The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Bilingual education is clearly not the solution

In the March 25 Resident, under "Council Watch," we've got another blow from those who oppose Proposition 227, a Ron Unz initiative, which a poll shows is favored by about 70 percent of the voters. [The San Jose City Council voted to oppose the initiative.] Hundreds of years ago it was voted what language would be the official language of this country. The result of this vote was the English language.

Bilingual education is not the solution. As a matter of fact, bilingual education gives only a temporary "convenience": the children don't have to learn English as their first language, but stick together and learn everything in their own mother language. But, after graduation, what's going to happen to them? The official language is English here, and that's the rule.

Those councilmembers have ignored their voters' opinions regarding Proposition 227. I believe that a retaliation will take effect in June, against them. In other words, they will be voted out in the next election. We will also suggest to demonstrate to support Ron Unz's initiative.

Today, when the "religious left" is attacking with even more vicious force against the American family values, anything on the "right" meets with my standards. Bilingual education must be banned and removed from future ballots.

If, as you stated in your article, 70 percent of the state voters like Proposition 227, then there's not much a few people can do. Majority rules--not minority. It is also the law of the land.

Tibor Fuyer
Keesling Avenue

Glen should not be called gay 'mecca'

At the risk of being branded a homophobe by the gay contingency here in Willow Glen, I must express my outrage regarding the cover article of the March 18 issue of The Resident.

The opening line of Ms. Ku's article states, "Willow Glen 95125, the gay ZIP code." It is outrageous that a microscopic sect of our community should make such a claim, and irresponsible of your paper to pander to them. I am sure I speak for the majority of Willow Glen residents when I say that it does not warm my heart to know that your paper is representing our community as the gay "Mecca" of the South Bay.

I for one would prefer to have Willow Glen promoted as a wholesome place in which to live and raise a family, yet there is nothing wholesome about the homosexual lifestyle. Moral and ethical issues aside, I would prefer people's sexual preferences be kept to themselves.

C. Perry
McBain Avenue

Give teens a chance; we're not all hoodlums

I was reading the Willow Glen Resident, as I do every issue, and I read an appallingly chauvinistic March 25 letter with the headline "Today's generation lacks respect, honor." I have almost never heard such closed-mindedness in almost 15 years of my life.

I am probably one of the most respectful teenagers I know. I get criticized at school by other kids because I participate in class and try to be good, and I don't hassle my elders and teachers. I attend Willow Glen High School and hope to get a scholarship to San Francisco State University. In my spare time I am in a rock band, I roller blade, I ride my bike, I work out, I will be getting a part-time job and I skateboard.

Not only do I get hassled by all the guy kids for being such a tomboy, I am now getting dirty looks from my bigoted elders who have never met me. I was skateboarding down Foxworthy Avenue with my guy friend on our way back to my house from 7-Eleven when we decided to stop for a moment and open up our candy (that we had paid for). After a few minutes I looked over my shoulder and saw this older cop staring at us as if we had just robbed the 7-Eleven!

When I walk into certain types of stores with my friends, we get dirty looks from the older people, like we are hoodlums, which we are not. My best friend gets straight A's and my other friends get A's and B's. Now, I am not saying all older people are like that, because God knows I have met a lot of extraordinarily wonderful older people.

I don't usually show the type of attitude I am showing in this writing (I am sure most of you older people are thinking that this is a perfect example of what you are trying to say), but I cannot just sit here and take all this bashing of teenagers. I have even gotten into numerous arguments with my friends because they would act a certain way in public (just joking around) that I knew would likely offend the older people around us, because I hate so much that older people stereotype teenagers and give all teenagers a bad rap.

So please give us teenagers a couple of chances; don't judge us all and group us.

Lindsey Scherer
Dumbarton Avenue

Story tells more than most want to know

I think two articles on the lifestyles of the gay and lesbian population in Willow Glen is enough. The Feb. 25 article on the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association's newest member went overboard on his personal life. It is important to know the composition of the association. To add background and to welcome the new member to the community was good news. However, a two-page dissertation (March 18, "Glen a 'safe place' for the largest S.J. gay community") is more than most people want to know.

Was the March 18 article really necessary? Safety is a big reason a lot of us live here. Furthermore, Willow Glen has many other attributes which make the area very attractive and of which we are all proud. You only need to look at the cost of real estate to know it is a desirable location. For whatever reason we have chosen Willow Glen as our home, I don't think "Willow Glen, the gay ZIP code of San Jose" is the one we have in mind.

I have lived in Laguna Beach, Calif., and spent a substantial amount of time in Key West, Fla.--both communities with a high density of gays and lesbians. Neither place boasts that fact as their city's forte.

I have no problem with the gay and lesbian population in Willow Glen, but I really don't need to know all the details of gays living in the community. I certainly don't want to see a pin on a map showing which of my neighbors are gay or lesbian printed in the local paper.

Robert Schmidt
Creek Drive

Correction

An editor's note on the March 25 opinion page incorrectly stated that the three parents working in Booksin Elementary School's library were paid from school funds. The parents were paid by funds raised by other Booksin parents.

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