BBBS Grant
Dear Editor: The Big Brothers Big Sisters program was blessed to receive a grant from the Coast Guard Spouses’ and Women’s Association. Thank you to the association members for selecting Big Brothers Big Sisters for the grant among the many worthy non-profit organizations in our community. The grant funds will be used to create educational and cultural opportunities for matches in our program.
I had the pleasure of attending the Change of Command ceremony for U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka last Friday. I was moved by the comments of Rear Admiral Abel, outgoing Cmdr. Mark Vislay, and incoming Cmdr. William “Chip” Lewin that all promoted a culture of volunteerism and service to our community. I am extremely appreciative of our United States Coast Guard members and their families for their service to our country and community.
Kealoha Harmon,
Sitka Community Director,
Big Brothers Big Sisters
School Restrooms
Dear Editor: Anchorage School District and Juneau School District have adopted rules allowing students to use restrooms and locker rooms and to join teams, not on their biological gender, but on the basis of their selected gender. I oppose any condition that makes any student experience emotions harmful to that person’s academic fulfillment. Therefore, I see that it is necessary to accommodate every kind of gender identification.
I am not Catholic, but I picked up and read the most recent South East Alaska Catholic, a publication I follow intermittently both from curiosity and because it has proven thought-provoking. The anchor editorial was “Defending Human Sexuality.” In brief, the article defended biological sexual identification. No matter what I think about that, what struck me is the logical argument, the historical integrity of the logic, and the depth of support, in this great, worldwide religion, for traditional sexual definitions. If we do not reserve some restrooms in the schools, we are trampling on the religion of some students, just as we used to trample on the feelings of those who do not identify with their biological sex. We are violating religious freedoms with the new policies.
Let me recommend that we reserve at least one women’s/girls restroom, and one men’s/boys’ restroom in each building, for those whose religious or traditional beliefs include biological sexual identification. Nobody would be excluded from these restrooms but those with other foundations of sexual identity would be asked to respect the wishes of those who have been forced by policy to accept, and who in any case should respect, the wishes of those who indentify non-biologically.
As for sports, let everyone compete as they wish to be. Anyone unhappy with the showering/dressing arrangement can go directly home and attend to these matters as they like. None of this is as important as preserving the constitutional guarantee to freedom of religion.
The schools may not discriminate against anyone on the basis of sex. Neither may they discriminate on the basis of religion. We can not displace a basic and long-established freedom with a more recently realized freedom. The freedoms must coexist.
John Welsh, Sitka
Kinberg Celebration
Dear Editor: To the family and friends of Harriet Kinberg, you are cordially invited to attend a potluck celebration of her 90th birthday.
The potluck will be held at the St. Peter’s See House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Following the potluck, an informal no-host gathering will be continued at the Sea Mountain Golf Course, starting at 8 p.m.
The present of your presence, a birthday card and a dish to share is all that is requested.
Her children are very excited to have you join us for this wonderful event!
Deb (Kinberg) Bickford
Charlie Kinberg
Kaycie (Kinberg) Wilson
Barbara (Kinberg) Iaria
