Roses and raspberries

By: The Californian | Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:48 PM PST ∞

A raspberry ---- the "Misplaced Martyrdom" award ---- to the Hollywood celebrities and others calling for a funeral "befitting a statesman" for Stanley "Tookie" Williams, after the former gang leader was executed this week. It's one thing to argue he was innocent of the crimes he was convicted of, despite the rather overwhelming evidence. It's another to argue that the state shouldn't be executing people, an issue reasonable people can disagree on. And it's even in the arena of arguability that "Tookie" Williams may have changed his outlook on the life he led before being imprisoned, although we will never know if it was a genuine change, or one motivated by the self-interest that drove his life before that. But to suggest that a man who helped create one of the most violent street gangs in the country, a gang that has spread its poisonous tentacles throughout the nation, leaving a path of death, drugs and destruction in its wake, was somehow martyred by the state of California and is deserving of a spectacular burial is beyond comprehension. Supporters of this charade do little but bring scorn upon themselves and point up how completely gullible and out of touch they are. "Tookie" Williams was a violent sociopath. The sooner he is forgotten, the better off we all are.

A rose ---- the "Standing on Principle" award ---- to Murrieta Councilmen Warnie Enochs and Richard Ostling, for refusing to settle a spurious lawsuit brought against them by a developer. While we disagree with the vote that led to their being sued in the first place, there is little doubt Alexander Communities' lawsuit naming them personally was designed to make them and council members around Southern California pause before voting against one of their projects. It was the equivalent of a "SLAPP" suit ---- a so-called Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation ---- which are primarily leveled at residents who take up a cause against a well-heeled developer. The suits are nearly always without merit and are inevitably dismissed, but in the meantime cost the resident who chooses to participate a good deal of time and money. Their real motivation is to make others who might get involved in future battles think twice. Alexander Communities was within its rights to sue the city over the vote ---- the apartments in question appeared to fit the zoning ---- but went too far in naming the individual council members, who were clearly acting within their roles as council members. Alexander maintained that Enochs and Ostling voted against their projects in retaliation for the developers' support of three councilmen targeted for recall earlier this year. Both men could have settled the suit when the city and Councilman Rick Gibbs, also named, did, but chose instead to take it all the way to court, where a judge could declare the suit without merit and clear their names. We've disagreed with much Enochs and Ostling have stood for over the years, but here they stood for a worthy principle ---- the ability of council members to make what they deem the best calls without fear of reprisal.

A rose ---- the "Talk With the Hands" award ---- to Bella Vista Middle School in Murrieta and the 40 students taking a sign-language course so they can communicate with three of their fellow students, who are deaf. The practical lessons have helped the whole campus learn more about deafness and to respect the obstacles these three students face in a world where so much depends on sound. It has also helped the three students gain fast acceptance at the school, where they might otherwise feel left out, and given them a whole host of friends to help them succeed. The lessons being learned go way beyond the technical aspects of American Sign Language.