Letters to the Editor: 10 Commandments, electeds' promises, Mental Health Month

EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.

Wrong location for Texas' 10 Commandments

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth District ruled on April 21 that Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be displayed conspicuously in every public school classroom.

The law, Senate Bill 10, was to have begun in the 2025-26 school year. While First Amendment advocates bemoaned no separation of church and state, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling a victory for Texas.

Imagine the Ten Commandments, on a poster at least 16-by-20 inches hanging with legible font in every public school classroom. Are Texas school children the gravest sinners in the land? Do children need to be reminded of the “Thou Shalt Not’s”?

Refresh your memory of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20: verses 3-17. Would it not be more appropriate to legislate hanging the Ten Commandments in every room in the White House and in every Cabinet member’s office? 

Bob Bird
Holland

Dear Rep. (for how long?) Huizenga

In the 2022 election, Kristen McDonald Rivet defeated her Republican opponent for Michigan’s state District 35, by less than 7 points.

In the 2024 general election, Kamala Harris defeated her Republican opponent for Michigan’s state District 35 by less than 1 point.

In this year's May 5 special election, Chedrick Greene defeated his Republican opponent for Michigan’s state District 35 by more than 21 points.  

Wow. That's some kind of Democratic performance, wouldn't you say?

In 2024, you retained your seat in Congress by less than 12 points. After boasting incumbency and spending nearly three times more than your Democratic opponent.

Nov. 3 is less than five months away. 

One must wonder if, this time around, incumbency, bankrolls, and (maybe?) an endorsement from the man that’s destroying Republican candidates’ hopes across the country will be enough.

Richard Wolfe
Park Township

Promises made, promises broken

Donald Trump, while running for president before the last election, made many promises, but the following four stand out:

1. That on day one, he would reduce prices. He failed the American people on that count, mainly due to his tariffs, which are taxes, and the rise of energy prices and the ripple effect of that, especially at the grocery store.
2. He promised to release the Epstein files. He lied. He has done everything he can to prevent the release of the complete files. What is he afraid of? What is he hiding?
3. He promised not to get America entangled in foreign wars, especially in the Middle East. Again, another promise broken.
4. He promised to seek retribution against his political enemies. Promise kept.

Keeping one promise out of the four I listed is batting 250. For a baseball player, that is OK, not great. For a president, that adds up to failure. His 34% approval rating shows that he is a failure in the eyes of most Americans.  

Henry Idema
Grand Haven

Corruption unbounded

Donald Trump’s love of money and lust for power have led to corruption unbounded in his second term. Trump lives like a king, on taxpayers’ billions, above the law and disencumbered by the U.S. Constitution.

Narcissistic beyond belief and void of any empathy and integrity, Trump is not genuine. His executive orders and the slash-and-burn management of DOGE had nothing to do with controlling waste, fraud and abuse, nor with saving taxpayer dollars.

These actions focused on eliminating democratic institutions, services, government oversight and law-abiding public servants. Void of human compassion and bent toward cruelty, Trump and DOGE dropped USAID, leaving the poorest of the poor abroad to starve or die of disease. DOGE’s chainsaw hacks decimated America’s support systems for the vulnerable.

Did Trump utilize the “savings” from DOGE to solve the public need for affordable healthcare, housing, childcare, education, groceries, insurance and gas? No! Huge tax cuts for the super-rich were the objective of the "Big Beautiful Bill" Trump pushed and signed on July 4, 2025.   

Donald Trump lives daily to please Donald Trump alone! He operates without transparency and without oversight due to a cowardly Republican controlled Congress:

1. Trump is asking for $10 billion in damages from the treasury’s IRS Department in 2026.
2. Investigations by Special Counsel John Dunham have cost taxpayers $7.2 million. 
3. Victim restitution for actions tied to clemency and legal challenges for Jan. 6, 2021, rioters has impacted over $2 billion.
4. Trump is asking for $230 million in claims against the Department of Justice.
5. By early 2026, Trump was involved in over 4,000 state and federal legal proceedings.
6. As of May 2026, golf outings for Trump in his second term have generated taxpayer costs estimated at $71 million to over $100 million for travel, security and logistics. 
7. The financial lifeline to Argentina was $20 billion.
8. The Qatar Jet gifted to Trump (that will become his own possession after he leaves office) is estimated to cost $400 million to $1 billion to refit.
9. Lincoln Bathroom – Trump added marble and gold to the interior at taxpayer expense.
10. A ballroom, which replaces the East Wing, is estimated to cost $400 million to $1 billion.
11. Gold moldings and decorations throughout the Oval Office have been made at taxpayer expense.
12. The Rose Garden was paved over to add a patio with the West Wing colonnade, adding gold-framed photos of every American president except Biden.
13. Trump ordered the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool painted blue and a sidewalk clean-up for an estimated $1.5 million.
14. Trump plans to paint the concrete Eisenhower building white at taxpayer expense, estimated at $7.5 million.
15. A Triumphal Arch planned for D.C. is estimated to cost $100 million (Trump claims it will be private funds and $15 million from taxpayers).

Trump is NO KING! His unbounded corruption must STOP!

Jo Bird
Holland

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to reflect on how mental health touches every family, workplace, and community, and to recognize the systems in place that support those in need. Community Mental Health of Ottawa County plays a critical role in ensuring individuals and families have access to care, support, and hope.

Every day, CMHOC connects people to essential services, from crisis support and therapy to housing assistance and care coordination. These services are often a lifeline for individuals facing some of life’s most difficult challenges, including serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. Beyond treatment, CMHOC works to reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and help people live healthy, stable, and fulfilling lives in our community.

A key part of this impact is made possible through the Ottawa County Mental Health Millage. This local investment has strengthened our behavioral health system by funding programs that expand access, support innovation, and fill critical service gaps.

Over the years, millage-funded programs have reached thousands of residents, many of whom might not otherwise have received the help they needed.  To help inform the community of the upcoming Mental Health renewal, we’ve created a set of downloadable materials to explain how the millage works, where funds go, and the impact on local mental health services. We encourage you to download, share, and use them to help educate others and support informed conversations. Please check out our new millage website page at miottawa.org/cmh/millage to access these documents and learn more about the millage.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and ongoing awareness and support matter. During Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s a good time to remember that investing in mental health services strengthens our entire community. Take a moment this month to check in with yourself and prioritize your mental well-being.

If you or someone you know is looking to be connected to mental health services, help is available. Please contact our Access Center at 616-393-5681 to get started. Taking that first step can make all the difference.

Dr. Michael Brashears, Psy.D
Chief Executive Director
Community Mental Health of Ottawa County

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