To the editor:

Letters to the editor often are read and understood as educational, humorous, heart warming, thankful or simply a member of the community sharing personal thoughts about any given situation. I am aware when an individual writes a letter to the editor he or she essentially becomes a focal point and therefore a target for rebuttal.

I am confused in regards to a statement made by Robert Boehm’s letter of May 21, 2008.

It would appear Mr. Boehm is advocating seniors living on Whidbey Island make way for young people. It also appears he feels jobs in healthcare, cleaning services etc. of little financial benefit to a community.

I have to ask, just what does Mr. Boehm feel should be done to do to rid the community of seniors taking space he feels should be filled by young people? Is it his intention to herd them up and put them on the ferry? Then what?

Perhaps seniors from Whidbey Island would be welcome to live under freeway bridges with registered sex offenders. Perhaps it is his intention to store Whidbey Island’s seniors in warehouses, therefore avoiding the risk of our community shrinking into a retirement community. Statements such as his could be construed as those statements made by Nazi Germany.

Linda Perkins

Langley