Letters for March 11, 2010

Letter of the week

The Chinese have won

Re “What the hell are they thinking?” by R.V. Scheide (SN&R Feature, March 4):

First of all, I agree, the educational system in the state of California is completely broken. People are afraid to truly be honest about asking why this is happening.

Mr. Scheide points out several times that the “the post-World War II generation” should get some type of “credit” for what has happened over the past 50 years. In fact, one could argue that they should get the credit for causing the problems that exist today. The people who created the educational system that benefited Mr. Scheide are from the Depression era. They understood vividly what society looks like when 25 percent of the population is unemployed and possess little skill to actually become productive members of society. They lived it. This is why they created such a functional, comprehensive and productive system.

The “boomer” generation was the first to actually benefit from this. As the decades pass and the “boomer” generation now becomes the leaders and decision makers of this process, what happened? The “boomer” generation created an apathetic, litigious and indulgent society where one has this ridiculous idea of entitlement. In essence, they were given everything and worked for nothing. Now, because of this value system, there is no accountability, self-worth or civility. This system has generated a society where education is some type of entitlement and thus should be given to all regardless of merit.

Can it be fixed? As we are finding out, it will take another depression to “reset” the current situation. Then the generation that has nothing will understand, through personal pain, what it takes to create a system that works again.

Unfortunately, as Mr. Scheide points out, it will be too late. The Chinese will have already won. In 100 years, historians will write and debate this critical time in our history. They will conclude that the “boomer” generation lit the match that extinguished this great nation and its Constitution.

Tim Gildea
Sacramento

Go independent!

Re “What the hell are they thinking?” by R.V. Scheide (SN&R Feature, March 4):

As Dick Cheney once blundered, “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,”’ and now we are all paying the price for blindly following this flawed belief. I see the public’s sense of entitlement as the fuel that nourishes California’s financial demise. It’s not a right-left, conservative-liberal thing; rather, it’s common sense; and the solution is what’s best for all the residents of our state, from any political ideology.

Earn, subsist and invest, in that order.

People, stop pointing fingers. Stop aligning with political parties and start thinking for yourselves. We need the conservative mindset that was lost in the Reagan years to return so that our creative types can do what they do best—create.

When did we become seduced by having without earning?

California’s education system was second to none, but now it’s threatened. What are you going to do about it?

Craig Livaich
Sacramento

She loves Johnny

Re “Dear Johnny” by Kimberly Brown (SN&R Essay, March 4):

Quite obviously, Kimberly is a judgmental, close-minded person.

I have not seen Alice in Wonderland, but have every intention to see it at IMAX. I am a huge Johnny Depp fan and always will be. I don’t think the original Disney version was meant for children anyway. [There are] so [many] adult references, as well as drug references. Furthermore, I believe a lot of Disney and Pixar movies that are made for children have more adult references to things that children don’t even understand. I did not see [Charlie and the Chocolate Factory], so I can’t give my opinion on that one.

Johnny Depp truly beats to his own drum and doesn’t fall into all the hoopla of Hollywood, and I respect him and admire him for that. Not every part chosen will reflect the true talent of some actors; it’s just par for the course in the business. If you are truly a Johnny Depp fan, you will take the good with the bad and always be a fan. The bad is, after all, to each his own opinion, as well as the good.

Felicia Jimenez
Sacramento

Double thegay-hatin’

Re “It’s good to be great” by Jeff vonKaenel (SN&R Greenlight, March 4):

I don’t think I have ever read a more offensive article in SN&R. The joining of our slumlord, child-molesting, gay-hating mayor and the bigoted church community is not something to be celebrated—these players are the most anti-progressive forces here in Sacramento.

Our mayor has only two concerns: his strong-mayor drive and getting the taxpayers to fund a new arena for our loser ball team. This article could have appeared in the old Sacramento Union. Rick Cole and our mayor together? How about an article celebrating anti-Semites or anti-abortion murders?

This article was so offensive to me as a gay man, I must assume you were drunk or high to have published it. I’ll make sure all my gay friends see it so they can see how you really think of us.

Earl Grist
via e-mail

Hang up and ride

Re “Ladies of the light rail” by Sena Christian and Alia Cruz (SN&R Arts&Culture, March 4):

This article started out by telling of rider Cyndle Jackson’s experience of being harassed by a group of young men while she was “having an argument with my boyfriend over the phone.”

No shit. There’s nothing I like better while riding on a train, bus or subway than listening to someone yell on their cell phone. It’s so considerate.

Paul McBride
Sacramento

Ignore the troublemaker

Re “Is this the most dangerous man in radio?” by Rachel Leibrock (SN&R Feature, February 25):

My question is, why give attention to this troublemaker? I sure you could find something more worthy of it. People like him are made or broken by the media. So give us a break.

Keith Burke
Sacramento

Invite to round two

Re “Who would Jesus do?” by Ted Cox (SN&R Scene&Heard, February 25):

I’m actually the worship leader for The Remix. I think this article is awesome. We often wonder what nonbelievers think when they come to our services.

It’s true that the service, from the worship to the announcements to the sermon, can be interpreted different ways. Hopefully people read this article and it piques their interest.

God can reach the masses any way, and I’m glad “Ted Cox” (I think that may be an alias) got a chance to come through. Hopefully he’s able to sneak in again for round two.

Sam Brown-Dawson
Sacramento

Correction

In last week’s feature, “What the hell are they thinking?” erstwhile student R.V. Scheide got Professor William Dorman’s age wrong. He’s 69, not 76, and looks 10 years younger. Also, in 1961, the cost of attending Sacramento State was $480 per semester, not per year. You have no idea how much Mr. Scheide regrets these errors.