Letters
Thursday, July 22, 2004
A Liberal Defense
Joe Vargo defines a liberal as “Someone who will not fight back when attacked” [Letters, July 15-21]. Funny—I couldn’t find any such definition of “liberal” in the dictionary. A person who will not fight back when attacked is called a “pacifist,” regardless of where he or she stands along the political spectrum. (The Amish are pacifists; would Mr. Vargo describe them as “liberal”?)
One could just as accurately define a conservative as “a religious zealot who will shoot at anything that moves.” Stereotypes—don’t you just love ‘em?
Penelope Ellsworth | Salinas
Is Local Rock Scene Dead?
After witnessing the meager turnout this past weekend at the Rock & Art Festival [“Rock Community All-Stars,” July 15-21], it seems to me that rock ‘n’ roll is dead on the Monterey Peninsula.
Kudos to the promoters, volunteers, sponsors and musicians who, for the eighth year, made a fine attempt to provide a rock music celebration geared to the under-30 crowd in our area. But the high ticket price—and lack of vendors contributed to the low turnout and the less-than-exciting atmosphere. One bright spot was some very good local artists showed their work.
It seemed that the most fun was had by those who stayed until the end. Gary Moon and his All Star Band put on a good show, but to a slowly dwindling crowd.
When an event like this slips through the cracks, then the memory of Monterey Pop really is just a whisper in some aging hippie’s ear.
H. Morrigan | Carmel
The Old ‘Ancient Water Rights’ Idea
Monterey’s pueblo water rights are looking better by the day. Now we’re threatened with a building moratorium and possibly water rationing. While the city council wrings its hands about the Peninsula’s water problem, the city’s water rights continue to lay dormant by a 3-2 vote of the city council in 2001.
A claim of 4,400 acre feet will go a long way toward curing the water shortage. It will also legalize some of the overdraft from the Carmel River while simultaneously dropping the need for a large desal plant. That would allow the water district to plan for a smaller desal plant at Sand City.
Cal-Am claims that we have exceeded the budgeted amount of water so far this year. The company was granted permission to increase rates a month ago.
Ironically, this will affect Monterey’s construction plans for the hotel on the beach, the large development on Cannery Row and the new City Hall. A building moratorium is a good solution.
Lou Haddad | Monterey
They’re Hypocritical On Critters
The grief from police over the death of Canine Officer Klief stands in sharp contrast to the fact that police have used dogs to test their tasers for safety.
According to The Nation, Rob Corddry of The Daily Show exposes our administration’s hypocrisy saying, “Remember, it’s not important that we did torture these people. What’s important is that we are not the kind of people who would torture these people.”
According to the book Take Them at Their Words, by Bruce J. Miller and Diana Maio, Ann Coulter said “God said, ‘Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It’s yours,” and Mel Gibson said about critic, Frank Rich, “I want to kill him. I want his intestines on a stick.”
I think they both claim to be Christian, and I thought that one of its basic principles was “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Kelita Smith | Carmel Valley
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