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Speak Out
Nothing funny about agnostic character
I am amazed that the Willow Glen Resident would print "An Agnostic Christmas" by Michael J. Vaughn (Dec. 15), and that "a dramatized reading" of the same was presented twice in two local coffee houses. Is Michael J. Vaughn a Willow Glen eighth-grader in need of a self-esteem boost from the community?
Harman Jones, Vaughn's agnostic hero, thinks conforming to the street's Christmas exterior home decorating tradition would violate his spirit, then later decided to contribute to the visual electric dazzle without conceding to a display of traditional Christmas images. The result is a "post-modernist illuminated artworks" tableau: Gene Autry with a bag of laundry on his back, riding a vibrating rocket ship, pink flamingos, tiki torches, neon advertising signs, etc.
Vaughn's character acknowledges the Christmas season as a celebratory meld of Christ's birth and the pre-Christian winter solstice. The centuries-old Father Christmas figure, bringer of love and joy, appears in our culture as Santa Claus. Whether one chooses to celebrate the Christian Nativity, the Santa Claus message, the pre-Christian evergreen tree, all three traditions or none of them, the Christmas presence is deeply etched in our culture and surfaces once a year.
Perhaps Vaughn intended to present an image of a fictitious agnostic, but there doesn't seem to be much distance between the author and his story. His notes say that he "was trying to justify my love of Christmas with the fact that I'm agnostic." Instead of mocking the neighbor's Christmas decorations, if Vaughn has "always had a fascination with Christmas lights," he and Harman Jones might express themselves in the rich tradition of banishing the darkness with lighted trees or presenting images of Father Christmas. No affront there to their agnosticism and no affront to the deeply held and beloved Christmas tradition. Vaughn's ridiculous story of the agnostic's satirical display is offensive. It is not funny.
Joyce Rabourn
Glenkirk Drive
Do the right thing in the voting booth
This is in response to the letter "Gay couples deserve right to marriage" (Dec. 22).
People will be asked to vote on the "Defense of Marriage Act" this coming March. One needs to ask themselves: why for thousands of years, has marriage been defined as between a Man and a Woman?
In this nation, we are being asked daily to throw away what we know as right, to become more "politically correct." We are asked to not judge, to accept people for what they are. We are asked to tell our children that a "homosexual lifestyle" is normal and natural, when it is not.
Homosexuality has been around as long as man. But never before in history have we been asked to accept it, and now we are. It is not about fear or prejudice. It has been made an issue by a minority of persons, who want to be accepted. Each one will have to decide this issue for themselves in the voting booth this coming March. Do what you know is right in your heart and mind, and let the chips fall where they may.
Kathleen Dunham
Campbell
Understanding must come before action
Following recent articles in the media on mental illness and on the Columbine tragedy, and doing social engineering, there is a parallel to engineering and physics, in that, to understand and act, several lines of reasoning must lead to the same conclusion.
For example, first, you may see a child suffering or badly trained at home. There is a gut reaction to help, but one remains uncertain about action.
Secondly, you remember your early religious or ethical training, or Sunday School training, that says you are your brother's keeper, you should aid the less fortunate and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Yet when suffering is widespread, the burden is too great for an individual, so that a government program is necessary, and the burden of remedial action is shared by all of society.
At this point, from some quarters, there come negative reactions against remedial programs because of costs or inconvenience, and the suffering or psychological trauma continues.
The objection "Why should I help?" has a response: Help for your own selfish reasons.
For reasons of both conscience and self-protection, we must identify and remove, through our government institutions, abusive backgrounds and bad child-rearing. Actions after the fact, such as jails, lengthy prison terms and investigations are inadequate. Society is in part responsible for the aberrant behavior of some of its members. People who behave badly are screaming for help. Help them for themselves and for ourselves.
If various lines of reasoning lead to the same conclusion, then act.
Charles Walton
Los Gatos
Avenue once served needs of residents
I, for one, am glad to welcome Longs on Lincoln Avenue. When I moved here in 1963, Willow Glen and Lincoln Avenue were truly a self-contained, enjoyable shopping area. If I needed odds and ends, I could run over to Newberry's 5 and 10. If I needed a department store, there was Bergman's. If I needed a food store, or even a supermarket, there was one. There were shoe stores, men and women's clothing stores, a good bakery and two quality drug stores. Even the furniture stores thrived.
I would like to see your paper do a feature story on Lincoln Avenue the way it used to be. That was a time when this area was unique while it served the needs of the residents.
As I traveled throughout Italy and France, I was struck by the fact that people had very small refrigerators in their homes and the reason for this was rooted in the practice of going out every day to shop for fresh produce, fish, meat and poultry, as well as to mingle and socialize with their neighbors. A lot of sharing was going on. Children were all a part of it, and they in turn carry the practices forward. I can't picture those cultures having to back the cars out of the garage, and get the children all strapped and settled in to go shopping at various stores. What a drag it has become. I do it, albeit by myself, and it is a drab, lonely way to live.
If Willow Glen, via Lincoln Avenue, is to be an exciting, vibrant atmosphere that serves the needs of young and old alike, it should include stores like Longs.
Virginia Brien
El Abra Way
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
