Letters

Hats off to blood drive organizers

As a regular blood donor with the Stanford Blood Center, I'd like to thank the organizers of the Jan. 5 blood drive at Congregation Beth David in Saratoga for the fine job they did organizing a drive that has been one of the best attended that I've seen.

Many thanks also to all the community-minded, unselfish people who cared enough to donate.

June E. Cooley
Almaden Road in San Jose

Unflattering portrayal of Sr. Helen is incorrect

As organizer of Sr. Helen Prejean's appearance at Sacred Heart, I owe an apology for not pointing out that Sr. Helen doesn't charge for appearances, except to cover transportation and housing.

If donations are given to her, they are used to support a group she created called "Survive." The group supports murder victim's families. My omission, I pray, is the only reason for Mr. DeCinzo's unflattering and mischaracterization of Sr. Helen in the editorial cartoon in the Jan. 12 issue of the Saratoga News.

Events with no "appearance fee" still cost a lot of money to put on and hopefully ours will produce net proceeds. Any net proceeds will go toward several nonprofit projects, including Sr. Helen's support group for victim's families. More importantly, the event was intended to bring together people on both sides of the issue so they may discuss their positions in a loving environment.

In many countries still imposing the death penalty, Mr. DeCinzo's humor would be a death-penalty offence if directed at their religious. I believe Sr. Helen, if she is offended at all, will merely forgive Mr. DeCinzo and pray that his humor is only that, and not a hatred for those with whom he disagrees.

Bruce E. Hodgin
Guava Court

Church assembles those with different opinions

I was intrigued by the connection your cartoonist drew in the Jan. 12 issue of the Saratoga News between those who have died of violence and Sacred Heart Church. As a church, we minister to people who suffer various forms of violence, including families who have had a member murdered. We also minister to those who commit violent acts. Churches are one of the few places that struggle to bring together those who seem to have irreconcilable differences. We do this because of who we are, namely, people with a faith vision.

That faith vision has been clearly articulated and modeled by Pope John Paul II. He has spoken out strongly against the death penalty and called for its abolition during this millennial year. He has done this only after personally visiting the man who shot him to express his personal forgiveness.

His teaching has a moral authority that comes not simply from his office, but also from his own personal experience of violence. He is not alone. These past few years, priests and bishops have been murdered in South Africa, East Timor, Guatemala, India, Algeria and Italy. I believe that they would all stand together with John Paul II in opposing the death penalty because they share a faith vision.

I also know that not all in our congregation will agree with Sr. Helen Prejean, or for that matter, with Pope John Paul II. That, too, is part of who we are as church.

Rev. Alexander C. Larkin
Pastor, Sacred Heart Church Saratoga Avenue

Appointments are cause for concern

Lindsay Lainsdown and Marcia Kaplan, in the Jan. 5 and Dec. 29 issues of the Saratoga News, are correct in expressing concern over recent appointments to Saratoga's Parks and Recreation Commission, and the decisions that may result from such litmus-test (i.e., the City Council's way or no way?) appointments.

But the problem already goes deeper than Parks and Recreation. Witness the council's latest appointment to the Planning Commission. How many Saratogans know that Commissioner Cynthia Barry is the wife of local political gadfly Jeffrey Schwartz? Imagine the pillow talk and "subtle" direction on decision-making coming out of this appointment!

Ann Marie Burger
Winter Lane

Death penalty leaves no hope for righting wrongs

I have always appreciated DeCinzo's cartoons, even on the rare occasions that I don't agree with his premise. The cartoon in the Jan. 12 issue of the Saratoga News, however, deriding the movement to abolish the death penalty, really bothered me--especially with all the publicity we've been hearing and seeing about the Ruben "Hurricane" Carter affair.

Carter was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn't commit--fortunately, he wasn't sentenced to death. After 20 years in prison and one failed retrial (same venue, same District Attorney, I believe), a second retrial showed that the prosecution had hidden evidence that proved him "not guilty" and set him free.

Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurrence. There is a group of volunteers who research cases in which they feel there may be a miscarriage of justice and work to prove a death-row prisoner "not guilty." The group succeeds in many cases each year.

The current uproar in the Los Angeles Police Department over fraudulent evidence and other police misdeeds should also give DeCinzo second thoughts about his belief in, and respect for, criminal "justice."

When the death penalty is carried out, there is no possibility of freeing an innocent but wrongly convicted prisoner; if the penalty is life in prison, at least there is hope of righting such wrongs.

Marjorie Ottenberg
Foothill Lane

Sr. Helen cartoon goes beyond good-taste limit

Mr. DeCinzo has a license to be controversial, for this is the charter of a political cartoonist. However, the cartoon in the Jan. 12 issue of the Saratoga News on Sr. Helen Prejean stretches both his character and his good taste.

Mr. DeCinzo trivializes an important moral and political issue and demeans the motives of Sr. Helen Prejean and the intelligence, judgment and thoughtfulness of both the Catholic Church and the parishioners of Sacred Heart. Whether or not he agrees with the opinions of Sr. Helen Prejean, she has the right to express them. Sacred Heart Parish should be complimented for providing the community the opportunity to hear this well-known, controversial speaker.

Paul H. Krug
Shubert Drive

Sheriff's Report

Argonaut School students 'Dress Like Students of the Year 3000'

Wedding: Kimberly and Cary Evans

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

Hot Stove Baseball Banquet

High school basketball

Baseball league signups