Calls Mission Square design “boring”
Editor: On April 21 I attended a meeting about the new plans for the Mission Project. Although I am not against the project, and I believe an owner should be allowed to develop his property, I have certain reservations about this latest plan.
First of all the architecture is boring. Just another development with absolutely no charm, no little touches, e.g. wall textures shutters, wooden trim and to top it all off metal roofs. As someone else wrote – a cheap motel.
Nowadays the trend is toward the modern, but this development will sit in the historic overlay and adjacent to the Blue Wing Inn,The Hooker House, and Anne Appleman’s wonderful stone shop that was originally a dairy. Don’t you think it might be possible to design a project that would be more compatible with our wonderful old buildings and to make it possible for us to show tourists how a new project such as this can be a bridge between the old and the new and not an eyesore?
Ernestine H. Evans
Sonoma
Americans right to voice their beliefs
Editor: I am writing in response to the letter by Mary Logasa titled “A right to Dissent.” While I disagree with most of her opinions about President Obama and the Tea Party movement, I think we do agree on at least one point: the right of Americans to voice and work for their beliefs without fear of punishments or sanctions by our government.
The fact that Republican leaders are urging their followers to commit violence against members of Congress who don’t support their views is despicable. For example, Sarah Palin, who speaks at Tea Party Rallies, posted the addresses of Democratic offices with crosshairs over them and the instructions “Lock and Reload.” This is wrong and if members of the “left” committed violent acts in the past, I hope we can agree that it is still wrong.
The reasons I disagree with the Tea Party grievances listed by Mrs. Logasa are:
1) The current deficit and economic crisis was created by the Bush administration spending billions of dollars destroying then rebuilding Iraq and giving unneeded tax breaks to very wealthy corporations and individuals. Also, the lack of jobs in this country began with Pres. Reagan’s allowing companies to easily ship their factories overseas, creating sweatshops and undermining the power of our unions. This is really what has led to the long-term indebtedness in America. Investing in a healthy and well-educated population is what will allow us to repay the debt and more. Need I point out that it is the American workers who create the wealth for the private sector?
2) President Obama was fairly elected by a larger of majority of American voters than was President Bush. During the administration of President George W. Bush and earlier, I’ve had wars, financial de-regulation, and other policies shoved down my throat. When thousands of American citizens marched against invading Iraq, Vice President Cheney dismissed them as a “fringe group”. George Bush declared himself the “Decider” – way too much government control for me!
The real fear many now have is that we have a population being manipulated by a party that wants to regain power by any means. Incitement to violence and spreading lies (such as having access to affordable health care will take away our freedom) are the unconstitutional actions in my mind.
Standing up and speaking out against leaders who choose to oppose any proposals from the administration that was elected by a clear majority of voters will be my work through the November election cycle.
Beth Hadley
Sonoma
De-commercializing children
Editor: The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has launched a letter-writing campaign demanding that Nickelodeon stop promoting, and linking directly to Addictinggames.com on Neopets, Nick.com and even Nick Jr. websites for preschoolers.
CCFC director Dr. Susan Linn, a psychologist at the Judge Baker Children’s Center said, “Cartoon characters play a powerful role in the lives of young audiences.” See more about “Nick’s Naughty Games” at: commercialfreechildhood.org.
I sent this to Nickelodeon’s VP:
Hello Steve Youngwood,
Don’t listen to those wussies who say they are protecting children! Go ahead and exploit kids’ natural trust and their love of action. Turn them into little sociopaths. It’s your right to make money off of any opportunity that hasn’t been specifically banned. Once your current profit centers are illegal I recommend that you go in for teaching boys how to abuse and control girlfriends and wives (soldiers in Bosnia and Rwanda know how intimidating rape can be, it’s political science), girls how to pole dance (good exercise!) and pit bulls how to kill (canines – a whole new market!).
Hey, you could eradicate all opposition by giving education foundations 5 percent of your profits, “Kids! Click on this game and support the Girl Scouts!”
In short – Money Rules. You can never have enough of it. And you surely must be a master of the universe, which means you can do whatever you want and your lawyers will find a way to make it okay (I recommend the First Amendment, or try the Fourteenth). Just don’t look in any mirrors, and don’t get sucked into meditating on the meaning of life, that will just corrupt your singleness of purpose.
Lauren Ayers
Sonoma