Letters | Hard times ahead
Hard times ahead
Editor,
Our planet earth weather is changing. It’s not global warming.
In the 20th Century there was a lot of moisture, monsoons, good snowy winters, and agriculture was well established, but now the weather is different. The rivers are getting low and rain is getting sparse. The land is getting dry and there is not enough water for the vegetation.
We all need to start thinking about our future. There will be food shortages, cost of fuel is going up, and diesel fuel is getting really expensive. Hydropower at the dams might be shutting down soon because the river waters are low. Electricity is going to be low for most cities.
The only way to be self-sufficient is to regrow our cornfields and try to keep some of our livestock and store water anyway possible. Stock up on canned foods. Even other countries overseas are dealing with the same situation. This is worldwide.
Ranchers and farmers are already talking about it. Get ready and prepare.
Larry S. Smith
Gray Mountain, Ariz.
Honor their legacy
Editor,
My father was a Navajo Code Talker of the 3rd division who transmitted the unbreakable code that was vital to the United States’ victory over Japan in World War II.
The original Navajo Code Talkers Association met numerous times to plan and envision Tse Bonito to be the permanent home of the Navajo Code Talker Museum. Tse Bonito is on the Navajo’s ancestral homeland, located off 264-Navajo Code Talker Highway.
Tse Bonito is a sacred place that focuses on language preservation, cultural values, traditional values and significance connectivity to the homeland to maintain identity and sovereignty. A traditional Navajo groundbreaking ceremony was held to honor and protect their legacy. Alongside the museum, the NCTs planned for both a traditional hogan and a sweat lodge to be built to preserve traditional ceremonies for future generations.
The NCTs secret weapon was the Navajo language. Our fathers faced punishment for speaking Navajo in government boarding schools and mission schools, yet the same language was developed and used as an unbreakable code.
Unsung heroes sworn to secrecy. The Navajo Code Talkers were forbidden to tell their families or the public about their heroism after being discharged.
Countless heroes passed away without sharing their stories and never received recognition. Thirteen Navajo Code Talkers made the ultimate sacrifice, and their legacy belongs at home on ancestral land in Tse Bonito.
Farmington, NM., is a border town along the Navajo Nation, and for some Navajos it is a town that has a dark history that overshadows the Navajo Code Talkers legacy.
As sons and daughters, to continue to honor the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers, we celebrate their heroism on Navajo Code Talker Day.
Jean Whitehorse
Smith Lake, N.M.
Honor the fallen
Editor,
On Monday, Americans across the country will gather to remember those who laid down their lives to protect the United States of America. Here in northwestern New Mexico, we have a special reverence for our fallen service members that we honor with a variety of local commemorations.
From a Purple Heart City designation ceremony in Farmington to the annual parade in Gallup – the most patriotic small town in America, there are several ways our community comes together to express our gratitude for the service and sacrifice all those lost in the defense of our freedom.
As the State Representative for House District 9, which stretches across McKinley County, I hope you will join one of these important events or find your own way to pay your respects for those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation and our values.
Let us all take time this Memorial Day to honor our relatives who never made it home from World War II, the hundreds of New Mexicans lost in Vietnam, and all the service men and women who have left unfillable holes in hearts and communities across our nation. It is thanks to their service and bravery that we are able to enjoy this special day with our family and friends – and to live every day in the greatest country in the world.
State Rep. Patty Lundstrom
McKinley County, N.M.
Show up
Editor,
Every election cycle brings debates about candidates, policies, and politics. But at its core, voting is about something much bigger: shaping the future of New Mexico and ensuring your voice is heard on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and your community.
Primary elections are now underway across New Mexico, and this year’s races will help determine decisions about our economy, education system, health care, infrastructure, public safety, energy policy, and job creation for years to come. Those choices impact every New Mexican, regardless of political party or where they live.
That’s why participation matters, and you still have time to make it happen.
Too often, people feel like their vote won’t make a difference or that politics has become too divisive to engage in. But when people stay home, others make decisions for them.
New Mexico’s civic participation is alarming. According to the New Mexico Secretary of State, the overall turnout rate of eligible voters in the 2022 primary was only 25.2. Only a quarter of the state’s population weighed in.
Primary elections are often decided by a relatively small number of votes, but we can change that and raise our collective voices. The leaders elected this year will make decisions that affect the cost of living, business growth, energy reliability and access, education and workforce development, and opportunities for future generations.
This election cycle is also historic because, for the first time, “decline to state” voters can participate in New Mexico’s primary elections by selecting either a Democrat or Republican ballot at check-in. That change gives more New Mexicans the opportunity to have a say in races that will shape the direction of our state.
You can still make a plan to vote and register to vote. Please visit www.nmforopportunity.org to learn more.
No matter what industry you work in or what issues matter most to you, voting is one of the most important ways to influence the future. For many New Mexicans, that means supporting policies that strengthen our economy and create opportunities for working families.
For those of us in the oil and gas industry, the stakes are especially high. Oil and natural gas support more than 100,000 jobs across New Mexico and generate billions of dollars each year that help fund public schools, health care, roads, and infrastructure. The industry plays a critical role in supporting all communities across the state and keeping New Mexico economically competitive.
Your voice deserves to be part of the future of our state. Voting is how we make priorities known, and we hold leaders accountable.
Early voting is already underway for the primary, and primary day is June 2. Make a plan to vote, check your registration status, and encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to take part, as well. Every voice matters. And every vote does, too. New Mexico’s future will be shaped by the people who show up.
Missi Currier
President/CEO
New Mexico Oil and Gas Association
Santa Fe, N.M.
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