Israel needs to speak softly

Without question, President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo, Egypt, on June 4 was eloquent, factual, historically accurate in its context, perception of today and hope for the future. I think that President Obama is sentimental but naive about the Middle East. Things will not change.

The reality is that, in general, Arabs, and perhaps Muslims, do not accept or like Israel or have good opinions about Jews. Because of historical, social, racial and theological factors, anti-Semitism is an ancient disease that so far has not found a cure.

Everything wrong in the Middle East is blamed on Israel, the typical scapegoat in the region. As long as Israel exists, and the U.S. supports it, the Arabs will not be happy even if the region is divided as an Israel and Palestinian entity. It will be a miracle if this will happen. For the immediate future, look for Israel to speak softly and carry a big stick.

I'm beginning to believe that the Bible is correct in predicting Armageddon. Please consider that I'm from Spain's Canary Islands and a Catholic, and have nothing against Arabs, and Muslim is a part of my ancestry.

Gilbert Marrero

Temecula

Wine-pouring a memorable experience

An article in The Californian stated that the Balloon & Wine Festival needed volunteers. It brought back memories of visiting a park a long time ago with my late wife and getting close to the furnaces and seeing hot air enter the balloons. So I called, received some paperwork and waited and waited. When a representative from the festival asked where I wanted to work, my reply was, "wherever you need me most."

For four hours that Saturday night, I assisted the wine pourers in the wine tent. I arrived not knowing what to do, but it didn't take long to figure out how to open new bottles and get bottles ready to be poured and placed so pourers could get to them.

Everyone was smiling and thanking me. All the wine pourers were busy talking and pouring wine. I realized they probably never did this before. Some stayed after their shift and never was there a complaint. It was like a well-maintained and oiled machine. They did it because they liked it and were volunteering for a good cause.

Next year when asked what activity I'd like, I'll say "assisting the wine pourers"; they were all so great, happy and efficient.

Phil E. Pavlovsky

Aguanga

Letter writers earn kudos for views

Kudos to Mr. Gene Vitamanti and Mr. Edward Vargo for their commentaries regarding college not being for all children. Some children do not want to spend all those years in college and are not geared for the white-collar jobs they will be qualified for at graduation. I grew up in New York City and we did not have junior high school.

We graduated from the eighth grade into high school. You were not forced into the closest high school, but we chose a preparatory high school if we intended to go on to college, and a vocational high school if we planned to enter the work force upon graduation. They prepared you for the real world with many skills needed for getting a job, along with your required courses for graduation.

Americans must face the reality that the service industries keep this country running. Don't scoff at the plumbers, mechanics, carpenters, electricians, painters, etc., as they perform the many services we desperately need. These people take great satisfaction in their jobs and are proud of their contributions to society. We would be in one heck of a mess without their skills.

Parents, please remember that your children have a right to pursue their careers, be they white-collar or blue. If it makes them happy, productive and secure in their identity, how can it be wrong?

Anita Baysinger/Craycraft

Canyon Lake

Argument falls due to 'suicide'

This is a response to Ainsley Kurczynski's, May 28 letter "No right to influence others' lives."

If the writer does not believe in trying to influence other lives -- stating nobody should tell someone how to live his or her life based on discrimination, phobias or religion -- then why is the writer trying to influence others? That is self-refuting -- telling others what they should not do when they themselves are doing just that. That argument commits suicide, falling in on itself.

Steven G. Keeney

Temecula

Cemetery's poor records due to many things

Re: "Audit critiques cemetery district's practices," June 14: It is true that the records at Wildomar Cemetery are atrocious and have been for many decades because of several reasons.

Although the cemetery is 111 years old, the current district was not formed until 1955, and before that there were periods when nobody was in charge. Progress was being made to update and correct files until problems surfaced last fall.

"Meanwhile, the district was immersed in controversy stemming from a personnel dispute and a related public protest, speculation that the county would seek to dissolve the district, and discontent over the board's state of dysfunction," it states in The Californian's article. Most of this came about because a cemetery employee was trying to correct "the board's state of dysfunction." The "personnel dispute" has now turned into a lawsuit filed in Riverside Superior Court against the Wildomar Cemetery District and trustees.

The new board of trustees has lots of work to do, and it is hoped they will change the meetings from 7 a.m. to a more suitable time for the public to attend.

Edy Rodarme

Wildomar