Cheerleader Answers Critics, Thanks Those Who Spoke in
Support
Cheerleader Answers Critics, Thanks Those Who Spoke in Support
Dear Editor,
Many community members have written in about the cheerleading Pro Bowl trip, but I am the only person writing in that is actually currently on the cheerleading team.
I am a senior at Gilroy High School, and one of 11 varsity cheerleaders. It is common knowledge that we were recently granted the opportunity to travel to Hawaii to perform in the Pro Bowl, a trip that we earned over the summer at our cheerleading camp.
Many community members have written to the paper with their opinions on our trip, so I thought it important that an actual member of the team write in and give our opinion.
On behalf of all of us, I’d first like to thank those in the community who supported us throughout the three tormenting board meetings where we sat and listened to our fates be decided, and then reconsidered. To have the support of so many people both at our high school and in the community helped boost our spirits during a very tough time.
However, I am deeply offended by those who are still ranting about the decision. I have read such demeaning statements that go so far as to suggest that my fellow teammates and I “begged and whined” to be granted approval of our trip.
I hardly define pursuing a goal we earned with great vigor and determination to be “begging and whining.” The fact that board members Jaime Rosso and Javier Aguirre changed their votes to let us go does not make their decision “shameful.'” I find it absolutely deplorable that some people in our community have such little faith in my teammates and me that they feel the need to continue attacking us after we thought the grief concerning this trip was over.
No one except for us knows what we went through while in limbo, and the lack of support shown by some community members shows me how narrow-minded and belittling some adults can be.
Education is extremely important to my cheerleading team, and we have the grades to prove it. And yes, in response to one captious columnist, I did receive a 4 on my AP Junior English test. We are not shunning education by going on this trip that we have earned; we are expanding our horizons and becoming more worldly individuals. I have faith that all 11 of us will continue on to higher education and become successful in life, despite the three missed days of school. I guess it’s too much to ask of some community members to have a little faith in us as well.
Nora Hunt, Gilroy High School
The Golden Quill is awarded for a well-written letter.
Columnist Way off the Mark on the Issue of Domestic Violence
Dear Editor,
Cynthia Walker couldn’t be more shortsighted in her column, “In the Wake of Tragedy, What Would Dr. Laura Say?” Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime.
Instead of blaming victims as Ms. Walker has done in her column, the community must address the root causes of violence against women and girls, such as gender inequality, oppression and women’s subordination.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. Our sincerest wish is that the myths surrounding intimate partner violence will come to light so that people who share Ms. Walker’s misconceptions can become better informed on this issue.
We also want to remind the countless victims of domestic violence that no one deserves abuse and they are not alone. So many victims feel shame and do not seek help. The real shame is with Ms. Walker and those in the community who do not hold perpetrators of violence accountable.
Cynthia Hunter, director, Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Advocacy Consortium
Columnist Right on the Mark on the Issue of Domestic Violence
Dear Editor,
I thought the same thing that columnist Cynthia Walker did about the domestic violence murder of Franca Barsi when I saw it covered in the news: If Ms. Barsi had only listened to Dr. Laura’s program, read her books and followed her sage advice (don’t date when you have kids, don’t have sex out of wedlock), Ms. Barsi would still be alive and her child would still have a living mother. Domestic violence and child abuse cases would be sharply reduced if women stopped dating when they have children, stopped having sex out of wedlock and kept their focus, time, energy and money exactly where it belongs: On raising their children.
I promptly packed up and moved out of Santa Cruz when the local radio station canceled Dr. Laura’s old-fashioned horse-sense program. Now my liberal Santa Cruz friends call me for “advice”, not knowing that the sage advice I give them is the straight talk of Dr. Laura!
Grace Bennett, Sunnyvale
Whole New Shopping Center a Huge Mistake
Dear Editor,
The city of Morgan Hill is giving away almost $12 million to developers of the new retail center on Cochrane Road and in return their getting a larger Target, Payless Shoe store and Radioshack to name a few.
I’m sure the citizens of Morgan Hill are clamoring for another Payless Shoe store. This whole shopping center was a big mistake, and was only approved to fatten the wallets of the developers and the local family owners of the shopping center land.
First, the huge theater is a no-go. Now we’re getting a Gottschalks. We know the citizens hoped for a Macy’s – dream on that’s going to Gilroy. To see what you are getting, go to Terranomics.com. I’m sure you will be at the grand opening of Queen Nails.
Chris Walling, Morgan Hill
