Editor’s Inbox

Being a Citizen Means Making Your Country Better

Chris:

This July 4th I honored immigration attorney and naturalized U.S. citizen Tahmina Watson’s request to “reflect on immigrants’ contributions and urge reform.” I thought about the wall in my 92-year-old dad’s office where framed “Passenger Manifests” show the passage to America of my grandparents and great-grandparents from Russia, Poland, and Germany. I thought about how at the ceremony where my partner became an American citizen I unexpectedly got choked up because she decided her vote was important and that it was a responsibility as well as a right.

And I felt pride that Ms. Watson, who served as KCBA’s President this past term, volunteered to create both Airport Lawyer, a web portal which helps passengers held by Customs and Border Protection connect with volunteer attorneys, and a no-fee legal clinic to help at-risk Afghans.

Ms. Watson will be honored this September with a Washington State Bar Association APEX Award for her access-to-justice achievements. She reminds us, “Being a citizen brings the responsibility to make your country better.”

How about instead of waiting for the New Year to make our resolution, we collectively resolve to follow those words and example as our July 4th commitment!

– Curmudgeon Mike

Being an Editor Means Being a Jerk

Chris:

I write in protest of the Bar Bulletin’s first-page July article, “First Principles.” Too often we Americans are greeted with some shame-inducing garbage on the Fourth. Sadly, your contribution is more of the same.

Rather than insist the terms “identical” and “equal” are distinct, why can’t you use your platform to congratulate us on the equitable, race-blind society we’ve built?

Rather than complain about how Thomas Jefferson was an enslaver, why can’t you celebrate the fact that he was charismatic?

Rather than complain about the U.S. Supreme Court, ad nauseum, why can’t you celebrate the incredible wealth the pandemic created for a few of us?

Rather than complain about the Second Amendment, why can’t you celebrate the fact that you live in a place where diverse opinions are not only tolerated but silenced?

I will never understand your point of view, so I would rather the Bar Bulletin not articulate it at all.

– Boomer Kyle