Seek Other Perspectives in the Northwest

I feel a bit funny making my second post/thread in a week after years of just reading.

My wife (met in Philly when I was in grad school at Penn) and I chose to live in the Inland Empire (Spokane) over 30 years ago after having done major projects in the region, including Canada, for decades. Our daughter is adopted from China.

I have done a couple projects in the Flathead area (eastern portion of the Inland Empire), where Monica lives “deep in the forest,” over the years and watched it change. I was born in an area of upper New York state that looked a lot like northwest Montana; started off school in a one room schoolhouse. Spent a lifetime working in the agriculture and construction industries. Probably one of a handful of alumni that have extreme expertise with heavy equipment and orchestrating/participating in manual labor.

My values and opinions are different and are shaped by a life experience/“career” working in a different professional environment than Monica — the foundation of the pyramid she is now sitting on top of.

I respect and defend her right to articulate these views and hope she would agree with my right to question them. I suggest she spend some time getting to know the Native Americans in this region (Kalispel in her area, Spokane in mine). They have been here for over 10,000 years and made it possible for her to live where she does. They sit in circles, not at rectangular board tables. They realize education is not just about stories, but modeling/mentoring … and contending with others that are not using the same actions and standards … and making a choice.

Make it a good day.