Truthfulness Not Ideology
Gil Michaels' “How to Celebrate 'No Thanksgiving'” (Nov. 25 Issue of Alameda Sun), demonstrates one thing. If you overly imbibe in daily “news” and commentary, you can lose touch with reality. The effort to vilify Donald Trump and his supporters has gone from an obsession into pagan ritual.
OK, there may be a few wild-eyed libertarians out there who support Donald Trump, but that is the extreme caricature. The reason so many middle American workers have abandoned the Democratic Party is because it's a mess. Trump defended the interests of American workers, promoted energy production, both fossil fuels and nuclear, got Americans back into space, and promoted fair trade policies, among other things. This is not Ayn Rand!
He never promoted Ayn Rand, as far as I know, but he did promote Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln. He even advocated a return to the Glass-Steagall law of Franklin Roosevelt! Where was your commentary on that Mr. Michaels? The truth is a bit more complex than Mr. Michaels and his true believers want to see. A bit more truthfulness and generosity, and less ideology would be helpful for all.
-Hunter Cobb, ACRP Attendee - Published in Alameda Sun, 11/29/2021
Protect the vulnerable
A 95-year-old woman was robbed on Thanksgiving Day while walking near the ocean in Berkeley. Crime prevention always was a bipartisan issue and justifiably so. However, lately criminals are being coddled, and many people are now afraid.
Many of the affected small-business owners are people of color, losing the business they built up with their life savings.
I had my purse snatched three times while living in Los Angeles. I am blind and am not able to recognize anyone. I was afraid to go out by myself for weeks. Laws should be enacted to make it harder on criminals to go after the most vulnerable.
Marianne Haas, Berkeley, CC Member - Published in San Francisco Chronicle eEdition 12/2/2021
Ethnic Studies Curriculum
Xaviaer DuRousseau reported at the October Meeting that he had talked one-to-one with several school board members. He also researched the California Department of Education web site to create a 3-page comparative chart. Candidates and conservative activists need this chart to know useful talking points and concerns about each point. Here is the link to download his excellent document. - Harry Briley, CC Member, AD16
Unsettled (Climate Science)
Get out the full-body armor; those face masks won’t do at all. The three-part article in the Alameda Sun from George Humphreys (“Analyzing the Draft EIR for the City’s General Plan 2040,” Sept. 17, 24, and Oct. 7) is just an appetizer for what we’re about to be hit with as the United Nations Climate Change Conference gets underway on Halloween in Glasgow, Scotland.
Before you start to freak out about all the forecasts of doom coming out of those quarters, kick back and enjoy a little science. I definitely recommend the recent book by Steven Koonin, Unsettled. He’s a highly respected physicist who served as a top scientist in the Obama administration. His politics leans toward the Democratic side; he’s not some right-wing fanatic.
No to Ethnic Studies rule
Regarding “Ethnic studies required for diploma” (Bay Area, Oct. 10): This is really not a good requirement in my opinion. Students should learn about contributions and oppression of different minority groups within history and social studies. This applies to all minorities.
However, if we have to have an extra subject, let us include the contribution and oppression of one seldom referred to minority groups: people with disabilities. Look at the contributions and influence people with disabilities have had on music. Many American blues singers were blind. Beethoven was deaf in the last few years of his life. So, we should be learning about contributions of people with disabilities, and not just Helen Keller.
Marianne Haas, Berkeley - Central Committee Member - Letter to Editor posted 10/13 in San Francisco Chronicle e-Edition