PUBLIC FORUM.Don't leave too early Re ``We need freedom from oil'' (Their Opinions, Dec. 5): Thomas Friedman Thomas Lauren Friedman, OBE (born July 20, 1953), is an American journalist. He is an op-ed contributor to The New York Times, whose column appears twice weekly and mainly addresses topics on foreign affairs. is right about ending our oil dependence on the Middle East. But leave Iraq now? Fortunately, he connected that ill advice with the Israeli experience in leaving Gaza. Exactly! The craziest gangsters got the most credit for driving Israel out, and won an election. The magnanimous mag·nan·i·mous adj. 1. Courageously noble in mind and heart. 2. Generous in forgiving; eschewing resentment or revenge; unselfish. Israeli gesture was repaid with rockets on their towns. If we leave Iraq now, we will be deserting those who cooperated with us. They will flee or die. The country will split ... ; one Sunni, run again by the Baath, and another Shiite, beholden be·hold·en adj. Owing something, such as gratitude, to another; indebted. [Middle English biholden, past participle of biholden, to observe; see behold. to Iran. Our supply of Arabian oil will be threatened before we have alternatives. -- Louis Richter Encino Forgotten academics Each day when I read the sports section Noun 1. sports section - the section of a newspaper that reports on sports sports page - any page in the sports section of a newspaper newspaper, paper - a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements; "he read , I can read about high-school athletes. I enjoy reading about these talented few, but does our future lie in the hands of these individuals? Last year, the National Association of Purchasing, San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , awarded a scholarship to an outstanding student from a high school in this area. We approached five high schools and received two qualifying applications. Why don't we highlight academic accomplishments as we do our athletes? After all, isn't the ability to work and earn good grades just as important as catching a ball? -- Elaine Whittington Sunland Parity proposition Readers continuously learn of growing debt and a future tax burden to accommodate rising wages, benefits and retirement plans for government employees. It is time to introduce a ballot initiative that would index all such payouts and bring them into parity with the private sector. Any increases in their benefits or income levels should be approved by the voters each election cycle, which is about every two years. All existing levels of pay, benefits and retirement plans that exceed those in the private sector should be capped or, where possible, rolled back. Those below should reach parity. Indexing is not difficult; all of the figures are available, could be produced through a university of choice and would not require an administrative bureaucracy to simply apply the standards. -- Robert E. Simon Robert E. Simon, Jr., was born in New York City in 1914. After graduating from Harvard University, Simon took over the family real estate management and development business. Sherman Oaks Smokers' rights Re ``Cities to consider smoking ban'' (Dec. 5): Well, it looks as if we need a lawyer to battle for our civil rights. We live in a society which has enormous pressures and enormous costs just to live and survive. We the people have rights, and banning smoking while letting people drive and pump carbon monoxide carbon monoxide, chemical compound, CO, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, extremely poisonous gas that is less dense than air under ordinary conditions. It is very slightly soluble in water and burns in air with a characteristic blue flame, producing carbon dioxide; into the air is hypocritical and an invasion of my rights. It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to stop spending the taxpayers' money on these foolish attacks while crime is running rampant both by the criminals and the police and the politicians. For some of us, smoking keeps us safe and calm -- unlike our government! -- David Hamblen Sherman Oaks Job = citizenship? In the discussion about citizenship for ``illegal'' immigrants and what to do about these people who are doing the work that Americans won't do, I am troubled about how a quid pro quo [Latin, What for what or Something for something.] The mutual consideration that passes between two parties to a contractual agreement, thereby rendering the agreement valid and binding. -- job from an employer for financial compensation -- evolved into a deal that includes citizenship just because you happen to be working. So as a new Congress gets ready to enact legislation that the majority of the population doesn't agree with, can members explain how working and being compensated equates to being given a spot at the head of the line for citizenship? -- Barry Levy Redondo Beach Redondo Beach (rĭdŏn`dō), city (1990 pop. 60,167), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1892. Once a commercial port for Los Angeles, it is a residential and resort city with a protected harbor and an excellent marina. Demote de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. city attorney Re ``More now, less later'' (Their Opinions, Dec. 4) Leonard McGinnis is right on the mark. The city of Los Angeles
The best thing for the taxpayers of this city would be to take civil suits out of the hands of the city attorney and City Council (too many biases), and turn them over to independent litigators, with controls. Insurance companies would do a far more efficient job at much less cost to the people. The city attorney could handle the minor cases. -- Ralph Hodgson Ralph Hodgson (September 9 1871 – November 3 1962) was an English poet, very popular in his lifetime on the strength of a small number of anthology pieces, such as The Bull. He was one of the more 'pastoral' of the Georgian poets. Chatsworth Giving and taking Re Viewpoint, Dec. 3: Bill O'Reilly's commentary (``Not conservative about their giving) and Nancy Pelosi's picture next to Thomas D Thomas D. (born Thomas Dürr, December 30 1968 in Ditzingen close to Stuttgart, Germany) is a rapper in the German hip hop group Die Fantastischen Vier. He frequently works on solo projects. Life After finishing Realschule he took on an apprenticeship as a barber. . Elias' commentary prompts this response: House speaker's hairdo -- $200 Jewelry -- $800 Suit -- $1,500 Charity -- ??? New taxes -- Priceless! -- Warren Thompson West Hills Christmas for troops Christmastime is right around the corner, and my one wish would be to know that the troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan are getting the best Christmas possible. Many cards and gifts have been sent to the troops since this so-called War on Terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act has started; however, I hope this Christmas they get even more because they deserve it. A few of my friends have recently been shipped to Iraq, and I know that this holiday will be one of the hardest to deal with because they are away from their families. Our president should do something really nice for the troops because they need it after all the hard work they do and danger they risk for our sake. -- Sahar Ghaemi Encino Important local story Re ``$1 million needed to help MEND project'' (Dec. 5): I would like to know why this story ran on Page 3 and not on the front page. This was not just another human-interest story, but one telling of a very real need in our community. I also feel that the Kresge Foundation putting a qualifier on its $400,000 contribution is shameful. MEND and organizations like them need every dollar they can get. Don't organizations like the Kresge Foundation realize they aren't helping by putting such a proviso on their donations? If each individual who read Dennis McCarthy's column were to donate $1 or more to MEND, I wonder if that $1 million could be raised by Jan. 1. -- Carolyn Purser PURSER. The person appointed by the master of a ship or vessel, whose duty it is to take care of the ship's books, in which everything on board is inserted, as well the names of mariners as the articles of merchandise shipped. Rosc. Ins. note. 2. Burbank Shady history Re: ``Box-office failure'' (Our opinions, Dec. 6): It's no wonder that the Madrid Theatre on Sherman Way has a ``hazy'' future. When it closed in 1994 due to the Northridge Earthquake, it was a seedy porn cinema. Once a shady place, always a shady place. Good luck with that. -- Kevin Long Northridge Slow reader President Bush said it would take a few weeks for him to respond to the Iraq Study Group report The Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward – A New Approach is the report of the Iraq Study Group, as mandated by the United States Congress. It is an assessment of the state of the war in Iraq as of December 6, 2006, when the ISG released the report to the public . I know why it will take this long. Someone will have to read the report to him, and then explain it. -- Martin Schiechl Woodland Hills Bolton's resignation The best thing that happened to America in years was when John Bolton was picked to represent the U.S. at the United Nations. The U.N. has looked at America with contempt, neither grateful for the monies provided, nor for the valuable land that houses this establishment. Ambassador Bolton made sure that he represented the U.S. in a dignified and straightforward manner and did not capitulate ca·pit·u·late intr.v. ca·pit·u·lat·ed, ca·pit·u·lat·ing, ca·pit·u·lates 1. To surrender under specified conditions; come to terms. 2. To give up all resistance; acquiesce. See Synonyms at yield. to ``political correctness.'' He put America first. Now that the Democrats are in power, heads are beginning to roll. That he was appointed by President Bush is reason enough to get rid of him. -- Pamela Franklin Granada Hills |
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