Paper gives only one side of issue

It made my skin crawl to read the fear/hatemongering, race-baiting column recently written by Brigid Brett titled, "Racism rides again" (March 23). It's no secret this paper dislikes Americans who would dare advocate strict border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws.

In salacious tones resembling the tawdry tabloid trash found at supermarket checkouts, Ms. Brett, in a fit of self-righteous indignation, rails against the jeering a local pro-illegal alien activist received at a City Council meeting, yet would she (or this paper) ever print any of the numerous, documented accounts of pro-illegal alien forces, sometimes with their children present, shouting down Americans with the most vile, violent, racist and hate-filled speech you've ever heard? …

Ms. Brett and this paper obviously are more concerned about torn pants than they are about the countless torn and shattered lives of Americans who've been seriously and lethally victimized by violent illegal aliens, as chronicled at www.congressandimmigration.com, www.immigrationshumancost.org and www.predatoryaliens.com. …

We call on Ms. Brett and this paper to show some compassion and consideration toward Americans who've been victimized by illegal aliens.

Gary Walker

Escondido

The Forward Rake's progress

John Morley was a member of the British Parliament and lived from 1823-1923. In speaking of imperialism, he had this to say about England's experience in bringing peace to suffering humanity in the tropics: "First you push into territories where you have no business to be, and where you had promised not to go; secondly, your intrusion provokes resentment and, in these wild countries, resentment means resistance; thirdly, you instantly cry out that the people are rebellious and that their act is rebellion (this in spite of your own assurance that you have no intention of setting up a permanent sovereignty over them); fourthly, you send a force to stamp out the rebellion; and fifthly, having spread bloodshed, confusion and anarchy, you declare, with hands uplifted to the heavens, that moral reasons force you to stay, for if you were to leave, this territory would be left in a condition which no civilized power could contemplate with equanimity or with composure. These are the five stages in the Forward Rake's progress."

He could well have been speaking of the U.S.A. during the current reign of King Bush.

Sorab Ghandhi

Escondido

U.S. commits theft of Iran's nuclear program

When we bully Iran to stop its nuclear enrichment program, our actions are tantamount to theft of its nuclear power and, indeed, theft from all non-nuclear countries. Nuclear power is clearly going to be a major energy source for the world. Control of the nuclear fuel cycle by the nuclear-haves will create a monopoly, putting the have-nots' power systems at the mercy of the nuclear-haves.

Isotope enrichment of uranium for nuclear power is explicitly supported by the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty among most nations, even though enrichment can be taken to much higher levels, sufficient for nuclear fission bombs. … To prevent nuclear bomb production, non-nuclear NPT members submit to United Nations-sponsored inspections, including surveillance cameras. Nuclear NPT nations with bombs agree to dismantle their arsenals. The U.S. and Britain have plans to renew their nuclear arsenals, contravening the NPT.

On the other hand, U.S.-engineered U.N. sanctions against Iran are illegal, just as Iran says. The U.N. rulings are simply a pretext for future attacks on Iran, a scenario the U.S., Britain and Israel are well-experienced at setting up. The world's citizens pay the price.

Bob Harvey

Del Mar

Mexicans who did serve

Regarding "Latinos protest new PBS film on WWII" (March 31): Concern of some about why documentary maker Ken Burns didn't know any Mexican-Americans served in WWII caused this reader to Google the subject and, in less than a second, had this information, information that appears to have escaped Ken Burns' highly paid researchers (by U.S. taxpayers). This information came from "Hispanics in defense of America," published by the Department of Defense. Here's a link: http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/m-a.htm …

In alphabetical order, here are soldiers and Marines who were awarded the highest American medal for valor, Medals of Honor, during WWII: Lucian Adams, Marcario Garcia (Mexican-born and citizen), Harold Gonzalez, David M. Gonzalez, Silvestre Herrera (Mexican-born and citizen), Jose M. Lopez, Joe P. Martinez, Manuel Perez, Cleto Rodriguez (No. 2 as the most decorated soldier of WWII after Audie Murphy), Alejandro R. Ruiz, Jose F. Valdez and Ysmael R. Villegas.

For those who don't think Mexican-Americans and Mexican nationals served in WWII, here's an even dozen who did, and they did so with great distinction. … Does Ken Burns know this, do the readers of this newspaper know this? Any argument?

Raoul Lowery Contreras

Del Mar Heights

Lesson for the faculty

Does the CSU faculty need a lesson (March 23 editorial, "A lesson for CSU faculty")? Yes, because if anyone needs a lesson, it's the CSU faculty. How dare they ask for their share of the ever-increasing tuition that students pay? Students who believe that tuition should be going to the hardworking teachers, who do not deserve to go on strike but [deserve to] be paid for the work that they do. … As a full-time student, and full-time working Californian who pays professors' salaries, I am wondering why the professors aren't being paid adequately. Where is my tuition going, if not to the professors?

The next time you feel like venting about the working class and their tax dollars being underappreciated, how about actually appreciating the working class and what their tax dollars should be paying for, the teachers' salary? …

I understand and can appreciate the working class, not the administration or dean or CSU officials that we CSU students rarely or never see, but the teachers who work and should be paid for that work. I am outraged that my tuition fees keep increasing over 10 percent a semester. … I am outraged that a person would claim to be part of that working class and not understand that the teachers are an underpaid part of that working class.

Rose Collings

Valley Center

One medical department for all servicemen

I am a retired chief hospital corpsman for the U.S. Navy, 1941 to 1961. I worked in military hospitals as well as civilian. The naval hospitals at Camp Pendleton and San Diego have a reputation for rendering the very best of medical care to the military, retired and dependent personnel.

In the light of mismanagement and poor leadership at the Walter Reed Army hospital, perhaps if they had had the following organization in place, the atrocities at the Walter Reed would not have occurred.

This organization could have been made up of the following: one medical doctor; a competent staff made up of military and civilian medical personnel with experience in the proper usage of any medical facility; one supply system; training, transportation and an inspection unit with adequate authority to correct any failure to provide medical assistance as prescribed by the director and his staff; more discriminating and investigative practices for hiring all civilian personnel; letting all contracts to civilian companies no matter how trivial or how large. …

I am sure the Army has medical personnel who are dedicated and responsible, and they must feel betrayed!

Henry Wilson

Vista

American caricature

In reference to [an advertisment] "Paid for by You Don't Speak For Me Coalition, and Federation for American Immigration Reform," on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26:

Oh, wow, where does this caricature about America come from? A loyal American states wages are depressed (gainfully employed), takes jobs (has a job), fragments American culture (loves family gatherings, extended families, nurturing families). Coalition is a comedy and calls for a good game of charades (plays and props) included. Are you game?

Rose Mary Preciado

San Marcos

Hillary is qualified to be president

Mike Gonsalez (Letters, March 28) believes Hillary is not qualified to be president. She lived in the White House for eight years, working close with Bill. As a U.S. senator, she is in a position to learn more on national politics than a local or state politician. As to the state that elected her not being her residence: The Bushes did the same in Texas, and Cheney made a quick change of residence from Texas to be a legal candidate for VP. The VP must not be from the same state as the president.

She has great dedication, she did not give up on her marriage, but stayed with her husband. Also, I didn't think either spouse was supposed to control the marriage.

Donald Whitman

Vista

ACLU defends right and left wings

In Friday's paper, Jim Trageser and the paper apologized for and corrected errors in Mr. Trageser's last column ("Time for ACLU to defend free speech," April 1). We thank them for stepping up to the plate. The ACLU does not always get it right either, and often the debates internally are as fierce as any criticism we get from professional dissenters like Mr. Trageser. As our National Board President says, "If you disagree with the ACLU more than you agree with us, you shouldn't be a member. You should be on the board of directors."

But, in our four score and seven years history, there is no better bet than the ACLU if you care about free speech and other fundamental freedoms. Just this past week, our advocacy caused the Poway City Council to reconsider a sign ordinance that would seriously restrict free speech. And, it was the ACLU that protected the rights of an American flag-carrying student in Fallbrook a year ago. The truth is we don't care if you're on the right wing or left wing. We care about the principles and aspirations that make this country great - liberty and justice for all.

Kevin Keenan

executive director, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties

San Diego

Majority supports council

In response to Michael Busch (Letters, March 31) The City Council is on track. They are aiming to change for the better the quality of life in Escondido, despite people like Busch. Who would like to see change in the other direction?

Our City Council does represent the majority of legal voters in Escondido, and we do support our City Council and the decisions they make. And as far as the so-called art exhibit, it was in poor taste. It's obvious what the so-called artist had in mind and the movement behind it.

It's people like Busch who have tunnel vision and are counterproductive to a good way of life here. We the voters look forward to supporting the majority of our City Council and the change they work for.

Harry Fagan

Escondido

Saddam's arbitrary border

Tony Blair and George Bush invade a sovereign nation on trumped-up lies for the financial benefit of their rich friends, then accuse Iran of illegally detaining 15 British marines and sailors who were in an area where the border has been in dispute for decades.Iran captured the British troops in an area that Iran claims is its territory. In their ignorance and arrogance Bush/Blair do not recognize Iran's border claim, but choose instead to recognize the claim of the man whom they deposed by invading Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Iraq, under Saddam, claimed the border that the U.S. and British forces are now trying to protect.

Bush/Blair did not recognize Saddam's claim that he had destroyed all of his WMDs, but they choose to recognize as legitimate the border that he claimed.

It is ironic that we may end up going to war with Iran to protect an arbitrary line that Saddam had drawn in the water of the Persian Gulf. Bush is willing to kill thousands more of our military and spend billions of our treasure to protect a border that was claimed by a man who was executed for being a despot by the Bush/Blair puppet government in Iraq. Who is the real despot?

Gene Gerow

Poway

Cut out the Bush-bashing!

I used to be a faithful reader of Letters to the Editor and very prolific contributor of my views to this once-worthwhile section. I am so sick of everybody and his brother calling for our president's impeachment, calling him a "traitor," "big oil man," responsible for 9/11, and even Katrina was his fault, according to all those know-it-alls out there.

Why can't we cut out all this nonsense and give the president a little credit for working his buns off trying to stave off a far worse calamity than Iraq and getting nothing but downright cruel and vicious treatment in return?

There are damn few of us who could stand in there and take all the hate and contempt George Bush has taken from the media, who, in turn, influence the populace, who, in turn, become tree huggers and Bush-haters only from what they read in the papers. Why not say a little prayer for the president and wish him well? We have the backbone for that, don't we?

Bernie Schroer

Escondido

Letter writer absolutely right on!

Mr. Matthews (Letters, March 31) is right on point about the homeless. The city of Escondido should take his home by eminent domain and put the first group of homeless there. This group should not include illegal immigrants, since they have homes elsewhere they need to return to!

As for the letter from Ms. Freitas (Letters, March 31), it seems global warming has become the religion of liberals with Mr. Gore as their messiah. And they are just as rabid about global warming as they claim Christians are about Christianity.

Steven Melcher

Escondido

American soldier includes all soldiers

I read with much interest the Web comments regarding the complaints by the Hispanics and Polish-American relatives (("Latinos protest new PBS film on WWII"). I believe when an individual signs up for military duty s/he is automatically an American soldier regardless of his background. Mr. Burns is talking about the American soldier, which includes all of them. If one had to single out every individual the story would never be told. All the American soldiers become one unit. I agree with Mark that Mr. Burns did not intentionally leave out Mexican contributions and/or any other contributions. Maybe some people need to stop screaming, "me, me, me" and start thinking in terms of "weism."

Bobbi Barras

Fallbrook

Why not capitalize 'president'?

On March 31, the subheadline under "Senate backs plan to bring troops home" read "Bill narrowly passes, widens rift between Congress and president." Was the word "Congress" capitalized and the word "president" not capitalized to discredit the presidency or President Bush? Was this an intentional slur or just an unconscious bias the editors of the North County Times have against our president?

Dennis Vernon Willis

Fallbrook

Tax dollars pay for deviant views

Richard Kirk's timely column "Propaganda on the syllabus,"March 27, about the dominance of leftist radicals in today's universities, with a reference to Palomar College and its lack of course content guidelines, freshened my mind concerning an earlier communication.

A Fallbrook sophomore at Palomar College took an English 100 composition course (("Speaking up about class," March 7) that became a very uncomfortable ordeal for him. The student complained that the instructor did all she could to force her leftist ideology onto the students. Major topics in the class also involved perverted and bizarre subjects. He believed that his grade was affected because of his conservative views. Both Palomar College's president and the English Department head were no help to the student.

This deplorable situation should alarm all of us, whether or not we have sons and daughters attending Palomar College. Palomar College is supported by our tax dollars. Why keep a politically biased faculty member with deviant views on the staff? Don't higher officials at this college care about what a faculty member teaches? Yet the just-released Summer 2007 class schedule carries the instructor's name. Should we be surprised?

Jack Pomeroy

Escondido

Coming of the second Holocaust

Let's face it - Armageddon may be coming. It could be within five or 10 years.

Iran is thumbing its nose at the world. The U.S. and U.K. are mired in a no-win situation in Iraq. Iran will have nuclear weapons within two to three years, with Israel as its target. Once they're launched at Israel's major cities and military installations, there will be no turning to diplomacy anymore. The majority of Muslims in the Middle East will celebrate the death of a few million Jews, even though a lot of their own, who live in Israel, will also perish. A small price to pay for the destruction of the Israelis.

Only one country can stop this, and that is Israel itself. They did it in Iraq in 1981 with a pinpoint strike at Iraq's nuclear reactor. Poof - threat over! With Israel's excellent intelligence, they can do the same in Iran if the world will let them. If Bush Sr. would have allowed Israel to retaliate against Iraq's missiles in 1991, we probably wouldn't be in the fix we are now. Read Benny Morris' newspaper article on this in the Jan. 22, 2007, New York Sun (www.nysun.com/article/47111). It will open your eyes as to what could happen within the next generation.

Jack Strumpf

Escondido

We do speak for veterans

In response to Rolando Garcia (Letters, March 29): Thank you for your service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Our country is grateful for your service then, and is grateful today for the service of our fine men and women now who are in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Garcia's letter, he characterizes a variety of "anti-war hate groups" and is critical of groups such as the San Diego Veterans For Peace, who, he says, "doesn't speak for veterans." As the current president of the San Diego Veterans For Peace, I can assure Garcia that we do speak for more and more veterans and non-veterans alike (about 70 percent of the U.S. population by recent polls) who believe that it is long past time to remove our fine troops from the four-year-long civil war in Iraq. …

As veterans ourselves, many who fought in Vietnam and who also have Purple Hearts, the San Diego Veterans For Peace believes that this "war" was based primarily on half-truths and lies by our administration to the American people, the U.N. and the world. …

We again thank Rolando for his service … and hope that he considers joining us in our attempts to stop this terrible war in Iraq. …

Gilbert Field

president (2007)

San Diego Veterans For Peace

San Diego

Put 'Easter' back in holiday

I am saddened and ashamed that the publisher of my newspaper would allow an article to appear concerning an Easter egg hunt coming up on April 7 and never once uses the word "Easter" (("'Egg-citing' activities set for San Marcos"), March 29. "Holiday Egg Hunt," "Peter Cottontail," all progressive terms to replace the word that was the cause and the reason for these activities to exist in the first place. The event that brought together and gave meaning to all preceding episodes in the New Testament. Without the resurrection, all before it would be as dust in the wind.

Why do Christians, by far the most prolific religious organization, always have to suffer the brunt of political correctness? And who are we being subjugated to? Muslims who openly want to kill us? Not Jews. We've been holding hands too long. Maybe atheists, but they don't need recognition. … Well, the PCs tried to take Christ out of Christmas, and seem to be failing, and I believe that Christ will overcome the liberal media and Easter will be the word once again.

Ray Erler

San Marcos

Pest control and ravens

When I purchased my place in Vista over 45 years ago, the pest control people tried to get rid of the cockroaches without much success. About 25 years ago, I started to see lots of ravens/crows just standing around on the ground. I also noted, no more cockroaches. If you want to kill crows/ravens, a .22 has a lot more knockdown power than a .177. The .22 is a lot more accurate as well. When the paintball guns came out, they pushed the CO2 charge to the limit. I now get my Crossman CO2 cylinders filled at the paintball store. … The reason for going to an air rifle is to be PC. The gun nuts have just made it almost impossible to use a firearm. Another thing that greatly increases the range, knockdown and ease of use is round balls instead of pellets; .22 caliber round balls are hard to find. …

These birds have always been given a bad rap. Whatever you call them, most people know what you are talking about. My mother called a finch a linnet, and to this day I still make the wrong ID. I still love my mother and still cannot find anything involving my mother that makes me take the time to put together a letter about crows and ravens and how to kill them and get around all the laws the gun nuts have created!

Robert Layton

Vista

Global warming a propaganda hoax

Douglas Dunn (Letters, March 11) alleges that conservatives are just too uneducated and simplistic to understand the imaginary perils caused by global warming because they don't know the difference between weather and climate.

On the contrary, it's Mr. Dunn and the global warming cult who are confused. They are so lost in a haze of minutiae they can't see the forest for the trees. Without doubt, Maurice Strong, Al Gore, George Soros and other international power brokers have succeeded in terrifying enough progressives with their global warming propaganda they have created a religious following of befuddled believers.

So, what is the truth behind global warming? Just follow the money. Billions of dollars in grants for climatologists to study global warming only produces biased answers that yield more funding. The resulting bogus conclusions will allow con men like Gore to sell carbon-guilt credits while justifying the U.N. to create global governance and extract a carbon tax.

The global warming panic is the most flagrant hoax in the history of mankind, all eagerly supported by the leftist media. The real global warming threat is not global warming itself, but the political scheme to gain global control over every action of humanity.

Darrell Beck

Ramona

Liberal writer shows her true colors

Peggy Sloan asks a lot of rhetorical questions in her March 15 letter, while making her points. She did well until the middle of her second paragraph when the hatred explodes! She apparently fancies herself as some kind of spokesperson for all liberals, such as those in San Francisco, Berkeley, Marin County and Santa Cruz.

Peggy proudly proclaims herself a liberal and states, "We … are not into drugs and free love." Really! Then she follows with her hatred tirade of George Bush and his administration. Dubya won twice, and the Senate is now almost 50-50, so count how many votes are not liberal. …

Junious Montgomery

Carlsbad

Government waste must be stopped

While veterans are being shafted, the Smithsonian CEO makes $900,000 a year, most of that taxpayer money. While the deficit is still large, Congress raises its pay and funds indecent art via the Endowment for the Arts. Farm subsidies are also large, while aid to needy kids is cut.

Enough is enough. Join me in writing and e-mailing Congress and demand the waste be cut.

Daniel Offerman

Vista

What's next for America?

No doubt the 2008 election will change the balance of the U.S. Senate. In the meantime, however, we are stuck with Lieberman of Connecticut. Let's call it the way it is: Sen. Lieberman is a Jew and, as such, he is fundamentally in favor of Bush's war against Iraq. He's not alone in that - most Jews in this country favor the U.S.' one-sided support of Israel - and the voters of Connecticut are no exception.

Having failed to win the Democratic Party's nomination as their candidate in '06, he ran as an Independent and, with the large Jewish vote in Connecticut, he pulled it off. Now he threatens to join the Republican Party if the Democratic Party's anti-war policy on Iraq continues. Face it, America, we are fighting this war as the surrogate of the state of Israel. More than 3,100 U.S. combat deaths were direct substitutes for Israeli soldiers. You may not want to accept this, but it is a fact. How long are we going to put up with this?

The Democratic majority in the House has certainly fallen short, and the Senate (with Lieberman) is a joke! This war, on behalf of Israeli interests, is the 300-pound gorilla in the living room - nobody wants to acknowledge it! What's next? Iran?

Robert Green

Fallbrook

Beware brother, beware

If the president puts his arm around you and says you are doing a good job, beware, brother, beware. If the vice president invites you to go hunting, beware, brother, beware. If the secretary of state says the coalition is there and violets are blue, beware, brother, beware. If Tom Ridge says it's a slam-dunk, beware, brother, beware. If Tom DeLay wants to be your campaign manager, beware, brother, beware. If Wolfowitz wants to borrow your comb, beware, brother, beware. If Foley wants to borrow one of your pages, beware, brother, beware. If the secretary of defense wants to get you body armor from Toys R Us, beware, brother, beware. Colin Powell told these fifth-graders, you break it, you buy it, so beware, brother, beware. On and on.

Mel Gallegos

Oceanside

Liberal education means freedom of thought

Regarding teaching practices at the local community colleges, Georgie Gipner says in the North County Times (Letters, March 29): "Taxpayer and donor dollars should not be used to support the liberal agenda!" I should not wish to have Georgie Gipner as my professor, even if we had many social and political opinions in common. Isn't the whole point of higher learning exposure to a variety of points of view?

As a relatively conservative person, also a retired professor, I have found that colleges and universities generally encourage fair coverage of ideas in the political and social fields. The basis of liberal education is a respect for freedom of thought, a respect for human diversity and a generosity of spirit regarding individuality. The unthinkable sectarian and ethnic violence wracking some parts of the world today is a direct consequence of an absence of the above characteristics.

Clay Northcote

Carlsbad

Nonbelievers fear global warming

I believe those who still doubt global warming do so from fear of the changes they feel facing up to it will entail, both personally and for our economy. Yet our dependence on foreign oil is affecting our security, and the Japanese auto companies are beating us because they already make what people want.

Jared Diamond, a scientist who has written about how societies fail or succeed, has [said] one of the reasons people fail to perceive a problem is when it is a slow trend with many fluctuations. Another reason people refuse to see a problem is when some past predictions of disaster prove exaggerated. But many more predictions would have come true if steps had not been taken to make changes.

He also talks about societies that aren't willing to modify values that aren't working. I think, in our case, it is our value of rugged individualism. We do not want to accept limits on our behavior, but if we don't take small steps now, we will be forced to make much more unpleasant changes later.

I agree … that more money should be spent on famine, disease and safe drinking water in the Third World. I would add to that list prevention of deforestation and prevention of collapsing fisheries. But if we don't deal with global warming, none of those problems will be solvable.

Joan Suffredini

Carlsbad

Grateful for public libraries

The staff of the San Marcos county library are the most helpful people I have ever met. Doing a lot of research programs, our reference department staff were so willing to assist me in finding the sources for my work.

We are so grateful to have a beautiful country library, and the dedicated staff is a plus. Increasing the library hours would enable more people to take advantage of the world of reading. Thank you, again, San Marcos Public Library.

Rosemary Haskins

San Marcos

British sailors shouldn't have been waving

As a former officer in the U.S. Navy, I have followed with some interest the Iranian capture and release of the British sailor and Marines. I questioned how it was that these presumably armed men and women could have been taken with a British warship within sight, but I assumed the ship's commander contacted his superiors and they told him what to do, or not to do, giving him the benefit of the doubt in allowing his sailors to be captured.

Never having been in any situation remotely close to this, I still find it greatly disappointing in looking at the picture on the front page of the Thursday edition of The Californian to imagine that one of those smiling and waving sailors is actually in charge of the rest of them. While looking very un-military in their ill-fitting suits, I'm sure they had no say in their clothing, but I'm also sure they received no direction to put their hands in their pockets and grin like a bunch of school girls.

Whoever is in charge should be immediately released from military service. Certainly Lord Admiral Nelson is turning over in his grave.

Hal Schillinger

Murrieta

Egg hunt a big success

It was a great day ("Wildomar's third annual Bunny Egg Hunt brings joy to residents," April 1) and the Wildomar Parks Formation Committee would like to thank our sponsors, the volunteers and Wildomar Little League for making the event possible.

Approximately 500 children hunted for eggs. Next year we will have to increase the amount of eggs to stuff. If, after Easter is over this year, you have lots of plastic eggs around and you don't want them, please donate them to the Parks Committee. We can wash and reuse them next year. To donate please call our message line (222-3716) or visit www.WildomarParks.com.

Bridgette Moore

Wildomar

Safety a big concern in Paloma Del Sol

After the attempted rape of a female jogger on March 19, neighbors in the Temecula community of Paloma Del Sol have banded together to make Temecula a safe community to raise our families. We need to seek answers, and demand increased safety measures from the homeowners association, the Temecula Police Department and the Temecula City Council.

Social worker-turned-social activist Jamie Lee leads the charge by informing community members through informational fliers, which she passes out on a daily basis. This is the starting point in what will spark a public outcry for increased security. The council needs to increase funds spent on hiring additional sheriff's deputies.

Security within the community of Paloma Del Sol itself is also a concern, because it has been the location of multiple assaults in the last few months. The next Paloma Del Sol community board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Country Garden restaurant. In attendance will be two Temecula Police Department representatives, as well as City Councilwoman Maryann Edwards.

All residents of the city of Temecula are invited and encouraged to attend. This effort of Jamie Lee and other motivated neighbors in Paloma Del Sol is the first step in the fight to make Temecula a safer place to live for our families.

If you want to make Temecula safe once again, please join us at our next board meeting, and attend city council meetings.

Derek K. Lee

Temecula

The 'Forward Rake's' progress

John Morley was a member of the British Parliament and lived from 1823-1923. In speaking of imperialism, he had this to say about England's experience in bringing peace to suffering humanity in the tropics:

"First you push into territories where you have no business to be, and where you had promised not to go; secondly, your intrusion provokes resentment and, in these wild countries, resentment means resistance; thirdly, you instantly cry out that the people are rebellious and that their act is rebellion (this in spite of your own assurance that you have no intention of setting up a permanent sovereignty over them); fourthly, you send a force to stamp out the rebellion; and fifthly, having spread bloodshed, confusion and anarchy, you declare, with hands uplifted to the heavens, that moral reasons force you to stay, for if you were to leave, this territory would be left in a condition which no civilized power could contemplate with equanimity or with composure. These are the five stages in the Forward Rake's progress."

He could well have been speaking of the USA during the current reign of King Bush.

Sorab Ghandhi

Escondido

Government waste must be stopped

While veterans are being shafted, the Smithsonian CEO makes $900,000 a year, most of that taxpayer money. While the deficit is still large, Congress raises its pay and funds indecent art via the Endowment for the Arts. Farm subsidies are also large, while aid to needy kids is cut.

Enough is enough. Join me in writing and e-mailing Congress and demand the waste be cut.

Daniel Offerman

Vista

One medical department for all armed forces

I am a retired chief hospital corpsman for the U.S. Navy, 1941 to 1961. I worked in military hospitals as well as civilian. The naval hospitals at Camp Pendleton and San Diego have a reputation for rendering the very best of medical care to the military, retired and dependent personnel. In the light of mismanagement and poor leadership at the Walter Reed Army Hospital, perhaps if they had had the following organization in place, the atrocities at Walter Reed would not have occurred.

This organization could have been made up of the following: one medical doctor; a competent staff made up of military and civilian medical personnel with experience in the proper usage of any medical facility; one supply system; training, transportation and an inspection unit with adequate authority to correct any failure to provide medical assistance as prescribed by the director and his staff; more discriminating and investigative practices for hiring all civilian personnel; letting all contracts to civilian companies no matter how trivial or how large.

The U.S. Navy hospital corpsmen, nurses and doctors have a bad habit of opening their big mouths when things are not being carried out properly. I am sure the Army has medical personnel who are dedicated and responsible, and they must feel betrayed!

Henry Wilson

Vista

Web Comments

Bilbray says U.S. needs guest-worker program

Readers respond to our April 6 story about U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, saying that he would support a guest-worker program similar to the Bracero Program that brought thousands of low-skilled laborers from Mexico starting in the 1940s and ending in the 1960s.

Hire our poor

DJ: "I support Brian Bilbray for the most part but feel we have so many of our own poor and otherwise disadvantaged citizens who could be put to work picking fruit. "

Good luck

Mexicans Did not replace teenagers: "Proof of that is In-And-Out - it is almost exclusively teenagers and white ones. Why? Because that chain pays a little more. Our teenagers will not work for the wages at other chains. Love to see you try to deport 20 million illegals, that will be hilarious to see it attempted!"

My predictions

The Oracle: "I predict that ICE's efforts to return 'temporary Bracero' workers back to Mexico at the end of their guest time will be met by rabid activists screaming 'racism, racial profiling, privacy' and the same stuff going by the illegal immigrant crowd. A new Bracero program will turn out to be another Reconquista Trojan horse just like Reagan's 1986 amnesty, Clinton's NAFTA, and Bushes south of the border family values."

Some role models

Amazed: "I'm a teacher and I always get the 'Why are kids so screwed up?' Look at yourselves the way you speak to each other. There is something called "reasoned debate." Issues are discussed with information and facts - not personal attacks and name calling. Attacking the person just shows that you little to go on except your "reactionary self" - Adults used to model reasonable discussion and behavior for kids - now I often find the kids are more reasonable than the adults out there -"

New song

Come on: "We should have figured this all along. As soon as Bilbray got this job he changed his tune. Are there any honest politicians out there? You need to look out for the U.S. not some Third World country."

Some cities keep 'Easter' in egg hunt

Readers respond to our April 6 story about how some cities around North County are choosing to drop 'Easter' from the names of their city-funded hunts for plastic colored eggs, such as Escondido's Holiday Egg Hunt.

The only name

Sorry: "Sorry, but it is Easter. You can try to change it to other names like you do Christmas but it is still Easter. I am not going to go to another country and rename their holidays so don't rename ours."

Nothing's changed

Alf: "Is there a real NEED to rename Easter, other than to satisfy the deranged PC people? My extended family has Christians, Jews, Atheists and a few in between - we call it Easter. I go to Easter service to hear my wife sing and the music and the sermon. Later, the whole local family gets together, enjoys each other's company and has lots of food, including 'my' devilled eggs. The simplified 'formula' for determining Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Unapologetically, Alf."

Stir it up

Weird: "Alf, I love your posts. It seems that Escondido is trying to create controversy where there is none."

Making sense in Oceanside

Readers respond to an April 6 editorial which says the two measures recently introduced by Oceanside Councilman Jerry Kern - for lobby reform and improved public notification - will improve local governance.

Keep it up

Rick K: "Kudos to Kern. The early notification system, allowing neighborhoods to work with developers for the best project in their area and divulging when campaign contributions were given to a council member as they must vote on the developers project are all a good start to fixing a planning system that needs fine tuning. Thanks, Jerry for helping my neighbors in the Loma Alta Mission Park neighborhood with some serious problems that were not receiving appropriate attention. Jerry, rethink your vote on the Lagoon project and forget the Chargers in Oceanside."

Not a good Feller

Anyone but Feller: "Anyone is a great option to Jack Feller. Please God deliver us from this evil."

Out of the shadow

Oh Pleeeze: "Getting rid of the lobbyist law is wrong. Looks like the Republican-connected opinion editor wrote this one. Concealing business and lobbying relationships is a very Republican ethic - remember Cunningham, Fogo, Abramaff? Let's not take a step backward. And yes, let's put the onus on lobbyists who are making hundreds of thousands of dollars by developing and paving over Oceanside. They can afford to comply and the public has the right to know. Open government is a good thing! Shame on you, NC Times for endorsing the eclipse of a sunshine ordinance."

Credit correction

Loma Altan: "Kern buckin' for credit for something Mackin did. This guy is just like Chavez, not an original thought. Keep the lobby law - we need to know who's running the city. "

Some words for NCT

Yucca Bean: "One must have an audacious perspective to conclude that the noble and honorable Mayor Wood and the similarly eminent and gracious Council member Sanchez are evil, mendacious or any other purjorative adjective. Au contraire, au contraire. Gracious me! Heavenly days! They are paragons of slipprey-polity and highly qualified to receive any award out there, including the Nobel Prize in slickerotacious corruptocity! Amen."