Wholesale misrepresentation of Tea Party Americans uncalled for

Letters on the Tea Party movement, a junior high assistant
principal’s poor judgment, public employee pay and benefits,
Arizona’s new immigration law and Mexicans living in America
Wholesale misrepresentation of Tea Party Americans uncalled for

Dear Editor,

I must respond to Elaine Jelsema’s letter of May 14 regarding the Tea Partiers. Her description of the Tea Partiers could not be further from the truth! We are American citizens concerned about our future generations and where our country is heading who join together using our free speech (signs) to express our opinions.

If our waving a flag annoys her, (wrapping ourselves in flags as she calls it) that is her problem. I do realize some people do not agree with our opinions and feel politically threatened by the impact that we have been having and, therefore, feel the need to mock and vilify us.

The Dispatch a while ago ran a very distasteful cartoon calling us racists, haters, bigots and violent. We are absolutely none of this Speaking of violent … they are the ones trying to “kill the messenger.”

I will not sit idly by and watch my country go to heck in a handbasket! Remember, silence is consent! As for anyone being rude and offensive, WE ABSOLUTELY DISCOURAGE THIS and it is rare, but WE have been flipped off, told off, and almost run down (twice) … but hey, to those people I say “God Bless You … this is America!”

I believe our government is playing politics at our expense and we, the people, should not tolerate it by remaining silent.

No one could have ever convinced me that in my retirement I would be spending my Saturday morning in Morgan Hill holding a sign and waving a flag. If my friends and neighbors label me a patriotic kook, I will wear the title proudly. I’m sure Ms. Jelsema would like me to go away, but I won’t. Her letter gives me inspiration. Party on!

Diane S. Nuno, Gilroy

Junior high teacher’s judgment and professionalism sorely lacking

Dear Editor,

I was very disappointed and upset after reading about the extracurricular activities of the assistant principal, Richard Lust, at South Valley Middle School in the article “Too crude for school?”

Yes, he is entitled to a private life outside of his job, but the Internet is not private. A person in such a position as his, a position that comes with attention and authority, has to live up to higher expectations and be aware of the fact that people are looking up to him or her.

Although even for any person, no matter what their profession, joking about someone’s suicide is just wrong and disrespectful. But for a person to whom children look up to and parents trust their children’s education with, joking about such topics and using foul language is intolerable and careless.

I am a high school junior in San Jose and I know that if I ever found out that any of my teachers were participating in such activities, I would be thoroughly disappointed in their insensitivity and lack of professionalism.

Chrissy Allen, Gilroy 

The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.

‘Jerry’s pay is 34% higher than that of Meg, who built his house …’

Dear Editor,

Jerry’s job is to stand on the corner and occasionally cross the street, making traffic stop for him. He is paid to do this by the state of California. The agency that employs him justifies his position by saying he makes people drive more safely. Jerry’s pay is 34 percent higher than that of Meg, who built his house, and Tom, who grows his food. His benefits are 70 percent higher than Pete, who services his car. (These are Cato Institute figures, 2009.) 

Jerry is forced to pay dues to a public-employee union, which pays Dale to spew propaganda saying how they “set the standard,” implying that Meg’s employer will compete to match Jerry’s salary and benefits. But due to the payroll taxes and the various “fees” that Meg’s and Tom’s companies have to pay to the state for Jerry’s salary, there is no money remaining. 

Every year, Pete’s “license fee” to the state increases by 5 percent. Jerry’s agency was going to give him a 10 percent raise this year, but instead they gave him 4 percent; so they broadcast a 6 percent “cut” and the newspaper put it on the front page. The Democrats, safe in their jerrymandered seats, warn the people that their safety is at risk by this terrible 6 percent cut, labeling any contradiction “insensitive.” 

They call Meg, Pete, and Tom “greedy” for not allowing a simple majority to raise their taxes even higher. Now the third-highest overall tax rate, largest debtor, and most overregulated state in the country wants to register dog breeders and long guns. They will say they created jobs and tell us these are necessary for our “safety,” while the other 49 states will enjoy lower unemployment, less debt, and a lower crime rate. We’re going to clean House in November; maybe we can also remove the socialist infection from Sacramento. Then Jerry will have to develop skills to compete with Meg, Pete, and Tom.

Alan Viarengo, Gilroy

Immigration law should be enough for Gilroyans to bypass Arizona

Dear Editor,

I recently read an article

In the Dispatch’s back pages

Of a place to visit

And spend, your hard-earned wages

They recommended highly

The “Grand Canyon” for it’s fantastic view

They were promoting Arizona

As a tourism spot, for me and you

But in light of the fact

Gilroy has a 50% Hispanic population

I’m really wondering

If that’s an ideal vacation

For they passed a new law

That police can stop and detain

Anyone they suspect

Has a Latino last name

I would strongly advise against

Choosing Arizona as a destination

Where people are stopped

Because of their ethnic persuasion

Tom Engebretson, Gilroy

‘By continuing to push for multi-culturalism, the more

we will be pushed apart’

Dear Editor,

In response to Elaine Jelsema’s letter, I say this: If wearing the Red, White and Blue is rubbing salt in the wounds of the hooligans that rioted, flying the Mexican flag in Morgan Hill threatening violence, cutting school, mobbing vehicles, then you are NOT as American as anyone else. You’re just another disgruntled ethnic victim whining about respect for your culture.

Mexican Americans have a lot of nerve demanding respect just for being Mexican Americans. I do, however, demand that you and others like you get your loyalties straight. You are either American or not. It’s time to show your loyalty to the country that gave you everything that Mexico could not then, and does not now do for you.

I don’t demand Italian heritage day and disrupt public schools, riot and make an idiot of myself flying the Italian flag. The only flag I fly is the Red, White and Blue. If that bothers anybody, the other nice thing about the USA is you can leave. I was taught that I was an American. That choice was made by my grandparents who immigrated through Ellis Island in New York. We left Italy for a reason. The USA was by far the best country on earth and still is.

We didn’t come here demanding free healthcare, free food, free education, bilingual education and we did not demand national spaghetti day. We were thankful on our knees that the USA let us in and gave us the chance to assimilate into the great melting pot known as the USA. Don’t mistake my anger as being directed at your Mexican race, no, it is directed at the demands by some Hispanics in this country who think they are victimized by capitalism and our democratic republic form of government.

We owe Mexico NOTHING. We don’t owe people of Mexican descent any more than we owe the German’s, African’s, Italian’s. Polish ETC. The only racist position I see is yours. Martin Luther King got it, why don’t you? By continuing to push for multi-culturalism, the more we will be pushed apart. Peace out. 

Mark A. Zappa, Gilroy