 |
|
|
|
|
Letters
What about women's rights now?
According to the Feb. 24 Courier, Rep. Anna Eshoo spoke recently at a Rotary meeting saying that the government needs to turn its focus back on running this country. I remind you that while you were doing the business of government, i.e., the constitutionally mandated duties of impeaching the president, we Amercians were doing just fine. If I had said, Ms. Eshoo, that the government needs to turn its ... back on running the country, we would all be better off. What a difference it makes leaving out one little word!
Ms. Eshoo also boasted that six of her bills passed last year that had to do with women's issues. You have your work cut out for you here in 1999. Now that the Predator-In-Chief has elevated sexual harassment to new heights, destroying everything that the women's movement has gained, what will you do now about women's issues, Ms. Eshoo? Let me guess: Ignore the problem! It never happened! Try that defense on the Lamson victims.
R. Bowlby
Cupertino
District should have taken more action in another aspect of Lamson case
While it is certainly admirable that Joe Hamilton chose to quickly respond to the abuse charges against Jeff Lamson, he may have failed to address the rights of another group of students violated by this man. Shortly after Lamson's dismissal from the district, parents and administrators became aware that Lamson had been showing sexually explicit videos to some of the football players, on school grounds, as part of a "team building" experience. I can only imagine what physical effect these videos had on 16- to 18-year-old boys, but psychologically, it gave approval to the exploitation of women through Lamson's promotion of the activity.
I met with district officials a couple of times, trying to urge them to initiate some sort of sensitivity awareness sessions for the players, in order to show them how inappropriate it was for Lamson to show them this sexual material. Although Hamilton seemed willing to take some measure to avert any future behavior that may occur due this situation, I did not see any measurable action taken.
To this day, my son and a handful of other players still do not see these poor girls as victims, but rather as participants. I can only hope that Lamson's behavior is not repeated by any one of these impressionable young men at a future time.
Bari Holm
Sunnyvale
Methodist churches collect for victims of hurricanes
The entire month of March has been designated as a food-gathering time for the people of Central America. It is difficult to overstate the seriousness of this problem or the needs of the people affected.
Even now, six months later, there are hundreds of thousands who are homeless and are going hungry. Tragically, many have attempted to flee north in search of food and jobs, but most of them are being turned back to their homelands.
Because we want to help, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has put out a call for basic food to help the people who have experienced two of the worst hurricanes of the century. They cannot plant crops now and the food emergency is expected to worsen beginning in May or June.
We have assurances that donated food will reach the people who need it because it will be handled by UMCOR and distributed through non-governmental agencies which are already in place. The foods we need are dry red beans, rice, powered milk, basic canned meat, corn, flour, and cooking oil in plastic containers. It isn't just the Methodists who are helping out.
If any organizations or churches want to contribute, they are most welcome. Food items can be brought directly to any United Methodist church (just phone the church in question for their office hours). The churches will box items and deliver them to the designated warehouse.
We believe that we can help these people. Will you help us do it?
Carol Orr
Volunteers in Mission
Help save the legacy of World War II
This message is for WWII veterans, defense workers and their families: Please help save the personal legacy of World War II. The experiences and memorabilia of those who served in the armed forces and defense industries--so often discarded--are a valuable part of this nation's history.
The Florida State University department of history has set up The Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to collect and preserve this physical heritage for research, teaching and exhibition. If you or someone you know has letters, diaries, photographs or other mementos of the period, please contact the Institute at the Department of History, Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL 32306-2200 or call (850) 644-9033.
We will be delighted to send an information packet or answer any questions concerning donation of materials to the Institute and their future use.
William O. Oldson
Professor of History,
Florida State University
|
|
|
|
Cupertino, California Since 1947
