Letters for May 24, 2007

Foolish games

Re “Games people play” by Sena Christian (SN&R News, May 17):

I can’t think of a better way to sum up the “game” some UC Davis Republicans so distastefully organized during La Raza Cultural Days than “foolish.”

As a Davisite myself, I know that the cultural celebrations that occur during these festivals are of beauty and art and learning about people different from yourself. I think it is pathetic that the group who organized the game chose to do it during this special week.

I understand that this is a very sensitive issue right now that needs to be addressed immediately. However, I think that the Republicans responsible for the game need to understand that this issue will never be resolved if one side tries to deliberately enrage the other. Immigration policy needs to change, there is no question of that. The best way for this to come about is by open communication—not in an aggressive way, but in such a way that all parties will be heard and respected.

I know it is cliché when talking about immigration, but if Republicans are so “anti-immigrants,” why don’t they go and work some of the low-wage, backbreaking, 16-hour days that the majority of illegal immigrants are forced to work? Maybe then they would be willing to try and work on a failing immigration policy instead of being bull-headed and offensive.

Michelle Helms
Davis

Send ’em home

Re “Games people play” by Sena Christian (SN&R News, May 17):

By what gross travesty of justice does Rebecca Canales, while studying “law” at UC Davis, demand that lawbreakers be treated with “sensitivity” (as long as they are of her race), while American citizens be throttled in their attempt to bring the gross injustice of illegal immigration to public awareness via their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech?

Clearly, Canales’ true tyrannical face has become visible, as she can only call an attempt at freedom of expression as “not cool” (to lawbreakers). Does she recognize the impact of millions of lawbreakers on our laws and culture even as she studies law? Legal immigrants recognize the importance of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Illegal aliens do not. They need to be returned to their lands of origin so that they can re-re-create our freedoms in their own country with their own blood, sweat and tears. And their attempts to destroy our freedoms should be met with arrest, imprisonment and repatriation.

David Froloff
Sacramento

Uh, better hire a housecleaner

Re “Uh, the Auburn Dam isn’t much” (SN&R Letters, May 17):

Ron Waggoner, like most Democrats, could learn from fellow letter writer Gregg Wardrip (May 10), a “wrong” Republican. Gregg at least tried to (feebly) present examples of the hypocrisy of both main political parties. Ron simply presented talking points from the DNC Web site.

Granted, the GOP has botched things badly: Crimes were committed, misjudgments were commonplace and incompetence rules the Bush presidency. However, regarding the housecleaning analogy, if Ron is waiting for the Dems to “finish what we started in November of 2006,” well, I hope he knows a good (cleaning) service. Pelosi, Reid, et al, are much more interested in their own political hides than in doing the right thing.

What has happened since November 2006? Well, from this vantage point, not much. If housecleaning is on the Democrats’ minds, they might want to do more than just crack a bottle of Pine Sol. All the “investigations” (distractions) have done nothing. We are still in Iraq and we are still “fighting the war on terror,” according to the Bush doctrine.

Ron, you and your fellow Democrats could change my mind. Put your money where your mouths are. Impeach Bush and Cheney. You all say they broke the law, committed impeachable offenses and that you have the American people on your side.

I’m not saying you’re wrong (I’m not saying you’re right, either). If, however, you want to be true to yourselves (and America), you will impeach. If not, you are just disingenuous Democrats, which might be an oxymoron.

Richard Copp
Sacramento

Make ’em buy their own ink

Re “The Sacramento Union” (SN&R Advertisement, May 17):

SN&R has cited its staunch belief in free speech as a justification for its decision to allow the Sacramento Union to purchase advertising space, which the Union uses to put its “newspaper” inside of your fine journal as an insert.

I am a member of a local band called the Walking Dead. Like you, we are fierce advocates of free speech. That said, there is no amount of money that would convince us to allow, for example, a racist skinhead band to play a few songs in the middle of our set. Our commitment to supporting the constitutional right of free speech does not, in my opinion, give us any responsibility to provide a platform for free speech antithetical to our own anti-racist/anti-government/pro-zombie flick message.

I hope that the publishers of SN&R will re-evaluate their position and stop providing a platform for homophobic and racist slurs to be expressed to a wide (and deeply offended) audience.

Emile S. Dalkey
lead guitarist, the Walking Dead

Update

Re “Going to Del Paso soon?” by Matt Coker (SN&R Upfront, May 17):

The Sacramento City Council will consider the development agreements between SN&R and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency for the building at 1124/1132 Del Paso Boulevard at its June 12 meeting.

Get yer Megatron right

Re “Flick off!” by Jonathan Kiefer and Matt Coker (SN&R Feature Story, May 10):

It’s neither here nor there, but the voice of Megatron was played by the great Frank Weller, not David Kaye, in the “Transformers” television show.

F.B. “Fanboy” Fuller
Carmichael

D’oh!

Re “Flick off!” by Jonathan Kiefer and Matt Coker (SN&R Feature Story, May 10):

Blasphemy! Out and out blasphemy! Jonathan Kiefer and Matt Coker dared to cast aspersions on The Simpsons Movie. Not only that, they close their comments with “Who still watches The Simpsons?”

Blasphemy, I say!

William J. Hughes
Sacramento

More questions about Roberto

Re “What about Roberto?” by Amy Yannello (SN&R News, May 10):

Your article about Roberto Ortiz, sentenced to seven years in the CYA for swiping some petty items from a friend’s garage, made me sick to my stomach. Not only is Roberto’s sentence unbelievable, irrational and grossly unjust, but the horrible conditions you describe in the CYA are mind-boggling.

Many questions seem unanswered in your article: Who was Roberto’s lawyer? Why was Roberto handed such a stiff sentence? Who was the judge? Does the judge actually think this boy deserved seven years for petty theft? Is there something about this boy’s background or record that justifies his sentence?

If the facts in your article are correct, this boy has been served a gross injustice, and Schwarzenegger ought to see that he is released immediately, at least to custody at home, and provided rehabilitative services. He has served enough time. All of these kids in CYA should be screened and treated for vision problems and learning disabilities. The CYA’s 70 percent recidivism rate is appalling. It should be an embarrassment to every Californian.

L. Chambers
via e-mail

Is this supposed to motivate us?

Re “The Sacramento Union” (SN&R Advertisement, May 10):

Over the past several weeks I have read many letters to the editor berating and admonishing you for printing the Sacramento Union advertising section in your paper. But I would like to thank you. Not because you’re gallantly holding up the ideals of free speech and independent press, but because when I read little snippets (all I can stand) of this section, it reminds me that the enemy is still out there and they’re just as maliciously insane as ever!

Living in my quaint liberal neighborhood, with my lesbian neighbors on my right and my African-American neighbors on my left, and reading all the great, progressive editorials and articles in your paper, had lulled me into a false sense of security that the worm had turned, intelligent progressivism was on the rise and America was back on track to being a conscientious and caring leader of the world.

And while I still believe that this all may be true, reading the ignorant, hateful, greed-induced dribblings from the Union has reminded me that many Americans are still mired in neoconservative spite and selfishness; that the fight for the soul of this country is not over; and that now, more than ever, it’s time to go out and kick some right-wing ass!

Thanks again.

Mike Tucker
Sacramento