Crosswalks emblematic of efforts for equitable city
Having lived in Bozeman for 11 years, I am pleased that our community now has rainbow crosswalks as a gesture toward full LGBTQIA+ and minority inclusion. With this open support of diversity, my appreciation for this city is ever-growing, constantly fed with civic compassion.
As an adolescent in rural Montana, I remember a town dismissive of LGBTQIA+ residents and hostile to the perceived immorality of their “life choices.” I was no better, engaging in a culture that routinely marginalized LGBTQIA+ traits. Matthew Shepard’s murder in 1998 had no impact on my behavior. I grasped the tragedy, but the social significance was lost on me.
I was unmoved by DOMA or California’s Prop 8, wrongly perceiving them as legitimate acts. My perspective shifted after I enrolled at MSU in 2009, and through this new social dynamic, I learned
that being an LGBTQIA+ individual is a natural state rather than a chosen way of life. I regret spending my first quarter-century without that understanding. While my prejudices were born from sheltered ignorance, I do not expect forgiveness, but I shall proudly spend the rest of my life trying to earn it.
Although LGBTQIA+ acceptance has progressed during my time — Obergefell v. Hodges is a powerful benchmark — the rights of Blacks and people of color have stagnated since 1968, with current protests being the latest sizzle without steak. The courts undermine their civil liberties and the school-to-prison pipeline flows freely, flooding our justice system with poor Black and brown people. As a white Montanan, my exposure to these tragic circumstances is limited, but I welcome their public acknowledgement.
Like me, Bozeman is not perfect. The crosswalks are only a token gesture markedly disproportionate to the historical injustices, but I know they are emblematic of the city’s efforts to build a welcoming, equitable community for all.
Joe Hancock
Bozeman
Wearing a mask in public is true sign of patriotism
Just a reminder that wearing a mask in any public/private enclosed venue is patriotic. Those who choose not to wear a mask endanger our most vulnerable employees and fellow citizens: our police officers, firefighters, national guard, city and county employees, smoke jumpers, FWP employees, health care workers, assisted living employees and their patients, senior service volunteers, educators, grocery and drug store workers, preschool teachers, truckers, employees in retail sales and real estate and legal services. I’ve missed many others, but you get the gist.
Waving a flag and declaring your individual liberty does not make you a patriot. It makes you a very dangerous and lethal vector to spread this careless and lethal virus across our nation
continuing to kill not only our fellow citizens but our economy.
John Backes
Bozeman
Many steps still needed to keep our children safe
What a challenge we have for reopening schools. The March 13 to June quarantine has been wasted. By lifting this restriction without a mask mandate or testing requirement in place the state has seen numbers multiply from the influx of citizens from COVID infested states. On July 9, it was reported that 93 out-of-state visitors had tested positive here. Did they get COVID after arriving in Montana? Unlikely, each surely passed the virus to residents, on average to seven others and they each to seven others, etc.
It appears we have sacrificed our children’s return to safe education for the tourist dollar. Now education leaders are scrambling to open schools safely. The superintendent OPI Elsie Arntzen appears not willing to work with the governor, quibbling over mask mandate for schools, the schools are in Montana and come under the jurisdiction of state wide requirements. Please address the issues of safety, social distancing, groups of less than 50, distance learning, what a nightmare for the teachers.
Where is the $75 million earmarked for schools re-opening going? Has anyone addressed the ventilation issue in schools that are over 100 years old?? How can my granddaughter be safe in a school that has no ventilation besides an open window? There is no filtration of the air. Viral loads reach infective capacity in 15 minutes. What an added concern and risk for our teachers.
Parents in all directions are trying to put together their own group of students to keep them safe by educating at home. My daughter is a teacher and three separate individuals have asked if she is available. Ms. Arntzen, please address these concerns. If you cannot provide a safe environment in our schools then these parents must be reimbursed for doing so in their homes.
Joan Holborn, RN
Bozeman
The planet is fighting back; too bad no one cares
As a drafted infantryman in Vietnam in 1967, I was exposed to the travesty of human-caused impacts on birds by reading Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.” After being severely wounded, with Rachel’s impetus, the VA helped me eventually receive advanced degrees in wildlife ecology. Unfortunately, “….one of the penalties of an environmental education” (as Aldo Leopold wrote) I realized I was living “….alone in a world of wounds” – and not exclusively the military type. Fast-forward to springsummer 2020 when wounds were never so prominent. During trips to my old haunts in western Montana, I was stunned, as were several of my colleagues, by the near total absence of common birds.
First noticed were meadowlarks that were nearly ubiquitous until a few years ago, then the decline in red-winged blackbirds, plus horned larks and other neotropical birds and raptors, especially an ominous, recent decline in golden eagles.
In fact, a biologist/ecologist on an extended float trip on the Lower Yellowstone River recently queried me, “Why no goldens?” I had to respond, “…..climate change, wind turbines, lead (from carcasses), no rabbits (leporid hemorrhagic disease), drought, subdivisions, shooting, electrocution, disturbance, rodenticides, corporate agriculture”, on and on…”– all cumulative from too many humans and not just affecting eagles. Three billion Continental birds lost since 1970.
Last winter the absence of cottontail rabbits (see above) also struck me. This spring, lack of ground squirrel “road pizza” that used to embellish our highways plus remote squirrel colony vacancies were quite evident.
Also, despite extended travel at highway speed this summer, there was remarkable absence of insect density mashed on the windshield. Any guess what else may be affecting birds, directly or indirectly?
I suspect the planet is fighting back (COVID, SARS, Ebola, etc.) but “wounding” is nearing fatal and nobody but the “penalized” listen or seem to care.
Al Harmata
Bozeman
Bozeman Daily Chronicle Letters to the Editor 8/23/20