Jun 3, 2008

Letters

Religion and politics

Dear Editor: As our nation prepares for another highly charged presidential campaign season, it is telling how the candidates of the major parties are susceptible to the raining down of "pastoroids."

Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama have weathered this incoming barrage of "pastors behaving badly," but at what cost to them and their political ambitions? With names sounding like partners of a "K" Street lobbying firm: Wright, Hagee, Pfleger and Parsley, these men have reminded us, once again, of why the founders deemed a separation of church and state necessary.

In their quest for a piece of the Bible Belt electorate, all McCain and Obama seem to attract is the extreme fringe, espousing gender and racial bias or xenophobic fears.

Perhaps it is time, once again, for the shepherd of one's salvation to turn introspectively to the day-to-day task of saving individuals from damnation and leave the political affairs to the experts on this earthly plain.

Fred Osterlund,

Los Altos Hills



Redwood City initiative

Dear Editor: In his May 15 letter to the editor, Richard Panelli gave some misleading information regarding the people who are trying to get signatures to save our open spaces. True, we're being assisted by some Bay Area conservation groups who happen to have their offices outside of Redwood City, but the primary group of people behind the initiative are Redwood City residents, all volunteering our time.

Instead of "depriving the majority of Redwood City's citizens a chance to effectively utilize their existing elected city officials," the Friends of Redwood City is contributing to a true democratic process by allowing all of our citizens the chance to decide the future direction of our town. We're not trying to "prevent new development from happening around the entire Bay Area" as he says, but only trying to give the Redwood City voters a voice in the political process. What could be more fair and reasonable than that?

Jerry Brick,

Redwood City



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Dear Editor: I have been a resident and homeowner in Redwood City for more than 50 years, and I have supported and worked for the goals of the Friends of Redwood City and Save the Bay.

Their goals and achievements have been an important part of the preservation and restoration of priceless Baylands from poorly planned developments in the past, and now being presented by the multinational Cargill Corp. Cargill, with revenue of $88.3 billion, and based in Minnesota, has battled litigation recently from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding dumping toxic residue from its salt production into holding ponds in a wildlife preserve in the San Francisco Bay. They have been identified as one of the most toxic 10 American corporations in Conde Nast Portfolio.

Another poor plan approved by the city council was the planned development at the foot of Whipple Avenue that was owned by Mobil Oil. It was defeated by the hard work of the Friends of Redwood City and is an asset for the entire Bay Area.

Another poor plan approved by the council was the extension from Highway 280 being diverted down Cordilleras Road and the rezoning of Hopkins Avenue to R-3 zoning. Luckily, that was on the ballot and was defeated.

The council has always been pro-developer, and has not considered negative impacts on the community or the area.

Elizabeth Travers,

Redwood City



Mideast conflict

Dear Editor: Recent news items about the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel are a reminder that 60 years ago, Israelis were where Hamas is now.

They were claimants to a share of Palestine and were bitterly opposed to the legal government of the territory. The underground militants went under various names, including Haganah, Irgun and the Stern Gang, and some were imprisoned as terrorists. The rosy glow of hindsight is now shed over that time, but the dynamited buildings, assassinations and massacres were similar to the acts of Hamas now.

Perhaps in another 60 years a secure Palestinian state will be established alongside Israel and the inhabitants will also look back with nostalgia.

Meanwhile, Israeli security is easily accomplished. If Israelis withdraw to the 1967 legal boundaries, taking the settlements with them, they can build an impenetrable wall, with watch towers and machine guns on their own land. Arab militants could not pass and would hardly want to since they would have their own country to develop. Arabs with titles to property in Israel should not expect to return but deserve to be well compensated. This is land for peace and we hear that nearly half the Israeli voters would go along with this.

This sensible recognition that both sides might have good claims would be less costly than a permanent war.

Michael Barton,

Sunnyvale.