HOPE OR FEAR

This Aug. 17 special election plays on the hopes and fears of local voters. We hope that our voters will elect a candidate who can catalyze positive changes in California. But for many, with change comes fear. Only 32 percent of voters in (state) Senate District 15 voted in the special election primary on June 22. Will we continue to let fear deter us from voting?

My hope is that Monterey County citizens will vote for John Laird in the special election. He will balance California’s seriously damaged budget while saving businesses and creating jobs. A high voter turnout in Monterey County will propel Laird to win.

In one week, you will receive your ballot. Don’t be afraid. Exercise your civic duty to vote. --Sarah Kincaid | Monterey

HATES LANTERN FEST

I recently moved to Pacific Grove, where they annually celebrate “The [Feast] of Lanterns,” commemorating the ostensibly warm relationship with the Chinese of the 1800s. The hallmark is the election of the Festival Queen from the crop of local high school prom queen candidates, and an outdoor play, replete with dragons and stern Mandarins. You will not see a single Chinese person at the festival. The documented local history is that the “Chinatown” section of Pacific Grove was razed and the ethnic Chinese driven out. I watched this event last year in complete amazement and irritation with the vulgarity and ignorant hypocrisy. And now it’s that time of year again, with the Chinese lanterns strung up all over town. But, I guess it helps draw the tourist dollars. --Older, Fairly Well-Off White Guy, Steve Raymond | Pacific Grove

FACEBOOK COMMENTS (“How a misdirected love story speaks to the crisis in the Pacific,” July 8-14)

Meet me on Valentines Day 2012 on top of the Empire State Building. Wear a Cupid costume and watch for me in my red heart covered jacket. Leave the arrows at home. --Dave Clark