LETTERS: The Californian, Oct. 30, 2008

By Readers of The Californian | Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:12 AM PDT ∞

LETTERS DEADLINE

Deadline has passed for election letters

The deadline to submit letters related to any proposition or candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot has passed. We are striving to publish all such letters that we received before the deadline by Saturday.

Here's a no vote for Prop. 2

There is a proposition on the ballot that is important to me. It is Proposition 2. People who raise chickens know that they have a pecking order, and are known to peck each other to death. Putting birds in cages is not only humane to the chickens, but safer and cleaner for us humans. I love animals and I am all for being kind to animals, but not at the expense of harming people. I care for people more. Chickens were taken off dirt floors and placed in cages for sanitary and efficient production purposes. It's why the eggs we buy are fresh, safe and affordable. If you want range-free, organic or cage-free, they are offered at prices two to three times higher for obvious reasons.

Prop. 2 proposes to give veal calves, sows and egg-laying hens more freedom to move around, it really only impacts the egg industry since the other two are virtually nonexistent in California. All the chicken cages I have seen allow enough room for the birds to flap their wings and turn around. If this passes, our eggs will have to be imported from out of state and Mexico, and I don't believe the shipping will amount to 1 cent per egg. The irony is those chickens will be caged anyway.

Rita Ford

Temecula

It's wrong to banish bikers from Old Town

I'm writing in response to the Oct. 24 article, "Ticketing of bikers draws criticism." I have been a law-abiding resident of this valley for 20 years, a motorcycle rider for 40, and a Harley owner for 10. I come from a family of police officers and I have the utmost respect for their job, but what are we doing here? Hot rods and Harleys are what Old Town is about! We go there to eat, shop at the farmers market, get a haircut, etc. We can park four bikes in a parking spot. How many vehicles with four tires show up with up to eight people and occupy one parking spot? I understand helmet laws and related safety concerns, and that is fine. If the merchants have a problem with noise, then let's also get rid of the rod runs. Those happen twice a year.

Bikers show up not only every weekend, but also during the week. I live in this city. If you do not want me in Old Town on two wheels, then I will not show up on four!

Denny Moyer

Temecula

Naggar has been good for Temecula

I've personally known Mike Naggar for several years. He is a wonderful family man devoted to his wife and children. His family, friends, colleagues, co-workers and employees know him as a decent and honorable man. An intelligent, thoughtful man, Mike Naggar is willing to listen to a variety of viewpoints in search of common interests in fostering a positive vision for our community.

Mayor Naggar loves the city of Temecula. In his state of the city speech he enthusiastically spoke of the achievements of the city, its public employees and residents. In the last 18 years, I've watched this city grow. I can understand his justifiable pride. Streets are attractively landscaped and traffic flow has been improved. Parks have been built; industry and jobs have been drawn to Temecula, and schools, medical facilities and shopping centers thrive. The quality of communities built here surpasses neighboring cities.

Mike Naggar's vision for the future includes continuing the restoration of Old Town, promoting development that draws in upscale stores and fine restaurants, creating well-paying jobs for residents and bringing in a university for our children.

Dennis Hidalgo

Temecula

Tolerance goes both ways

According to Sylvia Smith's letter to the editor on Oct. 25, the "vote yes " people of Proposition 8 are "un-Christlike." I respectfully beg to differ. Last night as I was exercising my constitutional rights waving my "Yes on Prop. 8" sign on the corner of Rancho California Road and Ynez Roads, I was amazed at the 10 or so cars that passed us yelling, screaming, gesturing obscenities our way to express their intolerance of Prop. 8. Please tell me, who was acting Christlike then?

Protecting marriage is not about hating gays and lesbians. It is not about intolerance. It is about saving what we hold dear and that is traditional marriage between a man and a woman. The homosexual community would have you believe otherwise. They already have laws protecting their domestic partnerships. Why can't they just call it some thing else like "garriage"?

Tolerance goes both ways. Please join with me in voting a resounding yes on Prop. 8.

Cassy Campos

Temecula

Religious right targets gays

In the debate over Proposition 8, we continue to hear the word "sinner." In a letter to this paper, one writer said, "I am for leaving them (gays) alone." He went on to refer to them as "sinners" and as "not normal," another writer called the actions of gays "repulsive." Gays are a minority that the religious right cannot leave alone. I have lived with my son for 21 years. It came as no surprise to me that he is gay. God made him that way. I do not expect people who do not have a personal relationship with a gay person to fully understand or believe that statement.

In my own church, a member stood up when discussing Prop. 8, "We need to remember who these people (gays) really are." I know who my son is. He is a most caring, thoughtful, responsible human being. Regardless of how the religious couch their statements, the prejudice of so many of them still reveals its ugly head. After Prop. 8 is resolved, time will tell if religious people change their emphasis to love the sinner instead of hate the sin. Having personal experience with their repulsion to gays, I have little hope.

Brian Allen

Murrieta

Kudos for Powell's defense of Muslims

In response to former Secretary of State Colin Powell's Oct. 19 interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," I would like to praise Mr. Powell for his well-reasoned logic in defending Muslims. Mr. Powell rejected a fabricated yet readily used assertion some conservatives cite: that Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim. Though Sen. Obama is in fact a Christian, as he has said repeatedly, Mr. Powell asked what if Obama were a Muslim, what difference would it make? Unfortunately, the term "Muslim" has become falsely synonymous with "terrorist."

Mr. Powell found the association of Muslims with a negative connotation as an insult to thousands of American Muslims who are serving their country in all capacities from respectable citizens to laying down their lives for this country. As a patriotic and faithful American Muslim, I wholeheartedly praise Mr. Powell's defense of the Muslim community. For far too long, I have watched political figures downsizing and insulting Islam as a religion of violence and terrorism. If these very political figures were to understand that Muslims, too, are law-abiding and loyal constituents, perhaps the true and pure nature of Islam's propagation of love and peace will overshadow the looming lies surrounding the faith of over 1 billion Muslims around the globe.

Monsura Sirajee

Temecula

We may be equal, but not the same

"Equality" does not mean "sameness." For me, Proposition 8 is as simple as that. A friend dismisses this as semantics, but in doing so he ignores the fact that law is semantics. Words matter. Their definitions matter. And in the writing of law, they never matter more.

The fact that "all people are created equal" does not mean that all people are literally the same. That would be a ridiculous and indefensible stance. Rather, it means that all humans are intrinsically and equally valuable, equally important, equally deserving of kindness, love and compassion, not to mention the inalienable rights mentioned in our semantic masterpiece, The Declaration of Independence. So, I repeat, "equality" does not mean "sameness."

A reasoned, unbigoted approach to the central issue of Prop. 8 leads me to this: Both homosexual and heterosexual are deserving of equal protection under the law, but they cannot be called the same thing because they are, in fact, not the same. And that, my friends, is what this proposition is all about. Anger and misinformation seem to fly from almost every direction as we discuss this highly emotional subject, but the facts are indisputable. If you read the actual wording of Prop. 8 ---- not its politically-charged summary ---- you will find that it does not take away any current rights from homosexual couples. It merely makes the definition of the word "marriage" a matter of law. Vote yes on Prop. 8.

Julie Farnbach

Temecula

Frandsen good for 66th District

Recently, I heard Grey Frandsen, candidate for the 66th Assembly District, speak. Grey is not your typical politician. From Grey, I did not hear the usual political rhetoric, but rather I heard clear-cut statements and values. After listening, I knew exactly where he stood on the issues. Furthermore, Grey Frandsen clearly understands the concerns of those living within his district. He not only has ideas, but solutions.

Perhaps what impresses me most is that Grey Frandsen has not taken campaign contributions from those with specific interests such as Granite Construction, which is proposing to build Liberty Quarry. Grey Frandsen's opponent, Kevin Jeffries, according to the California secretary of state's Web site, has taken several thousand dollars in campaign contributions from Granite. Furthermore, Mr. Jeffries says he has not taken a position on the building of Liberty Quarry, located on the border of the pristine Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve. While Mr. Jeffries hasn't taken a position on the quarry, he willingly takes Granite's money!

By electing a candidate like Grey Frandsen, we have a chance to elect a candidate who actually represents the people in his district ---- what a simple and novel idea!

Fred Bartz

Temecula

Don't be duped by promises

You have to have your head examined if you believe the rhetoric that Barack Obama is spouting in order to attract lower-class voters. He says that he can deliver 1,000-plus new jobs, but that is untrue because he alone cannot deliver what he promises. Why? Because that specific bill has to come up through the system. So, do not be duped with all the promises Obama says he will deliver.

Randolf Aragon

Murrieta

Voter registration process must be updated

We are in the 21st century and computer technology is unbelievable, yet we are still running around taking voter registration by hand using paper applications! My gas and electric meter reader can read my meter with a hand-held computer without even getting out of his car; my UPS man can keep track of his packages and deliveries with a hand-held computer; companies can do inventory using hand-held computers; libraries keep track of how often patrons use library computers by using a library card that is scanned into the computer, which locks out patron if they misuse the number of times they are allowed on the computers for the day, and the list goes on. Why aren't the voter registration collectors using hand-held computers linked to Department of Motor Vehicle or Social Security records to register voters?

Also, we should not be paying people to register voters. Paying signature collectors for an initiative is one thing, but that method should not be used for registering voters ---- obviously it causes fraud as the people who collect the signatures need money and the more signatures they collect the more they make. It is quite obvious we will not be having a fair election until we change the way we register voters. With this voter registration mess, financial mess and past disasters (Katrina, etc.) it is clear that our government can't do anything right, and I don't think a new president will make it any better.

Sandra Handzlik

Aguanga

It's easy to blame others

Let's see here. The House Financial Services Committee oversees the activities of all the companies in the home loan business. The committee is run by Democrats and is chaired by Barney Frank, an uber-alles liberal if ever there was one. Barney and his friends couldn't wait to point the finger at the Bush administration for the home loans mess we have currently. Fact is, this committee watched home loans get riskier and riskier, knowing all along that the typical risky borrower was low-income with few assets ---- one of the voters the Democrats pander to and rely upon. Far be it from this committee to tighten things up in an election year.

My prediction is that Barack Obama will continue to blame Bush for everything, tell us John McCain is more of the same, Barney and friends will run for cover, and none of the three major networks will dig deeply enough to even tell us who runs the House Financial Services Committee.

Kenneth K. Ebmeier

Pala

Re-redefining definition now necessary

Kudos to Kelly Barnson (Letters, Oct. 24) for articulating the position of most Proposition 8 supporters. Tolerance does not mean "changing our core belief system; rather, it means loving someone in spite of our differences." Prop. 8 "doesn't take away any rights or benefits" of domestic partners. As the law is currently written, "domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits" as married spouses.

According to Webster's Dictionary (pre-redefinition), "marriage" is "the institution under which a man and a woman become legally united ..." Prop. 8 is about re-redefining the term marriage. "Same-sex marriage" is an oxymoron! Same-sex couples can be domestic partners, life partners, BFFs, etc. They simply cannot call themselves "married," because their relationship doesn't fit the true definition.

Larry Boggeln

Temecula

Proposition 8: What's in a name?

Words symbolize beliefs. Just like the words "God," "love," "America" and "family" elicit deep feelings, so does the word "marriage." The traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman deserves your support by voting yes. We need to pass Proposition 8 to let the divided Supreme Court judges know that they cannot reverse the will of the people when we passed the initiative in 2000 containing the same words as Prop. 8. Please join me and vote yes!

Lex Harrison

Temecula

Council members have served city well

Kudos to Mr. Gary Thornhill (Letters, Oct. 23) for telling it like it is in regard to the disgusting attacks on the Temecula City Council. I lived in Temecula for over 16 years and did extensive community service that entailed much interacting with the council members. Without exception, I found each member to be honest, approachable and ready to help the community.

Temeculans are fortunate to have these men and Maryann Edwards serving the many long hours required to keep Temecula the best city in Riverside County. These are people with the highest ethics and principles, and it deeply saddens me that the hatred spewed by one disgruntled resident is given so much attention. Those of us who have dug in and worked for Temecula know better.

Please don't let wild rantings ruin your city. Keep the present City Council and let them continue to serve you in their exemplary manner. I thank Messrs. Jeff Comerchero, Mike Naggar, Ron Roberts, Chuck Washington and Mrs. Maryann Edwards for their valuable dedication to the city of Temecula!

Ofelia Filanc

Wildomar

Prop. 8 will reaffirm common sense

The time has come to pass Proposition 8, defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman. It's hard to understand why we should have to vote for this measure again, since it was approved by millions of California residents in 2000. The reason is that four arrogant and out-of-touch liberal judges overrode the will of the people.

Over and above the convoluted liberal notion that marriage can be between any two people, we have the attack on democracy.We need to pull in the reigns of these liberal judges who think they are above the will of the people. What is the point of voting and propositions if the agenda-driven judiciary can mold society to its own version ?

The problem is that these judges, appointed for life, have no accountability. No accountability leads to abuse and corruption. It's easy to reject the premise that these judges have integrity and wisdom. If we pass Prop. 8, it will send a message of common sense on the issue of marriage, it will also bring to light the lack of character of the California Supreme Court.

Larry Lepley

Temecula

There's plenty of others to dig into

This continued bashing of Sarah Palin by people such as Chris Dejan (Letters, Oct. 21) and the article by the three goons from the Associated Press has gone far beyond any sensible criticism. This is just ranting and raving with little or no foundation. If they really are interested into checking happenings of one's past, how about Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Barack Obama? Anyone could find enough on those three to make your hair stand on end. These lily white characters have more skeletons in their closets than stars in the sky.

It would certainly be great if we had a governor that was as much loved as Sarah Palin is by the Alaskans. She has exemplified womanhood and motherhood. She has that ordinary touch that would make any person proud. I wish I could say the same for Obama and Joe Biden. But I'll say one thing for Biden, he stated that his own man would be unable to handle the presidency, and he should know. So if Obama gets in, I'm sure his supporters will enjoy the socialism. As I said once before: A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when open.

Fred Ernst

Temecula

Unintended consequences if prop OK'd

Oops! there's that pesky Law of Unintended Consequences again. Current judicially created law sanctions same sex "marriages" in California. As most things are apt to do, this state of affairs ---- no pun ---- will create opportunities for clever folks to do mischief within the new judicial law, if Proposition 8 is defeated. Currently, same-sex folks can enter into a "domestic partnership" under Family Code 297.5. One of the restrictions on these domestic partnerships is that the "partners" "have a common residence," which means that both domestic partners share the same residence. Well, this leaves out the "Two Grumpy Old Men," and other not so old men and women, who want to "partner up," but do not want to "share the same residence," so that the one with the pension, long-term care insurance, health insurance, Social Security benefits, etc., can share them, currently and as a survivor, with the friendly other partner who has no pension etc. The point is that "married" folks do not have to "share a residence" to share all of those benefits. Someone will pay for these new benefits if Prop. 8 is defeated and the clever folks figure it out to their benefit. Guess who?

Jim Tierney

Murrieta

Obama will help owners of small businesses

As a small-business owner, we have demonstrated how we make our economy grow through our innovation and investment. In order to survive in this struggling economy, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be seeking tax relief for small businesses and the middle class, permitting us to invest more money into our business and tax relief as a middle class family. This plan is a commitment for building the foundation of this nation, not destroying or forcing us into financial hardships as demonstrated these last eight years with the Bush administration. Their plan intends to cut taxes, provide tax relief and tax credits for small and large businesses. They will also provide for the promotion of alternative energy and make this nation more energy efficient. How can we lose with this proposition?

Everything we do for us as Americans will reflect to the world our strength and global connection. This is the type of change we need, not only for us as Americans but as a link in the global economy.

Ruth Molina

Temecula