I have read David Orders letter, “Time to move beyond tragedy,” several times. Each time I am more disturbed by his cold, callous opinion of the continued reporting of this tragic loss of lives. So many people are and continue to be affected by those losses. Not only was this a loss to loved ones, longtime friends and community, but this was not a foreseeable event.
If Mr. Orders had bothered to read the many reports about the area he would understand that the people who chose to live there, as he stated, were not aware of the extreme danger that they were in. Not a single family affected by that horrendous mudslide chose to put their lives at risk. They are victims of that mudslide, not willing participants.
Yes, hundreds of lives are lost every day but does that mean that we are not allowed to be kept informed, grieve and try to make sense of it? I do not think so. All information that is shared with others helps many to understand how and why this happened. Also, that loved ones have been recovered. (In case Mr. Orders was unaware, there are still people not accounted for.)
I have heard helicopters flying over my home nightly for over a month now. Each time I hear one I say a prayer for the families affected by the news that their loves one has been found. Never once did I view it as an inconvenience to my existence.
If he is tired of hearing about Oso, Mr. Orders should stop complaining about it and be thankful that this is not directly affecting him or someone that he loves. It is important to all of us that live in northern Snohomish county because we want to know, no we have a right to now, the details of this tragic loss to people that we know and care about.
Carol Whitney
Marysville
