This week, an extra special Community Comment. Recently, Denise Dickey, a 3rd grade teacher at Lone Pine Elementary School in the Bloomfield Hills district reacted to our Channel 7 editorial about proposed funding cuts to the Great Lakes. She shared with us, 15 letters her students wrote and sent to leaders in our nation’s Capital as part of their “Take a Stand” campaign for the Great Lakes.
Here’s are some excerpts:
“The Great Lakes provide many resources for the 85 million people who live in Michigan. Also, did you know that 20% of freshwater on the planet is in the Great Lakes?”
One of the boys in the class wrote:
“We need to make a fish net so we can stop the invasive Asian carp from reaching the 5 Great Lakes we love dearly.”
Another classmate said:
“We need to keep our lakes clean. People are polluting our waters left and right. …It’s killing our water creatures. You should donate to save our waters. It’s a good cause.”
And there was this comment:
“The five Great Lakes are some of America’s greatest natural resources. Support investments in commercial and recreational harbors.”
One of the girls in the class pleaded:
“Please stop pollution in the Great Lakes. It will hurt the animals in the Lakes! Please stop it. I will go bananas! I love swimming in the Great Lakes. Good there are no sharks in the Great Lakes.”
And finally, this message:
“Don’t people know that the Lakes are special? Please keep the funding for the Great Lakes.”
If Ms. Dickey’s students are representative of America’s future leadership, we’re in good hands. Thanks for writing and watching.
I’m Chuck Stokes, Editorial Director
Broadcast: June 29 - July 2, 2017
