Pope was right in call for peace

In a March 17 article, the North County Times quotes a Pope Benedict XVI message as denouncing the five-year-long war in Iraq, saying it had provoked the complete breakup of Iraq civilian life ("Pope calls for peace, denounces Iraq war"). We congratulate the NCT for covering something that is bound to irritate many subscribers in a market with a huge military presence and not especially receptive to press attention to calls for peace.

We of Campaign Against Censorship are asking our church to use the occasion of this report to inform the parish of our pope's advice by distributing a reproduction of this article in our parish bulletin. Unfortunately, our parish leadership favors censorship of pleas for peace, and this is an effort to overcome that hurdle.

Dave Van Hoomissen

chairman,

Campaign Against Censorship

Escondido

Mobile homes still affected by fire soot

On Oct. 22, 2007, I lost my mobile home to the Rice Fire at Valley Oaks Mobile Home Park. I was given all the help I needed to start again. My concern, which no one seems to be aware of nor addressed, is that all of those who lived and still live in Valley Oaks became victims, also. Those who still live at Valley Oaks are living in a very toxic place. Their mobiles, inside and out, are contaminated with all the polluted, dirty soil that filled the air on Oct. 22 and hangs to this day inside that park, and those who live there are beginning to suffer from that toxin toxic mess. Those who remain in that park need help to clean their mobiles inside and out, to give a bunch of nice folks a safe place to live.

I see by this morning's paper, the North County Times, that the owner of Valley Oaks has requested that the Rainbow water district give her park a water break ("Sewer discounts on the way for Fallbrook fire victims," March 12). It would be a very nice thing if she took the money that Rainbow saves her and financed the cost of cleaning up those mobiles that are still homes to many. Those in Valley Oaks whose homes still stand are indeed fire victims also, and need help.

Peggy Stanley

Fallbrook

So many water wrongs

It is wrong to imply growth is mandated regardless of water supply. It is wrong to ask us to conserve water due to shortages, then use it to serve new development. It is wrong to coerce conservation with increased rates to create water for development. It is wrong to charge existing customers for costs of supplying water to new development. It is wrong for one water management plan to say that growth will be accommodated "in such a manner that it will compliment and not sacrifice our agriculturally oriented community" but have this contradicted in an overriding plan that projects agriculture will be reduced by roughly 42 percent in the next 20 years due to conversion to housing.

It is wrong that some farmers will go out of business due to water cutbacks while new development continues -- unchecked. It is wrong that San Diego spent millions on wastewater treatment systems designed to reduce water demands of new development, yet did not enforce regulations for its use. It is right that the Water Authority is now studying a proposal for new development to fund its own water supply.

Glenn Carroll

Fallbrook

O'side clowns give him a chuckle

The citizens of Oceanside got their monthly chuckle from the clowns at the funny farm. [Council members should] read the North County Times, "Limp housing market looks even weaker," March 7, big front-page article regarding housing markets nationwide. Also, the front-page article on "Foreclosures dominate housing market," March 13. Do you folks have any idea how many homes are in repo and/or vacant? There is no, none, nada need to bulldoze vacant land to build more houses.

The council's last great claim to fame was announcing to one and all that the San Diego Chargers were going to relocate to Goat Hill golf course. Of course, the mayor couldn't wait to waste $100k for that fiasco. How about putting some teeth into the law that says it's illegal to steal shopping carts? The city looks like an erector set with the carts scattered all over. How come Mama can push a couple of shopping carts home and no problem, but swipe a canned ham and there's hell to pay? A cart is worth 10 times the cost of a canned ham. For anyone driving on Mesa Drive between Mission Avenue and El Camino, pull over and enjoy the beautiful jewel of neighborhood parks, Buddy Todd Park. The renovation is really first class.

G. Charles Evans

Oceanside

'To be' not a gerund

Unless the rules of grammar have changed radically since I was a high school student, Jean Peterson has confused gerund with subjunctive (Letters, March 17, "Ferraro's grammar wrong?).

I agree with her correction, "If Obama were (not was) a white man…" In this case, were is the subjunctive form of the verb be. It is not a gerund. A gerund is a verbal noun created by adding -ing to a verb, as in, "I wrote this letter without your asking."

Marshall Byer

Vista

What change does Obama have in mind?

Barack Obama talks constantly about hope and change, like a mindless preacher who takes advantage of an overwhelmed and mesmerized gathering of the downtrodden and hopeless. …

In 1933, the Democrats were pushing what they called "The New Deal." Then, as now, the word "change" was paramount. Webster's New American Dictionary definition of "The New Deal": name applied to a undisclosed plan of change in the structure of social and political procedure.

In the early 1900, the Russian people sought change from the czar and embraced Communism. As a result, tens of millions of Russians were starved and murdered to force them into collective farms.

Obama must explicitly detail his undisclosed changes now, not after we're in chains. Obama claims to be a Christian, but his "wise and loyal chancellor" for the past 20 years, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, spews hate of the whites, Jews and America. … Like insects flying into the flames, Obama supporters will regret their mindless decision and the changes that the "wise and loyal counsellor" will urge. His revealing rant from the pulpit, "God damn America," says it all.

Edward Cooper

Escondido

An eloquent letter

Thank you for printing the eloquent letter from Thomas Godwin about the Iraq war ("Time for the living to end this war," Letters, March 16). It deserves to be printed in bold type on the front page of every newspaper in this country.

Eleanor Cohen

Vista

Do something about hookers, not cars

I have lived in Escondido for the last five years and the problem with the prostitutes just keeps getting worse ("A market on the rise?" March 16). Let's see if the police department will finally do something about this.

Perhaps the City Council should do more about the pimps and hookers walking down Escondido Boulevard and worry less about car parking. Perhaps, at election time, the money-wasting council members will be replaced.

Tony Peralta

Escondido

An amazing community

What an amazing community we live in! On Jan. 20, my husband died while playing lacrosse at the YMCA in Encinitas ("International Stem Cell CEO Krstich dies," Jan. 23). The wonderful people of our community have been there for meals, hugs, cards, phone calls, e-mails, donations and continuing support. Our baby steps of trying to cope with our tragic loss are comforted by caring people of all ages.

When I receive notes of how a young girl of seven now hugs her friends goodbye with a huge bear hug, lifting them off the ground, because that's how Jeff used to give hugs before he went to heaven, or a young man of 15 now writes down his goals for the month and records inspirational quotes in a journal, it makes my heart full with love for the legacy my husband left.

It is in times of sorrow many reflect on their own life. We're so glad to live in a community where people care about others. Your expression of sympathy is greatly appreciated and will always be remembered. On behalf of Jeff's entire family, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.

Gwyn Krstich and family

Carlsbad

Sufficient oil available to be independent

The stock market is down, the oil prices are up and everyone is complaining about gas prices, rightly so. If everyone would understand that the miracle pill to turn water into gasoline and the hope for some alternate fuel is decades away, we could get realistic. We are going to be dependent on oil for most peoples' lifetimes, certainly mine. China and Mexico have become oil-independent by drilling in the Caribbean off of Texas -- where we cannot drill because of the loony liberal environmentalists.

There is sufficient oil available in Colorado, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, and offshore of Texas and California to make us oil-independent for 50 or 60 years so that alternative energy sources can be found. It ain't gonna happen in the foreseeable future. Go nuclear just like France and Switzerland and shun your environmental tree-hugger friends. That will stop the bleeding for almost a century and allow us to use our skills to get on track. Please let us use our resources to alleviate the problems of energy and vote out the liberal group that has brought us anti-religion, environmental wackos, Al Gore, tattoos, body piercing, kiddie porn, etc. And let's get the country moving forward.

Paul Puma

Murrieta

Legislators to blame for budget mess

The ignorance of the educational system is readily apparent by the subject of the recent rallies against the Governator. He does not spend the money. The legislators that the administrators and unions elect that overspend and put the educational system at risk are the villains. These people need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions that have caused the financial and educational mess that haunts California education.

Ed Kirkbride

Menifee

Was Obama's speechvdamage control?

In the wake of the recent controversy over sermons delivered in the past by Sen. Barack Obama's pastor, mentor and spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, we need to look more closely at their relationship. In my progress through the ranks of a large corporation, I had a mentor that guided my path along the way. The value and trust I put in our relationship was, in large part, based on a set of shared values and beliefs in the direction of our organization and its dedication and commitment to our customers.

Sen. Obama's recent speech attempted to explain his 20-year relationship to the Rev. Wright, while at the same time trying to distance himself from the political and ethnic vitriol and diatribes spewed forth by the reverend from the pulpit of his church. One has to wonder why Sen. Obama didn't distance himself long ago from the Rev. Wright's divisive and racially-charged opinions. Could his recent speech have been mere damage control and political expediency toward his goal of the presidency?

Tom O'Mahoney

Murrieta

Hard work saving pets appreciated

Thank you to Sherrie Hendren for speaking up so bluntly about this serious pet issue and The Californian for printing her exact feelings ("A dog's best friend: Upland woman saves pets from euthanasia," March 17). I understand her frustration and her weariness from my own personal experiences. Your hard work has been appreciated by most people and especially by pet lovers.

Sandee Anderson

Sun City

Animal shelter is needed right now

I came to this valley in 1999. Since then, there has been talk about building a new animal shelter. It is now 2008, and there's still no sight of this new shelter. In my opinion, this is unacceptable! The residents and the decision-makers in this valley need to take responsibility of all those animals killed in our shelters. It is the residents that breed these animals, and the decision-makers that make no effort in designing laws to prevent this.

I am urging that we follow the lead of Los Angeles in passing a spay and neuter law. Just to give you an example of what I saw this past week: Two males selling German shepherd puppies at the corner of Highway 79 and Anza Road, a couple discussing breeding dogs to secure a nice retirement, and two ads for free puppies on my way home from my son's school. Someone needs to put an end to this madness! There is no need for backyard breeders when so many animals die weekly at our shelters!

Isa Salisbury

Temecula