Honoring Yvonne Allen, a fierce advocate for women’s rights and reproductive freedom | Opinion
Honoring Yvonne
“Yvonne Allen: Expand background checks on gun sales,” (modbee.com)
The Haven Women’s Center mourns the passing of our co-founder, Yvonne Allen. In 1977 when the term “domestic violence” was still only a few years old, Allen and Pat Paul founded the Stanislaus Women’s Refuge Center (now known as the Haven Women’s Center). At a time when you often still had to explain why a man shouldn’t be able to beat his wife in the privacy of his own home, Allen and Paul saw a need for safety in our region and worked with others to fill it. A battered women’s shelter was founded — one of the first of six such shelters to receive funding from the state.
Over 45 years later, the Haven Women’s Center has expanded its scope to serve all survivors of domestic violence, as well as sexual abuse and human trafficking, at eight locations throughout the county. The organization has added prevention programming, and sits on multiple community collaboratives.
Yvonne Allen was a fierce advocate for women’s rights and reproductive freedom, and that sentiment has always been core to the Haven Women’s Center work and values. We will continue to honor her vision in serving our community.
Rest in power.
May Rico
Modesto
Not the Olympics
“Biden sees hopeful signs for his reelection in Democrats’ 2023 wins. Others in his party are worried,” (modbee.com, Nov. 13)
To those writing off President Joe Biden as being “too old,” they might do well to remember that another Democratic president who was crippled by polio led the country through a Depression and a World War.
And another Democrat, with a service-related back injury that would have debilitated many, faced down the Soviet Union and launched us into space.
It is the presidency, folks, not the Olympics.
Jack Heinsius, Modesto
Duarte must explain
“New Speaker Mike Johnson formally endorses Donald Trump, a step beyond predecessor Kevin McCarthy,” (modbee.com, Nov. 14)
Twelve Republican congressmen opposed the election of Jim Jordan to the speakership of the House of Representatives, the position that is in line to the presidency, should both the president and vice president die or be incapacitated. Nowhere on the list of these principled Republicans did I see our local Rep. John Duarte. According to the roll call record, Duarte voted for Jordan and then voted for Johnson.
Let’s refresh everyone’s memory: Jordan and Johnson were two of the most instrumental representatives attempting to overthrow the fair and legal 2020 election of Joe Biden. Are these two really the type of people that Duarte wants to be speaker of the house? Insurrectionists who would destroy our Constitution and make Trump president for life?
I challenge Duarte to explain to the people of California how he can vote for individuals I consider to be traitors to our Constitution. Did Trump lose, or was the election rigged? Are insurrectionists like Jordan and Johnson good picks for the speakership? Would you support another insurrection like January 6? I’m sure the voters here would like to hear from you.
James Peck
Modesto
Voting reform
“New Speaker Mike Johnson formally endorses Donald Trump, a step beyond predecessor Kevin McCarthy,” (modbee.com, Nov. 14)
Do you ever hold onto a cell phone for too long? So long that it stops being able to download the latest updates? That’s kinda how it feels with our elections in this country. With all the technological and societal advancements we’ve made, we’re still holding onto an ancient form of voting based on traveling by horse-drawn carriage to the polling place just after the harvest season has ended.
Isn’t it time we updated our system? At least for presidential elections?
Every four years, we vote for four days. Keep that specific Tuesday thing in November, but add three days. Keep the mail-in and absentee ballots, but add three extra days for in-person voting. After the last presidential election we had, I’m positive we can find enough volunteers.
We can do this.
Tim de Lorimier
Modesto
Indebted
“Modesto celebrates Veterans Day with parade, ceremony,” (modbee.com, Nov. 12)
I am happy that we have a Veterans Day to honor those who have served our country so well. As a nation, we need to try and improve the services for our veterans. We have surely fallen short in our efforts.
Our veterans offered their lives and mental and physical health in service to our nation, and the nation has let too many down — from health care to home and food insecurity, to the need for lifelong supportive services. We need to care for our veterans and follow through on promises we made to them.
Moreso, our leaders need to consider the human, societal and environmental costs of war before embarking on future military action.
Daniel Marsh
Modesto
This story was originally published November 19, 2023 at 5:00 AM.