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Letters to the Editor: Thanks, Mt. A Thank you Mt. Ashland for another great season. What a wonderful place to escape the woes of winter, a place to come together in nature and community, a place of pure fun, fresh air and fitness. Mt. Ashland, you rock! Deb Barchard, Ashland Which way peace? Mother Teresa is reputed to have said: "I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there." "Anti-War" divides and separates. "Pro-Peace" unites. Everyone of goodwill wants peace. Some believe in peace through war; others believe in peace through peace. Human history to date seems to show that any relative peace that has existed has come about through peace through war. Is human history to date encouraging for future human survival? Might there be another way to peace and where might it start? Which way peace? Jack Altman, Ashland The 'terror' of a mega-resort The general manager of Mt. Ashland Association, Jeff Hanson, stated the Ski Area works to protect rare plants (4/19/03). For that and other work done to preserve the mountain, he should be commended. I ski up there because it's quaint and community-owned, with low impacts compared to other huge resorts. In the same letter, Mr. Hanson also said the Rogue Group Sierra Club (RGSC) petitioned two rare plants as threatened or endangered "as one tactic used to block efforts toward ski area improvements." Having sat on RGSC committees, I know this is not the truth. The point was to protect the plants from threats, and it got Mr. Hanson to stop proposing bulldozing their habitat. Moreover, not a single group has worked to stop "improvements" on the ski area. Most conservation groups even support some level of expansion, recognizing the need for wider runs and better facilities. Where the disagreement ends and the community gets divided, is where Mr. Hanson will not compromise. Mr. Hanson's proposal to cut 80 football fields of clearcuts in a pristine roadless watershed, place a run across the headwaters of Ashland Creek, cut into the unique Engelman spruce grove, etc. is simply too extreme. He will not budge. He is spending public money promoting his plan on TV, radio, and with a bumper sticker campaign. It is obvious that the longer he pursues this, the more the community will be divided. Come to the middle Mr. Hanson; why terrorize the community with your mega-resort dream? Joe Vaile, Ashland Election Letters: '� Will my teacher lose her job �?' By Howard W. Braham Ashland Oregon's current economic shortcomings have left behind a trail of frustration at all levels of society, but none more visible than funding for our public schools. Historically, we adults have generally made responsible decisions about what our students need and the direction our schools should take. Accordingly, the numbers of 'real' crises have been minimal - until now. At the state level, we have lost our way on how to properly fund schools, and as a result, the decision-making process on budgetary matters at the local level has deteriorated into speculation at best. What can we do to ensure that our schools remain strong and supportive amidst this apparent chaos? And what do we say to the child who asks "� Will my teacher lose her job next year?" I suggest we need to: 1) � maintain our objectivity and believe that by working together we can and will address and overcome our fiscal uncertainties. We are facing serious problems which require making serious choices and difficult decisions. 2) � encourage and support local efforts to supplement school finances. Ashland School Foundation's Save Our Schools campaign is an important model that should be vigorously supported. Passing this year's Youth Activity Levy with a majority 'Yes' vote is, needless to say, essential for the next several years. 3) � ask more of our policy makers at the state level, and expect them in the future to respond accordingly. How we deal with funding issues over the next few years may be our watershed investment for generations to come. 4) � acknowledge and reconfirm that students come first. Teachers and administrators embrace this every day, and so should we. 5) � make it a point to foster our school officials and praise them for their efforts. Ashland students consistently rate high in state education standards and routinely enter the colleges of their choice. Such achievements are a direct result of the support and guidance received from their teachers, administrators and district staff. 6) � be civil with each other at all times. We certainly will not always agree on all issues but we do not need to take each other down in the process of compromise. 7) � assist the Ashland School District keep and obtain the resources needed to help ensure that our children have every opportunity to grow into responsible and involved adults. I challenge all of us to put schools first. Get involved any way you can whether you have children in school or not. I cannot answer the child's question about whether her teacher will have a job next year, but I would tell her that I promise to work hard to see that she and her classmates have the best schools and most supportive teachers and staff we can afford. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. 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