Disappointed over column
After reading Mr. Bagley’s most recent contribution (Words from
the right, 2/23) I am left wondering what purpose the Pinnacle
thinks this type of writing serves. What motivation would the
Pinnacle have in providing editorial page space to a person whose
credentials for editorializing are that he is the newspaper’s
sports ediotr and a
”
devoted
”
fan of talk radio.
”
At a time when well-reasoned constructive dialogue between those
of differing views is needed more than ever, I am deeply
disappointed that the Pinnacle would instead offer the reader a
person espousing frightening and reactionary views whose only
consequence is to further polarize discussion. Perhaps the Pinnacle
hopes for greater interest in the paper
…but is it responsible journalism to create interest by
offereing a forum to a man whose views shock and scare rather than
inform?
David Reikowski
Paicines
Disappointed over column
After reading Mr. Bagley’s most recent contribution (Words from the right, 2/23) I am left wondering what purpose the Pinnacle thinks this type of writing serves. What motivation would the Pinnacle have in providing editorial page space to a person whose credentials for editorializing are that he is the newspaper’s sports ediotr and a “devoted” fan of talk radio.” At a time when well-reasoned constructive dialogue between those of differing views is needed more than ever, I am deeply disappointed that the Pinnacle would instead offer the reader a person espousing frightening and reactionary views whose only consequence is to further polarize discussion. Perhaps the Pinnacle hopes for greater interest in the paper…but is it responsible journalism to create interest by offereing a forum to a man whose views shock and scare rather than inform?
David Reikowski
Paicines
Bagley badly misses the mark
John Bagley’s column (“Fight War Like You Mean It,” Feb. 23) is downright frightening! I seriously question it as a column on the editorial page as a credible commentary worthy of consideration. As a letter to the editor, it would be ugly enough but would at least represent just one individual’s opinion without the stamp of the paper’s editorial board.
Where do you start with a guy who thinks the only thing wrong with our activities in Iraq is we didn’t drop an atom bomb on them? Mr. Bagley cites 50 years of peace after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Where did he misplace the Korean War, the Vitnam War, the Gulf War and other miscellaneous conflagrations around the world? By using the bomb, he says, “millions more would be dead but millions might live for the future.” Which millions get to stick around and who would want to on a dead planet? If the Weekend Pinnacle is truly serious about presenting differing views and encouraging dialogue on major issues, it will need better informed and more balanced contributors than Mr. Bagley.
Susan Swanson
Paicines
How to ignite a bonfire
Putting aside the option of “nukes,” if and-or when George W. orders the bombing of Iran, it would be like a well-placed boomerang.
Iran can shut down its own oil supply and distribution and also that of Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia by sabotage or missile strikes. Iran can also blockade the Strait of Hormuz shutting down the Persian Gulf ports.
Think gas is high now? Wait until the bombs start dropping on Tehran.
Iran could dream up other self-defense tactics. They could lob a missile or two into Israel. So could Hezbollah. Israel, bristling with nukes, might unload a few on Iran and Lebanon.
How would we like that Mideast bonfire?
Mary Zanger
Hollister
Add Bush to Mt. Rushmore
There seems, to me, to be a Bush bashing party going on in San Benito County and where there once was no calm, levelheaded voice of reason from the right living there, Â I would like to support the insightful one you have found in John Bagley.
         If a few of your liberal, hypocritical “hippies” happen to close their computers and pick up this type of informative media (which I’m sure is printed on recycled paper, as it should be) and care to quit smoking nature’s tobacco long enough, I will gladly indulge them in a brief but factual history lesson.
         On June 6, 1944, Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt sends U.S. troops into France to fight the Germans. Germany never attacked the U.S., Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost. This is an average of 112,500 per year.
         On Monday Aug. 6, 1945, Democratic President Harry Truman orders the death of more than 70,000 Japanese men, women and children when he has an atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima. He then orders U.S. troops into Korea. North Korea never attacked the U.S. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost. This is an average of 18,334 per year.
        The exact date for U.S. troops invading Vietnam is cloudy, due to covert and illegal operations by Democratic President John Kennedy. He is credited with beginning the conflict in 1962 that his Vice President Democrat Lyndon Johnson escalates in 1965. Vietnam never attacks the U.S. and from 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost. This is an average of 5,800 per year.
           During his terms in office and since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, Republican President George W. Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban and crippled Al-Qaida. He has put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured Saddam Hussein, a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.
So, when you say Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, I say, see the above incidents. When you say Osama bin Laden is who attacked us and he is still on the loose, I say, the Sudan government offered to capture him and deliver him to Democratic President Bill Clinton not once, not twice but three times and was refused because he had done nothing to the U.S. When you say President Bush is a lousy president, I say, he belongs on Mt. Rushmore with our other great leaders.
 Ron Silva
Online
Thanks go to others
I am writing in response to your article “Big Time Philanthropy In a Pine Sized Package”, March 2, 2007. I have had several opportunities to work with Avi, on this particular project, no less. She is an amazing and dynamic girl. It has been a privilege and honor getting to know her. However, I think that given the fact that I called on her to help me with this project, you may have overlooked some very important people who also made this particular benefit possible. First I would like to thank Jimmy, the manager at Safeway, and Safeway Stores for contributing the total amount of the shopping spree. I would like also to say a special thank you to Richard, the young soldier who helped us pick out the things he thought our boys and girls in Iraq could most use. (Richard is deploying to Iraq this week.) I would like to acknowledge the UPS Store on McCray who didn’t charge any packaging fees or costs to get the boxes of goodies sent over to the particular unit we were sponsoring. And, while the statement was made in the article that “we weren’t setting out to support the troops”, that is exactly what the purpose of this event was. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my son, Jason Scribner, his unit, and all of our local and national men and women who are fighting for us – wherever they may be.
 Thank you for your consideration.
Tina M. Tully
Hollister
Editor’s note: In the article “Big time philanthropy in a pint-sized package,” Aviana Guaracha is quoted as saying “We didn’t set out looking for troops in Iraq. These things just kind of fall into our lives and we support them,” as she and her sister did not seek out a project to support the troops, but were approached by the group for their help.
