They trust Sheriff Sniff
As former elected sheriffs of Riverside County, we have discussed the current race to elect the Riverside County sheriff-coroner. We know the professional records, temperament, intellectual and ethical qualities of both candidates. We agree that Stanley Sniff is the right choice to continue as our sheriff.
Sheriff Sniff has the overwhelming support of deputy sheriffs and other employees of the department. Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, he has served throughout the county and has broad community respect and support. He has shown great leadership over the last 2 1/2 years. We are confident he will continue to do so.
We trust Sheriff Sniff to be our sheriff over the next four years.
Cois Byrd, sheriff,
retired, Murrieta, and
Larry Smith, sheriff,
retired, La Quinta
Satisfied with our future
In response to Cody Nelson, student of Temecula Valley High School ("Division of church and state," Community Voices, April 11) agreeing with most of my letter on March 21 (but not with my conclusions): Thank God for young high school students, the future of our country, like Cody Nelson, who ... agrees with me about the present misinterpretation of our Constitution's separation of church and state: Groups trying to eliminate the usage "Under God" and "In God We Trust" in our pledge and coinage when the Constitution clearly states that government does not promote a religion for the country. Period.
Cody Nelson does not think we are on a slippery slope and believes God is a great way to set human standards. Nor does Cody Nelson think that a call for action, as I proposed, is proper, as it is fair in our society that people who do not believe in God be able to question our government.
With young people like Nelson in the future, I'm satisfied.
Gilbert Marrero
Temecula
True silica dust facts
In geology, granite is composed of quartz, feldspar and mica, or at least two of these minerals. Silica dust is found in a variety of forms consisting of quartz. Silicosis is a chronic lung disease because of continued inhalation of silica dust, as in quarrying stone.
In the May 5 letter, "Get the facts," Rich Loomis, way out there in Hemet where the effects of the quarry will be drastically reduced but not entirely eliminated, stated it is everywhere. He also stated that the southwestern breezes are prevalent and occur when they are disking the fields for planting, but that is dirt and soil, but not silica, being created by breaking up granite or cutting granite (for which OSHA requires wearing respirators while cutting).
Any geology book will explain the difference between regular dirt dust, road traffic dust and silica dust from stone quarries. You could look up silicosis in any dictionary. I know this to be true, because I've been afflicted with this lung disease from living near a stone quarry.
Ron Glusac
French Valley
Reason to fear nuclear weapon development
The Californian reported that Iran's Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati told worshippers that "only the pious could predict earthquakes with certainty" ("Iranian cleric: Alms and prayer prevent quakes," April 24). He also stated that with prayers, almsgiving and repentance, it can be prevented.
Another Iranian prayer leader said promiscuous women were to blame for Iran's seismic instability. These ludicrous claims could easily be dismissed, except for the fact that these religious leaders hold important positions in Iran's political system. Is it any wonder the world fears Iran's development of nuclear weapons? Blaming seismic activity on promiscuous women is the epitome of ignorance. ...
To be fair, ridiculous religious statements are not the sole province of Moslems. Consider Pat Robertson's pronunciation that Haitians' "pact with the devil" prompted their disastrous earthquake. Or how some so-called Christians said AIDS was God's plague on homosexuals. People can believe what they want, but at least in the U.S., we can call these absurd statements the mindless hogwash they truly are.
Such is not the case in Iran, where dissent can be viewed as treason. I have much sympathy for the good people of Iran who don't buy the baloney these religious leaders are handing out but are forced to eat it anyway.
Chris Dejan
Murrieta
Editor's note:
The remaining letters that ran in today's Californian can be found under the North County Times letters section at www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/.
