Speak Out

It's important to remember that we're not all Christians

I would like to respond to Lessley Anderson's opinion piece (Decorations are essential in WG, Dec. 20).

It made me furious to hear her opinion of people who do not put up Christmas lights. I am a Jewish teenager growing up in a mostly accepting community, but I feel like an outsider after reading this piece. Anderson says, "If you live in Willow Glen, decorating your house is tantamount to belonging." I do not need to decorate my house to belong. I feel that ignorance plays a huge part in this, but people should know by now that Jews don't put up Christmas lights. Why is this such a big deal?

David Michelberg, who is quoted by Anderson, belongs to the same synagogue as I. I do not know how he truly feels about Christmas lights, but why should he have to put up lights in order to fit in? Jana Morse and her husband are also quoted, saying they would feel left out if they did not have one of those little trees on their lawn.

I feel lucky that I live on a corner where we are not bothered about putting a miniature Christmas tree on our lawn. The Christmas tree represents another religion and the fact that most of the residents in Willow Glen put trees on their lawn does not mean I should feel pressured to put one on mine.

The comment in the article about few people wanting to play party poopers also offends me. It refers to those who do not hang Christmas lights. I am not a party pooper and I do not appreciate the title. I am celebrating my own religion, and this community needs to understand this. These days we talk about accepting all kinds of people, and tolerance is taught in schools, but some adults in the community do not even know when they offend others. I understand that Christmas lights are a huge part of Christmas in Willow Glen, but not everyone needs to put them up. I am not opposed to any aspects of Christmas; I just would like to be able to celebrate without feeling as if I need to put up Christmas lights to belong.

Willow Glen has three synagogues, and I am sure other religious temples other than Christian ones. I thank those who understand that Willow Glen is a diverse community where people have the freedom to celebrate the holidays in any manner they wish.

Rachel Dombro
Curtner Avenue

Ashcroft too extreme for Attorney General

Rarely do residents of California doubt how their U.S. Senators will vote on protecting a woman's right to choose. However, so far only Sen. Barbara Boxer has stated that she will oppose the nomination of anti-choice former Missouri Sen. John Ashcroft for Attorney General. We must send the message to Sen. Dianne Feinstein that Ashcroft is too extreme.

The Attorney General has substantial impact on the right to choose through influence over the makeup of the Supreme Court. The Attorney General screens nominees for the Supreme Court, as well as federal district and appellate courts throughout the country. Given the likelihood of Supreme Court retirements, as well as the large number of vacancies on the federal bench, the Attorney General will have a dramatic impact on the federal court system for many years. The federal bench is, after all, the proving ground for the next generation of Supreme Court justices. In addition, the Attorney General supervises the Solicitor General, who represents the United States in Supreme Court cases. Imagine the people's lawyer arguing in front of the Supreme Court that we should turn back the clock and return to illegal and unsafe abortion.

It is essential that all who value the right to choose contact Sen. Feinstein and urge her to oppose the nomination of Ashcroft for Attorney General. Visit www.plannedparenthood.org, or call Feinstein's office at 202.224.3841.

Peter Belden
Director of Public Affairs California/Nevada Planned Parenthood

Metcalf power plant deserves our support

San Jose and Silicon Valley have a strong need for affordable housing and a good public transportation system. As we continue to grow, we also need a local, affordable, reliable energy source that will keep our lights on. That is why the San Jose branch of the NAACP, as Silicon Valley's voice for the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens, has endorsed the Metcalf power plant.

Especially in our current energy crisis, we recognize that the need to have power to heat our homes for our children in the winter is a basic right for families. Even though it's not a constitutional right, or a civil right, access to energy for our families is still an issue of basic fairness and social justice.

For many Silicon Valley residents, losing their electricity is not just an annoyance, it is devastating. When people on fixed incomes are living check to check and the food in their freezer spoils during a power outage, they will have to decide what other necessity they will have to do without so they can eat.

Supporting the Metcalf power plant is not about supporting a private company, its about supporting what's best for the public. Please join the NAACP in writing the Gov. Gray Davis to let him know that the people of San Jose and the South Bay need an affordable, reliable source of energy--and we need it now!

Rick L. Callender
President, San Jose NAACP

Doctors don't have the prestige they once did

Very good cover story on doctors leaving the Santa Clara valley because of deterioration in the quality of professional and personal life. This has been happening in a disproportionate way in California compared to the rest of the country. It's been no surprise to me practicing in a great place where those awful forms of outside regulation never got a foothold. When I was a kid living in Los Gatos the doctor had the most respect, greatest prestige, and the biggest house in town. Ironically, now many rent in a crowded, traffic congested environment where they could have abruptly changed professions and become homeowners with the same status as the dot-commers. If an economic downturn develops in California and the present system comes apart, maybe a more favorable environment will develop for the human values engendered in private medical practice.

Franc G. Fallico, MD
Anchorage

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