home | north bay bohemian index | news | north bay | letters to the editor
From our constant reader
A cool and refreshing opinion piece from P. Joseph Potocki ("Playing the Hand Dealt," Open Mic, June 11). Democrats, play the hand you've been dealt! Obama wasn't my first choice, either. John Edwards seemed the better change agent (and a Southerner, to boot). But it won't be the first time I've resolved to be hopeful about a politician who gave me doubts. As Potocki implies, look at the alternative. The country, the world, doesn't have the leisure to sulk for another four years.
Another kind of cold came over me from Amanda Yskamp's article on home-schooling ("Class Struggle," June 11). What if all mothers followed Dawn Martin and maintained that they'd teach their children as God decreed? The answer to inadequate public schools is not pulling kids out of them but getting parents involved in them.
Don Mcqueen
Santa Rosa
Equal opp offense
Let's face it, Santa Rosa is an urban planning disaster. Given this grim state of affairs, I offer a few modest urban planning proposals for Santa Rosa:
The first two steps will open up a lot of space in the middle of town. But what do we put in all this newly opened space? Two suggestions:
Finally, build the SMART train line, but after the downtown Petaluma station, have it go down the east side of the Petaluma River and end with a passenger ferry terminal at the Port Sonoma Marina.
Yes, I know. My proposals are absurd. Not quite as absurd as the current situation, but absurd nonetheless. And, yes, my proposals would be quite expensive, but they would not cost as much as you might think. After all, any Marin County resident who boarded a SMART train could be charged 100 times the normal fare.
Anonymous
Santa Rosa
Won't even sign his or her name!
Counseling counselors
Being a Christian in the diversity of a postmodern world can sometimes feel like goosestepping naked through cold streets--a bit humiliating. But what the hey, I'm new to this thing and really didn't become a Christian caring what anybody thought of me personally. However, I do care about my church and everything the sweet love of Jesus represents. So let me apologize for redemptive torture, vacuous televangelists, bombed abortion clinics and, yes, pedophilic priests.
Reading Tom Mariani's "Spiritual Stains" (Open Mic, June 4), and giving silent kudos to Martin Luther and the printing press, I felt a welling, undeniable empathy. Where does a respected spiritual leader go when he feels the inklings of the impure? In light of the reverence that some still hold for their religious counsel, does a priest dare prostrate himself and confess his faults to those who may lose faith? I would sincerely hope so. This is the tragic demise of Father Rogers and many before him, inside as well as outside the ornate veil of the Catholic juggernaut. Counselors need counseling, too.
Trevor Moore
Santa Rosa
Dept. of Corrections
The Buckshot Boys would like you to know that there are other members to their band than just drummer Skyler Coleman ("Youngabilly," Critic's Choice, June 18), who evidently received more than his fair share of attention in our recent small salute to the band. Please meet songwriter/vocalist/rhythm guitarist Cassidy Crowley, bassist Evan Saunders and guitarist Brett Beaudry. For correct dates on their upcoming gigs (you know who you are, evil fairies!), go to www.myspace.com/buckshotboys. And please, don't pay too much attention to Skyler.
The Ed.
missing the beat
Send a letter to the editor about this story.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
