Letters to the Editor

| Thursday, March 13, 2003 10:00 PM PST ∞

North County Times


Anti-war rally in Oceanside


I am an Army veteran who served in Korea. I am a lifetime Republican.


I consider myself to be a constitutionalist, rather than being loyal to one party. I am fiercely patriotic, and I am certainly no pacifist.


It is extremely worrisome that the world's only super-power is now being led by a president who isn't very intelligent, and who is inarticulate, vindictive and vengeful, and not emotionally stable.


This president intends to attack a country that has never threatened the United States, and does not have the means to do so. With our military superiority, this will not be an honorable war for reasons of justice; it will simply be a massacre.


Our military members bravely volunteered to risk their lives in defense of our country. They deserve better than to be used in this shameful manner.


And if they suffer disabling injuries, will the government regard them with the same indifference that happens to veterans with health problems resulting from Agent Orange and Gulf War syndrome?


A lot of veterans will be speaking against this war but in support of our troops at noon March 15 at the Oceanside band shell. Please join us.


ROBERT FREEMAN


San Marcos





Support troops, say no to war


I lived through WWII in London and have a better idea of the consequences of bombings than do most Americans. This country has never known the horrors of modern war on its soil. Sept. 11 was truly a terrible disaster, but nothing compared to the thousands of innocent people who would be killed during an unjust blitzkrieg on Iraq.


Let us negotiate for peace for as long as it takes. Meanwhile I'll be at the anti-war rally at noon March 15 at the band shell in Oceanside.


We support our troops, but say no to war.


BARBARA D.J. RAYNER


Carlsbad





Danger to U.S. will increase with war


In September 2002 I took to the street out in front of Congressman Duke Cunningham's office to oppose the move toward war with Iraq. It was wrong for Congress to hand over to the president their constitutional requirement to declare war and place the world in the current dangerous situation we find ourselves. I still have not been convinced that the level of danger to this country will be decreased by war.


As a 20-year veteran, I served my country with honor. I do not feel that it is honorable for our leaders to be using our servicemen and women as poker chips in a game of bluff that may lead to war. These poker chips have family and friends, they bleed and cry. Their lives are worth every effort to achieve peace and justice before we risk what they only can give once.


Add your voice, meet others that want peace and justice at noon March 15 at the Oceanside band shell, or at 2 p.m. March 16 at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way in Balboa Park. If you're a veteran please wear something that shows you served and look for the San Diego Veterans for Peace.


GARY WAAYERS


San Diego





Protesters put troops in danger


It seems that all those anti-war protesters focus only on our president and not on the Iraqi killer of his own people. Protest signs read "Bush this" and "Bush that." The Democratic Party members are now sending our schoolchildren into the streets with their anti-American rhetoric and their support for Saddam Hussein.


Movie actors and activists like Ben & Jerry Ice Cream are putting our troops in danger. A new breed of American terrorist is growing in the U.S.A. A new move is on now to avoid all the Ben & Jerry products at all the military bases stateside and overseas. Also all products from actors like Martin Sheen, Mike Farrell, Susan Sarandon, etc.


God bless our presidents and our country.


ROLANDO G. ZEPADA


U.S. Marine Corps


Oceanside





More lies by Bush and company


Reuters news agency on several occasions on March 7 released a story that Mohamed El Baradei and his team of nuclear weapons inspectors in Iraq had concluded that documents presented by the United States, that alleged an Iraq nuclear weapons program were in fact fraudulent. They further concluded that materials found in Iraq were not capable of supporting a nuclear weapons program and, in fact, Iraq did not have a nuclear weapons program.


This same story appeared on the AP wire service on March 8. Unfortunately this story was not published in the North County Times. This is incredible front-page news; our government is lying in an effort to convince the world to embark on a military operation against innocent people and you people don't publish the story.


I expect this of Bush and his sleazy henchmen who have lied since he stole the election in Florida with his brother's fraudulent election practices, but I expect more of an honorable news organization.


ROBERT L. NELSON


Poway





Issa's deep pockets keep him in office


I was amused at Congressman Darrell Issa's response to criticism that he manipulated his online polling when the tallies didn't support his position (Letters, Feb. 21). It is delightfully ironic that this conservative Republican chose the Democratic Club of Oceanside-Carlsbad as a model for the defense of his polling policies.


However, I don't plan to participate in his online polls again. They are obviously skewed. If Darrell really wanted to gauge public opinion about the impending war with Iraq he need only look to Wall Street. The market rises on news of peace and drops like a rock over the uncertainty of war. I hope my IRA can survive until 2004.


For those of us who knew Darrell, the brilliant entrepreneur, it is especially painful and disappointing to watch him navigate the slippery slopes of public life.


Whether it is his bungled online polling, childish tantrums at airports, reckless speeding and arrogance toward law enforcement on Interstate 5, or his pious imposition of personal religious opinions into City Council chambers, it is sad to see this gifted businessman on a slow march to becoming a mediocre politician.


Fortunately for Darrell, he can keep self-financing elections and hiring political consultants until he perfects his game.


JOHN C. WEBSTER


Vista





Less confused but more worried


Thanks to Mr. Jerry Michal for his March 5 response to my letter of Feb. 21, "Confused and worried." His letter, titled "Blame Clinton, not Bush, for the economy," left me less confused but more worried. I do believe he was mistaken on a few points.


First, I did not associate George with the war in Vietnam. I said, "Should I trust Mr. Bush and the government that brought us the war in Vietnam?" Mr. Bush is now the head of that government. Incidentally, George was not "in high school then" as he stated. I know because I was an officer on active duty in the U.S. Air Force during that time. While I was overseas, George W. (born in 1946) was in the Texas Air National Guard turning jet fuel into smoke and noise over the plains of Texas.


With regard to the stock market, we all know fear and greed make it go up and down. Not presidents. It seems like fear has ruled since Mr. Bush took office, however. Also, Mr. Michal said, "All our current troubles have their roots in the mid-1990s, and ask Mr. Lawson who controlled the White House and Congress at that time." I believe in 1994 there was a "Republican landslide" and they took over Congress, so I guess you can blame them.


GARY W. LAWSON


Rancho Bernardo





Let's agree that George W. is the president


I just can't take it anymore. For too long I have overlooked Democrats' constant referrals to George Bush as "usurper," or "selected not elected," etc. It's almost as if they believe that if they keep saying it that it will somehow become true, despite the clear facts to the contrary.


Lost in the aftermath of the tragedy of Sept. 11 was a published study commissioned by The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN (three organizations no one would argue as being part of the vast, right-wing conspiracy), The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and others that concluded that had the entire state of Florida vote been recounted using the prevailing standards, George Bush would have won the election.


Yes, the study indicates that there were discrepancies in the standards, county to county, and hopefully those discrepancies have been addressed for the next election. Go online and read for yourself the results of the study.


Can we at least agree that George Bush is the legitimately elected president and just move on to debate his policies?


RON HETTINGER


Oceanside





Conservative views are not based on facts


Don Dalphin on Feb. 24 and Ray Russell on Feb. 27 illustrate that it doesn't do any good to try to change the poisonous conservative mind-set with facts. Dalphin, in trying to make the absurd point that unions are no longer needed in this country, stated that Trent Lott is a liberal. Don can buy coffee for someone else, maybe a civics teacher. He obviously needs one. I couldn't have a "one-on-one mature discussion" with anyone who doesn't know Lott's record any better than that.


Russell tries to rewrite California labor law history to suit his beliefs. His comments don't really warrant response either. He can't even grasp the sarcasm I used in my last letter.


He actually thinks I agreed with him. What's the use? Don Johnson, on March 4, admonished us to "stand with our leader in the White House," going on to quote Thomas Paine. Paine was certainly right: "Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered." What Johnson doesn't seem to realize is that the tyrant is in the White House. That tyranny will be conquered in the next presidential election -- if Dubya doesn't get us all blown away by starting WWIII first.


PATRICK E. FRAWLEY


Carlsbad





What drives people to write hateful letters?


What is it that drives people like J. Howard Crews, the Straches (Dick Eiden's letter-writing cabal), and others of their ilk to write such hateful letters?


Is it because, unlike them, loving people elevate the miracle of birth over abortion? That those who are in the military are men and women of steel, but they envy their courage? That we instinctively know that George Bush is also a man of steel and Bill Clinton is a man of deceit? That most people are naturally spiritual, but they accept atheism? That man and woman are natural companions, but they choose to lay with their own gender? That we want to protect this land from harm, but they have contempt for our sovereignty?


How depressing to be driven by hate and not compassion. Of course, without malcontents, how else can we validate our own station in life?


MICHAEL LECZNAR


Carlsbad





Armed airline pilots? Not in our lifetime


The ineffective and slothlike Transportation Security Administration, which has steadfastly opposed the arming of pilots, has now come up with a ridiculous set of requirements that includes extensive psychological testing and background checks before the pilots who fly fuel-laden planes loaded with hundreds of people will be allowed to have a protective pistol.


The inept decisions and anti-gun paranoia of Transportation Secretary Leon Mineta and TSA head John McGaw have been supported by Homeland Security buffoon Tom Ridge. Perhaps these mindless bureaucrats will provide the pilots with a few rolls of duct tape to protect their planes and passengers.


Until the pilots are armed, I won't even consider getting on an airplane.


It now appears that I won't see armed pilots in my lifetime, or yours.


GERRY LOCK


Escondido





U.S. must force United Nations into reality


The vast preponderance of U.N. members waste their time, talent, resources and capabilities trying to play the game of international politics on a level inappropriate to, yes, their time, talent, resources and capabilities. The time has come for the U.S. to force the U.N. into the realm of reality.


The U.N. must be given a choice: Either continue to be ineffective in dealing with strife in the world (while millions die, many in U.N. members' countries) and risk the probability of being dissolved, or determine and specify which entities will be responsible for addressing various kinds of threats and situations in the world and then act.


Regardless of which option the U.N. chooses, it must be made clear to the U.N. that the U.S. will, from this point on, handle WMD threats unilaterally.


This is not to suggest that the U.S. should assume the role of world policeman. A competent U.N. can, or could, fill that role when necessary. But until and unless the U.N. is willing to carry out its chartered responsibilities, the world must have a capable and willing actor available to solve problems of apocalyptic nature. This is the mantle of responsibility the U.S. must accept in the face of U.N. incompetence, protests be damned, if mankind is to survive.


JAMES T. STRONG


Escondido





Some protesters well-intentioned; others are hateful


Being an American first, I feel that the article about Bush's resolve in the March 8 paper would be correct if one changes Bush to France throughout the article. While no one is pro-war, it is the first duty of the U.S. president to protect its people. Our military has always been asked to confront an enemy so that our civilian population does not need to. I would hope that any president would act, and not wait until there is an imminent threat, especially in this age of WMD.


While I respect those who oppose on moral grounds, I do feel that they are encouraging Saddam to hang on and endorsing appeasement, which usually results in a greater calamity later. And to say that inspections are working is a joke. Without the current military buildup, and a credible threat to use them, there would not even be the minuscule results that we have seen.


But I have only utter contempt for those who are using our national crisis to spill out their vile, name-calling hatred for President Bush. They have no credibility. Where were these hypocrites when President Clinton was bombing Serbia? These same truth-spinners ignore that people throughout the country (50 million) did elect Bush, as so vividly depicted in those "Bush Country" T-shirts.


MICHAEL EUGENE CAMPBELL


San Diego





What teachers are supposed to do





I've been reading a lot of point-counterpoint on the things a teacher should be saying or doing in the classroom. They are supposed to teach the subjects they are assigned. Are they entitled to their own beliefs regarding politics, religion and world situations that come and go? Of course. Are they entitled to profess those beliefs to their students, and lay the veracity of those beliefs alongside axioms of geometry and laws of physics? They had better not.


Kenneth K. Ebmeier


Temecula








We have assumed role of world's policeman





Thank you to Paul Lane for his service in the U.S. Coast Guard aboard merchant ships in World War II (Community Forum, March 10). America owes an unpayable debt to all veterans. At one time, I agreed with his question, "Are we the world's policeman?"


Unfortunately we have been forced to assume the role. Just look at the empty lot that used to be the World Trade Center. Go to the Pentagon and see the new wall they had to build. Visit the site in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 crashed. The slaughter of 3,000 innocent Americans on Sept. 11 changed everything.


I applaud Mr. Lane's patriotism. But I seriously question his judgment in matters of international affairs and national security. He may want to place his trust for the security of the United States in the hands of such U.N. members as France, Cameroon and Angola, but I certainly don't. I'm quite sure that the U.S. Constitution makes no mention of the United States seeking the approval of third-rate countries in order to defend us.


I'm still sticking to my prediction that Saddam Hussein will choose to "take the money and run" before war starts, but if he doesn't, his forcible removal must be undertaken. His past history of invading neighboring countries, launching missiles at neutral countries and using poison gas against his own people constitutes a clear and present danger. If the U.N. doesn't support his removal, maybe it's time we remove ourselves from the U.N.


Mark Mush


Temecula








Supervisor steps up to plate before election





Recently, Supervisor Jim Venable has been voicing much anxiety in regard to rampant development in the French Valley area. This elected official also claims to be very concerned with the safety of driving on Winchester Road through French Valley. Well, why does it take Mr. Venable's upcoming re-election efforts to get him to make this statement in the press?


My family lived in French Valley for 12 years, from 1984 to 1996. During this time, we resided just off the highway at Keller Road. We saw such an increase in traffic during that period and we all thought the county was actually going to act on that in 1988 when we enacted a sales tax increase. Now he claims that he is going to seek federal help to widen the road from Thompson Road to Domenigoni Parkway. How can he, in good conscience, make that kind of statement?


I sure hope the voters see what this man really stands for when he seeks our votes. These issues should have been made conditional of tract map/plan approval.


Patrick H. Flores


Temecula








Rush Limbaugh clone letters are getting old





I am writing this letter in response to a March 5 letter by Bill Hoover. I have been reading the opinion section of The Californian for many years. It's interesting to know how others in our community feel about various issues. It is unfortunate that many of the letters printed in The Californian seem to be spewed directly from Rush Limbaugh's mouth.


Mr. Hoover's letter, titled "Now we know how the left wing expands" is a classic. In his latest right-wing anger tantrum, he criticizes Jamie Barnett, a highly respected kindergarten instructor at Avaxat Elementary School in Murrieta. Mr. Barnett had submitted a previous letter, which praises Nelson Mandela. In his response, Mr. Hoover states that Nelson Mandela is a devoted Communist that has set South Africa back 50 years. Mr. Hoover proceeds to express concern over the possibility that Mr. Barnett is warping the minds of his students; possibly brainwashing and transforming them into left-wing liberals.


I have read many of Bill Hoover's letters, which are generally filled with contempt toward Bill Clinton and anyone who is not a right-wing Republican. I have no interest in getting into a war of hate rhetoric with Bill Hoover. I couldn't possibly compete. But his time would be better spent painting rocks in his front yard rather than submitting Rush Limbaugh clone letters to The Californian. While he is doing that, Jamie Barnett can continue his job of teaching kindergarten. I am confident that his students will be just fine.


Randy Liss


Murrieta











Religion does not belong in schools





Bud Hougdahl raised a well-considered question regarding school prayer, (March 3) and could not understand objections to it. May I point out the following?


The Constitution states that the government cannot mandate religion. To permit school prayer is to legitimize it as a form of religion. This provision exists to protect the interests of those who are not in the religious majority, to say nothing of those who have no religious affiliations at all.


Second, in the past, when allowed, school prayer has been practiced at the expense of religious minorities. Many older Jews, for example, could tell you how they were "allowed" to leave class while Christian children prayed. America is now made up of almost 300 million people, with a wide variety of religious experiences. It would be impossible to accommodate them all.


Finally, the founding fathers understood the dangers of religion and government. While for the most part they were Christian theists, some had different beliefs from the norm. They preferred that morality, not religion, be taught in schools.


School prayer does not improve either the education or safety of a child. Religion belongs in the sanctity of the church and our hearts. Let the schools be for learning.


Geoffrey Nathan


Encinitas








There must be another solution for Diaz Road





I'm sure the traffic engineer and code enforcement personnel for the city of Temecula will get a hearty laugh out of causing an unnecessary and unconscionable hardship for many people who were cited for "illegal parking" in the mud ---- many more than 30 to 50 feet off the paved road ---- in front of the DMV office because no parking places, either in the lot or along adjacent streets was available. There are signs prohibiting parking along Diaz Road. However, they do not state there is no parking off the paved road.


What has the city of Temecula done to alleviate this ongoing and growing situation? The current office is now serving more than twice the population it was designed for. What is the state doing? What do you expect people to do? Again, city officials are taking advantage of a Catch-22 situation for residents to stuff the city coffers. For many who are retired, on low incomes and living a subsistence existence, this type of usurious activity is a real hardship.


Isn't there a more reasonable solution, even if temporary?


Richard Ellison


Temecula








Better planning needed for Wildomar's future





Tony Thornton's March 9 letter to The Californian about the apparent disunity of the Wildomar independence group brought back recent memories of the Local Agency Formation Commission meeting I attended on this issue last year. I went there neutral on the issue of annexation and came away very concerned about the fate of Wildomar, if it were to remain under the same oversight. What really burned me was that the person representing the Wildomar Municipal Advisory Council requested the council to have each speaker state how long they have lived in Wildomar. His point? That their views should carry little weight.


During the LAFCO meeting, I listened as the Wildomar independence folks called for keeping Wildomar rural, and to make it a city with industry and tract housing. While cities surrounding Wildomar have long ago found direction, Wildomar is still grappling with its identity. It is still like the Wild West, with the Hatfields and the McCoys battling it out.


With all the finger pointing, it is difficult to determine whether it is best for Wildomar to become an independent city or annex to a city that already knows what it wants to do. But if it is not annexed to Murrieta and remains under the same planning committee, we best get our boots on and sleep with our holsters, because we're likely to see more of the same tug of war feuding over what to do with Wildomar while the cities around us leave us in the past.


Rick Ratchford


Wildomar





3/14/03

Send to a friend - enter e-mail address: