A favorable exchange
I was perplexed by your editorial (“Dressed For Success,” Oct. 31) likening Barack Obama’s dress to a foreign exchange student’s and perhaps not fitting in. In my experience, people in other countries dress more carefully, professionally and stylishly than many Americans. In fact, anyone traveling abroad is reminded to “not look like an American tourist,” meaning no sneakers, sweats or backward baseball caps.
There are 582,984 foreign students studying in higher education in the U.S., bringing $14.5 billion dollars to America, including $33 million to Maine. UMaine’s valedictorian and salutatorian last year and the 2006 outstanding electrical engineering student in the United States are all UMaine international students. International students are risk-takers who leave behind families and all that is familiar to pursue an education that can be used at home in preparation for a successful life. They are motivated and hard-working with a focus on the future — as is President-elect Obama.
Like foreign exchange students who will be the next generation of world leaders, Obama used each day to reach out, learn about and understand the many cultures in the U.S. to use that knowledge for a better world. We can all learn a lot from foreign students.
The university’s annual “Culturefest,” is Saturday, Nov. 8, in the Field House from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free and provides a window to the cultures, foods and countries of our nearly 400 international students and scholars.
Karen Boucias
Office of International Programs and National Student Exchange
Orono
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Economic insurance
While deserved attention has been given to our “energy crisis,” this may be distracting us from an economic crisis. There is no shortage of home heating oil, gas or diesel. What is lacking for some is money to pay for these essentials at current prices. Households might be able to handle the higher cost of these essentials, but when combined with increasing food costs, medical costs, etc., many are in an economic crisis.
What can be done? We can work to ensure those in need are aware of and have access to existing government “safety net” programs such as food stamps, heating assistance, general assistance, the rental and property tax circuit breaker programs, and supplemental nutrition programs like WIC. Information is available on the City of Bangor’s Web page and cable access channels. In addition, 211 is a statewide resource-referral telephone number with important resource information.
We can be strategic with our philanthropic dollars. For example, dollars donated to the Good Shepherd Food bank are magnified by their ability to buy food at 16 cents on the dollar. We urge our federal and state leaders to work diligently to address long-term energy issues and need neighbors stepping up to help neighbors by making sure they are warm and safe, sharing a meal or helping to weatherize a drafty window or door. We can save over $1 billion in heating costs over 10 years by weatherizing every home in Maine.
We must ensure that no one in our community goes to bed hungry or malnourished or worried about staying warm.
C. Shawn Yardley
Bangor Health & Community Services
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Selective statistics
The BDN’s selective use of statistics in the “Consolidation Concerns” editorial of Oct. 30 would do credit to any political campaign spin doctor.
It cites a 37 percent increase in state funding without mentioning that at least 10 of those points are to comply with the 2004 funding referendum. It cites that 37 percent as a given while knowing that the state is talking about flat funding for next year.
The editorial also cites a projected 11 percent rise in the “CPI” for the 2006-2009 period without noting that you chose to use the CPI that does not include energy or food. You also assert that the penalty will be that the state withholds “administrative” funds without noting that those funds are primarily for special education.
The editorial also says that the state has encouraged voluntary cost-savings and offered financial incentives for consolidation. Actually the state has spent most of its time demanding expensive testing and curriculum changes and offered no incentives for consolidation that I am aware of.
The BDN can take any position it chooses, but it would make your case a bit more persuasive if you were more honest and balanced in your argument.
Ben Wootten
Blue Hill school board chairman
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Political pawns
As a former public school teacher, I must take exception to the picture of a young boy on the front page of the Oct. 31 issue of the BDN holding up political signs. Children this young do not comprehend the political process. They get wrapped up in the brouhaha and the views of their parents.
When I taught fourth grade and administered the MEA test, as 4th grade teachers did throughout the state, questions with regard to local, state and federal government issues were included (this area was not included in the fourth-grade curriculum of our district). The “powers that be,” in their infinite wisdom, chose to include such questions in the local benchmark assessments the next year. Most of the 4th graders who responded to these questions had little if any idea of the whole concept.
I had a similar experience when living in Fort Kent. Children as young as 3 and 4 were picketing in front of the local supermarket with anti-abortion signs. It makes no difference which side of these issues you are on. Children should not be used as pawns for adults.
I feel that “straw votes” are much more appropriate at the middle school and high school levels when students have a better understanding of the process and can do some independent thinking.
At the very least, if the BDN feels it is appropriate to include pictures such as the one which appeared on the front page, they should be relegated to another section of the paper.
Elizabeth Davis
East Orland
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Scrap yield, stop signs
In these difficult economic times, families and businesses need to find new ways to save money and increase income. Municipalities need to do the same. Here is a suggestion for the city of Bangor.
Since a high percentage of area drivers ignore stop signs and yield signs, the city should take them all down and sell the signs and posts as scrap metal. Not only would this produce immediate revenues, but savings would accrue from the reduced maintenance and not needing to erect new signs as future city development occurs.
A thought about red lights at a later date.
Bob Cormier
Bangor