Letters for March 22, 2007

It’s not about SN&R

Re “The dead” (SN&R Feature Story, March 15):

There was something about that list of soldiers killed in action that didn’t seem genuine. I’m trying to put my finger on it.

Oh, of course! It was published in SN&R!

I have a hard time believing you—or most of your readers—care about these soldiers for any reason other than that listing the dead reaffirms your hatred of Bush. Don’t you ever get tired of writing the same insipid tripe? Don’t you ever grow weary of preaching to your own intolerant, narrow-minded choir?

Chad Vander Veen
Sacramento

Bites’ inadequate explanation

Re “P for propaganda” (SN&R Bites, March 15):

Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. Bites hasn’t seen the documentary Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century, but has somehow managed nonetheless to write an angry editorial condemning it and rambling on incoherently about the vast Jewish conspiracy to take over the world and suppress free opinion.

However, the controversy was about censoring a documentary that was shown in a hundred of the largest cities in the United States, but somehow couldn’t be shown in Sacramento. And so, while Mr. Bites may try to immunize himself from claims that he harbors anti-Semitic tendencies, it is hard to understand why Mr. Bites thinks that censorship should be practiced in Sacramento or that portrayals of Nazi type of racial anti-Semitism (which are being broadcast on television across the Middle East every day) are images that Americans must be barred from viewing. Mr. Hosley did not have an adequate explanation for that and neither does Mr. Bites.

Americans are best served by having an open society and letting the chips fall where they may. Meanwhile, it’s the oldest leaf in the racist book for the perpetrators of prejudice to act as if they are the victims.

Barry Broad
Sacramento

We need to see it

Re “P for propaganda” (SN&R Bites, March 15):

As Bites points out, KVIE is one of the very few PBS stations to originally refuse to broadcast Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century. The Jewish Community Relations Council, an affiliate of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, felt that this was a mistake and asked the general manager of KVIE, David Hosley, to reconsider.

He did so, and the documentary will be shown on KVIE in April. In addition, Andrew Goldberg, the award-winning writer/director of the film will discuss it on Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Law Congregation, 2300 Sierra Boulevard. After the discussion, the film will be shown. The general public is invited to this program without charge.

The documentary on anti-Semitism is voiced by Judy Woodruff, the highly respected television journalist. It has been favorably reviewed in the New York Times and elsewhere. It deals with an important part of the Middle East situation that has been largely ignored in mainstream media. Bites and its readers should view the film and determine for themselves whether it is a fair portrayal of a serious problem.

The JCRC fights bigotry in all its forms. It supports equal rights for gays. It actively opposes the genocide in Darfur and all forms of religious bigotry, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. The JCRC therefore is pleased that KVIE has decided to show this film here in Sacramento.

Edward H. Rabin, president
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region

Some fundies are better than others

Re “P for propaganda” (SN&R Bites, March 15):

After seeing the horrendous treatment of women and gays by Muslim extremists, many lesbians (like myself) would rather deal with Orthodox Jews and fundamentalist Christians any day. The leftists at SN&R need to wake up to the hateful intolerance of Islam!

S. Biroli
Sacramento

Science lesson

Re “Aquifer down, temps up” (SN&R Letters, March 15):

The letter from Ellsworth Rose of Georgetown states a view that might sound reasonable to those uninitiated in the sciences, but this retired chemistry professor must point out that the analogy of water in a car radiator is too far-fetched to serve for climate change on a scale of “global warming.”

The depletion of the aquifer may be severe in localized areas, but is not applicable to the entire planet Earth. In view of the recycling of the used water due to precipitation, this depletion is insignificant. The net result due to radiation of heat, if any, is pittance compared to the “greenhouse” effect of gas emissions all over the globe. Due to the spinning of the planet Earth on its own axis, these emissions, responsible for “global warming,” envelop the entire Earth, irrespective of the place at which the emissions are spewed out.

Braham D. Sharma
Chico

That’s board games, not bored games

Re “Mano a mano in Midtown” by Alexis Raymond (SN&R Cheers! advertising supplement, March 15):

I want to point out another Midtown Sacramento restaurant that offers friendly competition: Crepeville, on the corner at 18th and L streets, which offers a variety of card and board games, put on by the Sacramento Boardgames Meetup (http://boardgames.meetup.com/19/) every Tuesday night from 6-11 p.m., free and open to the public.

And these aren’t childish, old-school games like Trouble and Connect Four; these are challenging yet fun strategy games, Euro-games and creative new card games like Settlers of Catan and Chez Geek.

Things to note if you come: Crepeville doesn’t just serve crepes (they also serve salads, sandwiches, hamburgers and pasta) and they only take cash.

Stephanie Rector
Sacramento Boardgames Meetup