Creating morals

I do not like the direction this society is heading. Our morals and ethics are obviously being debased.

Part of this is undoubtedly due to the influence of TV, movies, and part of it is due to the fact that some adults simply enjoy wallowing in moral depravity.

One place where I have seen this kind of behavior is in the local bars and casinos, especially in Whitefish.

Parents are bringing their small children into these establishments. I have seen small children setting on chairs on each side of their parent, while the parent is guzzling beer and playing an electronic gambling machine in casinos in Whitefish.

What is wrong with this picture? I cannot fathom what kind of children these parents are trying to raise or what kind of society this behavior will produce in the future, but I sincerely believe it smacks of child abuse.

The casinos and bars get around child-protection laws in Montana by serving food. And the local church parishioners are turning a blind eye to this abhorrent practice, when they really need to become more involved by pressuring Montana legislators to pass laws to stop this practice.

Children are our most precious hope for this country, and they simply do not deserve to be treated like an imposition or like excess baggage because of a parent's debased need to gamble and/or drink alcohol.

The bar and casino owners are just as guilty for allowing this to go on there.

Sinowa Cruz

Whitefish

Sexual exclusion

I never thought I'd see the day when blatant discrimination would raise its ugly head in Whitefish but, alas, it has in all its harmful and hurtful glory.

Have women been excluded from the golf course? No. Have minorities been denied access to our many fine saloons? No. But were men prevented from attending an evening of "women's music" at the Tandoor Indian Restaurant? Yes.

On the 27th of this month, a program admitting "women only" was held in this establishment in shocking violation of federal and state antidiscrimination statutes. Use of a public accommodation was denied to almost 50 percent of the residents of our community based solely on misconceptions about gender and musical preferences.

Oh, how I would have enjoyed a few hours of dulcimer strumming and flute playing while sipping herb tea. So many of the fellas at the Northern and the Moon were ready to join me. But, no, we were denied our musical rights. How demeaning. Where is the ACLU when you need it?

I understand that another night of invidious exclusion is scheduled for Oct. 25, unless of course the diversity police intervene. Let's hope that equal rights for men will someday prevail.

Bill Fitzpatrick

Whitefish