Letters to the Editor

Costly free speech?

EDITOR: Letter writer Michael Flanagan of Santa Rosa is to be commended for his thoughtful rebuttal Friday to your editorial concerning the "Bong hits 4 Jesus" kid. As he points out, many Americans have died to defend our right to free speech; clearly, they have thereby demonstrated the responsibility to exercise that right, although their deaths do present some logistical difficulties.

But those were adults. Those under the age of 18 have not made such a sacrifice and should not be trusted to speak their minds without the approval of their elders.

As everyone knows, with the arrival of one's 18th birthday comes a sudden metamorphosis into a being of maturity and wisdom -- one who knows, without being told, what is "appropriate to say." Flanagan, who was lucky enough to have been guided down "the proper path" knows that appropriate speech is limited to that which offends no one.

Surely, that is what our brave soldiers have fought and died for.

YOSHA BOURGEA

Sebastopol

EDITOR: In your article "River Rock 'knockout'" (Friday), Karen Passalacqua is quoted with a statement that left me slack-jawed with incredulity. She says of the proposed new complex at River Rock, "It's going to be devastating to the lifestyle of the people who live here."

I can only surmise that in her mind, the arrival of the white man and what he did to the native cultures throughout America was not devastating to the locals at all. The casino phenomenon can be viewed in many ways, not least of which is that of the Native Americans finally getting their due, after centuries of oppression, poverty and alcoholism. I say, if that costs someone their idyllic wine-farming lifestyle, more power to 'em.

SEAN KIRKPATRICK

Boyes Hot Springs

EDITOR: Your editorial of June 28 concerning the Gualala fireworks show missed the point entirely. In wildlife protection, as in real estate, location is everything.

The Gualala Fireworks Committee proposed to launch its fireworks from a public access easement out over the Gualala River Estuary, an environmentally sensitive wildlife habitat area. Five species of sea and shore birds are nesting in numbers in this area, some of them in serious decline.

The other fireworks venues cited in your editorial have been checked for potential damage to sea bird colonies. Fort Bragg, for example, launches over the Noyo River mouth, a heavily traveled harbor exit with few sea bird nest sites.

It seems very simple to move the launch point to the Gualala docks and the launch direction to the north, so as to minimize the effects on the nesting birds. Better yet would be to hold the fireworks display later in the season after the young birds have fledged -- on Labor Day, for example.

It seems to us that human activities can be held responsibly, and that we and our fellow species can live in harmony, with only a little thoughtful planning.

WARREN F. WADE

President, Mendocino Coast Audubon Society

EDITOR: As a former resident of South Lake Tahoe and friend of families who lost their homes in the recent Angora fire, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the North Bay firefighters who were part of the great team that succeeded in getting the fire under control.

Just knowing you are the same men and women who guard our homes and land locally brings me tremendous comfort. Surely, it is one of the most selfless careers one could choose.

Thank you for all you do.

LORI DE SENA

Santa Rosa

EDITOR: Good for Colin Goulding for his article in "Teen Life," and good for The Press Democrat for publishing criticism of the comment that boys should "try harder."

Someone nominated Colin because he was worth it. Years ago my daughters were nominated but did not get the Youth Service Award. That doesn't mean they and Colin are "non-winning." One daughter naively listed only things directly related to her category, though she'd done much more. Winners listed everything they ever did, even if it only took one afternoon. Some teens are better at selling themselves in an interview, while others are shy and modest. My other teen felt uneasy talking about her efforts in the interview.

Every teen nominated deserves the award, as these are the cream of our county. The PD should have clear written instructions to list everything done even if not directly related to the category.

Panels should ask exactly how much time was spent on each service listed and realize that a shy teen may have actually done as much or more than the confident one. For this award, a panel decided that a one-time fund-raiser made the bigger impact than Colin's four-year commitment.

By contrast, colleges look for long-term interests rather than single events. Congratulations to all who were nominated. You will go on to do great things.

ROSEMARY BERGIN

Santa Rosa

EDITOR: Charles R. Harrell of Santa Rosa claims, in his letter published on Friday, that the only reason we're in Iraq is "control of Middle East oil and a continued flow of vast sums of money to the defense industry." Putting aside Harrell's claim about the defense industry, let's look at the oil issue.

The Department of Energy's Web site will tell you that nearly 30 percent of the world's oil comes from the Persian Gulf. Petroleum has become one of the mainstays of our modern economy, in everything from fuel and energy production, to plastics, polymers, medicines and animal feeds.

Just imagine what would happen to our economy if that 30 percent of supply were suddenly endangered by terrorists. Remember how many people were outraged when gas hit $3.50 a gallon? What if it went to $8 a gallon?

I challenge the "No blood for oil" believers to walk the walk: Live a week with an oil-free lifestyle. I can't wait for the results.

JOE GAFFNEY

Rohnert Park

EDITOR: In a Sunday editorial, The Press Democrat stated that we are stuck with two more years of the status quo concerning immigration. If the borders are closed and the 700 miles of fence Congress voted for is built, we would then be in a position to deal with those already here illegally, and we will no longer be stuck in this limbo state.

The public is well aware that the last time we had a bill before Congress regarding the illegal immigration situation we were promised that the border would be closed along with the amnesty for those that were already here. The borders were not closed, and the amnesty created a flood of illegals now here.

The majority of Americans want the border closed first this time.

Very few miles of fence has been completed in the past year, and the dragging of our government's feet on this gives us the unsatisfactory feeling that it is more of the same promises without any true plans to ever complete this necessary barrier on our southern border. The seriously flawed bill that was voted down last week was so convoluted and filled with special interest agendas, etc. that it really was inoperable, and the costs to implement it were in the billions.

Build the fence, control the flow of undocumented immigrants and then we will deal with those already here.

CAROL STOUT

Santa Rosa