‘PEACE MOM’ DESERVES THANKS

Cindy Sheehan is the person who has, so far, been most successful in getting the message of the anti-war movement into the mainstream press and bringing awareness of the anti-war movement to middle America. However, it seems she has committed a fatal error—daring to be to the left of the editorial staff of the Monterey County Weekly.

As Eric Johnson points out in his Local Spin column [“Fighting Words,” March 22-28] it was predictable that Cindy would be vilified by right-wing pundits, but I did not realize how successful they were until I saw the Weekly echoing the pundits’ words in an attempt to marginalize her.

If there is controversy surrounding Cindy I would suggest that the Weekly would better serve their readers by encouraging them to hear Cindy and judge for themselves. Personally I intend to be at CSUMB to give my eternal thanks to Cindy for speaking her truth and bringing an anti-war message to millions of Americans even when it means being put down by the very people who should be supporting her. —Susan Hubbard | Salinas

MOVIES ARE NOT HISTORY

I would first like to say that at one point, around a year ago, I actually enjoyed reading your publication. But recently your liberal bias has become truly absurd. Propaganda this, misinformation that, do you really think anything that comes out in mainstream media really has some hidden message about going to war or obeying what the government says?

Take your most recent issue with the commentary by Mr. Johnson, your main editor, talking about the movie 300. This movie is based on a graphic novel glorifying a battle between Spartans and a Persian army. Now, Mr. Johnson believes this movie is a cry to arms for us to support going to war with Iran. Well since we would be invading Iran with our huge army, wouldn’t that make us the Persians and them the Spartans? On top of that, of course the Persian army is going to be dark-skinned, have you ever seen a light-skinned Persian? All the countries they took over and made slaves were of a darker complexion because they were mostly from the Middle East and Africa.

It’s a movie based of a comic book, not to mention Zack Snyder’s movie before this was Dawn of the Dead. Why would he have any reason to promote government propaganda? The Spartans talk about reason and freedom because Sparta was a state of Greece, the fathers of Democracy. And considering Persia even conquered parts of Africa it’s not surprising that they would have a black messenger.

It’s a movie, it’s fictional and fun to watch people fight in slow motion and walk around with ripped abs. As someone who’s written for papers and is now a film major I realize that, why can’t you? The movie is a story for entertainment, it’s not factual, and it’s not being aired on the History Channel. —Christopher Christensen | Monterey

BROADEN BROADCAST BESTS

It is a shame that you have multiple categories for various “bests,” such as restaurants and nice spots, but only one for radio. The best radio station which was chosen was an FM station, of which there are, admittedly, many good ones. Would it be possible next time to include a category for best AM stations, maybe for both talk and music, as Monterey has two excellent stations in those categories, KRXA in Sand City and KRML in Carmel? Otherwise, great choices, though I think Erin and Kate at KSBW are also great anchors, as is Hunter at 46. —Steve Brady | Watsonville

GET TO WORK, CHIEF

I would really like to encourage the residents of PG, Carmel, and Monterey to educate themselves about the chief’s calls situation. Are you aware that when Monterey Chief comes to PG and Carmel, that you have to call an off-duty chief to cover Monterey, and if you don’t have one, you will ask your neighbor city if they have one available?

Now you have Monterey covering PG and Carmel, Monterey paying an off-duty chief to cover Monterey so that the “burned out” PG chiefs don’t have to take their own calls. Most of us need two jobs to support our families, but how many of us can say that we are “burned out” and we want less work for the same amount of money.

I feel that this is causing a lot of chaos within the system. Is this really the economical route that we want to take? I’m all for the Peninsula merging, but this is not about a possible future merge. This is about relieving two chiefs from part of their duty, and creating more work for everybody else. —Al Borges | Pacific Grove