Bomber Mascot Controversy
Issue # 27 ~ 08/27/01
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Today's comments submitted by:
Richard "Dick" Roberts (49), Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54)
Spouse of Karen Cole (55), Burt Pierard (59)
MLou Williams (60), Jim Yount (61)
Norm Bell (61), Thomas Hann (61)
Dave Hanthorn (63), Deedee Willox Loiseau (64)
Linda McKnight (65), David Rivers (65)
Dick Pierce (67), Lee Bush (68)
Dave Kaas (69), Brian Denning (77)
Rachel Peters (95)
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>>From: Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
To: Aaron Johnson (82)
Allen Neidhold and I were the basketball towel boys the
1946-47 school year. We preferred the title "managers".
It was mostly my job to run the water cart "bomb" onto
the floor during time outs. Allen was busy with other
more important managing duties. If you're interested,
there's a pic in one of the Bomber links that I sent to
Maren. Also check out the '47 Columbian (annual) in the
sports section which is on one of the links. Someone
mentioned earlier that they thought they knew who made
and donated the cart. No one seems to know what happened
to it nor did anyone ever mention how many years it was
used. Maybe just '46-47?
Bomber cheers,
-Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
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>>From: Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54)
Re: "New" Mascot
Vera Farrens Gardner (61) suggests the coyote be adopted
as a possible replacement for our beloved Bomb.
While an admirable suggestion, Vera, I'm afraid the
Roadrunner Lobby would be up in arms. We couldn't be
seen supporting a critter bent on the destruction of the
entire roadrunner population. Wouldn't be right, as
roadrunners are cute birds (even if they have a terrible
call ... "beep beep").
No, I'm afraid we are stuck with the Bomb until certain
nameless parties can come up with a better mascot.
Me, I'm partial to the Bomb. Lions, Tigers, Bears -- oh
my! To say nothing of Bulldogs (HEY! I asked you to say
nothing of Bulldogs). Then I got to thinking that we
could become Jedi Warriors, but who would notice us then?
No, let's stick to being Bombers.
Bomber Cheers and may the farce be with you,
-Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54) - from "beautiful"
downtown Albany, OR
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>>From: Spouse of Karen Cole (55)
Dear Mascot Controversy,
I'm sending this e-mail to the folks at the Mascot
Controversy; I've never sent one before but felt is
necessary to send one at this time.
All this flap about your mascot has put my wife, Karen
Cole (55), into a terrible tizzy. Now talk of tattoos
has come up and I don't know if I can handle another one;
she already has five. Now this thing about one that
looks like a big cloud, come on, give a guy a break.
Where will she put this one? How large will it be? What
color will it be -- black and white, like the old
pictures -- or should she try to follow the retouched
color ones? Should it be atomic or hydrogen? You've
really messed up my life, now just back off a tad and
calm down; some of you folks out there ought to get a
life; you've got way too much time on your hands.
Being from Ephrata we had a tiger for our mascot; should
we now go out and find a tiger, stuffed I suppose, and
plant it on the school steps? Boy, Fish and Wildlife
will really be on my back if I do that.
-Gary Correll, Spouse of Karen Cole (55)
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>>From: Burt Pierard (59)
The recent exchanges in this newsletter have been
interesting and the emergence from the closet of the few
alumni who really want to change the Bomber name has been
enlightening. But now it is time to leave the School
Board to the election and turn our attention to the real
source of the mascot problem; namely, the staff of
Richland High School.
These issues have always been left to the students, even
going back to the Beavers-to-Bombers change at the Oct.
12, 1945, Pep Assembly. The last time the students were
trusted (by the RHS staff and School Board) to make a
decision of this importance was Feb. 23, 1988, when the
students voted overwhelmingly to adopt the mushroom cloud
with block letter "R" as the OFFICIAL SYMBOL of Richland
High School. Note: since no votes have been taken since,
that symbol is still the OFFICIAL SYMBOL. As one of
those students who wrote in to this newsletter said, this
was to show them how democracy works and "adults" make
decisions. The story was carried in the national press
including the Associated Press and the New York Times.
The other three choices on the ballot were a caricature
of an A-bomb, a generic B-17 Bomber (notice that the
Day's Pay story hadn't been cooked up yet), and an atomic
symbol with three electron rings. The final vote tally
was: mushroom cloud, 1,084; the caricature, 45; the B-17,
40; and the atomic rings, 36. According to Principal Gus
Nash (who displayed the symbol in his office), only four
of 64 faculty members wanted to get rid of it. This
number "four" is significant. Lonnie Pierson, football
coach, had precipitated the vote by ordering the removal
of the symbol from the football team uniforms the
previous fall. Scott Woodward, baseball coach, also said
he will not allow it on his team's uniforms no matter how
the students voted. "If it does appear," he said, "there
will be somebody else coaching." Jim Deatherage, English
teacher, said the students should not have been allowed
to make the decision. He said, "I have a greater
investment in that symbol than a kid who's going to be
here three or four years." So now we know how three of
the Gang of Four "adults" make decisions. They just
ignore the vote! Enter Jim Qualheim and we see a most
ingenious plan of "Thought Control and Manipulation"
emerge. Qualheim has even openly admitted that he would
like nothing better than to get rid of the mushroom cloud
forever!
Everything was allowed to slide until June 1992 when the
Tri-City Herald wanted to write a 50-year "Looking Back"
article about RHS. The TCH obviously worked from
information provided by RHS staff since a number of
historical inaccuracies were included which simple
research would have proved false. Obvious errors were
the claim that RHS closed in 1943 and reopened in 1944 as
Col-Hi and the implication that the name was changed to
Bombers in that year, originally a reference to a bomb-
dropping airplane (note: Day's Pay is still not
mentioned). Also note that all the students who voted
for the Official RHS symbol had graduated and moved on by
that time. With the coming of "The Mural" the following
year, the Day's Pay fabrication was off and flying, so to
speak. The Gang of Four (who are all still staff members
at RHS) simply made up the story that the Bomber name
change occurred in the fall of 1944 and thus predated the
dropping of the A-bomb. Since this was only a few months
after Day's Pay was christened, they claimed that,
obviously, we must have been named after Day's Pay. This
became the Day's Pay Fraud and was repeated as class
after class moved through the school. I tried to point
out in my Name Origin Report that the students were being
offered to the press (like Chad Kreutz, 1997 Sr. Class
President) to repeat the lies they were carefully taught
by the Gang of Four. I also have reports of students
being humiliated and intimidated in class if they try to
bring up the alternative (the A-bomb) to Day's Pay.
Now 13 years have passed since the student vote and no
student at RHS was even in kindergarten when the symbol
was adopted. As Deatherage mentioned, since the students
turn over rapidly, he has a greater investment in the
symbol than the kids and obviously he is not going to
perpetuate the memory, or anybody else on the faculty,
apparently. This has resulted in present students
arguing with their parents that, "We were told that we
are named after the Plane." This subtle "Brainwashing"
would make the North Koreans blush. Hey, no torture is
necessary, just keep repeating the lies and after three
or four rotations of students, they become accepted as
the truth! Remember that there is not a single document
that even hints at a connection between Day's Pay and
Col-Hi/RHS before the 1990s.
It's time to open the Second Front in this war and take
on the RHS staff. Remember that it was the Gang of Four
who called Semler in to see the Bomb and its ultimate
removal. I wonder if the presence of the Official RHS
Symbol on the Bomb had anything to do with their
complaints?
Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
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>>From: MLou Williams (60)
To heck with the bomb. I'm still smarting about the name
change from Columbia High School to Richland High School!
Fortunately, I have a diploma to prove from whence I
graduated. Thanks to Howard Kirz (60) and Verla Farrens
Gardner (61) for the reality checks. And thanks Howard,
for all the great options for the bomb. Something should
happen.
-MLou Williams (60)
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>>From: Jim Yount (61)
An open letter to: Howard Kirz (60)
Subject: Bomber values
Dear Howard,
In a recent letter to the Bomber Mascot Controversy
Newsletter you restated your strong support for Bomber
activities, then challenged us to "get a life" and to
"act like Bombers" in doing the right thing when
confronted with a situation we wish to change. In
particular, you strongly disagreed with bashing of the
democratically elected school board members.
It has taken me a while to put my thoughts together, so
that I could write a response. First, you articulated
concerns that I have had since the start of the
controversy. But more importantly, you raised the
question of what it means to be a Bomber.
In the last few years of reading the Sandstorm, I've
learned quite a bit about being a Bomber. Bombers share
a history of growing up in a cold war environment, of
having a safe place to "be a kid". We love our memories
of summer days on the river, and still can’t seem to get
enough of our beloved Spudnuts. In reading the Class of
1961 memories from our recent reunion, almost all of us
expressed gratitude for the educational experience, and
for the teachers, parents, and adult friends who helped
get us started in life.
So, I submit, that it is Bomber VALUES that bind us
together. We value the education we received, the
country in which we live, and the sense of community we
gain whenever we get together.
I retired about two years ago after working "at the
site" for 35 years. The Government dates the end of the
cold war as 1989, the year that the Richland High School
Class of 2002 entered kindergarten. The current mission
of most of the site is environmental remediation,
repairing the damage caused by the cold war mission both
here and in the former Soviet Union. So, the bomb has
not been associated with what it is that we do in this
town for many years.
In the end, it will be the "good works" we do that
defines our place in history. Certainly a good focus for
Sandstorm discussion might be how we channel that energy
consistent with our values in supporting the educational
process for the next generations. There must be
overworked teachers and under-equipped classrooms that
could use a hand; students in single-parent households
that could use a mentor or a tutor; bond issues that
could be better defined so that they win the support of
the electorate. Now THERE’s a Bomber legacy I could
support!
Do you remember the "Kilroy was here" signs from the 50s?
Wouldn't it be great to have a "Bomber was here" logo
(maybe based on the Boomer series) that would mark a
"Bomber Team" effort?
Or maybe it’s the clear blue skies and sunshine that have
me feeling especially altruistic today. Either way, I’d
appreciate your thoughts.
Jim
-Jim Yount (61)
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>>From: Norm Bell (61)
I attended the board meeting and listened to a parade of
Bomber boosters (extremely small percentage of school
district patrons) who had been, in my opinion, stirred up
by poorly informed hype created by this website. The
school board’s viewpoint was that a controversial gift
had been installed without proper board acceptance and
with no public input as to its appropriateness or siting.
They felt the 11-foot tall "carpet bomb" had no
historical relevance and, standing alone, seemed hugely
inappropriate, especially in this day and age. A gifting
policy has been school board procedure for many years.
As Ms Skinner pointed out at the meeting, "If a statue of
Martin Luther King had been installed by some ad-hoc
group, without the approval of the school board, it would
have certainly not been tolerated and it too would have
been removed."
The motion, made in the form of a question, was, "Shall
we accept the gift (bomb) as offered?" The motion,
rejected by the school board, and their discussion
regarding the issue, seem to leave the door open for a
solution to this "crisis/controversy". The board members
felt the gift was, "in your face", too large, offensive,
and not historically representative of the bomb, 'Fat
Man' or 'Little Boy'". I believe the board could accept
a replica of "Fat Man", along with a plaque explaining
the historical and emotional significance this symbol has
to the "Richland pioneers" and to their children who were
raised in "Bomberville" and who became, for the most
part, proud products of a unique community. Excerpts
from many of the postings might be an effective way to
give "context" to a symbol that many might otherwise
misunderstand.
I would refer you to Aaron Johnson’s (82) entry of
8/21/01 as one example. It might even be possible to
involve the present RHS award-winning journalism class in
this project. This might provide a broader base of
understanding, one with a philosophical and historical
perspective that would soften the image that has been
promulgated mainly by the Bomber jockocracy. Emphasis
might be given to all our desires that this symbol
express a hope and dream that "Fat Man" turned a corner
for mankind, directing the world away from the use of
such destructive weapons. What symbol could have more
impact for that message.?
Yes, time has passed, and our generation is not the one
that is tired and war weary. Our fathers, uncles,
brothers, cousins, and boyfriends weren't the ones being
killed in both theaters of World War II. Of course, it
is clear to all today that bombs as they relate to
schools, have a newly defined context. This however,
doesn't change Hanford's historical role.
My parents and grandparents were involved in the "top
secret" war effort from the earliest camp Hanford days.
All donated a "day's pay" for a B-17 bomber. Mother
still resides in Richland, and like her co-workers of
those early days, was more than relieved to finally see a
conclusion to the carnage of protracted war. Our parents
were rightly proud that they had contributed in no small
way to bringing this era of our history to a close. I
can feel confident there was no second guessing Harry
Truman's decision or debating the moral implications of
Fat Man. This is Richland's heritage, a snapshot in time
that has left a legacy for Richland. The pride earned by
this wartime effort of an earlier generation has survived
to the present. I feel that Roy Ballard’s gift, a very
difficult (but wise) school board decision, this web
page, and the involvement of RHS students, could lead
toward community-wide acceptance of a bomb as a mascot,
even in 2001-2.
-Norm Bell (61)
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>>From: Thomas C Hann (61)
In reference to mascot suggestion of RHS Jackrabbits.
Wasn't it the Class of '62 that almost changed the mascot
to Rabbits; not JackRabbits, but just Rabbits? Why was
that?
Hummmm........... Oh well, maybe not. ;-)
Seems to me that the original issue was accepting the
"Bomb" as a gift. Did I miss something where the issue
of "Mascot change" is a real issue now? I sure hope all
our raising the issue of changing the mascot does not
provide the impetus to that end.
- Thomas C Hann (61)
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>>From: Dave Hanthorn (63)
Much has been made over the issue of whether the school
board members should have voted the majority's wishes or
not. The fact is, in the democratic republican form of
government that we enjoy, the people vote for
"representatives" to governmental bodies that then are to
"vote their conscience" on the issues before them. The
trick is to vote people into office whose "conscience" is
most like our own. We are not always very good at this,
especially when we forget that "character matters". The
beauty of our system is that when we find out we have
voted someone into office whose "conscience" leads them
to decisions we don't like it usually isn't very long
until the next election when we can "throw the rascals
out" by backing someone else who we think will more
likely "vote their conscience" in a manner that we will
like.
I suggest that in the case of the Richland School Board
members that "voted their conscience" in a way that most
of us didn't like we find people that are willing to run
for the office and then back them with financial and
volunteer support. If this is as important an issue to
us as many have claimed here, this support in a school
board race should be more than enough to put our
candidate into office.
Since I don't live in Richland, I don't know who the
candidates for school board in Richland are. However, I
believe the editor of this newsletter is a candidate, and
from what he has written here he sure sounds to me like a
person that would "vote his conscience" in a manner that
would be mostly agreeable to me. I could certainly see
my way clear to making a moderate campaign donation
should I be contacted by his campaign.
I would suggest that others that have written here might
do the same. This is how our system of government is
meant to work, and it is one of the most important
ingredients of what has made our country great. Those of
you that still live in the Tri-Cities should strongly
consider becoming a campaign volunteer. That kind of
help can be vitally important in a political race.
If enough of us do these things, within just three short
years we could have a Richland School Board loaded with
representatives that will continue Richland's reputation
for excellent schools AND be friendly towards gifts from
alumni to the Richland High School BOMBERS.
Good luck to all of you that take your first steps into
the world of local politics, and remember, it takes MORE
than just your VOTE.
-Dave Hanthorn - Gold Medal Class of '63
More proud than ever to be a Bomber
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>>From: Deedee Willox Loiseau (64)
To: Verla Farrens Gardner (61)
The mascot for Columbia High School, BURBANK, WA, is the
Coyote! And when rabbits get nervous, they kill their
young. Why not leave well enough alone?!
-Deedee Willox Loiseau (64) - Burbank, WA
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>>From: Linda McKnight (65)
Hello to Chris Janos's mom, Wanda, and God bless. I
still affirm that we should get the old Bomb and submit
it the Richland School Board. What kinds of arguments
could they possibly have about the real thing, the true
relic that this entire controversy is about? The Bomb
that Jim House kissed at R2K, where is it now????? It
needs to be in the school. It is the true antique. I am
so sorry guys, but I still cringe at the words "oldies
but goodies" and "antiques". Bombers Forever!!!! Green
and Gold Forever!!!
-Linda McKnight (65)
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>>From: David Rivers (65)
Okay, I admit it. I'm a Marine, a Bomber, and (for
Dickie Pierce) an attorney (even used to be a school
teacher and an administrator .... notice I'm careful to
say used to be .... as in ex .... as in former), so I can
be slow at times .... (been married four times for cripes
sake). But as I understand it the rationale behind the
refusal of the gift from Roy, Jimmie, Jim, Val, young Mr.
Poiner, and the rest of us hangers on (those that didn't
actually "work" on the new bomb) was that: 1) it is too
big; and 2) it doesn't look at all like Fat Man. Am I
close so far? Let's see .... it seems to me that it was
just the right size for Captain House to kiss while
standing, which seems the perfect size to me. It also
seems to have been very beautifully decorated and
fabricated and made a very pleasing entry piece. Any
smaller and it would have been lost in its intended place
of honor. Now let's be real .... Fat Man was not a
particularly beautiful piece of art. It was utilitarian
and no one really cared what it looked like. Just had a
job to do and it accomplished the task at hand.
All in all, it would appear that the reasons given for
the Board's refusal of the gift are less than compelling.
Finally, for those who have suggested that we Bombers
should be more concerned about the "running of the
district" and all the issues related to that operation,
may I say that it is not a lack of concern for other
issues that rallied so many of us to this "cause". It
was and remains the issue at hand and we cared and care
enough about our past to wish it to be continued in the
future. In all deference to Ray [Stein (64)] and his
band of merry planeites (I do respect Ray and all his
followers), I never heard of a "Day's Pay" until I saw it
on the side of the High School. Now I may have forgotten
it .... but if it was spoken of, it was in very casual
conversation. But to hear that the Day's Pay Lore is
being "taught" at my school is surprising to me. We were
never taught where our name came from when I was in
school .... it just was. In my profession, I hear people
who proclaim to "know their rights". Few if any of the
"rights" spoken of were known a few years back and fewer
still are rights at all. Most of what are becoming
rights have been privileges at best. However, I am
amazed at how easily we Americans allow what have been
traditionally considered rights in the past removed from
that category in the name of what's "best for us".
Whether we were named for the bomb or the plane is really
immaterial. The Bomb has been the mascot since I can
remember and I am amazed that it should fade from our
memories so easily.
-David Rivers (65) -- Bomber - Marine - Attorney
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>>From: Dick Pierce (67)
To: Dena Evans Harr (64WB)
Thanks. Standing ground is easy. I used to go with the
O'Rourkes (66)(63)(?) out to Benton City on Saturday
nights just to get in fights. I can hear Hartcorn and
Rogers and Moore yelling now, "You never threw a punch!"
To: Diane Carpenter Kipp (72)
Sorry, Diane. Perhaps I misunderstood the context in
which your comments were made. I do believe in your
principle. I'm politically (small "p") oriented. I
doubt that my father-in-law has ever been written up. He
has amazing stories about what happened here. The
Spanish were here since Magellan, then they sold the
Marianas to the Germans until after WW-I, and the
Japanese controlled it until the U.S. Marines took it in
one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific theater
toward the end of WW-II. One of our governors was named
Froilan. My father-in-law has old German coins. One of
the neatest guys I ever talked to about those times was
Guy Gabaldon. He was a Marine that captured hundreds of
Japanese during the invasion. He literally talked them
out of hiding. Thousands of Japanese threw themselves
over cliffs (Suicide and Banzai) when the Americans
captured Saipan. Audey Murphy starred in a Hollywood
movie about Guy Gabaldon called "From Hell to Eternity".
As I mentioned before, you can still go to the beaches
after a storm and the old shell casings still wash up on
the shores. A friend of mine last week was injured
diving near Tinian, a neighboring island where the Enola
Gay launched, when he found some old WW-II phosphate
cubes (from a bomb or mortar) on the ocean floor and
carried it up onto his boat. It ignited when it came
into contact with the air while in his pocket. Smartly,
he dove back in the water and suffered only burns to his
leg and hand. OK. Lots of WW-II stuff here. I live
with lots of people that have parents that were here
during the battle. I'm literally right here where The
Bomb was loaded, and the war was fought. My uncles were
all lifers. Battle of the Bulge to the warships in the
Pacific. My dad did what he did in Richland and Hanford.
I live now with those have been the innocent benefactors
of the greatest nation on the face of the earth. But,
this noise about/from us that went to a high school in
the town that helped build the Bomb is so insignificant
in comparison. Hell, it seems we can't even settle on
the issue.
Acceptance is the key to happiness. Accept the fact that
the Board voted "no" on this single issue. Prepare for
the attempts to take away the Bomber name. It'll happen.
Ever since the "nattering nabobs of negativism" (the
liberal press) found out about it, we will not hear the
end of it. Diane, you are right. If we forget this,
it'll happen again.
-Dick Pierce (67)
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>>From: Lee Bush (68)
I have read almost all the responses to the Richland
School Board's decision not to accept the 'gift', whether
a 'bomb casing' and/or 'mushroom cloud' should or should
not be a mascot, whether we are nicknamed after 'the
bomb' or an 'airplane', the ramifications of 'the bomb or
bombs' being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, etc. I
have discussed these issues with my brother and sister,
both Bomber Alumni. We are all three still residents of
Richland. Although there is always room to grow and
improve as a community, county, state, and nation we have
nothing to be ashamed of regarding our past. Those
workers and leaders, placed in their positions by God,
were there for a purpose and did what they felt was
necessary at the time. Did they serve that purpose for
good or for bad? As you read the responses, take your
place on the side of the issue that you feel you belong
to. The point is, it is history and we cannot change it
nor do we want to. Hopefully, we learn and improve from
the past. However, we as Richlanders and wannabe's have
nothing to be ashamed of. I am proud of what we
contributed to world peace and stopping of WW-II. I am
proud of the scientific advancements made because of
Hanford. I am proud that we (those attending
Richland/Columbia High School) display this through
innocuous mascots -- EMPTY bomb casings and pictures of a
bomber airplane. Who are they hurting? -- no one. If it
bothers someone who didn't go through Richland/Columbia
High School, don't attack the pride they have come to be
proud of. If you don't understand this position of
pride, you probably never will because you haven't lived
it or are not interested in learning about it. If you
are a graduate of Richland/Columbia High School and this
heritage bothers you, then remove yourself from the
constant conflict you feel you are placed in, or just
forget the past. It appears that most of the anti-Bomber
people are already living out of the area and/or state.
In summary, quit being so anal and critical for memories
and pride that people express and that are printed in an
alumni paper that represents the school they graduated
from. Maybe the anti-Bomber people can start an Anti-
Alumni Sandstorm paper. After all, these are 'memories',
'experiences' already lived, 'pleasures and sorrows'
already felt, etc. You can't change these! Just my
thoughts! Now what responses have I stirred up?
-Lee Bush (68)
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>>From: Dave Kaas (69)
To: Aaron Johnson (82)
This is what is on the WW-II memorial.
RICHLAND MEMORIAL SOFTBALL FIELD
DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF RICHLAND MEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR II
MERLE SUPPLEE
CHARLES WILTON THOMAS W. HAMBY
DONALD CULP
ROY C. HACKNEY EDWARD T. KAAS
CARL ERICKSON
"MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE"
RICHLAND POST NO.71-THE, AMERICAN LEGION
MAY 30, 1949
It does not mean quite the same with out the ball field.
Dave Kaas (69)
[Dave provided the following photo of the memorial:
<AllBombers.tripod.com/pics/1949-05-30-WW2mem.htm>
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>>From: Brian Denning (77)
This whole (PC) thing, to this day, is still amazing me.
I DARE anyone, in this entire country, to have such a
devoted following to a single high school. Does anyone
know of a school that has anything to compare to this?
No matter what the opinion is of the web page
subscribers, this is, without question, one of the
proudest cities I have ever had the privilege of living
in. This is what makes America great! The Freedom of
Speech! And the pride of being a "BOMBER".
-Brian Denning (77)
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>>From: Rachel Peters (95)
I will try to make this as short and sweet as possible.
I was born in Richland, and therefore have always claimed
to have green and gold flowing through me. Growing up, I
couldn't wait to be a Bomber; I went to football games,
and knew everyone's name and number for the 6 years that
preceded my entering the hallowed halls of RHS. I
shunned Falcons, Lions, Bulldogs and especially Braves.
There was simply no room in my life for all that jazz. I
breathed Bomber air and swam in Bomber water. That is
just the way it was, and still is, around these parts.
Aaron Johnson (82) has said it so much better than I
could ever hope to. The history of Richland, not
necessarily the school, makes us Bombers. Most all of us
have at least one family member that worked out there, or
still does work out there. Not a single one of us is
immune from the pride that flows so openly through the
streets of Richland.
I have come to terms with something that has been said
over and over again, and that is that the School Board
never intended to change the mascot, or the name, or
whatever. I think that we all need to relax and do the
smart thing. I know you all have done it in your
lifetimes, and that is, ACCEPT that they have said --
with your public face -- but keep the possibility alive
in the back of your minds. They know the power that they
hold, and they slapped us all in the face with that
power. However, the same night, THEY saw what amazing
power that BOMBERS have. Who are they to say that we
didn't show up for the bond? I voted, and would vote
exactly the same this year. There was a comment made by
one of the board members, and that was to the effect of
"when I graduated, I was a Bomber, and then I moved away
and went to California for school; after graduating and
moving back to Richland, I had put aside my adolescence,
and realized that the Bomb and the Bombers, weren't as
important as they had been when I was younger." So as to
say we are just acting immature, and we just haven't
grown up; well people, if this is what not growing up
means, I'll stay PROUD of the CLOUD until the day I die,
cause I can't afford to get much older. Stay true to
yourselves, let's not let them get the best of us, but
let's also not sink down to the adolescent level. If we
work together, and use our fantastic BOMBER minds, and
use our knowledge and camaraderie there is nothing that
can't be done.
Just Speaking my mind ... well, rambling is more like it. lol
-Rachel Peters (95) ~ The year the great debate started
... plane ... bomb ... plane ... bomb
... plane ... bomb ... Well now, that
is a silly question ...!
PS-- I have been to many a school board meeting, and know
how much they do and have accomplished ... but I also
know that they are representatives of the people, and
that is where they failed.
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That's it for today.
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