Remember who caused special election
People, we had a special election for a seat on the CityCouncil. It cost the city $300,000, for nothing.
It turned out the same as if Shari Mackin had been appointed tothe seat after having won the third-most votes in the previouselection. But what really frosts my behind is that one City Councilmember did not even show up for the official installation of ournew city councilwoman.
It seems the state, and I do not know for what reason other thana possible meeting with the governor, who I, as a Republican,support, is more important than our city. I only hope the people ofOceanside remembers this in the next election.
DON L. BUCKNER
Oceanside
‘Duke’s’ house sale beginning of bust?
Either Mitchell Wade (owner of MZM Inc., buyer of “Duke”Cunningham’s Del Mar house) is the only person to lose money inthis market or, heaven forfend, this is the beginning of the realestate boom bust.
MICHAEL SCHWILK
San Diego
Citizens want answers
The more information that comes out this week about mycongressman, the more I wonder what kind of deals he or his officehas arranged. As our employee he should have answers for usimmediately. I hope these allegations are investigated quickly. Weas the citizens he represents are owed a quick answer.
DAVID P. HOGAN
San Diego
‘Duke’ should do honorable thing and resign
I would expect the only outcome of a U.S. House investigation ofRep. “Duke” Cunningham would be to attempt to clean up the story.If the House can accept Tom DeLay’s actions, then why notCunningham’s? This would be like putting perfume on a skunk to hidethe smell, then trying to sell it as a puss*cat.
I can’t think of a better example of conflict of interest inthis mess. The facts seem to be little in dispute. What further isthere to investigate?
“Duke” should do the honorable thing and resign, saving a greatdeal of time and resources.
ROBERT LEAR
San Diego
Treat ‘Duke’ as Clinton would have been treated
As a real estate professional, Rep. Randy Cunningham’s realestate transaction, at the very least, has the appearance ofimpropriety. If this had been a Clinton deal, a special prosecutorwould have already been appointed.
JOHN R. WILKINSON
Oceanside
Congressman Cunningham, shame on you!
I read the front-page article on June 12 in a San Diegonewspaper about the sale of Rep. Randy Cunningham’s Del Mar homewith some interest. It certainly looks like “official bribery,” asthe nonpartisan president of the Center for Responsive Politicssaid in response to the sale and purchase of homes in the San Diegoarea by the representative in question.
It amazes me that Rep. Cunningham has said so little about anyof the allegations made about the sales and purchase of the homes.He has not clearly explained why a defense contractor purchased hisDel Mar home for $700,000 more than the appraised value. And, whilehe was hiding that information, he did not adequately answerquestions relating to millions of dollars for government contractsthat were given to the company that bought the home inquestion.
Isn’t it a bit of satire that Congressman Cunningham won hisseat campaigning on issues like the House banking scandal, and howin 2006, he is going to lose his seat because of the Del Mar homescandal?
I guess going to Washington certainly can change you fromsomeone campaigning against scandals to someone with scandals ofyour own. It is disappointing to see that Cunningham haschanged.
CHERRY MILOE
Lake San Marcos
Cunningham’s time is over
Oh, pullease! How stupid do you think the voters are? Randy”Duke” Cunningham is a poster child for opportunistic deals. Now hesays, “I don’t cheat.” Sounds like Nixon when he said, “I’m not acrook.”
Cunningham’s time is over. We need a leader now, and not anotherRepublican moneychanger.
ABBIE GRANT
Carlsbad
Jackson acquittal
So, Michael Jackson should have been acquitted, but the motheris still a lousy parent for letting her son go to his placeunattended? What’s wrong with this picture?
MAUREEN SLOTTJE
Oceanside
San Marcos High pregnancy rates
According to California Center for Health Statistics quoted inthe June 11 article, San Marcos teens get pregnant six times moreoften than Encinitas teens.
High school administrators don’t think they have a problem, andschool board members are worried about their image.
I’m glad I live in Encinitas.
BRIAN GULINO
Encinitas
Where’s Bill Horn?
We’ve heard of “Where’s Waldo,” now we have, “Where’s BillHorn.”
Thanks to Pam Slater-Price for attending the Regional WaterQuality Control Board’s workshop held in Escondido regardingGregory Canyon, aka the dump.
Thank you for caring about the quality of our water and way oflife.
Absent from the meeting, although this project is in hisdistrict, was Bill Horn.
We should start a list of Bill Horn sightings, you know, likethey did with Elvis. Oh, but wait a minute, I’m sure that sinceelections are coming up, he will pop out of his hole soon. Staytuned.
CARIDAD TRUJILLO
Escondido
Escondido voters hoodwinked
The arrogance of the Palomar Hospital board and CEO MichaelCovert shows as they refuse to negotiate with our city and theycontinue to pursue a spot in the industrial park by the Semprapower plant for the new hospital. When the idea of moving thehospital six miles away from the doctors’ offices and labs isquestioned, Covert says he’ll move the hospital out of town, inspite of the PPH board’s commitment to the voters to keep it inEscondido.
Covert and his cronies envision a mega-hospital shining on thehill where the PPH administrators can sit in their ivory castle,all at the expense of the Escondido taxpayers.
So what that there are high-tension power lines for Life Flightto navigate, and no access for the patients who need care. Itdoesn’t matter to Covert that ERTC is farther away from the freewaythan the alternative site at Spruce/West Valley Parkway. Who caresabout the 4,000 high-tech jobs that would be lost. It’s all aboutCovert’s vision.
I am so sorry that the citizens of Escondido were hoodwinkedinto supporting a property tax increase when the PPH board nevercommitted to a site for the new hospital.
STEW GAGE
Escondido
Editorial was right on the mark
Thank you for the editorial of June 12, “Get it together,Escondido.” Your assessment of the actions of three members of theEscondido City Council was right on the mark.
If Palomar Pomerado Health finds itself in a position where itmust turn to the welcoming environment of San Marcos, rather thanbuild its new facility in Escondido, I, for one, will remember theactions of Mssrs. Sam Abed and Ed Gallo and Ms. Marie Waldron ifthey decide to run for re-election.
I’ll be right up front in the campaign to unseat them for theirpetulant and obstructionist attitudes.
I urge other informed residents of Escondido to make theiropinions known.
HARRIET GOLDBERG
Escondido
Subliminal prejudice toward migrants
Again, your prejudice subconsciously compels you to reporterroneous information (“Study: Mexican migrants have high HIVrates,” June 14).
Legal Mexican migrants must take X-rays, blood tests and medicalexaminations before they are allowed to migrate to the UnitedStates. Legal Mexican migrants are, in general, a lot healthierthan the U.S.-born individual and do not have HIV, rabies,tuberculosis or any other transmittable disease.
Your careless reporting disparages legal migrants when you use”Mexican migrants” indiscriminately.
Correct your prejudicially subliminal information.
FELIPE CERVANTES
Oceanside
Tragic encounter on daily run
My daughter and I have run every early morning for almost 20years and have encountered just about everything, from coyotes towhistles.
However, a recent morning had to be the most tragic of all ofour daily outings. At 4:45 a.m. we were running eastbound on SanMarcos Boulevard past the high school. It was very dark as thereare no street lights, when we heard a clinking noise. We turnedaround and saw a dog bounding off the median strip. His owner was ablock ahead running west across six lanes of traffic.
As this dog jumped into the left lane on our side of the street,he was immediately hit by a large vehicle. This car did not stop.What was tragic about this accident is that it should have neverhappened. Shame on the dog owner who ran without her animal on aleash as she started this early-morning drama.
Shame on the driver who kept on his way. We stood in the middleof the San Marcos Boulevard waving our arms trying to get someoneto stop and help us. Shame on every driver who passed by. The ownerfinally realized that her dog was hit and came back. We assistedher getting her dog back on the sidewalk, she called for help andthe dog, hopefully, went to the vet.
JOHANNA H. BURHANS
San Marcos
Let’s swap presidents
We are told that nothing political can be done about outrageousfuel prices. Untrue. The president of Argentina personally led anational boycott, forcing Shell and Exxon to lower prices. NeitherBush nor Schwarzenegger is willing to help us in any way.
Swap presidents, anyone?
HELEN STRAND
Oceanside
Amateurs shouldn’t own pit bulls
I feel compelled to comment about the mother of the boy who wasrecently killed by the family’s pit bull in San Francisco. This isa perfect example of why these dogs don’t belong in the hands ofamateurs.
If she had a license requiring dog behavior lessons before sheowned a fighter, she would have known that the dog should have beenthe one in the basem*nt, not the son. An aggressive dog shouldalways be put lower than the rest of the pack to show he isn’t theleader, and therefore, doesn’t need to protect.
Society needs to phase these dogs out with mandatory spaying andneutering. If they always fell into the hands of people with goodjudgment, it might be a different story. Unfortunately, to thedetriment of the victims, it’s too often not the case.
MELINDA JEAN SANTA CRUZ
Escondido
Felt did the right thing
After the news broke that former FBI agent Mark Felt was theDeep Throat of Watergate fame, I expected to see a flood of lettersappearing in our newspaper condemning him. Actually there has beenonly a trickle so far. Is it possible that even hard-coreRepublicans are beginning to realize that what Nixon did waswrong?
There was also some editorial comment here and there. Both theeditorials and letters say that Felt violated the oath he sworewhen he took office. They don’t bother to tell us how. Is there aphrase in the oath that says, “If I find out the president iscommitting crimes, I will keep my mouth shut”? Incredibly, I evensaw the word “disloyal” used. Disloyal to a criminal?
There are suggestions that Felt should have resigned and held anews conference. Had he done so he would have been shot down anddiscredited as a disgruntled employee.
As it was, he supplied Bob Woodward with vital direction attimes when the investigation was floundering. Was he a hero? Idon’t know. I do know that he provided valuable information thathelped remove a criminal from the White House. I feel Felt did theright thing.
BRENT HENEN
Vista
Generally speaking
Thanks to Ruben Fierro for clearing up the Vicente Foxcontroversy, although I don’t know if Jesse Jackson or Al Sharptonis buying it (Letters, June 13). That’s OK, they’re nothing butpolitical opportunists anyway.
But if Fierro likes generalities, let’s try this: Mexico does anexcellent job, generally, of catering to the interests of itswealthy ruling elite, who are, generally, white. The millions ofpoor Mexicans flooding into the United States, generally, arebrown, generally of Indian origin, who have little education, andalthough hardworking, generally have no medical insurance and donot earn enough to live independently in the United States.
While economically exploited here, generally for the benefit ofcorporations, most of them believe that, in general, the only thingworse than being exploited in the United States is not beingexploited in the United States.
Is that a fair summary of the immigration problem, generallyspeaking?
DOUG BELL
Rancho Penasquitos
Democrats don’t want to save SS
Why are Democratic liberals in Congress so unwilling to joinRepublicans in finding a solution to saving our Social Securitybenefits?
The president has offered a very sensible plan, which would notonly protect seniors’ pensions, but would strengthen and providefuture retirees with additional retirement benefits. Presentretirees and those over 55 years would not be affected, and presentseniors would continue to receive their current benefits.
Also, why is the liberal AARP organization misleading retireesabout the president’s plan, which does not affect them at all, butis designed to protect their benefits and offer an even better planfor future retirees?
Also, why is it that the Democratic Party refuses to evendiscuss President Bush’s plan or offer an alternative one? Is itbecause they are not interested in having Americans achieve somepersonal independence from big government, unlike the RepublicanParty, which has always sponsored programs to protect and encourageincentives that promote individual rights and freedoms to provide ahealthy culture for all races, creeds and religions in our greatcountry?
MARCY YOUNG
Oceanside
Felt was neither a hero nor a coward
Was Mark Felt (Watergate’s Deep Throat) a hero or a coward? Inmy view, neither! He was a man doing his job, supporting anddefending the Constitution. Had he been a hero, he would have puthis job and future on the line and come out immediately. Thisprobably would have led to an attack on him that, most likely,would have discredited him and ended the Watergate investigationbefore the truth came out. Had he been a coward, he (like manyothers, and most today) would have done nothing.
Several letters have been written that implied that PresidentNixon was forced out of office because of the Watergateinvestigation. This is like saying that a bank robber is sent tojail because of a trial and conviction. A bank robber is sent tojail because he robbed a bank.
President Nixon left office because he violated the laws of theUnited States.
DAVID W. OSTERBERG
Escondido
Home Depot sells out
Home Depot should be ashamed of itself (“Protesters target HomeDepot,” June 11). To support day laborers (illegal alien workers)is only encouraging more illegal immigration and destroying theUnited States. Home Depot could care less for the American workerand citizen.
Home Depot can’t excuse themselves as I just read a completecatalog from Home Depot in Spanish. Americans speak English. What asellout company. I won’t shop there anymore until they mend theirways.
PRISCILLA ESPINOZA
Nuevo
Stop the speeders
Something needs to be done with all the speeding cars, trucksand school buses on Almond Street in Fallbrook. It used to be anice little quiet lane until Poet’s Square was built. I driveslowly in that neighborhood and I expect the same in mine.
Every time I see the Highway Patrol in our area, I am happy. Iknow they could meet their quota daily if they parked on the accessroad and caught speeders, including those school buses that speedpast me every morning at 6:30 a.m.
KAREN JEFFERIES
Fallbrook
Things we should do
Why not use simple majorities to pass laws in Congress, unlessConstitution specifies otherwise, and have term limits for allelected and appointed officials, including judges and justices (12years).
Use school vouchers for qualified public school pupils forprivate schools (use tax roll funds first). Why not add 10,000 INSagents and Tom Tancredo, insist Bush work for tougher immigrationlaws.
Let each U.S. citizen grow to their best, not tied by judicialwrits or our courts swayed by foreign laws. Get Kofi Annan (oil forfood) and the U.N. out of the U.S.A. and the U.S.A. out of U.N.Allow prayer in schools. It’s sad when God in schools is a felonybut sodomy is OK. Ban U.S. citizenship for kids born here toillegal aliens and their in-laws, and make this retroactive.
Why let illegal aliens stay when we’ve got 8 million to 16million already here, costing billions. So deport all felons now inprison and keep illegal aliens still here wary and always lookingover their shoulder. Why give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens,thus legalizing them? We need a national driver’s license.
BILL CHAMBERS
San Marcos
Radical activists terrorize peaceful protesters
To get the full story of how over 500 angry and violent Mexicansand radical activists threatened and terrorized 50 peacefulanti-illegal immigrant protesters recently in Baldwin Park, go toCongressman Tom Tancredo’s Web site at www.teamamericapac.org andwatch the hard-core shocking videos. One Minuteman, a 66-year-oldwoman, was hospitalized with serious brain injury after someone inthe mob hit her with a full bottle of water.
Days later at the Garden Grove Women’s Club another violent mobof over 300 Mexicans and radical protesters threw marble-filledcans/bottles at police and Minutemen. Police video shows the mobterrorizing an elderly man in his van by beating and rocking hisvehicle. Police arrested five of the mob on felony assaultcharges.
Using terrorist tactics of malicious intimidation, hate speechand physical violence, these pro-illegal immigrant extremists showtheir complete lack of respect and tolerance for peacefulprotesters. The illegal immigrant/terrorist invasion from Mexico isa major catastrophe.
Please support the heroic and patriotic Minutemen atwww.minutemanproject.com and www.ccir.net.
GARY WALKER
Escondido
We need more politicians like Mark Wyland
I am writing to defend California Assemblyman Mark Wylandagainst ludicrous attacks and assertions regarding illegalimmigration by Mr. Ruben Fierro in a recent edition of yournewspaper. We need more Republican officials like Wyland to standup and represent the interests of California taxpayers who have hadenough of seeing their tax dollars paying for health care andeducation to people who have willingly broken the laws of theUnited States of America.
Legal immigration has made this country the great magnet offreedom for the world that it is. We should be working to improvelegal immigration so that law-abiding people searching for a betterplace to live their lives have the opportunity to get their foot inthe door, while keeping the criminals and potential terrorists outof our country.
Mr. Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project, will bespeaking about illegal immigration and its effects on California atthe June 22 meeting of the newly formed North Coast Republican Clubin Encinitas. Information is available at the club’s Web site atNCRC-GOP.com. The meeting will combine a membership drive for theNorth Coast Republican Club and an important community serviceeducating those in attendance about our illegal alien problem andthe Minuteman Project.
CRAIG A. NORDAL
Encinitas
We should be thanking Minutemen
Howard Seelye’s June 7 Community Forum angered me. How cananyone object to the Minutemen’s presence on the border when itdoesn’t cost people like Mr. Seelye a dime in taxes? For all thecomplaints people make about enforcement and the lack thereof, onlycitizens who actually do something can make positive changehappen.
I think reducing the Minuteman Project to a few people runningaround in the dark with a flashlight is ignorant to the real effectthat the project has had on the illegal immigration debate. Withoutthe Minuteman Project’s existence, I do not believe we would betalking about illegal immigration with the same fervor andconcern.
Enforcing the border more effectively, and getting politiciansto take action to stop illegal immigration, has been nearlyimpossible for 10 years. The Minuteman Project is doing both.Instead of belittling the Minutemen and their efforts, we should bethanking them.
SHANNON HUTCHISON
San Diego
Columnist’s position is the one that is shaky
Re: the June 10 Community Forum from Ruben Fierro, “Wyland’smyths rest on shaky data,” wherein Fierro claims my data about thenegative impact of illegal immigration on our economy are”bogus.”
My information comes from timely research done by nonpartisanorganizations and individuals, including the Pew Hispanic Center,the Center for Immigration Studies and nationally acclaimed Harvardeconomist George Borjas. The evidence is in, Mr. Fierro. Healthcare, education and incarceration costs California taxpayers nearly$9 billion per year.
I also disagree with Mr. Fierro that the border between theUnited States and Mexico cannot be made secure, and that we shouldsimply give up trying. I remind Mr. Fierro that we are at war, andthat the bipartisan 9-11 Commission Report specifically points outthe danger of terrorist infiltration across our poorly monitoredborders. Instead of giving up we should dramatically increaseborder security, and we should support the new initiative thatcreates California Border Police, as now permitted by federallaw.
I challenged the last columnist who disagreed with my positionson illegal immigration to a public debate on this issue. I extendthis invitation to Mr. Fierro. I can be reached at (760)599-1641.
MARK WYLAND
assemblyman
Del Mar
Our sovereignty is in jeopardy
The new flap, Deep Throat a hero? This question is created bythe news media to avoid reporting on the more consequential actionsof the government ññ from the White House to city councils. Thereason being is that when the news reported is not approved by thegovernment, like the report from CBS, Bush’s reserve record, peopleget fired.
The consequence of Mark Felt’s act, it stopped the Nixonadministration from placing its illegal actions above the law. Italso indicted the Watergate Seven, which faced one to 30 years inprison and fines.
When citizens of the U.S. condone political parties orindividuals placing themselves above constitutional law, federaland state laws, our sovereignty is in jeopardy.
Is the news media going to report on Robert Pastor, Task Forceon North America (the Council on Foreign Relations)? The best wayto secure the U.S. today is not at our two borders with Mexico andCanada, but at the borders of North America as a whole, to beaccomplished by 2010.
Open borders, thank you, NAFTA.
HARRY L. ALEXUS
Escondido
Only in America
Close Gitmo? Sure, let’s relocate the terrorists to America.Give them all green cards and driver’s licenses and, oh yes, by allmeans, give them back their AK-47s. Only in America.
JACK FULTON
Escondido
War is not about giving candy to kids
Bonita Berdine declared “things happen in war, but the look ofthe faces of the children in the streets when our troops are givingthem candy” inferred war is a pretty thing (Letters, June 8). Whatkinds of “things” is she referring to? Decapitation of kids byAmerican bombs? Disfigured faces when children pick up Americancluster bomblets? Wasting deaths of hundreds of thousands ofchildren from water-borne diseases caused by American bombings ofwater and sewage infrastructure? The disappearing of their fatherduring midnight raids when their front door is blasted open?
Sure there are kids who smile when given candy. Child molestersuse that same trick near schools in America. Children smile but allis not bonita.
One soldier, Edward Medina, recently told a story of being oncivil patrol when his Humvee stopped at a school. “We were lookingfor a way to help these people,” he said. “Instead the teacher cameout and screamed at us in English: ‘What are you doing here? Youkilled seven of my students. Get out of here. You are monsters.’ Iwas depressed. I felt I was evil, felt like I was a Nazi.”
KATHLEEN MURPHY
Oceanside
The economy is improving
Watching the news, President Bush is telling the American publicthat the economy is improving. He uses figures, such as “only” 5.2percent of American workers are unemployed. We have that manypeople in prison. Me, I look at facts and figures. More and morepeople are claiming bankruptcy, homes going into foreclosure,people holding down two jobs just to make ends meet.
Worse yet, what happens to the kids while you are out theremaking ends meet? If the economy is so good, why are we the peopleof America $2 billion more in debt since he took office? Why is thestate of California billions in debt? Why is every public entityclaiming they don’t have money to operate?
Oh yeah, I heard that the reason for the state of the economy isbecause we don’t pay enough taxes. I know President Bush doesn’thave to worry about where his next meal or medical expenses or aroof over his head is coming from. How about you? Are you even sureyou’ll have a job for another two years? Why are so many largecorporations about to go broke on the verge of bankruptcy? If theeconomy is so good, why are we exporting jobs and importing illegalimmigrants?
ROBERT MARTINEZ
Vista
They are all great American patriots
Wow, what a great question posed by Mr. Michael McNulty (“Whatis the common thread?” Letters, June 8). Aside from their beingRepublicans (as he stated), what do all those fine folks hementioned have in common? Well, they’re all men. They’re allintelligent. They’re strong, incisive leaders with the courage oftheir convictions. Am I getting warm yet? How about independent,hardworking, successful? Role models, guys with a clear sense ofdirection. Unafraid. Outspoken.
Strict constitutionalists? Keepers of the flame. Unapologeticfor speaking the truth. Pragmatic. Realists. Hmm, just too manycommonalities. I guess I’m just going to have to narrow it down togreat American patriots. (Ps: You can send the dinner tickets to mecare of the NCT, and thanks for the fun!)
DAVID W. BOUCK
Poway
Law should not be subjective
There are many who agree with Deep Throat’s decision. Peoplejustify Mark Felt’s breach of confidence because of a duty to theConstitution. I believe, and hope everyone agrees, that everyAmerican owes a duty to the Constitution, especially lawenforcement.
The problem is who decides what is constitutional and what isnot? Does every individual in the FBI decide what regulation andlaw is constitutional? Does an FBI agent decide to leak informationbecause he feels the law is wrong? Felt seemed to believe it wasconstitutional to conduct illegal searches of Weather Undergroundfamily members’ homes. Yet, he had problems with others conductingillegal searches or covering it up.
Did the fact he was not chosen to succeed as FBI director affecthis judgment? Do they really believe there was no maliceintended?
We do not want laws to be subjective. If we have grievances,there is a correct and legal way to handle it. Regulations are inplace to hold an objective standard. There is no room for Felt andothers’ subjective standard of what is right and wrong. The lawshould be the standard we live by, not our personal beliefs.
‘ISI MATAELE
Carlsbad
Medical marijuana
I have just read Supervisor Pam Slater-Price’s response to theSan Diego County grand jury report on medical marijuana (June 9).Supervisor Slater-Price’s comment that “I can say with just about100 percent certainty that we will not take any of those steps”proves the point being made by the grand jury ññ the San DiegoCounty Board of Supervisors is “blinded by its prejudices againstmedical marijuana use.”
As pointed out by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer,nothing is different today than it was before the Supreme Courtruling. The ruling does not void California law. The ruling doesmean that those who use marijuana as a medicine risk legal actionby the federal government. That is the situation that existed in1996, when California voters approved Proposition 215. Theplaintiffs in the Supreme Court case sought to change the statusquo.
Prior to the passage of Prop. 215 and SB 420, the Board ofSupervisors actively opposed allowing marijuana to be usedmedicinally. However, once Prop. 215 and SB 420 became law, theywere obliged to honor those laws and to do whatever was in theirpower to implement them. That was their failure and they have beenrightfully chastised.
KATHY PISULA WARING
La Jolla
Nichols volunteers are wonderful
A very special thank-you to all our wonderful volunteers whohelped us last Friday on Field Day. The children had an incrediblysuper day, thanks to all of your hard work and dedication. I knowmany of my parents and community members took the day off from workto help make our day a success.
It is moments like these when I truly understand the value ofteamwork within a school and its community. You are all wonderfulpeople and I appreciate your support for our school. Nichols has anexcellent team of parents, business partners, students and staff.Thank you.
JEANNE IMAN
principal, Nichols Elementary
Oceanside
What will Bush do with alleged terrorist?
Luis Posada Carriles, a confessed terrorist, is seeking asylumin the U.S. Posada Carriles was detained in May by the governmentwhile in Miami.
Posada Carriles bragged to The New York Times in 1997 about thewave of bombings he organized in Cuba. He is responsible for thedeath of an Italian tourist, plus injuries of many others. Evenworse, he is implicated in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban Airlinesflight in which all 73 passengers and crew members were killed
On that flight, and blown apart in the air, were the teenagedmembers of Cuba’s national fencing team. It was the first confirmedmidair terrorist bombing of a commercial airliner.
Posada Carriles has been a fugitive since 1985 when he escapedfrom prison in Venezuela. Venezuela wants him back and has filed anextradition request.
Considering that G.W. Bush has more than 30 Miami-Cubans inimportant positions in his administration, things look fairly goodfor Posada Carriles. Even better for him, he can trot out hiscredentials as a retired agent for the CIA.
Perhaps his good CIA work record will qualify him for a medaland a pension as well as a presidential pardon. Or will the U.S.honor the extradition request by the Venezuelan government and sendhim out for trial? I’m holding my breath.
DOLORES WELTY
Encinitas
Plagiarism is becoming too accepted
I sit here absolutely devastated as I have come across sixplagiarized essays while grading, and these are just the ones Icaught. Many were complete “free essays” ripped right off the Web,while other students were clever enough to cut and paste from manysites in an effort to cover their tracks.
Even more heartbreaking than the blatant cheating itself is thereaction we get from the students who are appalled that they willget no credit on the assignment. We hear things like, “I should getat least half credit —— everybody’s doing it.” “But I’m an “A”student, can’t I make it up?”
Comments like these come equally from parents. What has happenedto the moral fiber of our conservative community that cheating hassuddenly become a way to make life easier rather than a lie?
I sincerely hope that parents take this to heart before theirchild is expelled from a university, fired from a job, or sued forcopyright infringement!
The fact is, everybody is not doing it. Many students willgraduate this year holding their head up high, knowing that theyearned their GPA, while others will not be able to keep up in thereal world because they never truly learned to do things on theirown.
It’s time for TVUSD and other districts to revisit and enforcethe consequences of cheating and to convey to students and parentsalike just how serious a crime this matter is.
MICHELE LOZA
Chaparral High School
Temecula
Hate-crime view hilarious
I just want to thank Danyelle McKoy (Letters, June 15,).
She provided me with a nice chuckle to start my day as I drankmy coffee and read The Californian. I found her interpretation ofCalifornia’s hate crime laws hilarious. Am I the only one that seesthe irony here? The same amendment to the constitution thatprotects someone from being a victim of certain types of crimes isthe same amendment that allows Ms. McKoy to write ignorant andhom*ophobic letters to the editor.
SCOTT KING
Murrieta
Hate crimes are ‘thought crimes’
I agree 100 percent with Danyelle McKoy, (“Hate-crime lawsviolate 1st Amendment”). Her June 15 letter hits the nail right onthe head.
If we Americans are ever going to create a colorblind society,we must first remove hate-crime laws that are used by overzealousdistrict attorneys due to their sensational nature.They onlyinflame the majority due to the lack of equal access under the lawby those who don’t receive any such benefits. If the problem is insentencing for assault, then enhancing the penalty for all assaultsis the correct response, not giving certain citizens a specialprotected status.
Any victim or defendant of a crime should have the same accessto redress under the law. Hate-crime laws by design are racist andneed to be abolished. Corrupt district attorneys are able to usethese laws and circumvent constitutional First Amendment rights.Overzealous district attorneys now use these laws to carry out aperceived politically correct agenda while ignoring the perceivedlesser run-of-the-mill crimes.
We all deserve equal protection under the law and this, in myopinion, isn’t the case, particularly in corrupt Riverside Countywhere civil rights and due process mean nothing as demonstrated bythe attention these cases are given by judges and the districtattorney. There is no such thing as hate crime since hate isn’t acrime —— otherwise we would also have “love crimes.” Thought crimelaws need to be abolished.
ACE VALLEJOS
Lake Elsinore
Nature hike a great experience
Many thanks to The Californian and Dave Downey for the articleon National Trails Day on Wednesday, June 1, and ranger DebraClarke and the seasoned naturalists for the actual hike Saturday,June 4. Using the directions provided by The Californian, we wereable to find the trail with little problem. The hike which tookplace on the San Juan Loop put on by park ranger Debra Clarke andled by some very knowledgeable naturalists was superb! My writtenlist of wildlife identified by them while we were walking containedover 50 wildlife, and these were only the ones which I had time torecord.
For example, the western tiger swallowtail butterfly and theblack-chinned hummingbird were just two of the many items theypointed out which I had never seen before. In addition, almostevery flower pointed out was in full bloom. The informationprovided by Debra Clarke on the trails in the park was also veryworthwhile. I hope this will become a yearly event and that it willcontinue to be supported by the park service and publicized by TheCalifornian.
PATRICK McGINNESS
Lake Elsinore
Pauba Road has become Autobahn
Pauba Road between Ynez and Margarita roads has become thedesignated Autobahn.
The constant noise, exhaust and racing at speeds of 55-65 mph,it’s just a matter of time as more people move here before someonein the neighborhood will be killed riding a bike or taking awalk.
If everyone would stay within the 45 mph speed limit, the resultwould be less noise and pollution. It would also make it safer forthose making turns in and out of our neighborhood.
We all know there are maybe two dozen people left in Temeculathat still obey traffic laws —— you know, those who stop at redlights and for pedestrians, staying within the speed limit inresidential areas.
I have contacted the Public Works Department on severaloccasions and left messages with the mayor’s office, all to noavail.
I congratulate the people of Meadowview and Los Ranchitos forkeeping the planned four-lane Autobahn out of theirneighborhood.
I have lived here for 29 years with my family. I miss the daysof 1,900 residents and one stop sign, when kids could ride theirhorses and bikes on Pauba Road. Now it’s time to put the “for sale”sign up and move once again.
JOHN TILLMANN
Temecula
