Speak Up, Be Down On Olympics

I noticed that there wasn’t anything on the upcoming Beijing Summer Olympics when I searched your website. I understand that closer to home, we have our own presidential election that we are passionately debating over. Yet, I feel that your publication should at least bring up the issue and address the possibility of a boycott, either for or against, the summer Olympics.

In the past, your publication has addressed issues on human rights, or the violation of them. So why are we not speaking up and letting China get away with thumbing its nose at the rest of the world for the longest time? We, as a country, and the rest of the world in general, have no real leverage toward influencing what China will do toward better humane treatments, or their domestic or foreign policies. But for this one chance, let’s show China that we are not at all happy and that, despite what they would like us to think of the bright and shiny “new” face they put on for the Summer Olympics, that we can still see through it.

After the Olympics, it will be back to business as usual for China, people still will disappear without reasons, the Internet censored, dissidents hunted down and the yuan will still not be adjusted to the rest of the world’s financial rates. This is the only time we can thumb our nose back at China and decline their invitation to participate.

Let us start a grassroots campaign and boycott the upcoming Olympics, as we did to Russia over human-rights violations years ago. – Bob W. | Marina

Meat Not Tough To Beat

The past three months have brought us bad news about rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and global warming – all linked to consumption of meat and dairy products. This was topped by last month’s announcement that USDA was recalling 143 million pounds of beef from potentially sick animals.

This week brings good news about the advent of spring (March 20), sunshine, flowers and the Great American Meatout (meatout.org). Fashioned after The Great American Smokeout, Meatout provides a superb excuse to turn over a new leaf, kick the meat habit, and get a fresh start with a wholesome, nonviolent diet of vegetables, fruits, and grains. – Clarence Wells | Monterey

Correction

Maybe we still were full from the huge sandwiches or still swooning over the luscious cheesecake, but we got our vowels confused and wrote an “a” where the first “o” should be. In any case, the Weekly readers’ pick for Best Deli Sandwich is Compagno’s on Prescott Avenue in New Monterey.