Columnists

During the Fourth of July parade in downtown Morgan Hill, as veterans, active duty personnel, and reservists marched, I was moved to see spectators along the route get up from their lawn chairs, the street curb and blankets to stand and honor them for their service and sacrifices. We owe a lot to our fighting men and women in the armed forces and their families. But beyond standing in respect during a parade, or adhering a bumper sticker to our car, or pinning a ribbon to our lapel, are we as a country doing enough in response to the soldiers' health care needs and to ease their transition back to civilian life?

If you want to get my dander up, one surefire method is to suggest that a public policy issue shouldn't even be discussed.

"Logic is the missing piece of the American educational system, the subject that informs every other subject."

"Hypocrisy – Insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have"

The inability of Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill has left us with the status quo - a broken immigration system that fails to address the driving force behind migration – jobs, jobs that are vacant because no one wants to do the work or jobs that are filled by workers that don't have proper documentation.

I was saddened to read that Planning Commissioner Joan Spencer dropped out of the race for Gilroy City Council.

Last week I had my first experiences behind a wheelchair. My mother had foot surgery and needed a wheelchair to maneuver around her apartment and to and from my car for post-op appointments.

Merit's stock is the rise.

"I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival ... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other."