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Opinion Letters Letters to the Editor June 29, 2010
Letters to the Editor June 29, 2010
Uncomfortable with patriotism that depends on suppressionI was very interested and pleased to read Mario de Solenni’s Coastal Voices piece, “Time to stop being Global Cop,” June 15. I have not yet read the book which Mr. de Solenni referred to, “World War II, the Rest of the Story,” but I do know that some serious historians have long accepted the fact that the Roosevelt administration knew about the planned Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in advance and deliberately allowed it to happen. In effect, Roosevelt deliberately sacrificed several thousand American lives at Pearl Harbor to create an incident which he needed to overcome public resistance and satisfy his ambition to lead America into World War II. I also was not surprised by the June 18 letter from Albert Tennant, “Mario de Solenni's analysis based on flawed history book.” Mr. Tennant wrote: “I hope this warped garbage does not find its way into our school libraries” I suggest that such book-banning would soon lead to book-burning, as we should remember from the Nazi example of World War II. I remember more than 60 years ago I read a story in a popular magazine which debunked several popular myths of American history, including Paul Revere’s famous ride and the less than glorious performance of U.S. Marines at the Halls of Montezuma. The magazine later printed a series of letters from readers, criticizing the magazine for printing the story and saying that even if it were true, it should not have been printed because it was “un-American.” Some of the letters were from schoolteachers who complained that printing such articles made it more difficult for them to inspire young children with stories from American history. I am very uncomfortable with the kind of patriotism that depends on the suppression of truth. It has been said that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. I wonder what historians 70 years from now will find in the secret archives of Washington, D.C.? John Cupp Smith River Too bad the potholes were not patched before resurfacingOur streets in Crescent City are getting resurfaced and they really look nice, to a point. Unfortunately, the potholes are still there. Why weren’t they patched before the surfacing was done? Have you driven on Front Street? It is just like it was prior to the resurfacing except it is a darker color. I am sure this project was a costly one, but why didn’t the city patch the streets first? Brigitte Bowdish Crescent City Why does it seem that smokers are always the ones picked on?I am writing in regards to the article in the paper April 20 (“City Council supports smoking ban”). Why is it that the smokers are the ones that seem always to be picked on? From increasing taxes on cigarettes to banning smoking. Now, just so you know, I do not smoke. I did smoke, but have quit recently. I definitely agree about not smoking in any buildings and in cars with children. But I believe banning smoke out in Front Street Park is a little much. What about the alcohol? You don’t see them taxing alcohol or banning alcohol from the parks do you? For example, there’s the Fourth of July beer garden or the fair — what about the beer garden there? Do you think that is fair? I believe if you are going to ban things like smoking because it is bad for the health and it bothers you, then why not the drinking because it is unhealthy and bothers people, too. I believe if we ban one we should ban both! Barbara Oliver Smith River Babich was more than just an excellent county auditorI agree with Jon Alexander’s letter in regards to Christie Babich. Christie’s niche was being the county auditor, and she took that job very seriously. Christie enjoyed her staff and her colleagues. However, first and foremost in her life was her family. Being a wife and a mother was her greatest joy. You could catch her helping out in Jordan and Trevor’s classrooms, on field trips, coaching, doing fundraisers, and at their many sporting events. She would help out with almost anything. She would hardly ever say “no,” sometimes she probably should have but she was just too nice. I was lucky enough to have been friends with Christie for a very long time. I hope she is remembered as the amazing, giving, wonderful person that she was. She was truly one of the most genuine people I have ever met. When you think of her, remember the smile she always had and her funny little laugh. Buy a cow chip plot at the Fourth of July festivities in her memory; that would make her smile. Laura Benson Crescent City |
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