Letters to the editor | Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021: Bob Dole puts today’s GOP to shame
Remembering Bob Dole, true patriot
When I was 16 years old, I had the privilege to work in the U.S. Senate as a senate page representing Republican S.I. Hayakawa. I worked for four months on the Republican side of the Senate doing menial tasks but mainly observing Bob Dole in action as the majority leader of the Senate. It was with great sadness that I read that Dole died of lung cancer. Along with many other Republicans, he represented party and country with kindness and grace.
Now the Republicans have leaders like Marjorie Taylor Greene who says that the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people was staged and another Republican (Thomas Massie) who takes a Christmas picture with his family all carrying guns asking Santa for ammo.
The Republican Party needs to remember their past leaders like Bob Dole, who was filled with love and service to his country, and stop their message of death and hate.
Joanne Vega, Modesto
Concert goers remove masks
It was a great pleasure to attend the Gallo Arts Center’s traditional Holiday Pops concert after a seemingly endless COVID suspension. The center staff reasonably and dutifully verified the vaccination status of all patrons. Immediately after is where the social contract broke down. A large number of audience members simply removed their masks in a proud scofflaw display of defiance. When I asked several attendees seated next to us to don their masks, I was aggressively, chip-on-the-shoulder responded to with “mind your own business!”
There is a saying that laws are only as good as their enforcement.
Andrew Stone, Modesto
Resist takeover, Turlock Fire
On Dec. 5 I needed the Turlock Fire Department for a non-emergency. They arrived in a timely manner and completed the requested task with kindness, professionalism, and patience. I thank them publicly and voice my concern about (the idea of) Modesto taking over our fire department. I do not see the benefits of this.
Perhaps the City Council could explain why they would give millions of dollars to take over our fire department when we have such a fine one to begin with.
Celeste Ameer, Turlock
Sheriff is fear-mongering
Re “Here’s how to curb smash-and-grab theft” (Page 6A, Dec. 9): It was appropriate to put Sheriff Dirkse’s article in the opinion section since his statement about our community becoming more dangerous and unstable is really just his opinion and fear-mongering. In fact a quick search in the California Department of Justice website OpenJustice.doj.ca.gov shows how 2019 had the lowest occurrence of property crimes and violent crimes in the last 10 years.
NPR in April listed the pros and cons of increasing police officers in a city. Adding 10-17 police officers at an average cost of $1.3 million to $2.2 million saves one life per year. More interaction with police does not always lead to positive outcomes. The best outcome is for police to focus their current manpower on solving serious crimes and less manpower on petty crimes.
The sheriff should look at how he is using the general fund, which if I’m reading it correctly, is $153 million.
David Reyes, Turlock
Harder still faces GOP threat
Re “Harder rakes in money warning against Nunes threat that didn’t materialize” (Page 8A, Dec. 8): Why in the world would Rep. Harder return money that was given when there was a real threat that Devin Nunes would challenge him for his congressional seat? The national GOP has a war chest and they have already indicated that they are targeting Rep. Harder in whatever the new district map looks like. He has been on their hit list since February 2021. The GOP wants Rep. Harder gone and they want to take back the House. Just because the threat didn’t materialize doesn’t mean that there won’t be another one in the near future.
Colleen Norby, Modesto
This isn’t just civil disobedience
Re “Stanislaus freedom supporters aren’t all ‘angry, violent, toxic’” (Page 1C, Nov. 5): I disagree with Charles Byrd. Unmasked protesters mobbing public meetings and threatening officials with violence aren’t peaceful. Flouting mask and distance conventions, they prevent those who don’t want to contribute to super-spreader events from voicing our opinions. The Nov. 14 article illustrates how such protesters subvert democracy by threatening officials. “You will know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7:16. This is not the nonviolent civil disobedience of Thoreau.
I further disagree with Byrd’s characterization of public education, our best preparation for democracy. The purpose of public education is not to “indoctrinate in ideologies,” as Byrd purports, but to educate. History, not CRT, is taught in the public schools. It has been said that since little Ruby Bridges had the courage to integrate her first-grade classroom, parents should have the courage to let their children hear her story. Parents in Modesto have protested A.P./I.B. text selections. They may opt out for another book, but they should not have the right to prevent other youth from reading and studying these exemplary works of literature. The Jan. 6 insurrection demonstrated the results of violent “protest.” Let it end there.
Marianne Villalobos, Modesto
Columns should reflect diversity
The Modesto Bee editorial board needs to exercise an equity and inclusivity lens before sending editions to print. Most authors of every issue are men; the front page of the Sunday “Issues and Ideas” section are all articles by (white) men. It is tiring and disappointing. As women, we grow up used to reading mostly male authors in school; we’ve all grown up reading mostly male journalists’ work; we are used to seeing lists of great books that are almost all written by (white) men.
The Modesto Bee can do better. To be relevant to readers, authors need to reflect the demographic of Stanislaus County. Having at least half women, at least half Latino authors in every issue would send a message that The Bee is committed to ensuring a diversity of voices, not just the same voices and faces we’ve all been listening to our whole lives.
Elizabeth Campbell Morrison, Modesto
It’s a matter of priority
We will continue to have school shootings for one reason: America has collectively agreed that the ability to purchase a gun is more important than the lives of children and young adults in schools.
Tim De Lorimier, Modesto
GOP legislators fear each other
In 2018 I walked a precinct to campaign for a local Democrat. At one house, when I identified myself as a volunteer for the Democratic Party, the man who answered the door shouted, “I hate Democrats!” I took a step back and apologized for troubling him, and as I turned to walk away he called out in a friendly voice, “Have a nice day.” Wait, what?
Since then I have read a half dozen books on how the two political parties have become so polarized. It blossomed during the Tea Party era and became more vitriolic during the previous administration. Today, according to many reporters, Republican members of Congress will say privately that they agree with their Democratic colleagues, but they fear for their own and their families’ safety if they go on record opposing anything that the Republican Party supports, no matter how insignificant the issue or how damaging to the country it might be. And now I am fearful for our democracy.
Do I hate Republicans? No, but I hate what the Republican Party has become.
Anita Young, Modesto
Living one’s faith
What makes for a just and compassionate society? Where do we look for answers to the most pressing issues of our day? How can we live together when there are such profound disagreements among us? Ask 10 people these questions and you may very well get 10 different answers.
I graciously but earnestly submit that Christian doctrine, ethics, and the resultant understanding of the human person have provided the metaphysical foundation for the ordering of a righteous and compassionate society.
Yes, I am aware that societies influenced by biblical Christianity haven’t always got it right (slavery, Jim Crow laws, Manifest Destiny, and abortion are examples), but even here the biblical doctrine of the radical depravity of our human nature accounts for this. We have a sense of what is right, but we daily fail to do it. We are sinners in need of redemption. That is why the church must boldly proclaim the gospel and make disciples.
But what about those who are outside of the faith in our society? Well, even the unbelieving person benefits from a society filled with Christians living their faith and influencing culture.
Kristopher Pierce, Turlock