Editorial had ‘merit’ but there are a few questions about the use of descriptive verbiage
Dear Editor,
I enjoyed reading the “OUR VIEW“ speak UP” in the Oct. 26 edition.
Our opinion is a right we all have and with hopes that newspapers will print disregarding which side of the event we may reside. As a whole I think the article has merit, but I differ in some of the verbiage.
My question would be what is the writers definition of a “backwater area red neck”? Are they recognized as Klu Klux Klan supporters as stated? Are they people who “just don’t get it’ because their views are different than that of the writer?
Is the writer insinuating they are a group of people that are some how defined as stupid, uneducated, misinformed because of their heritage, lineage, where they may live geographically or their speaking dialect. If we do, are we not as prejudiced and dogmatic as we are accusing them?
Robert Jones, Morgan Hill
Community Solutions: Prop 35 does more harm than good for victims of human trafficking
Dear Editor,
Community Solutions strongly recommends a NO vote on Proposition 35. Though written with good intentions, Proposition 35 is not the right response to combating slavery.
Proposition 35 claims that a drastic increase in prison sentencing standards will prevent the incidence of trafficking. However, research shows the more effective crime prevention strategy is Risk of Capture, which is possible through targeted education of law enforcement personnel and prosecutors. Proposition 35 only requires two hours of training for law enforcement.
The authors of Proposition 35 chose to create lower sentencing standards for those convicted of labor-related human trafficking. Under current federal and California definitions of trafficking, all individuals who are enslaved – whether for labor or sexual purposes – are acknowledged as victims of slavery. A binary approach to victimization diminishes the suffering of many.
This fall, California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, will release a report based on a statewide Human Trafficking Work Group to examine California’s current and future level of response to human trafficking. This report involved more than 100 individuals with extensive expertise in anti-human trafficking work, including victim-services providers, law enforcement and advocates. These are individuals who regularly work with survivors of human trafficking.
In fact, one of the members was Perla Flores, Community Solutions’ Solutions to Violence Director and Chair of the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking. The report and its recommendations will provide a much better path to addressing modern day slavery. For these reasons, Community Solutions strongly recommends a NO vote on Proposition 35.
Erin O’Brien, President, Community Solutions
Story on anti-Obama display will only ‘add fuel to fanatic’s fire’ to ‘incite racial division’
Dear Editor,
Doing a story on a fanatic is one thing, but giving him front-page press is another. The write-up about Blake Lebeck and his anti-Obama display will only add fuel to his fire. Furthermore, you gave his location. It was bad enough that his neighbors saw this offensive display, but you arranged it so that people from miles around could see it.
Did you consider the possibility that this could inflame some unbalanced individual or group to harass or do physical harm to him or his family? That is irresponsible journalism in my opinion.
This man is clearly a bigot based on his use of racial symbolism, specifically, the watermelon. The noose is clearly and endorsement for a lynching, reminiscent of the Klan. I support his right to express his political opinion, but I think he is trying to incite racial division. He should move to the Deep South where far too many people still hold his beliefs.
Making a verbal threat could land him in prison. It’s too bad he can get away with a symbolic threat like this and be rewarded with so much publicity.
Gary Boyer, Morgan Hill
Thanks for speaking out against Muslim extremists – more condemnation needed
Dear Editor,
Thank you Karen Musa for speaking out against the bad behavior of extremists in your faith.
People like myself often tend to lump all Muslims in one group. I commend you for speaking out and encourage others to speak out as well. If more people like yourself speak out against such atrocities the image of the Muslim faith will improve. At this time your voices are whispers in the wind.
Keith C. De Filippis, San Jose
‘Anti-Obama outrage’ letter writer demonstrates biggest problem in American politics
Dear Editor,
The biggest problem with today’s politics is hypocrisy. It is demonstrated at all levels and everywhere.
In last week’s Morgan Hill Times Carol Jones demonstrates her hypocrisy, in her letter titled “Outraged by anti-Obama display”, happy to outline the president’s accomplishments. She mixes the purpose of her letter in a manner that paints a display in words. She refers to the display as Nazi-like, racist, and warped. She connects her letter to Mitt Romney using a “talking point” summary. Then she refers to his religion and an unverified anecdote about threats and a final flurry referring to closing of plants, China, and the Koch brothers. She then asks “What does that tell you?” Finally, she makes her own threat of the 99% against the 1%.
So she uses literary art to do the same thing Mr. Lebeck did in visual art. Both demonstrate their free speech. However, if she is allowed outrage, then she deserves the same.
What is most outrageous is her shallow thinking about health care, women’s issues, jobs education, foreign policy, and energy. She needs to keep in mind what dire circumstances we are in.
The health care bill is much more than just a few issues she mentioned. The bill was 2,700 pages that our representatives did not read. So, even though she can list things that are important to her, there are many other things that impact others in a negative way. We are all paying higher insurance costs and there are impacts on our medical care that will cost everyone.
Our rights are reflected in many ways. Individual rights are being violated in many ways. Three million more women are in poverty since Obama’s term began. That should be an important women’s issue.
The economy is burdened by debt. Jobs have not come back. The bailouts by the government will never be paid back. The bail outs helped some Americans to the detriment of others and bailouts were more likely to help the 1% than anything else. Ford did not take a bailout because they did not want the strings. So when people say that Obama saved the auto industry, it is just not true.
With the bailouts comes huge corruption, winners and losers, and a waste of our tax money. Again, that corruption did not help the 99%. It helped bankers, financiers, and the powerful. China apparently will benefit by plants opening and jobs moving.
A college education has become more expensive. This has been fueled by more interference by the federal government. Colleges have taken advantage of that pool of money by raising prices. That has allowed more salaries and waste from professors to presidents. That has not made college more accessible.
As for energy, the current administration has done nothing productive to ensure that there is adequate energy for this country.
Last I checked George Bush and Bill Clinton are not on the ballot. Obama wants the voter to think so because if you objectively look at his record he has not delivered. Voters must hold him accountable and demand that we return to our founding documents, uphold the rights of the individuals, a strong judicial system that supports the rule of law, free speech and free markets. Romney has committed to these.
Mike Brusa, Morgan Hill
