 |
|
|
|
|
Letters
Tolerance advocates should practice it themselves
This letter is in response to the following letters to the editor in the June 20 issue of the Saratoga News: "Principal voices support for club," "Teacher saddened by intolerance," "Letter writers are both hypocrites," "Letter goes into the world of bigotry" and "School club meant to combat bigotry."
These letters state that the Gay-Straight Alliance club at Saratoga High School exists for "tolerance," an ideal with which I agree. Unfortunately, while the club wants tolerance for gays, they don't show tolerance toward religion.
I noticed that as Ms. Hocker peacefully petitioned the people on a public street in front of Saratoga High according to her constitutional rights, members of the Gay-Straight Alliance club were yelling religious slurs at her in a hateful and intolerant manner. I was given hostile looks just for saying "Good Morning" to Ms. Hocker. For the record, I was equally polite to the hecklers, because I think being civil to people with whom you disagree is "tolerance."
Later a student told me about how members of the club called Ms. Hocker names in class and out, and a teacher (a club member) delivered a lengthy diatribe slurring [Hocker's] religious beliefs in "World Geography." As a parent of a Saratoga High student I expect "geography" be taught in "World Geography" instead of what is or is not "correct" religious or political belief.
What I personally saw, in addition to reliable student accounts of their in-class "teachings," convinces me that the Gay-Straight Alliance club promotes religious bigotry contrary to their stated "goals" and Saratoga High anti-discrimination policies. Our society won't be more tolerant or eliminate hate crimes by "combating" gay bigotry with religious bigotry. Neither have a place in a tax-funded public high school.
Teri Jones
Riesling Court
Community needs to listen to the students
This is in regard to the recent letters in the Saratoga News about the Gay-Straight Alliance. I can't believe that some people are so out of touch with society that they believe that just because something has the word "gay" in it, it automatically means that it is evil or perverted. For people to think that "gay" isn't a commonly used word for put downs is ludicrous and insane.
Now referring to some other letters in support of Ms. Elaine Hocker that say it is unfair for people to call her a bigot, that is exactly what she is. If you want the dictionary definition for it, a bigot is, "one who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ."
What I want to know is how this doesn't depict who she is if she really believes that by talking to a few students and then pushing and subjecting them to her own thoughts, that she knows what really goes on in the schools in this decade.
I went to a workshop called Camp Anytown, and one of the objectives of the workshop was to talk about racism, sexism and all other sorts of discrimination. We talked about how they were referred to and then we had people talk about their feelings on some of the words and phrases mentioned. From Camp Anytown I have become more aware of the put-downs that are happening around me, and I am noticing that most of them are against gays.
I don't know if Ms. Hocker realizes this, but saying, "That is so gay," is a put-down. It gives the connotation of the word "gay" to be negative where it shouldn't have a strong connotation at all. I also want to call attention to people who say that by having this club it will make racial violence worse. I can't understand how it can get any worse than writing "fag" on a teacher's chalk board. Not only is this ridiculous, it is also a crime.
I wanted to call attention to some of those facts and I hope the people who read this will keep an open mind and really listen to what the students are saying about this issue, not the parents.
Matthew Linsky
Barksdale Court
Widening, straightening road has proved deadly
Regarding her letter in the June 13 issue of the Saratoga News, I support Cyndy Riordan's concern about widening Bohlman Road. I also applaud the News' headline, "Widening road will make it even easier to speed."
Before being transferred to California, we lived on a narrow, winding road. Originally, the road was a farm trail, following the contour of the hillside where it met the flat land of the farm.
When the farmer sold off his hillside property to a developer, the road was paved along the original route--still narrow, but wide enough to accommodate two lanes of traffic.
The speed limit was 25 mph, though most of the time, slowing for the curves required dropping to 15 to 20 mph. And for the lead footed, there were a few places where 30 to 35 mph could be reached. It was a fun road to drive in a hot, little sports car, especially for the kids with a bent toward going a bit too fast.
Of course, the access roads to the homes were wider and straighter, and 25 mph (or faster) could be maintained.
Yes, there were fender benders on the old, farm road. Not a lot, but a few. But there were no serious injuries. However, as more homes were added, ever higher in the hills, agitation grew among many of the new home owners who didn't want to waste time driving through the beautiful, old trees on a narrow, winding road--the same one they thought was so lovely when they decided to build in the area.
So, they successfully petitioned to have the road widened and straightened within the limits of property lines, keeping the 25 mph speed limit.
And your headline applied: there were no more fender benders, but some really good crashes. One killed the son of the lady most active in getting the road widened.
My concern? So goes Bohlman Road, is Pierce Road soon to follow ... and others?
Dan Eastman
Pierce Road
Don't 'indoctrinate' local high schoolers
Thank you to M. Elaine Hocker regarding the alternative to Saratoga's "homosexual club," letter in the May 30 Saratoga News. More people need to take advantage of the Youth Advisory Project. We do not need to indoctrinate our children into the homosexual lifestyle, especially at the high school level where there are many known risks.
Marylin Nistler
Glasgow Drive
|
|
|
|
Saratoga, California Since 1955
