It makes me so sad to read the truly awful diatribes from some
of your ultra-right-wing readers.
Dear Editor,
It makes me so sad to read the truly awful diatribes from some of your ultra-right-wing readers. They blame the Democrats for everything that in fact the Republicans are responsible for. We are not getting a “tax hike” – taxes are going back to what they were before former President Bush got elected. This is not a tax hike.
Rates right now are much lower than when dear old Ronnie (former President Ronald Reagan) was president. I don’t understand why the right wing always has to resort to name calling and insults.
If their beliefs are so righteous, why play in the mud? The person who claimed to be a dog breeder, but doesn’t believe that animals have rights – what kind of a person is that? I feel very sorry his the dogs in his care. He was also a name caller.
The right wing always have the same old story: everyone who disagrees with them is a socialist or a communist and wants to rule their every action.
If they would take a closer look they would see that it is the Republicans who want to control people’s personal lives – for example, no rights for gays, no choice for women, etc.
Give us awful liberals a break and deal with the truth, not the Big Lie as promulgated by your heroes Rush and Glen. By the way, although I’m a horrible liberal, I don’t think the government should decide what I should eat or when my kids should get a toy! So there.
Marjorie Apel, Gilroy
Nature of Islam about conquest – religious as well as political
Dear Editor,
Recent discussions on the building of a Mosque and cultural center two blocks from the World Trade Center catastrophe have concentrated on how we should show tolerance toward the Muslims. Perfect tolerance would be to build the Mosque on top of Ground Zero.
The purpose of this Mosque is to expand Islam. That is their right, too. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be enough Muslims in the U.S. to control elections. The stated purpose of Islam is to convert the world and bring everyone under Shia law as dictated by the Quran.
Islam is not just a religion. Islam is also a political force dedicated to conquest and overthrow of government by force if necessary.
The United States government is a target. Only when this is accomplished will there be peace.
When communism threatened our way of life, we took actions to prevent it. Some were regrettable in their enthusiasm (McCarthy) but the threat was deterred. I wonder when this country will realize there is a threat. It only took one Pearl Harbor to bring action. Isn’t one 911 enough to convince us? Haven’t we noticed or just forgotten all the other attacks? Former President Clinton said we would hunt them down and bring them to justice.
We have been led to believe that Muslims are mostly peaceful and only a small fraction are dangerous. Muslims are taught to deceive infidels in attaining their political goals. So, who can you trust?
For those who just can’t believe people would do things like fly a jetliner into a building, I suggest viewing a movie called “Mars Attacks.” The Martians proclaimed peace even while exterminating the humans. “Friendly” Muslims approach groups of people almost daily then they explode causing devastation and death. We know our borders are being penetrated by sleepers who may bring this to us personally. Tolerance is a virtue, but so is vigilance. “God bless the USA.”
John Herren, Gilroy
Columnist’s superb effort prompts thoughts on a teacher’s influence
Dear Editor,
We’re blessed to have the writings of Dispatch columnist Martin Cheek. In his Aug.27 column, Martin showed great courage and insight as he revealed the obstacles that cut short his boyhood, and he did a wonderful job of inspiring us to consider how our words and attitudes can affect others.
He certainly overcame the cruel suggestion that he bore responsibility for his father’s illness, and he has turned the positive acclaim of Palma High School’s staff into a devotion to sharing his knowledge of our region and enriching our lives.
How many children have not been able to deflect undeserved scorn? How many have not had the advantage of acceptance? As a teacher, I sometimes caught myself drawing students’ attention to a litany of the times my expectations weren’t met. While expectations, and holding students to them, are very important, it’s best to focus on standards for upcoming tasks rather than being (in the phrase of a mentor), a “historian of failure.”
That same mentor pushed me to “catch ’em in the act of doing good.”
The same lessons can be applied in all our relationships; we simply have to remain aware of our influence. While I’m singing the praise of one person from Morgan Hill, I’ll remind old timers of a mentor who challenged me to be the best teacher I could. Bob Caredio taught U.S. History at Live Oak High School for many years, and it was my privilege to be assigned as his student teacher in the spring of 1966. While it was certainly not easy to live up to the expectations Bob Caredio inspired in me, and while I had to come to grips with developing a style consistent with my own personality, Bob left me with splendid examples of educational philosophy and methods – congratulations to all who benefitted from his fine teaching.
Phill Laursen, Gilroy
To create a vibrant downtown, we all must ‘THINK POSSIBILITIES …’
Dear Editor,
I am always on the lookout for businesses or ideas that will make downtown a destination. That is what really creates a vibrant downtown – unique businesses, that reflect the local community.
We also should learn lessons for the future. One of those is: it’s too bad that it wasn’t possible to relocate the new library downtown. The temporary library has definitely brought people downtown and may have even contributed to the 20 percent increase in sales tax receipts for downtown that was recently reported. From discussions with the library staff, attendance is very good at the temporary library with up to a high of 2,000 people a day using the facility.
The lesson here is that when public and civic uses are brought downtown, they can help promote the shops, businesses, and restaurants by giving people a “reason” to go downtown.
Besides libraries what other uses could we be talking about moving or locating downtown that would have the same effect of bringing people downtown and would serve as another “magnet for economic development”?
What will the next opportunity be?
Currently, the demonstration garden, the planned outdoor theater, and the use of the Salvation Army building as an art center are bringing people downtown, albeit not as many people as the library, but more than if those uses weren’t there. What are the other uses that the city could direct downtown that exist today or possibly in the future? We all need to THINK POSSIBILITIES …
We should agree that public and civic uses should be directed to downtown whenever possible. Historically, that was standard practice in downtowns, we just seemed to have forgotten it.
Gary Walton, Gilroy
Driving class for seniors made enjoyable by columnist/teacher
Dear Editor,
My wife and I recently took an “AARP Safe Driving Class” with Ms. Camille Bounds as the volunteer certified instructor. We highly recommend her class.
Her sense of humor and relaxed, stress-free, entertaining approach made this a pleasurable experience with invaluable safe driving information.
Here is one dedicated lady that has a no nonsense, sensitive and patient approach to teaching while treating her student as adults in a classroom setting. I hope she knows how appreciated she is for making a boring subject enjoyable.
Pastor and Mrs. Gabriel Otero, senior pastor,
Bethel Baptist Church
