To the Editor:

On September 11, 2006, 15 people from Luce and West Mackinac counties met to discuss a bill currently before Congress that proposes doing something about the level of madness and violence in the world. On September 11, 1906, Mahatma Gandhi proposed in Johannesburg, South Africa, that more could be achieved by peaceful means than could be achieved by violence. Echoing Jesus Christ, even though he was not a Christian, Gandhi told his followers to love their enemies but to stand up for what was right and to achieve their goals using peaceful means.

The bill is before the U.S. Congress and Senate that would establish a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace. The primary function of a United States Department of Peace would be to research, articulate, and facilitate nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflict. The Department of Peace would be dedicated to peacemaking and the study of conditions that are conducive to both domestic and international peace. Services would be coordinated to every level of American society. This would be about matters from spouse abuse and school yard bullying to armed international conflict. The development of initiatives from local communities, religious groups, and non-governmental organizations would be encouraged.

Let's support an America that is "a shining city on a hill," the light of which is the light of nations. Right now we are the world's number one arms supplier. Our military budget now exceeds all the rest of the world's military budgets combined. When asked what country do they fear the most as the world's greatest threat to peace, most inhabitants of the world name the United States. Our murder rate, when compared to other industrialized countries, is often more than 100 times higher than comparable countries. And it is not about gun ownership; Canada has similar gun ownership rates. It is about the way we think and solve problems. We have to start solving problems peacefully. America is the unquestioned super power of the world, with the ability to bring peace to the world. What a wonderful, shining example we could be to the world.

This is a grassroots effort to turn love into a political force. Many county and city officials have passed a resolution favoring passage of the bill that would establish this department.

Jim Ramelis

Gould City

News Article of City Manager Evaluation Poorly Portrayed To the Editor:

I was rather disappointed with the way your paper's article portrayed the city manager's evaluation process. The highly edited commentary did not reflect the complete text of all the evaluations. It is my opinion that the article portrayed a quite negative cumulative summary of the evaluations, with a select few negative comments removed from their complete context. This did not reflect accurately all the comments that I had the privilege to read throughout all of the evaluations that were done by the six sitting council members. I realize that summarizing, by its nature, is a very subjective process, and therefore difficult to even practice. The article simply did not reflect an evaluation process that culminated in a unanimous satisfactory vote from the complete council.

I thank you for your time, and space.

Tom Della-Moretta St. Ignace City Councilman

Treatment at Mackinac Straits Hospital Was 'Top Notch' To the Editor:

I would like to relate an extremely positive experience I had as a patient at the Mackinac Straits Hospital. I was a patient in the Emergency Room Tuesday, September 5, receiving treatment for a very painful kidney stone. My experience at Mackinac Straits Hospital was the most positive experience, under the circumstances, that I have ever had. The Hospital was top notch and the medical staff treated me with dignity and respect. I can not say enough positive things about this clinic. Having been born and raised in Chippewa County, I have been to other ER facilities but I would have to say that if you want top-notch, superior, caring treatment, you may want to consider traveling to Mackinac Straits for any medical issues you may have.

Amber Tuzinowski

Rudyard