Hillary, Obama an ideal ticket
For the 2008 election, as a Democrat, I would like to see Hillary Clinton nominated for president and Barack Obama for vice president. People are complaining about Obama's lack of experience in the Washington political area. This would give him the needed know-how for the future.
Doris Drake
Escondido
Dumbing-down achievement
I have to respond to the outrageous [claims] of state school's Superintendent Jack O'Connell ("Closing achievement gaps: A collaborative next step for California schools," Perspective, Dec. 2) and retired Oceanside schools Superintendent Ken Noonan ("Closing achievement gap will be difficult, but doable," Perspective, Dec. 2). Both bureaucrats have stated that the achievement gap between white and black/Spanish speakers has grown in the performance testing. Oceanside API testing is among the lowest in the county. This, after taking away challenging math classes and honor programs. … I begged the Oceanside school board not to do away with programs that would make students achieve more. …
The attempt to have all kids learn at the same level failed. What we got was a dumbing-down, lowering the standards of a generation of students that may never recover.
O'Connell and Noonan should be ashamed of themselves. Ken Noonan's experiment of five years ago has hurt our kids. Both men claim to be not accountable for this failure. This is child abuse at its worst.
Larry Barry
Oceanside
Strive for clarity of purpose and respect for others
In response to Mr. Benny Roy Broussard's letter of Dec. 3, there are some facts that need to be understood about the use of the word "God" in our nation's founding legal document.
First of all, he cites the Mayflower Compact, which was written by a group of extremely religious separatists in 1620 and has virtually nothing to do with the later design of the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted in 1787. The fact is that there is not one mention of God in the Constitution ññ not one. This is a fact, not some revisionist religious spin. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the brilliant people who wrote the Constitution were, in a sense, secular progressives. I am not saying that Madison, Jefferson and many of the other founders didn't have a deep, abiding reverence for God. They did. But they were trying to build a nation, not a congregation. They were products of the Age of Enlightenment and valued science and critical thinking as much as they did faith in a higher power.
Mr. Broussard and his friends should strive for such clarity of purpose and respect for the rights of others.
Wanda Beck
Solana Beach
Where were their leaders during the fires?
During the recent firestorms and their aftermath, where were the vaunted leaders of the illegal invasion? Page 1, North County Times, Nov. 2, "Immigrant rights advocates outline concerns during wildfires". My question is, why is it up to American citizens to handle these people? Were their leaders hiding in their spiderholes as the masses they represent milled around leaderless, only to come out after the mayhem and declare how the newcomers were mistreated, claiming they were discriminated against by there being no interpreters, by being asked to get in line for aid and to only take what they needed? I saw no caravans of food and aid from these plastic leaders. I only hear their shrill voices of hate toward America and American citizens, who are the most giving in the world.
These "leaders" have the ability to muster hundreds of thousands to march in the streets of America waving the flag of another country and, yet, they cannot find the resources to help their people in need! It's the same old tired story about victimhood.
I say go back and stand tall against your corrupt government of Mexico. Fix your own country. Turn it into something that you can be proud of, a country where you can prosper and be the proud people that you are.
Steve Applebee
Fallbrook
We are not a Christian nation
Benny Roy Broussard (Letters, Dec. 3) misrepresents the origin of this nation. Sure, the original Colonists, including their Mayflower Compact, came here as English subjects to establish tyrannical religious communities, bringing slavery, burning (and waterboarding) of witches and public religious observances.
The Founding Fathers rebelled against remaining English subjects. Many were religious Christians from various denominations, but others, such as Franklin, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, were confirmed Deists, believing in a general higher power but not in Christianity or its Bible.
To accommodate the various perspectives, this nation was founded with complete religious neutrality. Our freedoms are guaranteed by the 10 Amendments, not the Ten Commandments. While our laws do prohibit murder, theft and perjury, it is not because of the Ten Commandments, but to protect civil order and are common to all civilizations, including the nonbiblical Greeks, Romans and ancient Chinese. Other Commandments are not included in our laws, such as requiring the worship of the single Hebrew deity, or forbidding engraved images. …
The Mayflower Compact was written by English subjects, but the Constitution was conceived by those rebelling against that status.
Davis Danizier
Oceanside
There goes the neighborhood
In response to the "Oceanside community opened to those under 55" article of Dec. 5: Current owners now have the possibility of losing their serene community due to the actions of a few people two decades ago. I own property in this wonderful community, and am upset by the lack of concern for seniors brought on by one group's greed. The individuals spearheading this effort are not individuals who are concerned about seniors and their safety, but are more concerned with how much money they can make.
I have a "symbol of hope" sign in my yard, and it will stay there! Fortunately, this is just a tentative ruling and a temporary setback, but things can change. I'm sorry for all of the countless hours and money that has had to be expensed just to protect something that people have earned the right to have, and that is a sense of security and serenity.
This community is composed mostly of compassionate people who watch out for each other. Now, instead of being able to take quiet walks around the neighborhood safely, they will have to be on constant watch for little kids and toys that can be easily tripped over. Hopefully, the judge will be able to see through all of the bogus information and see what is supposed to be and that's to have Costa Serena be a 55-plus community.
Patricia
Beatty-Leach
Vista
Poison diluted is still a poison
I actually have several questions that, in answering them, the readers can decide their position concerning fluoride in their water for themselves.
First of all, how many people actually drink tap water in the first place? I live in a modest town that only has one name (i.e., I don't live in Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo, etc., with the wealthy people) and I don't know anyone who doesn't drink bottled water. But everyone I know does shower, most of them on a daily basis. What benefit do our teeth derive from soaking up yet another chemical through our skin? As you may or may not know, the skin isn't the impervious membrane that keeps all bad things out as you may have been taught in school several decades ago. Medicines are routinely administered just by applying them to the skin (nicotine patches, birth control patches, etc.).
What new chemical is formed when mixing chlorine and fluoride in our water? Does it turn into something new, like that child's toy that turns into GBH, the date rape drug, when swallowed?
Lastly, is it true or is it not that fluoride is one of the deadliest poisons known? As far as I know, even a poison diluted is still a poison, is it not?
Paul Martin
Fallbrook
North County public burial grounds
A news item on the expansion of Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside ("Commissioners approve Eternal Hills Cemetery expansion," Dec. 4) quotes the manager as stating, "We are the only public cemetery in North County." Not quite. The historical Valley Center Cemetery has been a public burial ground since 1882. It is the final resting place for four Civil War veterans and two famous women: Jennie Wimmer, who tested the first piece of gold and is credited as the co-discoverer of California gold, and Agnes White, the original Betty Crocker.
Robert Lerner
historian,
Valley Center Historical Society
NCT is a blessing to the community
The North County Times is to be highly commended for its support of the Alpha Project. The fine men who are trying so diligently to get their lives back together are prospering and flourishing because of your steadfast and selfless support.
As an 11-year resident of Carlsbad, I have developed a fierce loyalty to the North County Times because the character of your ownership, leaders and employees is plainly evidenced in such a noble activity. I know many residents support you and hope that many more will join in buying and reading the NCT.
Everyone who lives here should be honored to have a newspaper run by people like you, and recognize you are a blessing to our community. Thank you.
Mark Stevens
Carlsbad
Bush has no authority to strike Iran
Here we go, again! This president is trying to put another one over on the American people. This week, we learned that President Bush has been actively misleading us on Iran ññ lying to get us into another reckless and disastrous war.
It was revealed that Bush has known for months that Iran has no nuclear weapons program. Bush said he "only learned of the new intelligence assessment last week." But, according to the Washington Post, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said "Bush was first told in August or September about intelligence indicating Iran had halted its weapons program." That means Bush has been ignoring the intelligence as he's saber-rattled for months against Iran ññ recklessly pushing toward war with Iran like he did with Iraq.
We can't afford to let Bush and Cheney start another disastrous war. Congress must act now and make it clear that President Bush has no authority to strike Iran.
William Nichols
Vista
Weather forecasting a tough job
At this time of the year some TV weather personnel, and occasionally newspaper reporters, make reference to the normal annual rainfall (July 1-June 30) for San Diego County as being 11 to 12 inches. What they fail to mention is that this number is the normal annual rainfall only for Lindbergh Field.
I've observed, in my experiences conducting hikes at Daley Ranch, that this figure is locked into the minds of many people. That Escondido receives on average 50 percent more rain than San Diego is new to them. Nor do they realize that the highest elevations of the county at Palomar and the Cuyamaca Mountains normally receive as much as 35 to 40 inches of rain. Conversely, the Anza-Borrego desert rarely receives more than 4 inches.
Weather forecasting is a tough job. Last year what was predicted to be a normal or slightly above-normal rainfall year turned out to be a very dry season. Storm systems commonly broke up on their southward path to our area. Though most forecasters are predicting a drier-than-average current year, they may be wrong this time, too.
Jack Pomeroy
Escondido
Think like Marines!
The doomsayers have certainly been blowing their horns of surrender and defeat every day in the North County Times, encouraging us to be afraid and to fear, and claiming that our country has already been conquered. Heroes and patriots do not cringe at difficult circumstances.
There is an answer for all of the problems we face: immigration, rising prices, ecology, increased crime, governmental ineptitude. First and foremost, all Americans must stop demanding their own way and join together and confront our problems, just like the Marines do when they prepare for battle, as a united and single-purpose corps dedicated and focused on victory and success. Stop dividing ourselves as Republican, Democratic, Hispanic, black, etc. We are Americans! Our pledge of allegiance states that we are "indivisible."
What we need is a grass-roots rise of patriotism, and to live every day with the motto: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." And do not contribute to defeatist talk.
We are Americans! Rally around our flag and join together, proud of who and what we are: citizens of the greatest, bravest, most-blessed and charitable country the world has ever known ññ the United States of America!
Mark Baird
Carlsbad
Protect our freedom of speech
Media monopolies are already perversely propagandistic. … Ultimately these monopolies fall from their own weight. In the meantime the average American will become less informed and less educated about world affairs.
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of civilization, not technology, and the communication highways of the future will not likely be stopped or controlled by a monopoly.
Save us the pain! Stop further media consolidation by passing S 2332.
Ken Brodeur
Escondido
Why didn't Vista open its schools to evacuees?
As we know, many thousands of people were evacuated and had to go to local shelters for food, clothing and shelter during the recent fires. The people who were evacuated from Fallbrook should have been able to come to either Vista high school for shelter. Instead, they had to drive by our town to go to Oceanside, San Marcos or Escondido. Is there something I am missing in this picture? These people went through enough without having to drive further away from their town.
What happened with our high schools not being open for them? This would have been an opportune time for our high school kids, who were bored because they had to stay home, to help out at either school and feel they had done something for the community and their neighbors. How would it be if all of Vista were evacuated and we couldn't go to the nearest town for help and had to drive all the way to Escondido?
I am not the only one feeling this way about why the Vista Unified School District did not help out.
Diana Smith
Vista
A war with Iran?
While hosting a peace conference with the Israelis and the Palestinians, President Bush is beating the war drums for Iran. How much more can we take from the inept president? I can hardly wait for January 2009.
Carol Naylor
Encinitas
Send clear message: 'Don't strike Iran'
This week, we learned that President Bush has been actively misleading us on Iran - lying to get us into another reckless and disastrous war.
It was revealed that President Bush has known for months that Iran has no nuclear weapons program. He said he "… only learned of the new intelligence assessment last week." But according to The Washington Post, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said, "Bush was first told in August or September about intelligence indicating Iran had halted its weapons program."
That means Bush has been ignoring the intelligence as he's saber rattled for months against Iran - recklessly pushing toward war with Iran like he did with Iraq. We can't afford to let Bush and Cheney start another disastrous war.
Congress must make it clear that President Bush has no authority to strike Iran. This Congress has that power, its only sure form of power in this case - that of withholding all war funding. Redeployment funds yes, funds for the wounded or injured and their families yes, but no more war funding.
Judy Klee
Temecula
Congress should rein in Bush
Is this Iraq all over again? Remember how we were given bad information - I hate like the Dickens to say "we were lied to" - that caused us to go into the quicksand of Iraq. It has cost the deaths of our loved ones and many innocent people in Iraq and will ultimately cost us trillions of dollars that could be used to improve our children's education and our healthcare system, rebuild New Orleans, and so much more.
And now we find out that Bush has been telling us more stories, this time about Iran, threatening war yet again, and all this time, he has known since the end of summer that Iran had halted its weapons program! Congress must not allow Bush and Cheney start another costly and disastrous war. Congress must make it clear that Bush has no authority to strike Iran!
Marti Treckman
Murrieta
Teaching Bible objectively is not possible
Mr. Travis Clementsmith's defense of Murrieta's Bible course through the quotation of dicta both from the courts as well as others writing on the subject remains faulty (Letters, Nov. 2). Dictum, as defined is: "A statement in a judicial opinion not necessary for the decision of the case. Dictum differs from the holding in that it does not establish a rule binding on the courts in subsequent cases." (Barrons, Dictionary of Legal Terms.)
Clementsmith also argues that the phrase "separation of church and state" comes to us by way of mere dictum from Reynolds vs. U.S. (1879). Not so. The court in Reynolds was not issuing a personal opinion, but was rather quoting Thomas Jefferson on the matter of the founders' intent in passing the First Amendment. Understanding the intent of the founders was necessary because the defendant asserted his defense to the charge of bigamy based upon it. It was thus foundational to the holding and part of it.
The separation of church and state is fundamental to our law and cannot be dismissed easily through uninformed opinion, whether by a court or private party. Some courts have, via dicta, suggested it ought to be possible to teach the Bible in public schools as long as the course was objective, balanced and non-devotional. Unfortunately, the Bible is not capable of being objectively taught, for it is so convoluted as to require constant interpretation. Balance would require equal time for those who do not believe, and even Mr. Clementsmith opposes that.
Gerald L. Summers
Temecula
Casino has benefited our area greatly
Some people seem to have a lot of trouble pulling their heads out of the sand. They don't seem to realize just how much the Pechanga casino has helped Temecula, Murrieta and the whole area.
Besides employing over 5,000 of our local residents, they have contributed to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County, paying for some of the cost of a badly needed new bridge over Temecula Creek and widening a major road.
They who say that Indians don't pay taxes had better think of all the taxes they paid on every stick of lumber and bag of cement used in the construction of the casino, and all the taxes paid by the people employed there.
Pechanga is one of the best things to happen for all the economy that they have brought into this part of Riverside County. But Robert Ross (Letters, Nov. 28) shouldn't let that sand get in his eyes.
Roger Wiberg
Murrieta
Forums a chance to inform voters
My daughter is 19 and will be voting in her first election in February. I think it's important for voters, particularly new ones, to be informed before ballots are cast.
Recently, there have been two candidate forums hosted by the Wildomar Community Council. Thirteen of the 14 potential Wildomar City Council candidates appeared at least once and shared their views. Even though the WCC does support cityhood, the forums were dignified and respectful. All of the candidates were allowed to state their position unimpeded.
The Wildomar Voice filmed the forums, so you can see the candidates online at www.wildomarvoice.com. This wasn't a debate. No one was attacked or challenged. Martha Bridges (Letters, Dec. 4) stated that she is "not going to participate in this political charade" and that candidates "cannot possibly expect to receive fair or equal treatment at this type of forum."
They absolutely did receive fair and equal treatment. Refusing to participate amounts to being a bad sport. Putting together a new city is no small task.
There will be disagreements. Working together, compromising and making an effort to share ideas is essential. I urge our young voters to come out to the next candidate forum and see for yourself who shows up.
Tina Tyra
Wildomar
