The voices of freedom - 2004

The Union, which celebrated its 140th year in 2004, is proud that its Ideas & Opinions page is a forum for all ideas in our community. We are one of the few newspapers in the United States that tries to publish all the letters it receives, either in print or online. How many letters, guest columns, kudos, interviews, and other reader opinions did we publish in 2004? More than 3,000. Who were they from? You, your neighbors, and Nevada County's leaders. Today, in appreciation of this expression of the First Amendment's precious freedoms, we list many of our contributors. If you're not among them, join them in 2005.

Frederick Harriman, Takayo Harriman, Dave Holderman, Rich Daniels, Philip Hines, Nory Fussell, John Combest, R. Owen Barnes, Bob Bussey, Bill Ward, P. M. Rutter, Bill Murdock, Scottie Hart, Donna Cobb, M. W. Cicogni, Walter Chatham, Debbie Zeh, Bruce Beale, Phil Reinheimer, H. Gordon Ainsleigh, Mike MacKenzie, Roger Hager, Jenn Gunder, Jason Reynolds, Melanie Wellner, Candy Brannon, LaVelle Stanton, Tamara Davenport, John Howard, Dave Aldons, Fred Buhler, Anna Drummond, Donna Day, Vimala Rodgers, Dean Williams, Frank Newlin, Elaine Newlin, Brad Patterson, David Sorci, Dorothy Volker, Diane Miessler, Terry Haines, Don Denton, David Burns, Jerry Petty, Chuck Peer, Becky Hindt, N. Jones, Alan Newcomb, Stan Thomas-Rose, Bob Rogers, M. Cummins, Kim Battenfield, Dave Gengenbach, Robin McBlair, Steve Egge, Bette Worth, Charisse Nunnink, V. Anthony, Michael Peters, Mary Leon, Sherry Balow, Teddy Kell, Michael Barber, Bob Webster, Joe Vielbig, David Price, Terry Pittsford, Donald Herrmann, Adam Fitting, Elbert Hudspeth, Joe Hauck, George Rebane, Jo Anne Rebane, Phil Nelson, Herb Robins, Ross Woodbury, Ron Avanzino, Rick Cartoscelli, E. H. Ted Smith, E. Jeremy Wright, Louis Conter, Shauna Smith, Jack Sanchez, Don Jones, Jim Groom, Tom Davisson, Brad Croul, Patricia Black, Arlene Novy, Joe Thompson, Shana Parker, Al Jennings, Ann Caroline Davis, Jim Doak, Bruce Sturm, John Morris, Ben Menzies, Michelle Margulies, Fred Hoffmeyer, John Allen, Chris Johnsen, Andy Cassano, Patty Kenyon, Linda McGiffin, Jon Heinrich, Tony Rohl, Kurt Greiner, Connie Sturm, Tom Van Wagner, Calvin Clark, M. James Currier, Claus Sievert, Robert Lobell, George Hicks, Ron Weiser, Melody Arnett, Alice Lawrence, James Dean, Graham Jeffery, Janice Kutchen, Kathleen Darden, Robert Shoemaker, Paul Higginbotham, Bill Struck, Joanne McIntire, Rob Smith, Shane Valdez, Dr. Terence McAteer, Lucille Lovestedt, Maya Kaathryn Bohuhoff, Rich Keene, Walt Lawson, Buck Stoval, Corina Loving-Wells, Steve Hainovitz, Randy Hansen, Andy Lawler, Linda Stevens, Olivia Diaz, Jon Blinder, Eduard Rossovich, Peter Van Zant, Barbara Green, Robin Sutherland, Margaret League, Carl Cicogni, Gale Love, Eric Engles, Richard Gilman, Tom Gleason, Don Cooks, Dan Scanlan, Joanne Poverello, Patti Ingram, Robert Herbert, Emma Suarez, Jake Covert, Harold Barber, Mick Pattinson, Tom Crosswhite, Carol Sechovec, Dick Tracy, Randy Oliver, Nancy Case, Jeree Waller, Rick Waller, Donn Zea, David Coyle, Everett Ehrlich, Jim Hurley, Ariel Lovett, Kathy Love, Ron Lowe, Gerald Anderson, Steve Berquist, Bruce Van Zee, Jan Kovarick, Brian Groves, Tony Loro, Tony Hardwick, Karen Sullivan, Zeke Tafoya, Gary Pesselt, Claudette Paige, Penny Lucas, Sirci Kiter, Jeff Kane, Evelyn Webster, Mark Smith, Keith Miller, Carrie Lahr, Wade Lahr, Brant Callahan, Cheryl Morris, George Petievich, Peter Pohorsky, Ann Heinrich, Sandy Schmidt, Rose Johnson, Karen Kroeger, Patrick Gerving, Bonnie Galletta, Ina Elrod, Audine Smith, Mike Drummond, Bernice Strohbin, Desiree Parker, Michael Moerman, Holly Snider, Kathy DiMaggio, Sona Britt, Yvonne Christensen, Shirl Mendonca, Randall Gross, Ken Newton, Kathy Newton, Rick Jayne, Robyn Jayne, Desiree Parker, Phillip Gregory, Coulter Adams, Renee Alexander, Peter Arnold, Brent Boling, Margaret Baker, Gary Bramstedt, Pearce Boyer, Jean Baecker, Polly Bacich, Dennis Barry, Judith Berliner, Marylou McKenzie, Richard Bowen, Marilyn Blaine, Dan Buckley, Jedediah Biagi, Joan Briody, Ashley Frye, Bonnie Bennett, Ed Buryn, Teresa Bryerton, Dawn Brindley, Steve Cottrell, Gary Clarke, John Cosenza, M. James Currier, Julia Carol, Rita Cook, Dennis Cole, Claire Carsman, D. B. Cameron, Chamba Cooke, Jeff Cowen, Georgie A. Coulter, Josie Crawford, Stacey Cortez, Kristin Condict, Richard Cooper, Lisa Curry, Wendy Cain, Don Cooks, Brant Callahan, Claudia Cunningham, Phyllis Campanello, Bill Dalton, Tom DeChaine, Len Dole, Henry Dax, J. W. (Tom) Demorest, Vicki Downs, John Driscoll, Glenn Delisle, Denise Dugger, E. Elios-Barch, Suzi Ewell, Danielle Ennis, Jack Davis, John Dickey, Tim Fike, Tony Finnerty, Cathy Fagan, Peter Fulton Foss, Cheri Fry, Dolly Fickling, James Ferrier, Joe Figueira, Jad Funk, John Gaunt, Jean Gerard, Hollie Grimaldi-Flores, Robert P. Guthreau, Robert P. Guthreau, Maureen Garrison, Randall Gross, Carlyle Holmes, Jeff Hinman, Wayne Hild, Keith Harris, Liberty Harris, Wesley N. Hayes, Linda Hawthorne, Kristanne Heaton, Kathie Harine, Terry Haines, Stuart Hoffmann, Peter Harrell, Jay Harrier, Kelly Hale, Georgia S. Harvey, Barbara Johnston, Linda Johnson, Larry Ingersoll, Don Jones, Scott Jones, Richard O. Johnson, Steve O'Rourke, Jan Jacoby, Chuck Jaffee, Charles Idler, Evan Jones, Steve Kinsman, Lisa Swarthout, Chris Kunkel, Mary Kranz, Aaron Klein, Diana S. Kluska, John Keane, Laurence Kaufman, Jeff Kane, Richard Katz, Gloria Kershner, Ron Lowe, Ellen Lapham, Jon Langdon, Bob Larive, Terry Lamphier, P. C. Lane, Mary Liebke, Steve Lewis, Lauri Lombardi, Joan Lewis-Szaly, William Larsen, Mary Leon, Dave Lynott, Carrie and Wade Lahr, Larry Miller, Diane Marten, Barak Michener, Mel McGuire, Bonnie McGuire, Eleanore MacDonald, Timothy May, John Merritt, Michael McDaniel, Mark Meckler, Jean McKeen, Chris Mulder, Jan Mulder, Diane Miessler Rosner, Charles Mathews, Eleanore Mathews, Keith Miller, Ben Menzies, Dan Madden, Josh Miller, Laura Miller, Cheryl Morris, Keith Miller, Joe Matteoni, Kelly Ogren, Karen Austin, George M. Olive III, Charlotte Orren, Jennifer Nobles, Grace O'Mara Waldron, Mike Peters, Cathy Peterson, Robert Parvin, Sharon Purington, Meg K. Palley, Joe Paquin, Elsie Peard, Russ Powell, Sharon Peterson, George Petievich, Nate Beason, Peter Pohorsky, Randy Richey, Maxine Robinson, Dana Reed, Barbara Rivenes, Natalie Russell, Terry Robinson, Dale Peterson, Pat and Bill Russell, Marilyn Rohrbacher, Phyllis Ryan, George Rebane, Herb Robins, B. J. Ratner, Frances Robertson, Marty Steere, Priscilla Stuckey, Anne G. Schlosser, Katherine Scourtes, Michael Schwalm, Bobbi Dee Sinclair, Valerie Sanchez, Craig Steiger, Ken Schumacher, Gretchen Sitton, Don Schmidt, Tim Stokes, Mike Sherman, Yvette Strom, Larry Shumaker, Grant Shatto, Vicki Sellers, Eric Schweizer, Paul Schwartz, Nigeal Setter, Cindy Simmons, Mark Smith, Linda Turner, Toni Thompson, Reg Titus, James Thornton, Ted Tilman, Janet Vega, Arlene Waxman, Jill Walker, Melanie K. Wellner, Ed Westervelt, D. Wagner, Jerry White, Jackie White, Jo Wamser, Evelyn Webster, Jim Chatigny, Nate Beason, Barbara Murray, Elise Morgan, Nancy Tavares, Lowell Robinson, Chris Olander, George Drum, Sonya Zucca, J. Ray, Janelle Dalton, Clifford Stransky, Judy Fitanides, Chuck Durrett, Melissa Leon, Mary Graebner, Mary Todd, A. Brodeur, Rebecca Nichols, Dennis Bishop, Jim Beitz, David McKeen, Charlene Halby, Roberta Bloom, Cheri Snook, Beryl Robinson, Benoni Nowland, Bob Mora, Eric Trygg, Cat Cook, Kathy Piper, Doug Rich, Larry Burkhardt, Josh Ramey, Scott Denham, Chris Johnsen, James L. Butler, J. de Haan, Frank Compani, Marian Wyckoff, Georgann Russell, Bob Webster, Charles Tyler, Del Reynolds, Ruth Poulter, Del Langhorst, Christine Wilkes, Leonard Skotnicki, Gerald Emerald, Patricia Mathews, Kim Anderson, Sandy Schmidt, Stacey Cortez, Joyce Karst, Larry Hoffman, Don Jennett, Linda Blunk, Mike Heauser, Fred Gere, Matt Heilmann, Eric Rubenstein, Jeanette Clark, Hilary Hedman, Mike Dobbins, Lauren McDonnell, Jacqueline Hastings, Rick Nolle, Alan Shuttleworth, Muriel McLaughlin, Jeff Kane, Linda Stevens, Sherrine Crowley, David Adams, H.O. "Buck" Jones, Linda Davidson, Rick Colombini, Jonathan Keehn, Peter Arnold, David Henderson, Kent Smith, Jim Crowley, Beth Moore Haines, Margaret McCallum, Larry Meritt, Patrick Poulson, Hetty Williams, Gail Lipson, Karen Chileski, Hank DiPillo, Bettye Heinrich, Stephen Greenberg, Tom Dyer, Valeria Blanchard, Pat Bristow, Regina Gates, Janet Vega, Cathy Lewis, Custis Haynes, Ed Haynes, Irene Maretti, Helen McIrvin, Rebecca Van Meter, Kristopher Finstad, Jay Rosenthal, B. McCann, Sheila Blecksmith, Brant Callahan, Lori Deniz, Ellen Persa, David Santen, Dick Phillips, Jim Groom, John Spencer, Martin Light, William Toensing, Gary Pesselt, James Aaron, Jeff McCoy, Anne King, Julie Carville, June Rice, Bill Forcum, Cindy Simmons, Gary Emanuel, Alice Munkelt, Linda Chapin, Ann Will, Pat O'Kelley, Richard Thomas, Don Martin, Barbara Jones, Steve Haimovitz, Bob Wilder, Lin Donald, Nik Kelly, Brian Pearson, Ruth McDonald, Avila Lowrance, Barbara Martinez, Dick Denman, Ana Acton, Doug Gallagher, Bill Harris, Chris Drainville, Ann Meigs, Bill Ososki, Alan Banfield, Hillary Feineman, Albert Thelander, Melinda Berquist, Mike Hurley, Bobbie Tomasello, Scott Fritz, Tom Durkin, Kent Gallagher, Margie Buhler, Karsten Hansen, Don Webb, Debbie Bernardi, Lorraine Gervais, Peter Parkhurst, John Daly, Barbara Gault, E. B. Batista, Ellen Hagan, Tim Hagan, Ezella Shay, Bill Klein, Rod Pence, Janet West, Sarah Johnson, Joyce Pierce, William Muff, Hazel Hardin, Bill Drake, Patsy Davison, Karen Cox, Stew Carson, Flo Carson, Diana Abrell, Catie Elzie, Charley Hooper, G. Dennis Lance, Cynthia Crockett, George Chileski, Bob Carrel, Alma Flanagan, Mary Brock, Mark Johnson, Brian Dowling, Ed St. John, Patrick Tobin, Nicholas Baer, Joyce Miller, June Chute, Linda Beatie, Bradlee Welson, Joan Briody, Clifton La Moure, Susan Solinsky, Sally Harris, Myra Wood, Muriel Lewis, Tina Columbini, Jim Hansen, Peter Burelle, Betsy Rotter, Billy Rotter, Karen Robinson, Karen Nicholas, Karen Winguth, Ella O'Bryan, D. Mann, Dona LeMoin, John Holland, Loraine Webb, Brad Wilcox, Bill Steele, Russ Steele, Jennie Ingram, W. Lowell Robertson, Ron Ramsey, Dick Panzica, Len Dole, Michael Askins, Patricia Wolfe, Robert White, Ralph Shaffarzick, Laura France, Loren Young, Laura Mantei, John McAlister, Annabel Balsamo, Suzanna Gough-Johnson, Richard Cristdahl, Mary Wise, Barbara Langdon, Drew Bedwell, Verne Disney, James Butler, Lois Jennings, James Michener, Robert Peck, Judy Ten Eyck, Jerry Eason, Jim Weir, Al Hoffmeyer, Betsy Wobus, John Bacich, Larry Ingersoll, Lucille Cassingham, Janet Lowell, Nancy Naumann, Dennis Naumann, Gregory Sharp, Aaron Eisenberg, Priscilla Stuckey, Kevin Gross, Brian Terhorst, Donovan Lee, Gabriel Ross, Chip Carman, Alan Weisberg, Cathy Kelley, Jennie Grow, Debbie Sill, Jerry Martin, Dave Knoderer, Marion Hedge, Charles Anderson, Eleanor Anderson, Tom Balch, Sue Peterson, Sands Hall, Joy Harris, Angie Purwin, David McKay, Larry Lang, Lois Gensley, Peter Fulton Foss, Richard Stormsgaard, Sandra Rockman, William Payne, Patricia Montijo, dolores Miele, Ellen McKay, Molly Fisk, Tony Finnerty, Susan Dunn, Linda Eckerman, Phil Oliver, Robert Ingram, Patti Ingram, Jane Powell, Betty Lupton, David Sweat, Phyllis Ryan, Dana Reed, Laurie Price, Karen Kroeger, Karla Arens, Michael Stevens, Karen Leigh Sharp, Donna Saunders, Maggie McKaig, Virginia Linn, Terry Lowe, Ingrid Kollmann, Jacque Keyes, Jerry Keyes, Larry Kellogg, Steve Enos, Mark Cummins, Bonnie Bennett, Zhenya Beck, Margaret Baker, A. A. Allen, Paul Mullinger, Scott Johnson, Marlee Chamberlin, Larry Lansburgh, Anthony Halby, Marty Steere, R. K. Slack, Elliott Emerson, Morgana Wyze, Ed Westervelt, Eric Stikes, Jay Schuff, Rebecca Hahn, Nora Nusbaum, Mike Mihaljevich, Dennis McMurray, James King, Jeff Henninger, Jack Gilliland Jr., Barbara Emery, Cheryl Dachtler, Sam Bernstein, Shirley Benedick, Larry Kaufman, Marjie Morris, John Barrow, Philip Reinheimer, Jan Hedman, Tom Kane, Geordie Zapalac, David Adams, Claire Carsman, Reed Hamilton, Michael Nudelman, Kim King, Colleen McKinnon, Gary Sobonya, Dennis Royce, Gene Downing, Sue White, Norman Dalton, Don Casavant, Ray Childers, Fritz Gonsalvez, Shirley Porter, David Wright, Lauren MacDonell, Janis McGregor, Miriam MacAllister, Robin Harp, Dave Hallock, Brett Hall Jones, John Deaderick, Sherrill Brooks, Donna Cobb, Rick Robins, Mary Tucker, Kayle Martin, Susan Gronemeyer, Wayne Ellison, Don Hauswirth, Carol Hauswirth, Parvati Hansen, Elizabeth Cain, Tom Ackart, Jon Renfro, Ryan Alcombrack, Angelo Torisse, Tia Nagler, Debra Kesti, D. Anderson, Barbara Potts, Barry Angell, Sam Dardick, Debbie Leal, Stacey Cortez, Mike Anderson, Ezella Shay, Heather Mandeville, Jenn Demunck, Carole Miller, Walt Fraser, Richard Engles, Donna Russell, Char Arnett, Edmond Rossovich, Carole McCallum, Terry Lamphier, Lisa Frankel, Jack Fortner, Michelle Olsen, Donna Natali-Miller, Richard Lee, Barbara Graves, Jon LeLange, Joe Martinez, George Hicks, Karin Feickert, Andrew Quadro, Ann Hobbs, Cheryl Cook, Lisa Miglietta, Randall Guyton, Frank Haggerty, Mary Longmore, Therese Stack, William Frisbie, Mary Miller, Nancy Hendricks, Kaitlin Spak, Andy Norrell, Sharon Bailey-Bok, Mary Jorgensen, David Friedrichsen, Jeanie Berg, William Standenheimer, Ted Owens, Ron Slay, Jillian Aronstam, Lewis Connell, Cindy Maple, Pat Leach, Patricia Graham, Linda Gilliland, Melissa Silva, Henry Dax, George Loftus, Harold Blickenstaff, Bruce Conklin, Mike Pasner, Michelle Shockley, David Briceno, Henry Cavallaro, Gail Allinson, John Allen, Michael Powers, Heather Donesky, Vicki Warner, Tina Parkman, Thomas Straus, Betsy Abrams, J. A. Dallmann, Jerry Davis, Kelly Bynes, Alicia Bertoli, Paul Nielsen, Andrea Heyser, Barbara Williams, Carole Webster, Graham Jeffery, John Fletcher, Ben Coate, Virginia Coate, Frances Jorgensen, Stephen Munkelt, Joe Mayer, Gerry Davenport, Bob Olesen, Ken Davis, Sue Horne,Terry Fieldhouse, Chamba Lane, Wendy Detweiler . . . and hundreds more.