If the new building cannot be put up and we must spend district
money on portables then EVERY student who lives outside the
Christopher High boundaries and is attending school there needs to
go back to their neighborhood school.
Dear Editor,
If the new building cannot be put up and we must spend district money on portables then EVERY student who lives outside the Christopher High boundaries and is attending school there needs to go back to their neighborhood school.
I believe that there are close to 100 students not in the boundaries attending the school. This should save some money on portables.
Rhonda Callen, Gilroy
Strange time in USA exacerbated by a leader who takes no action
Dear Editor,
What a strange time in America.
We have:
A state that is overrun with illegals, gangs, murders and drugs.
A president that makes jokes about the above mentioned problems.
An assistant secretary of homeland security who says he won’t do his job.
Rampant unemployment with no jobs in sight.
Oil spilling over our beaches in the south.
Iran, Turkey, Brazil, and Egypt thumbing their noses at us.
A worldwide financial meltdown.
A president that thinks all he has to do is make speeches and lecture us.
We need:
A president that actually does something.
Elected officials to enforce our laws.
A president that has solutions.
Fiscally responsible elected officials.
What are the chances?
Keith C. De Filippis, San Jose
‘No U-Turn’ signs along 10th Street near high school covered up
Dear Editor,
The “No U-Turn” signs on 10th Street, near Gilroy High School are hidden by the trees … not that anyone pays much attention to the signs.. But, nevertheless, they are now hidden.
Susan Baker, Gilroy
Flag issue thought turned upside down for the Fourth of July
Dear Editor,
If school was in session on the Fourth of July, would the same thing happen to students wearing attire that depicts the Mexican flag?
Wendy Crea, Morgan Hill
U.S. and Mexico intertwined and will be far into the future, so …
Dear Editor,
I am sitting here at my desk musing about the articles that I have read about the incident(s) in Morgan Hill about the degree of patriotism, or lack of, by some high school students.
By this time, some journalists, the media, parents and other interested observers have stirred the pot and instead of aiding in softening or resolving the conflict, they seem to be almost hysterically trying to start a bonfire from a smoldering ember. It should be fairly easy to agree that there is nothing wrong with the Fourth of July or Cinco de Mayo. These are simply dates that commemorate something that happened more than 200 years ago.
There was no California and no Morgan Hill at the time. The state of California did not exist before Sept. 9, 1850. At that time, counting several thousand native Americans, the 95,000 inhabitants of this sparsely populated territory spoke Spanish, and it was Mexican territory until 1848.
In this country and throughout California, there are many ethnic parades and celebrations honoring the Irish, African Americans, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Italians, Vietnamese, Portuguese and so on. This is because all are part of our country’s rich history and they are proud of their ethnicity. At this point, we might easily agree that we probably would not have seen these same young patriots from the high school in Morgan Hill object to, or interfere with, any of the above named ethnic celebrations.
The dispute then, appears to be fairly obviously an issue between the United States patriots and the Mexican-American students who are not exactly an ethnic minority in this instance.
We cannot choose sides and go out and have a soccer game to decide who wins or who loses this debate. Neither side should lose. This conflict should be resolved by a win-win result.
These high school students should be encouraged to begin to identify the many things that they have in common. They could start by counting such common blessings as being young, healthy and intelligent. They should also feel good about sharing the good fortune that they do no live in Iraq, Afghanistan or Haiti. Another bit of good fortune that they share is that they live in this not-so-perfect country and this not-so-perfect state and in fairly nice but not perfect community. These youngsters also share the future opportunities and responsibilities of fixing what is not so great and what is not so perfect in our country.
In order to resolve conflicts, it does very little good to dwell on past incidents or occurrences. Also important considerations are the objective of persons or groups. What, if anything, does one side or the other intend to achieve? Knowledge and tolerance are also important. Students on both sides should question their ideas and assumptions. They might find that some interesting facts may soften their black and white feelings.
Mexico and the U.S. are both North America, so Mexicans are Americans. Even though Mexico is a democratic country, its government has been unstable throughout its history. And although it is rich in natural resources, it has been unable to match the U.S.A. in its domestic economy or in promoting a comparable standard of living.
Our countries are not divided by an ocean, and we will be neighbors and partners for as long as we exist. Many former Californians and about a million U.S. citizens now live in Mexico. They have retired there or they work and own businesses in Mexico. Economy wise, California is the world and Mexico is our number one trading partner.
Although they might not be grateful for the gift, those us who have been in charge, including parents and teachers and local, state and federal officials, will be handing off to these young Americans a baton full of things to fix. Let us wish them luck and let us hope that when it is their turn, they do a better job than we have done.
Frank Valenzuela, San Jose, former probation officer, elected official in San Benito County and community organizer of the Office of Economic Opportunity in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Jose
Janet Barnes, forthright and caring, the best choice for state Assembly
Dear Editor,
I am a native of Salinas and have known Janet Barnes for 51 years. I know her history, both professionally and personally.
Janet is one of the most forthright and fair people I know, and she cares about ALL the people of Assembly District 28. Her public service is proof. As City Councilwoman for 12 years, she diligently does her homework – researching the issues and agonizing over the options, so that the best is made available for all the citizens of Salinas. Don’t be deceived by ugly politics.
Most of the “mud slinging” mentioned by Bill Monning has been thrown by the Luis Alejo corner. Recently, many received propaganda on behalf of Alejo’s campaign that was inaccurate and vicious – actually suggesting that Janet and the City Council were irresponsible in decisions regarding the well-being and safety of our schools and neighborhoods.
She has dedicated her life to teaching and caring for the children in our area and would never make a choice that would put them in harm’s way. Take it from those of us who really know her. Janet is not only the most forthright and fair person for the job of state Assembly, she is the most qualified. Janet Barnes is for all the people!
Victoria Wheeler, Salinas
Tea Party movement ‘desecrating the flag rather than honoring it’
Dear Editor,
The Tea Party is actually desecrating the flag rather than honoring it by using it as a tool of hatred. It’s no different than the way the Ku Klux Klan used the flag to try to define themselves as the “real Americans” when their message is that the rest of us are not as real of Americans as they are. They walk around in their costumes waiving their flags and their crosses and wearing their guns and spouting racist rhetoric calling everyone who disagrees with them communists and Nazis.
Their message is meant to inspire violence and is phony and dishonest. America is a land of many cultures. We are all immigrants or the descendants of immigrants from all parts of the world. This is not a nation of just white people. When someone uses the flag to send a message of hate and exclusion they are dishonoring everything America stands for. It takes more than just waiving a flag to be an American. When the flag becomes a lie about your patriotism and you use it as a tool of anger you might as well just set it on fire because your message is not the message that this country was founded upon.
Marc Perkel, Gilroy
