Diversity should not ‘subvert’ our culture
In reference to “Celebrate diversity” (Letters to the Editor, Sequim Gazette, May 31, page A-8):
I’m going to start at the top and work down.
“In a jingoistic tirade” … In the writer’s lexicon jingoism means displaying love for one’s country while being honored to be one of its citizens. If the writer does not have those feelings, I pity him for indeed he is a man without a country.
“Proudly celebrate his 85th birthday.” Having completed my 85th revolution about the sun makes me 86. Now I admit that conclusion was reached by employing arithmetic and not “new math.”
In order to rebut my letter the writer had to rewrite it.
Nowhere in my letter did I state that our culture was under assault by immigrants. I said that our culture was under assault by every insignificant, self-serving, micro-minority in existence. I’m going to add that illegal aliens (immigrants to the writer) are not a micro-minority.
Yes, President Abraham Lincoln wrote “The Emancipation Proclamation” freeing the slaves. Just in case it has escaped the writer’s memory, Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President in our nation’s history. Historically it is the party of the Democrats who championed slavery.
“The Pilgrims should have taken on the culture of the indigenous peoples.” The Pilgrims arrival in the “New World” occurred in 1620. Judging historical events by the precepts of today is an exercise in utter futility.
I’m going to assume that the writer wasn’t alive during World War II, if so he was very young. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese were considered to be the embodiment of all that was evil — even including US citizens of Japanese decent. Hence the relocation camps, was this right? Of course not, but the United States was fighting for its survival.
One must consider the event in its historical context. If I read this writer’s thinking correctly, he likely believes the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were heinous, inhumane acts.
Now to diversity: Nothing wrong with that as long as those pushing diversity are not attempting to subvert a culture that has been around since Nov. 11, 1620. Incidentally, the language of the United States is English and has been since the above date.
Ethan Harris
Sequim
You can help yourself get off the floor
Difficulty getting off the floor is a matter of strength, not age.
Do you ask your family for help getting off the floor and off the ground in the garden? Do you ask your family to help you get out of a chair and car? Do you worry about them injuring themselves?
Just taking a walk every day is not enough to strengthen the specific muscles that you need in order to get off the floor and out of a chair independently. Most people don’t know that walking takes less muscle strength in your legs and “core” than it takes for getting up and down from a chair and off the floor.
Good news! If you start today to strengthen those specific muscles with easily accomplished exercises, you will notice some improvement in your abilities within 2-3 weeks. And then you need to continue these exercises to improve even more to become independent.
Ask for help from your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist or hire a personal trainer at one of our local gyms to learn these exercises.
Bonus: these same exercises will help you improve your balance!
Do not think you are “too old” to improve muscle strength. Thankfully, muscles can strengthen at any age!
We all have 20 minutes per day to spare for key exercises to be able to help ourselves get off the floor and out of chairs and cars more easily. The same 20 minutes can help you to be less vulnerable for falls. Save your family from injury trying to help you by learning how to help yourself today. The rewards are invaluable.
Barb Paschal
Sequim
Editor’s note: Paschal is a retired physical therapist.
