RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail Story
Letters to the Editor for May 7, 2007
| Sunday, May 6 2007 8:05 PM
Last Updated: Sunday, May 6 2007 8:07 PM
Switch to vacuum
BAKERSFIELD.COM HOT TOPICS:
Loading Stories
Advertisement
I walk on the bicycle trail several times per week and I feel very fortunate to live so close to the trail and the Park at Riverwalk.
I also like dogs and I get to meet a lot of different breeds on my walks. I don't have a dog of my own, so these walks provide the opportunity to share, for a short period of time, the camaraderie and unconditional love of the wonderful dogs I meet.
There are several small kiosks along the trail and within the park that supply plastic bags for the dog owners to dispose of the doggie poo.
A few days ago, I observed a little green machine quietly meandering along the trail and I noticed that the debris was disappearing. I spoke with the operator and learned that it was sucking up the trash like a vacuum.
Now, wouldn't it be a great idea if our city could contact the folks who make the dreaded leaf blower and see if they could produce a machine that would vacuum the leaves, dust, etc?
The leaf blower has been blowing leaves and dust for a long time and probably the companies who make the machines have powerful lobbyists. But the City Council and the Parks and Recreation have come up with a lot of nice perks for their constituents, a couple of which I just mentioned. I would be most grateful to see the leaf blower be changed to the leaf vacuum and it should help our air quality, as well.
-- GRACI LEE BAILEY, Bakersfield
A cry for help?
A recent story in the paper opens up thoughts about a lifestyle that is becoming a standard way of living -- the homosexual lifestyle.
The front page shows young people dancing and having a good time at a prom-type dance, the difference being they are couples of the same sex dancing together.
If you look farther into the paper you read the Applause Section of the paper celebrating marriages of 60 years. I say celebrating because it takes a lot of love, understanding, patience and hard work to put together a memory book of 60 years.
Why are so many young people finding the need or desire to be a part of that lifestyle?
I worked with a young man who was originally from the Midwest. He had major problems at home and a man saw an opportunity and took it.
His path led him to West Hollywood where he got involved in the sadism-masochism games. He became scared and moved to the San Fernando Valley to get away from that because he was sure he would die. He got the HIV virus.
The other person I knew was a lady who, too, had problems at home and became scared of men.
I do not know if so many young people are actually born this way or things in their lives draw them to what they believe is the safety of the homosexual lifestyle.
I do believe that we need to be more cautious in accepting it and find out if, in fact, this is a cry for help.
-- IRENE EDMONDS, Bakersfield
Womb 'irrelevant'
I am writing in reference to the recent Kathleen Parker column on sending women to war and how it aids the enemy. First, I'd like to say that women are not being sent against their will. That's a fact of life when a woman enlists in the service.
I would also like to point out the fact that this isn't a "traditional" war where there is a clear enemy to shoot at. That is to say that there is no such thing as a "safe zone" or "in the rear with the gear." The supply clerk on the supply truck can be hit with an IED and die as easily as a warrior kicking in a door in Fallujah.
In this war, the only way to prevent women from dying in combat is to not have women in the service at all. We know that isn't feasible, so what does Parker suggest? That women don't belong in the military at all? Her point is valid that children need their mothers in their tender years, but they also need their fathers as well.
I am a retired Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps. In my 22 years of military service, not once did I pretend to be a man. I didn't have to. I was (am) a Marine. Period.
A woman who enlists today is very knowledgeable of the risks. She may or may not kick in doors, but an IED isn't aware of gender. You enlist, you go, you do your job. The fact that the sailor, airman, soldier or Marine has a womb or not is irrelevant.
-- CARRIE J. SULLIVAN, Bakersfield
Ridiculous lawsuit
Let me see if I understood the recent article concerning two parents suing over the death of their son.
Their son, a 20-year-old man, illegally purchased and drank alcohol. He then drove a Jeep like an idiot at 100 mph, lost control and overturned the vehicle, killing himself and a friend. His vehicle was struck by another vehicle causing injury to the lady driving the other vehicle.
Now, his parents and a despicable lawyer, decide to sue the lady who struck the overturned vehicle.
What do the young man's parents and this disgusting example of an attorney not understand about personal responsibility? The young man broke the law and as a direct result of his own actions died. The judge should throw this lawsuit out of court and penalize the parents and the lawyer for filing such a ridiculous and frivolous lawsuit.
-- JOHN BELENCROFT, Bakersfield