Island Guardian

Thursday, February 24th

Please Don't Try To Put Words In Thomas Jefferson's Mouth

Knowing something about the works of Thomas Jefferson, and having studied the Federalist Papers, there was something about the bumper sticker I keep encountering here in Friday Harbor that didn't seem right. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism", reads the bumper sticker -attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Was Jefferson at the time of the founding of this Country concerned about, and championing, "dissent". While waiting in my car for coffee at Roy's I twice found myself in line behind a car bearing that message. I was compelled to look into it.

An internet search took me to the Jefferson Library at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. A response from this institution to my query revealed that neither the head research librarian, nor the Editor of the Thomas Jefferson Retirement Papers at Monticello, could attribute that statement to Jefferson. In addition it is not in the Jeffersonian Cyclopedia. Jefferson said many prescient and enlightened things, he apparently however, did not say this thing. Whatever the motivation is for claiming that he did, all I can say is:
Please don't try to put words in Thomas Jefferson's mouth.

Member of the SJ Jeffersonian Society
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Wednesday, February 16th

This Must be Right, it's so Official Looking

Does anyone get the new intersection adjacent to the access to Bill Weissinger's office? The one at the (can you call it an intersection?) of Nash And Caines. I mean what are you, as a pedestrian, supposed to do when you are walking along the sidewalk and then find you have been forced to veer out into the street.

If you are driving in a car going to Market Place are you guided by the buttons and drive into oncoming traffic? Who has the right-of way when two large vehicles try to drive past one another, and some poor senior with a walker is negotiating the sidewalk? There is a little trusting bird in the back of your mind, that says "this must be right it's so official looking" -but then your brain -hopefully, takes over and you think "this doesn't work.…"

Some people have suggested that the Town gave this traffic imbroglio their blessing -understanding that it is a source of consternation and in the process has the benefit of not suggesting, but requiring that people drive slowly. Examination of the 90 degree turn further up Nash street verifies this rationale: when cars approach from opposite directions at this corner -they take turns. Is this a new standard in city planning? Rather than post speed signs (and reap the booty), you build-in conflict situations. Does the city also accept liability when individuals driving in a normal "city" manner end up having accidents?

-Donna Gavora

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Friday, February 11th

Woman's Restroom on the WA State ferry

I've gotten complacent, lazy I thought, as I pondered what to do about the fact that there was no toilet paper in the toilet stall of the woman's restroom on the WA State ferry. Years ago when I was in Czechoslovakia, I developed the habit of coming prepared. Even if there was something to use in the rare public accommodation, the toilet paper had more in common with wax paper than anything else. So you mined your jacket or purse with more ‘accepting" materials. Luckily this time there was a Kleenex in my pocket, so I managed -without waiting to call out for help when someone else entered the room . After I left, I stopped by the pursers office, he was siting there, feet up, reading a paperback. I suggested that he have someone look into this situation. He looked at me, which was, I guess his way of acknowledging my complaint.

On a the return trip several weeks later, I was sitting in my car reading a book when a ferry employee stopped at the car next to mine and engaged the passenger in a rather spirited political discussion. Not realizing I was in my car, he lounged against my door -rearranging my mirror. This started before we got to Lopez, and ended after a brief interruption, in Friday Harbor. I had not had until then realized that these people had nothing to do but load cars – I was going to suggest that he check the restroom conditions, but then figured it was probably the responsibility of a different union, so I avoided the conflict. As we sat waiting to leave the boat, I pondered the ferry situation, marveling at how accepting we were about the conditions, lack of amenities, increasing costs etc. We accept the situation as a given, something beyond our control to change. Then I thought about Slovakia and the Czech republic.

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Saturday, February 5th

Einstein could have been a lawyer

I just have to share this with you. In the Feb. 3 Wall Street Journal, Section D, first page, Jeffre-Zaslow in his Moving On column, entitled: What If Einstein Had Taken Ritalin? ADHD's Impact on Creativity, writes that over 20% of the children today have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and drug prescriptions for pre-schoolers were up to almost 50%.

The above facts are the sad and alarming part of the story that deals with what many believe is the inappropriate use of drugs (DARE, where are you when we need you?) for children -and also adults, but here are the two quotes that had me rolling on the floor:

"Wilma Fellman, a career counselor who helps clients with ADHD" believes that the drugs help people become more capable, and stated "God know what Einstein would have accomplished had he been diagnosed and treated".

Okay, so to me it is both funny and alarming that a "professional" would say that, but here is the ringer, from Dr. Honos-Webb, who, according to the article believes "ADHA drugs are good for patching up weaknesses, not enhancing strengths.." and then goes on to say "If your parents want you to be a lawyer, maybe these drugs can help you do that."

-Jean Mechant
Friday Harbor

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Thursday, February 3rd

Weekly Nag Purpose

THE WEEKLY NAG is a column dedicated to giving vent to some of the many things that we may find confusing, perplexing, frustrating, exasperating etc. about Island life. It’s tone is intended (the path to hell is paved with…) to be light hearted, and non-libelous.

The Weekly Nag welcomes contributions: All submittals are subject to being edited without review from the contributor. The Nag may publish anonymous submittals, but only if the author is revealed to the Editor

[Weekly Nag Purpose">link]

TRAFFIC TANGO

Having as much patience in traffic as the next person, wanting to be as nice in traffic as the next person, I am loathe to put my rant in print lest my language convey more rage and less frustration than I intend. But, since I seem to have the right of way, here goes . . .

The thing that really burns me is the people who, in the guise of being tolerant, soft-hearted drivers behave instead like ignorant, soft-headed ones. I am referring to those who decide that it would be “nice” of them to sit through their turn at the 4 way stop at Spring and Blair. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. You think, ‘wouldn’t people recognize a certain decency in me if I let them have my turn?’ The answer is NO! The remaining three cars at the stop go through a series of false starts and braking, not knowing who should go next. The rules of the road break down. Yielding the right of way and taking turns is thrown to the wind and a kind of chaos reigns until someone gets up enough guts to venture out into the intersection. The rule at a 4 way stop is that the driver reaching the intersection first GETS TO GO FIRST after coming to a complete stop.

If we end up with traffic lights on this island it is not going to be because they are necessary for the proper and expedient movement of cars. It is going to be because there is too much evidence that some of you either don’t know or refuse to abide by the rules of the road and need a little red light to command you. Please do your part, take your turn, turn on your signal. We all know that you are “nice”.

Wow, I feel better!!!
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