Love for humanity

I appreciate sharing your good information in the cover story of the Bellevue Reporter on Dec. 14, 2018. This provides us with the opportunities to support the organizations who provide the much needed essential services for the homeless just in time for the special season of giving gifts.

Kudos to the Bellevue Downtown Association and Lifespring moderator for facilitating the discussion and creating an awareness for those without shelter.

The Muslim Community Services Resource Center also works closely with Hopelink, Sophia Way, Congregations for the Homeless and the Bellevue School District Family Connection Center to contribute in all the ways we can to provide warm meals and essential supplies.

We need to make sure that the temporary shelters can be operated year round till the permanent shelters are built for the men, women and children. Tentatively, the time frame for the permanent shelters is still three or four years away when I see how fast the development and buildings for the condos are being completed in Bellevue for the affluent population.

Hopefully, we can do what we can in our individual capacity and beyond to encourage our neighborhood community members to “love for humanity what you love for yourself.”

Farida Hakim

Bellevue

Meet citizens’ needs

I just read in today’s Seattle Times the article about President Donald Trump’s trip to Iraq. I fully support his decision to cut back on this country’s commitments abroad and fully agree that we no longer be the policemen of the world. It is up to other country’s to solve their own problems as we should be solving our own. This is not to say that we should not be working with other countries in areas that benefit all with the goal of protecting all the world’s citizens and this one home we call Earth. As a manager for decades working for the Census Bureau I learned the best way to lead and motivate my staff was to set a good example.

It is silly for this country to criticize others about human rights violations or inequality while not dealing with our own. Just look how long it took to make lynching a federal crime as just one example of hundreds.

This is one policy change I hope Donald Trump is honest about and one that millions support including many like myself who did not vote for him. If putting America first means solving our own problems and making sure every American is treated fairly and with respect I am all for it. A country as rich as this one should not have any citizen going without basic needs.

George Whitaker

Bellevue