Dear Editor,
&
amp;#8194;
Regarding Ms. Cristina Tuckness’ succinct
&
amp;#8194;eight-word letter to the editor on March 4:
”
Less education will equal more crime in Gilroy,
”
&
amp;#8194;it must logically be concluded that
&
amp;#8194;
”
More education will equal less crime in Gilroy.
”
&
amp;#8194; But the question is what kind of education will
produce less crime?
&
amp;#8194;
More education equals less crime? Depends on the education
Dear Editor, 
Regarding Ms. Cristina Tuckness’ succinct eight-word letter to the editor on March 4: “Less education will equal more crime in Gilroy,” it must logically be concluded that ”More education will equal less crime in Gilroy.”  But the question is what kind of education will produce less crime? 
Education for the sake of education without a moral foundation ( and I’ll state my bias of education that includes a biblical foundation) will simply educate potential criminals to be effective criminals. Thus, the individual educated (via the Internet for example) to build a bomb will be a more educated criminal, better able to perpetrate his criminal behavior. That “education” obviously has no moral foundation regarding right vs. wrong. 
What does society expect regarding criminal activity of its adults and youth when children are not taught right vs. wrong behavior and good vs. evil behavior and the fact that there are consequences? Children grow up with a relativistic philosophy where anything goes as long as it either feels good or they don’t get caught doing it.
I know, liberals always counter the moralistic approach with the arguments of subjective prudishism or ”we tried the moral approach and it doesn’t work” or “who are you to judge?” But the fact is in a day and age of more American children are being educated than ever before, more education does not mean less crime, just as less education does not mean more crime. 
Wisdom is the key, and wisdom is more than just education. Wisdom is living life on God’s terms and conditions. Throw that principle away and society will indeed “eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices.” 
James Fennell, Gilroy 
‘Doily and quilt crowd?’ Hardly, the Arts Alliance is so much more
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to the Red Phone column in Tuesday’s Dispatch and the caller who inquired as to “who are the people behind the arts center? … is it simply an offshoot of the doily and quilt crowd?”
The Gilroy Arts Alliance is just one of many groups and individuals who are rallying in support of a “Gilroy Center for the Arts.” As a board member and community liaison for GAA, I would like to clarify who and what we are. The group grew out of a series of “artists’ stakeholder” meetings in Spring 2006 that were sponsored by the City of Gilroy Community Services and the Gilroy Foundation with the purpose of unifying artists and arts organizations in this community. We were told the meetings were the result of a request by City Council to see evidence of the artists in the community “coming together” as one voice. The GAA is a non-profit organization and collaborative that works at uniting artists and bringing about further arts development, awareness and appreciation in the community – building a market to support and enhance our upcoming arts and cultural center.
We have a board of directors, consisting of artists and arts org representatives, as well as business owners in the community. Our general membership is a collection of artists, actors, musicians, performers, educators, businesspersons, advocates, organizations, patrons, and media – currently about 75 members strong, and growing. We have a Web site (www.gilroyartsalliance.org), “blog,” and online arts calendar of events. We publish and distribute an online weekly E-Blast of “what’s happening in the arts” in Gilroy. We have outreach efforts that help provide arts-related workshops, resources and networking opportunities for members and the general community, as well as send reps to city and school district meetings that concern arts and arts’ interest (such as recent GUSD cuts that affect arts and music for kids).
We work with other organizations in the community and beyond (such as Arts Council Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County Office of Education), and appoint representatives to address issues, give input, help with decisions on arts development in the community. We actively fundraise and are currently planning a spring gala “DIVAS!” concert that will bring in much-needed funding for our ongoing work in helping “make Gilroy an arts destination.”
We share a vision of seeing an arts and cultural center built in Gilroy, and supporting that venture is one of our many platforms. However, we are not an isolated group of a few people pushing for an arts center at all costs without regard for other needs, but a group of artists, arts advocates, business people, and educators in the community working with the City of Gilroy, Community Services, Theater Angels Art League, Gilroy Foundation, downtown development and the community at large on a center that will not only be economically feasible and financially sound, but that will continue to enhance community image, encourage further business and tourism here, as well as boost the quality of life for all of us!
As for a “doily and quilt” crowd, I, along with Red Phone, am not certain to whom the caller was referring. But for the record, we are proud to have the South Valley Quilt Association as one of our active members … a group of textile design artists who host a huge exhibition and juried show at The Taste of Morgan Hill in September. This is quilting as you’ve probably never seen it … every pattern, fold and seam spells “ART!”
Sandra Marlowe Community Liaison Gilroy Arts Alliance
