Letters

Dry thoughts
While brushing my teeth — closing the water tap as requested — questions swirled in my head during the procedure.

If water shortages are on the horizon, why are new toilets springing up, flowing in new constructions? Something is not quite right. Why no moratorium on new construction in Pasadena, except of course, emergency facilities, etc.

Here I am, conserving a modest amount of water, attempting to do my part as directed by the city of Pasadena.

Will someone in the upper level of our city government splash some light on this conundrum?
~JAMES BEHM, PASADENA

Wants to help
I just finished reading the letter from Robert in the Pasadena Weekly (“The parenting grandparent,” Sept. 4).

My heart goes out to the dear grandfather and little Liam. I cried as I read it. But I had
to respond. 

I don’t know if you are able to pass this information on to Robert, but I figured I would at least try. I imagine that he is overwhelmed at the thought of what it would mean to bring his grandson to his home to live. I wanted to offer my help in any way.

I don’t know what specific help to offer, but I want Robert to feel secure in his decision.  I know my father would feel the same way as Robert if he suddenly was left to raise my (now 12-year-old) daughter by himself. What is left of this family needs to stay together!  The community should reach out to support both of them.

Please, if you are able, feel free to pass my email address and contact information on to this dear man. I would like to help if possible.
~STACY HEAVICAN, VIA EMAIL

Going strong
Miss Alfred’s article (“Future on Ice,” Aug. 18) was well written and informative. I shall forward a copy of it to an interested friend, who, in turn, no doubt, will forward it to others with a similar interested in skating.

Inasmuch as this might be Miss Alfred’s first writing, “Go girl!”
~CAMERON JOY, EAGLE ROCK

The wrong way
I’m disgusted with how my Townhall 2008 feature was edited to change its meaning at different turns throughout (“The ‘right’ way,” Sept. 11). 

Moderator Kevin James is a former prosecutor and nighttime host of a KRLA show. He is not Kevin James the “King of Queens” actor, nor did I state that he is. I certainly didn't supply the actor’s photo for usage. 

When I cited the obvious religious differences in the demographic of the audience, nowhere did I indicate that those differences had to be “set aside.” If it is news to you, most Christians admire Judaism and conservative Jews know that they and the state of Israel have strong allies in the American Christian community.

Laura Ingraham is a FOX News contributor but she also hosts the morning slot at KRLA.
Hugh Hewitt is not a former talk show host; he has a very successful syndicated show that airs in the afternoons at the station.

I didn’t write that Hewitt warned about a backlash concerning Sarah Palin over “all the publicity she has received.” I stated it was because she and her family have been subjected to vicious media attacks.

Some mischievous hand at PW had to work hard to come up with these changes. Maybe he deserves co-writing credit for the way my piece was altered.
~KIRK SILSBEE, SANTA MONICA

The best cure
The Catholic Church has long castigated other Christian churches and all non-Christian faiths as heretical, pagan, or just plain erroneous. Quite suddenly, the Church is eager to welcome them all as temporary bedfellows in the excellent and fictitious cause of protecting marriage and the family.
They are supporters of Proposition 8 and they plan to win over California’s undecided voters by telling them that traditional marriage and freedom of belief are being threatened by the recent California Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriage. Of course, they will not actually mention homosexuals or same-sex marriage. The party line is simply that Proposition 8 must be supported in order to protect marriage and freedom of belief.

That this is far from the truth does not seem to matter to anyone in this coalition of regular churchgoers and obedient followers. They will not mention that no one has asked any religious group to change its beliefs, teachings or practices, or to modify them in even the slightest way. It is anybody’s guess what answer might be given should a prospective voter ask them how exactly marriage is being threatened and how anyone’s freedom of religious belief is being curtailed or even challenged.

What right-minded people should do now is make a concerted effort to expose these people for what they are. They are not the victims they portray themselves as being. The only victim here is the truth, and the truth is that the proponents of Proposition 8 will stop at nothing to make the people of this state conform to their will.

They use the democratic process merely to subvert democracy. They use the freedom granted to all to deprive freedom to those they dislike. A Mormon activist is participating because he believes judges should not decide on matters of same-sex marriage. In other words, the most senior legal authorities may not interpret the law. Of course, social and religious conservatives do not complain
when legal rulings agree with their point of view. The hatred these people have for gays and lesbians trumps everything, but they will do what is necessary to conceal this fact from the voters they want
to influence.

The media remains the best vehicle for bringing the facts concerning Proposition 8 to Californians, the best vehicle for exposing any and all deceptions practiced on voters. I sincerely hope you will do so.
~CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN, VIA EMAIL

Nothing for granted
I stumbled upon your article online and loved it (“Seeing is believing,” July 24)!
As a resident of the Mercado District, I feel blessed that there are people like Stefanos Polyzoides creating a lifestyle that is truly unique these days in the US. I hope Pasadena does not take one of its finest for granted.
~JOSH CONZEMIUS, VIA EMAIL