoid another divisive legal battle for the presidency because he is an American first. I wish more of my fellow countrymen were Americans first, too.

ZACARIAS S. COSTILLA

Ellsworth AFB

No outrage?

So Iraqis are reportedly outraged over a Marine shooting a terrorist, who only minutes before was trying to kill them. This terrorist, who was faking being dead, could have been holding a hand grenade.

But there is no reported outrage from Iraqis over the probable execution of Margaret Hassan, a woman who had devoted her life to assisting the Iraqi people, and the execution of dozens of others who were trying to help the Iraqis rebuild their country? There is no reported outrage from the Iraqi population over the billions of dollars that was ripped off by Saddam Hussein and diverted to France, Germany, China and Russia? There is no reported Iraqi outrage over terrorist from other countries coming into their country and killing women and children, police, and soldiers with car bombs? There is no reported Iraqi outrage about the oil pipelines being sabotaged? There is no reported Iraqi outrage about the terrorists using mosques as fighting positions?

I could go on but the key to this article (Nov. 17) is in the by-line, The Los Angeles Times, a scandal rag which is on par with the Weekly World News and its bigfoot hooker story. Give me a break.

HAROLD W. MURPHY

Rapid City

Letters welcome

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