Law enforcement praise

To the editor -- I applaud the efforts of the Yakima Police Department and their Proactive Enforcement Unit. This unit, along with the YPD Gang Enforcement Team, is the type of organized effort that law enforcement agencies throughout Yakima County need to adopt. Targeted efforts focusing on specific crime and gangs are the only way meaningful progress can be made. Furthermore, targeted efforts need to happen countywide or we will simply squeeze criminals and gangs from one part of Yakima County to another. Law enforcement agencies from all the local municipalities, the Yakama Nation and Yakima County government need to work on a countywide coordinated effort.

KEVIN BOUCHEY

Candidate for
Yakima County commissioner

District No. 2

Toppenish

Any real qualifications?

To the editor -- Those of us who have questioned Barack Obama's qualifications to be U.S. president are not alone as shown by these selected endorsement comments:

Associated Press political writer David Ammons quotes Gov. Chris Gregoire Feb. 8: "Obama brings hope and inspiration to young and old alike. He is leading us toward a positive feeling of hope in our country and I love seeing that happen."

"Obama has brought astounding new energy and hope to the Democratic Party," Seattle Democratic National Committeeman David McDonald, June 3.

"Barack is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from the costly misadventure in Iraq ... Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian," Sen. Robert Byrd, May 19.

Missouri state Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal "expressed frustration with Obama for offering few specifics in his speeches," yet when endorsing him said she is confident the "best and brightest" policy experts will flock to Washington to staff his administration, as reported by John Yang of NBC, June 3.

So we have a charismatic, energetic, visionary, courageous, shining and noble-hearted presidential candidate as described by some who endorsed him.

But what are his "real" qualifications that I can believe in?

Are there any?

KIRK GROENIG

Ellensburg

The art of disagreement

To the editor -- The immigration debate again has reared its ugly head. This time it is Kenneth Haugland in his June 14 letter. Now to clear one thing up, when people want to discuss and debate the immigration issue I give full respect to all opinions, regardless if I agree with those opinions or not. But when Mr. Haugland says that immigrants should be repelled "using whatever physical force is necessary," that is a call to violence, which should not be tolerated, especially by those who choose to ignore the reality of the situation. Sun Tzu in "The Art of War" taught that one should know their enemy, and I am trying to understand Mr. Haugland.

One thing that Mr. Haugland needs to understand is that the immigrants he speaks of come from a long history of political revolutions, racism and civil war. So perhaps Mr. Haugland should read Sun Tzu's third chapter, which states, "If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself you are sure to be defeated in every battle."

GONZALO GUILLEN

Yakima