Examiner played right into oil/gas industry’s hands
Re: “10 brightest ideas of the week,” Oct. 25
Let me get this straight: The Examiner applauds a slight drop in public concern over global warming (still well over half of all Americans correctly view it as a threat), despite the clear scientific evidence linking carbon dioxide and other greenhouse pollutants with climate change? And despite the rapidly melting Arctic and Antarctic that is raising sea levels in ways that harm humans now? In other words, The Examiner now openly embraces oil and gas industry hacks who attempt to mislead the public for their own selfish ends? It’s one thing to be a libertarian, another to be a cheerleader for a deceitful corporate oligarchy. History will condemn such short-sighted views. Future human freedom is directly linked to society’s ability to combat global warming.
William J. Snape
Center for Biological Diversity
Washington E
ditor’s note: Hundreds of scientists have gone on record questioning global warming, including Frederick Seitz, past president of the National Academy of Sciences.
Opposition to charter school doesn’t make sense
Ward 5 residents showed their true colors during a meeting with Mayor Adrian Fenty. The topic of opening a new YouthBuild Public Charter School in an old vacant school in Shaw/Dunbar was on the agenda. About 30 students and staff from YouthBuild, where I work as an instructor and college placement specialist, came out to show the community why the school would benefit them. They didn’t really want to hear us because their minds were already made up. So we sat there quietly listening to many resident discuss why they did not want our new school in their neighborhood. I grew more disappointed, upset, angered and surprised at what I heard. I didn’t think the comments could get any more ignorant until I heard that they do not want more teens in the area because it would mean more trash, even though they do want to add retail development. Our students, only one of whom was able to speak during the chaotic meeting, were more respectful and mature than the adults. I just don’t understand why a community challenged with drugs, gangs, trash, and the homeless would not support a school whose mission and curriculum is designed to educate our urban youth to rise above such tribulations.
Volita Russell
Washington
A more beautiful way to use Pell grants
Re: “The Daily Outrage: Beauty school bailout,” Oct. 22
You consider using stimulus money in the form of Pell grants for cosmetology schools an outrage, but I am sure that the money goes to more schools than just cosmetology and pays for other areas of study as well. But I am also wondering what makes other areas of study, say journalism, better than cosmetology? As biased as journalists are nowadays, being a beautician is a more honorable profession.
Kate Odell
Alexandria
