Letters to the Editor: Regarding Sen. Mark Miloscia statements

Miloscia should apologize for statements

I was deeply troubled to read Mark Miloscia’s recent statement regarding the women’s march, which took place in every state and in cities worldwide. His statement called the protests “ugly, un-American and un-Christian.”

What could be more American than the practice of free speech? What could be more Christian than speaking out for the marginalized? I wonder if he would call the 90+-year-old woman with terminal cancer, who was in a wheelchair pushed by her family members who came from several states to support her, “un-American”?

The Seattle marchers filled the streets in front of Saint Mary’s church and made it difficult for the food bank clients to reach the church. Some food bank workers brought water and snacks to the marchers, who then took up a collection and, according to KING 5 news, donated $10,000 to the food bank! Would that be called “un-Christian”?

Sen. Miloscia said in comments on Tuesday, “There was a lot of negative behavior I wouldn’t want our children to even look at.” Would he want his children to look at the many sexist horrible comments Trump made against women?

Yes, there were sarcastic sayings on some posters at the Seattle march, but we have to laugh to keep from crying!

We marched on Saturday not against Trump, but in support of issues including human rights, women’s rights, equality for all, the environment, science is real, love is love and the importance of kindness and truth.

Sen. Miloscia has every right to disagree with the marchers, but I call on him to apologize for the comments that characterized those of us who marched as un-American and un-Christian.

Jackie Rickert, Federal Way

Senator, not marchers, should be ashamed

In reference to the massive attendance at the women’s march last Saturday, state Sen. Mark Miloscia called them “ugly, unAmerican, and unChristian protest activities … For Shame! For Shame!”

My response is, “Shame on you, Senator Miloscia, for disparaging Americans exercising their constitutional rights!”

I am one of the millions who marched along with my husband and friends. I can tell you first hand it was not ugly — it was beautiful. Among the crowd, I saw fathers with sons, grandmothers with their grandchildren and young, passionate adults.

It was not un-American. Each person had their own reason for attending, and I may not have agreed with all the messages on signs, but the unity in collective action was electric. The diversity in thought and creativity was as American as anything I’ve ever witnessed.

Many Christians were also present to stand against the religious persecution and bigotry against Muslims because they know how sacred their own faiths are in their lives. To love thy neighbor and stand against injustice is Christian.

Any credible lawmaker knows that the First Amendment of our nation’s Constitution guarantees our rights to free speech and to assemble peaceably. It is un-American of you to chastise those who exercise their rights just because you may not agree with their views.

Shari Song, Federal Way

Marchers don’t deserve senator’s criticism

In a recent Facebook posting, Sen. Mark Miloscia referred to the women, men and children who participated in the recent peaceful protest marches as being un-American, unChristian and shameful.

Since when is exercising our First Amendment right of free speech un-American?

What is truly shameful is that America now has a president who has bragged about groping women, ridiculed less-abled people, refused to release his income tax information and dis-invest of his business conflicts of interest, distorted and exaggerated facts for his personal edifice and has primarily surrounded himself with close advisers and cabinet members who are either family members, lack relevant job experience or have expressed racist views.

Sen. Miloscia may not be up for re-election until November 2018. However, his recent words and actions will not be forgotten.

Joy Werklink, Auburn

Americans have constitutional right to protest

A Jan. 21 Facebook post from 30th District Sen. Mark Miloscia was a bit disturbing to read. Sen. Miloscia should take a few minutes to read the First Amendment and then review campaign video from the Clinton and Obama campaigns.

Miloscia labeled the people, mostly women, who protested after the inauguration of Donald Trump as unAmerican and unChristian.

In Miloscia’s statement, he attempts to make a point that those protesters did not treat Obama and Clinton with the same level of disrespect. Miloscia is right, they likely did not. Clinton and Obama did not spend 18 months crossing the country speaking hate, promoting racism, offending women or inciting violence. Both Obama and Clinton were not full of themselves, nor were they ultra-sensitive to the smallest of criticism, nor did they Twitter their disagreement with those who spoke out against them like a Taylor Swift breakup song. It seems that Trump is the one who is unAmerican and unChristian.

Mark, back in 2008, when you were a Democrat and our 30th District representative, did you speak out when Trump insisted President Obama was not an American citizen and demanded he produce his birth certificate? When Obama did, Trump still kept up his bully campaign of hate against Obama.

Did you think that Trump was being disrespectful then? This was the single issue that led to people at John McCain rally’s to ask if Obama was a Muslim.

It was your political party that went as far as holding meetings while the president and first lady were dancing at the Inaugural Ball to obstruct and block every policy Obama wanted to implement. That is not only unAmerican, that is corruption. By the way, we are still waiting for Trump’s tax returns.

Sen. Miloscia needs to step back to the late 1700s. The country that has provided him the opportunity to serve as a democratically elected official started as a result of a protest of its day.

The nationwide demonstrations held on Saturday were all peaceful and well-organized. Apparently they had an impact — Trump had to Twitter about it with disrespect.

Again, it is not unAmerican to dislike or disagree with someone or take to the streets we paid for. The unChristian claim? I am still trying figure out what you mean.

Or are you referring to the passage that says God appoints the leaders of the nations? Are you implying that being in defiance of God’s will is unChristian? If God appointed Trump, what did we all do to deserve four years of this?

Randall Smith, Federal Way