That’s Right: It’s Us vs. UN

Recently Monterey County Weekly asked the question “Will the Bush Administration try to scuttle Annan’s plan to rebuild the United Nations?” [“US vs. UN,” April 7]. Perhaps in the future you all will have the courage to ask (and answer) the question “Will the United Nations attempt to destroy the sovereignty, dignity, and prosperity of the USA?” —Gino San Felice | Carmel

Nothing About Elephants (or Pigs)

The two articles on Salinas’ library woes in the April 14 edition of the Weekly [“Reading and Riding” and “Salinas Deserves National Attention”] are just more self-pitying excuses for the mess that the Democrat Party leaders have gotten our state and localities into. Local Salinas socialists, lead by chief donkey Sergio Sanchez, brayed outside the capital for more hay (i.e. money) and tried to kick down the door of the governors office. Too bad the dumb jackasses didn’t know (or forgot) that it was the Democrat-controlled state legislature and former governor Gray Davis who gave away the farm, leaving us all destitute.

The young people and our seniors are facing crises and shortages imposed upon them by the party which claims to be their forever friend, but is nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a fair-weather (election time) coyote. If Anna Caballero, Sanchez, and their know-it-all cronies truly cared about poor families they would stop coddling their political pals, cut taxes to working families, and quit blaming Republicans for the fiscal disaster which they themselves have wrought. —Joe Vierra | Salinas

John Paul’s Folly

The late pope may have been a warm human being [“God’s Complex Servant,” April 7], but that quality does not erase the reality of the disastrous effects of his edicts on humanity. The most consequential of them all is his ban on artificial contraception. Unwanted pregnancies (tragic for all involved) imperil mothers’ health, impoverish families unable to support adequately their large number of children, and dangerously degrade the environment due to population pressure and its attendant demand on the earth’s diminishing resources. These are only a few of the tragic consequences of the pope’s unconscionable ban.

A true culture of life enables quality of life, and the Vatican’s outdated dogmas are incompatible with that culture. —Denyse Frischmuth | Pacific Grove

No Nukes on Capitol Hill

Certain members of the Senate are trying to eliminate the filibuster, used to extend debate in the Senate. The filibuster is a critical part of our democracy and our freedom, especially at a time when many Republicans seek to appoint potentially controversial judges without debate.

The next judge up for appointment in the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals is Janice Rodgers Brown of California. She says she’ll consider eliminating laws guaranteeing a 40-hour work week, a minimum wage, and scores of environmental safeguards.

Certain senators want to use the “nuclear option” to end filibusters and force through Brown and other controversial judges. We must let them know that we wish to preserve the right to extended discussion and debate regarding judge appointments in the Senate. —Kevin Jepson | Seaside