LETTERS
12/31/2009
Do your part
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to wildlife — changing, shrinking and destroying habitat, forcing wildlife to adapt or migrate and threatening their very existence.
The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change warns that if we don't take strong action to address global warming soon, 20 to 30 percent of the world’s plant and animal species will be at increased risk of extinction by 2050.
Let’s all do our part and support legislation that protects our environment so that future generations can enjoy this beautiful planet.
~ JENNIFER AVELLAN, ALHAMBRA
Thank a vet
Once again, a special thank you to Principal Kathi Perini, teacher Francine Schwartz and the wonderful second graders of Emperor School in Temple City who faithfully make cards for the veterans on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
The poster made this year for Veterans Day said “We Honor Our Veterans,” was signed with handprints and names and placed in the VFW hall in Monrovia.
The cards were given out to the veterans at the city of Monrovia and San Gabriel Valley Allied Veterans Council Veterans Day program and the dedication of the new Veterans Memorial at Library Park in Monrovia.
The cards especially brought smiles from the veterans receiving them as they read the personal thoughts of the children, i.e., “Thank you for our freedom” or “Thank you for your service to my country.”
My thought for Memorial Day and Veterans Day next year is to encourage the parents of these children to bring them to the program so that they can present the cards personally to all the veterans!
~PEGGY MCINTOSH, SAN GABRIEL
Moral Virtues
Rhetoric should have meaning. Language should have value.
What then is meant by the phrase we are now hearing so often from the politico, “We have a moral obligation to pass this legislation”?
Morals must be based on some standard. Among the most frequent standards used as a basis for moral values are scripture, tradition, reason and experience.
Most of our government officials have totally rejected scripture. They have also rejected traditional values. When scrutinized, the legislation they are trying to pass does not hold to sound reason. And, when you compare the policies being put forth by those in power to the experience of history, you find that experience teaches that big government and total government control don’t produce anything good.
So, other than just being persuasive words, what value, what basis, do these so-called “moral obligations” have?
In recent decades, contrary to traditional values, we have been taught that when it comes to morals there are no absolutes. So why is the government that has propagated the educational system that teaches no absolutes telling us that we absolutely have a moral obligation to do what they are demanding?
Added to this reasoning without rationalization coming from our government is the “duty” on our part to pay the bill for all their dictated moral obligations!
I guess my point is simple. Listening to our present leadership talk about moral obligations is about as logical as listening to Larry Flynt and Hugh Hefner talk about chastity!
~STEVE CASEY , VIA EMAIL
FROM THE WEB:
Re: “Altadena’s rules of order,” Dec. 17
Alas! While it is true that there is PLENTY of conflict of interest and under-the-table dealing at the Altadena Town Council, and that they should be the last group to ever judge anyone’s ethics, there seems to be a trend of nondisclosure with Mr. Simmons.
Mr. Simmons has said to me that the whole thing with the ATC was a misunderstanding of syntax. Months later I discover that he directly made in writing representations that the supervisor’s office had supported his program. I simply can’t believe that he honestly made this statement.
Supervisor Antonovich and his office have always been clear that they would not offer public support or recognition for community-based programs until there were results. They may point you in directions to get help, but until you made good and had a track record, that was the maximum of their involvement, and even that was rare. This is a policy that protects the supervisor from embarrassment.
It turns out that the genesis of complaints was not as Mr. Simmons stated to me from other Town Council members, but from Sussy Nemer, who was justifiably miffed at Mr. Simmons misrepresentation of Supervisor Antonovich’s support for his not yet off the ground program.
~posted by Steve Lamb
Well, here we are again. Ethics issues at the ATC. If Simmons did his time and made things right, end of story. Going forward, however, problems seem to plague the ATC. Although most are there for the right reasons, good people who want to do their part to make the community a better place, a few seem to be at the root of what’s wrong with this body. Egos run amok.
The Teacher Appreciation Award is a good thing. It should go on. Lord knows PUSD needs all the support it can get. If Simmons crossed the line, censure him. But don’t toss him, he was elected by his neighbors to represent them. If they don’t approve of him, they will vote him out. It’s hard enough to get people to run and put up with the ATC and its monkey business. Tossing a representative, fairly elected, will only bring another black eye to the ATC.
~posted by Equal Justice for All
Re: “Butting in,” Dec. 3
It is apparent to me that Councilman Madison has lost his mind. The city has no right to tell me or anyone that I cannot smoke in my apartment. I pay rent and that is my living space.
This woman Kathy Braidhill is another one who has lost her mind. Does she seriously believe that smoke from a floor below is actually going to do the harm she says it is and tarnish her furniture? It is rising from an entire floor below from OUTSIDE!
Seeing as how Kathy rides a bike perhaps it is all the pollution she is breathing in from the cars driving around the city that is causing her smoker’s cough.
After this, what is next? Is the city going to ban the consumption of alcohol inside your apartment, or chewing gum? Where does it end? The government, whether it be local, state or federal, has no business inside our homes. I would love to sit down with Kathy and Councilman Madison and chat with them about this at any time.
~Posted by Bboy001
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