Birth dates should not matter | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the editor:

I feel it necessary to respond to an editorial in the Aug. 24 issue of the South Whidbey Record where I was described as being an ageist.

First, while I am well aware of the “denotative” definition of an ageist, I am at a loss as to how it relates to me. Unless for some bizarre reason the writer believes that somehow I do or would discriminate against someone based on age, and, I would assume, by implication someone younger than I. I would find that insulting if not ridiculous. My work with the South Whidbey Youth Connection, where I was vice president of the board, should speak for itself.

Eliminating that possibility, I am left to assume he is making some connotative interpretation and I can imagine two possible scenarios. One being that he, himself, thinks I am “too old” or that somehow from comments I have made he is construing me as believing my opponent is “too young.”

When I reference my age at all, it is simply in the context of defining a period of time and by extension the wealth of experience that represents. As to the other, anyone who knows me knows that is not true. A number of my fellow workers (yes, I still work) are Mr. Gill’s age and they have their own share of life experience which I respect and also learn from.

I would hope that if there was any reason to bring up a word like “ageism” it should be in the context of rejection. Let this be a decision and a vote based on each voter’s belief in what either I or Mr. Gill can do for the city of Langley — not our respective birth dates!

BRUCE ALLEN

Langley

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