Dear Editor, What an unfortunate attempt by Opinion page
columnist Lisa Pampuch in the Oct. 30 edition of The Times to
excuse away the actions of an 18-year-old young man at Live Oak
High School.
Dear Editor,
What an unfortunate attempt by Opinion page columnist Lisa Pampuch in the Oct. 30 edition of The Times to excuse away the actions of an 18-year-old young man at Live Oak High School.
What is she thinking? Was she there? What is her idea of a lob? A toss? A throw? Clearly she does not comprehend, in her compassionate diatribe, that people like her are a part of the problem with society today.
She does not understand much as it pertains to the incident between young Mr. Smith and Deputy Ron Breuss. She doesn’t know the law. She doesn’t know what attitude Smith gave (but if he’s like his father, he has no respect for law enforcement).
Let’s face the truth, Smith created the problem – put the blame where it belongs. Deputy Breuss did not ‘waste’ anyone’s money, Smith did. I do not understand how that little detail could have missed. No one told Smith to be a disrespectful smart-aleck.
I do not understand the fact that ‘oops, it was just a joke’ mentalities don’t cut it could be missed. Sadly, there have been too many fatalities caused by pranksters (i.e. road rage, insult a gang member).
Also I do not understand how it was missed that Smith is 18, an adult. He may have just missed an opportunity to learn about self-control and the seriousness of the consequences.
Just maybe young Smith seemed to think his cute little disrespect of others was a joke. Just maybe it took a ride in a patrol car to impress on him that certain impulsive moves are beyond the limits of jest. Smith is an adult.
He is old enough to vote. I do not understand where the instructors and staff of Live Oak were that day. Why didn’t they step in and deal with Smith? If they had, I’m sure Mr. Breuss would have returned to the business at hand and let the administration cope with Mr. Smith.
There is a policy of non-tolerance of violence in the schools, and since when has respect for others and the wasting of the time of our county law-enforcement officers gone by the wayside?
Common sense dictates that we should be teaching our children about action and reaction, taking responsibility for one’s own actions, and the consequences of violating the law. Using the columnist’s logic, do we ignore the theft of small or less expensive items from a merchant?
How about not ticketing a speeder driving 35mph in a 25mph school zone (10 mph over the speed limit) and only going after the bigger criminals traveling 80mph on the freeway (15 mph over the limit)? Obviously, safety is the concern, just like it is in Mr. Smith’s case. Fortunately, Deputy Breuss, in his role that day as the Grim Reaper, did not turn and get an object in his face, or move and risk injury to another student.
It is a disgrace that parents and school officials spend so much time and taxpayer money tolerating the constant horseplay and disrespect by kids today. Get back to basics. Educate these children. Prepare them for life. Reading, writing, arithmetic, decency, respect for self and others is what is lacking in students today.
And, speaking of wasting taxpayer money, why not teach more home economics and less of sex in the city? The schools are turning out more and more uneducated, street-savvy young people who are not prepared to be responsible adults and citizens.
My husband and brother are both law enforcement officers. I don’t know from one day to the next if it may be the last time I see them. Their lives are the ones on the line when someone decides to break the law; they are dedicated to serving and protecting others from irresponsible actions like the throwing of anything at anyone.
Our jails would not be overflowing now if criminals were stopped early, like the first time they were involved in a minor incident.
At least plant a seed in their memory that is unpleasant enough to remember for a long time! All too frequently, minor offenses escalate into major events. However, taxpayer dollars are well spent if it prevents one person from going astray.
It is the responsibility of the parent, the obligation of teachers and the commitment of fine people like Ron Breuss to teach our youngsters the difference between right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Frankly, I find it disgusting that any responsible adult would be “very pleased” that any school official would look the other way when, yes a crime, has been committed. If our law enforcement officials received support instead of criticism by those either uneducated or voluntarily ignorant of the law, perhaps we would not be having so many the problems with our youth and young adults today.
In closing, if educators and parents would take responsibility for teaching and guiding our youth with a “modicum of moderation” a “dose of common sense” and decency, we wouldn’t be hearing the foul and obscene language that permeates our society; maybe the movie “To Sir, with love” should be required viewing for school district employees, and media types should keep to the facts and not use their occupation as a soap box for spewing forth their sometimes not-so-educated opinions on the readership (quite a leap from Deputy Breuss to Vice-president Dick Cheney)
Heide Unger, Gilroy
