Response to the letter by Kara Jones in the Feb. 2 issue of the Willow Glen Resident, Jones' message is un-American.

I had a knock on my door the other day from a neighbor who was very upset about a letter to the editor that was printed regarding my upside-down flag. I'd never met him before, but thanks to Jones I have made a new friend.

Now, I hadn't read the letter, but he got me a copy and I thought I would respond, but not with insults as Jones chooses to use on those with whom she disagrees.

Most people seem to be unaware that an inverted flag is a sign of distress. Many people, especially in states like California, see our nation as one that is in crisis brought upon by gross mismanagement. We are stuck in an extended recession, have turned surpluses into deficits, continue to off-shore jobs, cut social programs in exchange for defense contracts, are losing allies around the globe and worst of all are losing our friends and family to a war that was predicated on a lie.

We have big problems in this country and since I don't expect Canada or Poland to come to our aid, the only people I expect we can turn to are ourselves. This is a call to action.

We had an election and "Dubya" is back in the White House. But Jones forgot that about half the nation came out in overwhelming numbers to say that enough is enough and we need change. Now I seem to remember that we didn't get together last November to elect a king. We didn't get together to elect a dictator. We got together to elect a president, legislators, governors, judges, etc. Whoever sits in an elected position is supposed to be accountable to the people, and the people have not so much a right, but a duty to make their voices heard. At least 49 percent of America disagrees with Jones and is not going to stay quiet.

Jones also asks what she should tell her children. Maybe she could tell them that America is not a place where dissent is accepted, where it's more important to follow leaders no matter what and where it's more important to be loyal to a party or an administration than it is to be loyal to higher moral values. I, however, will tell my children that when something is wrong, you stand up against it no matter how unpopular the stance you take is, especially if it to protect something that is dear.

I also need to question Jones' patriotism. She suggests that I leave if I don't like it here. I have to wonder if that's what she would do; abandon her country if things don't go her way? I have news for her. Progressives are not going to abandon America. We are going to work to make this nation strong and respectable again. We are going to do everything we can to fix the damage cause by the last four years. And it won't be easy as the other half of America is being distracted by gay-marriage, terror alerts and Sponge Bob Squarepants.

Go live somewhere else? What an un-American suggestion.

I will end on this note. We're almost at 1,500 troops killed in Iraq and there is no exit strategy. I just found out today that a co-worker has been deployed and I'm really worried that she's going to become another number.

The reason we went to war seems to change daily and too many Americans have just accepted this situation. I don't want to see any more American lives lost to "Dubya's" misadventure.

Jones says I should just grow up and watch the body count rise. I can't do that. I see hundreds of these $3, made-in-China yellow-ribbon magnets on the SUVs of people who want to show everyone else how patriotic they are.

Jones, if you're reading this, save your $3, buy a phone card and send it to the troops. No one will know that you're being patriotic over here, but some of our soldiers will directly feel your support. If I can get you or a few other people to do that, then the flag did its job.

All this going on and you're worried about a flag being raised upside-down. I think your priorities are upside-down. But don't worry, I'll rotate the scenery so I'm sure you'll have something else to see soon enough.

George Ptasinski

Willow Glen

Point of view is right
on in what matters

Ditto, Michael Taylor. That is exactly how I felt when reading about someone complaining about people keeping their Christmas lights up too long in the Feb. 9 issue of the Willow Glen resident.

Could those people that worry so much about their property values possibly be the same people that are foregoing quality time with their children by pushing strollers with their ear to their cell phones?

J. Dionne

El Abra Way

Spanish AP is tough
class for all students

This is a comment regarding Jerry Connolly's letter in the Feb. 9 issue of the Willow Glen Resident. While I completely agree that the non-native speakers' achievements are outstanding and should be recognized, we can not neglect to recognize the native speakers for their achievements as well.

Having taken a few AP classes, I know first hand these tests are difficult. Anyone who passes any test put forth effort and hard work in order to pass. Just because these students spoke Spanish as a first language does not mean that the class was easy. I am an editor-in-chief of the Willow Glen High School Rampages. I've taken journalism all throughout high school and AP English last year. And yes, English is my primary language. However, I along with many other English speaking students didn't pass the AP exam. Now, to my understanding, AP English for an English speaker would be comparable to AP Spanish for a Spanish speaker. The class is fast paced and is in no way "easy."

Also, many native Spanish speakers are not literate. They may speak the language but not everyone can read and write the language. In addition, Leonor Robledo is also a highly respected excellent teacher and should not be talked down upon.

From what I know, there aren't really any AP tests that are "easy," and students who speak Spanish as their primary language and passed deserve just as much honor and credit.

Kelsey Siebert

Willow Glen