’Shocked’ after hearing the July 4th street dance is moving away from downtown
Dear Editor,
My husband and I were shocked and disappointed when we heard the July 4th Street Dance was being moved.
This event has long been our favorite event in Morgan Hill. It’s a great way to celebrate our beautiful downtown and moving it to the Community Center will completely change the feel of the festival and will do an injustice to our local businesses that we should be supporting.
Please bring it back to Monterey Road where it belongs!!
Beth Adames, Morgan Hill
Way to go Morgan Hill … moving the street dance a clear message to downtown
Dear Editor,
Way to go Morgan Hill … How many times now have you told the businesses downtown to go to hell.
Moving this downtown celebration is yet another way to say that, and the Morgan Hill government displaying its lack of common sense and civic pride isn’t helping its reputation!
Wouldn’t it be so much better to have downtown businesses thanking you for your SUPPORT!
Paul Nellis, Morgan Hill
Countless heroic pit bulls, and clearly and uneducated comment on the breed
Dear Editor,
I’d like to comment on the OUR VIEW – JEERS published in the June 22 Morgan Hill Times in relation to the story on the two pit bulls that attacked a horse.
As an owner of horses and two pit bulls, and an animal lover in general, I was sad to read about the injuries to the horse and even sadder to hear the poor animal had to be put down. However, I totally disagree with the statement made in OUR VIEW that the pit bull breed is dangerous and needs to be regulated. I was disappointed and surprised to see such a prejudiced statement in print.
There is no proof that any breed of dog is dangerous. There are irresponsible owners, bad breeders and inbreeding issues in many dog breeds. To single out one canine breed is similar to singling out one race. Every dog is different, just as every person is different.
I adopted two pit bulls from the local shelter: “Mack” and “Shyla” are both sweet and affectionate; even though it’s obvious Shyla was mistreated by her previous owner. I take Mack with me everywhere as an ambassador for the breed. He’s also a certified therapy dog.
To help educate the editor of OUR VIEW, I’d like to provide the following information: pit bull breeds have become famous for their roles as soldiers, police dogs, search and rescue dogs and therapy dogs. Notable bullies include President Theodore Roosevelt’s dog “Pete”, “Jack Brutus” who served for Company K in the Civil War, and Sgt. Stubby, one of the most well-known hero pit bulls of WWI and the first decorated canine war hero. He was even awarded a Purple Heart after being injured by shrapnel.
Recent significant pit bulls are “Weela” winner of the 1993 Dog Hero of the year award for saving 30 people, 29dogs, 13 horses and a cat, “Popsicle”, a 5-month-old puppy originally found nearly dead in a freezer, who grew to become one of the nation’s most important police dogs, “Norton”, placed in the Purina Animal Hall of Fame after he rescued his owner from a severe reaction to a spider bite, “D-Boy”, who took three bullets to save his family from an intruder with a gun, “Diamond”, “Buddy”, “Chief”, “Bonnie”, all heroes … and list goes on and on.
Breed profiling and breed-specific statements are a sign of ignorance and misunderstanding. The Times should not help spread paranoia. One of my favorite quotes sums up the plight of pit bulls. “We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them”.
There are countless stories about pit bulls being heroes for their guardians, other animals or even strangers. There’s no doubt about it: Our best friends are also true American heroes.
Deb Blanchard, San Martin
Sexual abuse of children rampant and the emotional scars left last a long time
Dear Editor,
The trial of former Ohio State football coach Jerry Sandusky should be an eye opener and red flag to the community.
Child sex abuse is rampant, and research suggests that one in six males is sexually abused. Behaviors as a result of childhood sexual trauma can be very severe and dysfunctional.
As adults, survivors often suffer from feelings such as depression, anxiety, confusion, guilt and shame. Most survivors live in fear and shame, to the point of suicide. I myself, know these feelings all to well. I was abused as a child by a neighbor whom I trusted. I know what it’s like to feel the shame, guilt and despair that comes with being abused as a child. Please use the coverage of this trial to remember that there is a silent epidemic of young boys being abused. Use it to be aware of your own children’s behavior. Help in the fight to end childhood sexual abuse.
One day, we will no longer suffer in silence. I hope that the Sandusky trial is the beginning of a paradigm shift in the way perpetrators will be held accountable. Please, if anything, just be aware that there are many many survivors amongst us, who should not have to suffer any longer.
Victim’s name withheld by request
Addition of food trucks and new street dance venue a slap to local businesses
Dear Editor,
I’d I would like to comment on the change of venue for the July 4th Street Dance and the associated comments made in the Morgan Hill Times. The comment that instigated this response is: “Cheers for the great addition to one of our community’s best events of the year. Food trucks are coming to the Freedom Fest”. Sounds great doesn’t it?
Well, I look it at from a different point of view. I think it’s pretty simple really. Do we as Morgan Hillians value and celebrate our local businesses? The very local businesses which support our community all year long, the businesses that give us gift certificates, donations and club sponsors. The businesses that collect and pay sales tax, the businesses that pay property taxes all year long. In short, the businesses that support our community.
When the July 4th Street Dance was moved from Monterey Street to the community center I was disheartened as I know that many of the shops and stores on Monterey need the “shot in the arm” this huge event provides every year just before we swing into that long slow period know as “vacation season” in Morgan Hill. But to have the Morgan Hill Times rejoice in the fact that out of town businesses, who aren’t a part of community, are hailed by the very newspaper that is struggling to survive because everybody is now getting their news from an outside source is, to me, akin to “Fiddling while Rome” burns. Sorry to say, Jeers to your Cheers Morgan Hill Times!
Brad Jones, President, BookSmart
