PUBLIC FORUM.

Lack of respect

Our elected officials of late have shown their contempt for the people they represent from the trash collection fee to even not allowing the people they represent to speak. Then to show their utter lack of respect for those who speak on issues of interest in Los Angeles, they let a former councilwoman, Jackie Goldberg, speak as long as she wanted on a totally unrelated topic.

To add insult to injury, they now tell us that they are so stupid that they cannot learn to do their jobs in less than three terms so we should give them an extra term, and more pay. I don't think so. What can we do as voters to hold these people accountable for their actions? Voting them out every four years is not enough. We need to be able to fire them before their terms are up.

-- David Whitelaw 

Eagle Rock

No more terms

Re ``L.A.'s defiant council'' (Our Opinions, Aug. 2):

Wendy Greuel would like four more years' eligibility as councilwoman for Sherman Oaks. The voters in her district would be better served by voting her out of office. Greuel brings big-time developers, big-time projects along with big-time congestion and traffic into Sherman Oaks. The unwanted Best Buy project, the Barone's development purchased by developers from Dubai of the United Arab Emirates for $1 billion, and another blunder soon to come, known as the Water Gardens development. All of this, while apartment to condominium conversions and mansionizing go unabated in Sherman Oaks.

But these are her special interests, not the residents of Sherman Oaks, where, by the way, she does not live. Don't be fooled by Wendy Greuel.

-- Robert E. Simon 

Sherman Oaks

Scam, or ostrich?

Re ``Global warming scam'' (Your Opinion, Aug 3):

James Glass writes, ``Hundreds of actual scientists around the world dispute this conclusion (global warming) ... It's a scam, and you are a charlatan.'' While many would like to discredit the concept of global warming and its causes by citing these ``hundreds'' of ``actual scientists,'' there are thousands upon thousands of scientists who feel differently.

Some of these ``actual'' scientists have been shown to be pseudo scientists at best. Those who follow them, and the conservatives who promote them are like the ostrich sticking its head in the sand. Sorry, James Glass, we don't have those 10,000-100,000 years to present the evidence you demand in order to take countermeasures.

-- Arnie Moore

Sherman Oaks

Sinister denial

Re ``Global warming scam'' (Your Opinions, Aug. 3):

James F. Glass claims that hundreds of scientists share his denial of global warming and says it's nothing more than a scare-tactics scam to raise taxes, increase bureaucracy and reduce freedoms, etc. He says this in spite of the fact that he is clearly outnumbered by hundreds more in the worldwide scientific community who categorically agree that there really is a crisis and that we must act now.

It's tempting to dismiss this man as being nothing more harmless than a member of the Flat Earth Society. But his denial appears to be based on something far more sinister than that. Glass, like our myopic president, is typical of those who selfishly think only of ways to protect big business and themselves by killing all environmental regulations.

-- Richard McCurdy

Burbank

Blind support of Israel

Re ``Muslim council's bias all too clear'' (Their Opinions, Aug. 1):

As the recent Middle Eastern violence flared, the Muslim Public Affairs Council gathered the media on July 23 and categorically stated our abhorrence at Hamas' and Hezbollah's targeting of Israeli civilians. Targeting civilians violates basic tenets of Islam. Despite plugged ears, our condemnations are clear.

Would David A. Lehrer and Joe R. Hicks be able to condemn Israel's murderous campaign against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians? Highly doubtful, since blind support of Israel has trumped basic human rights.

But anyone who dares to speak out against Israel does so at their own peril. In the U.S., you can criticize God, you can criticize Jesus, but you dare not criticize Israel. If so, be prepared to be called ``extremist,'' pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American and anti-God. The imbalance is breathtaking.

-- Omar Ricci

Chair, Muslim Public Affairs Council

Los Angeles

Gibson's sincerity

Of course the Jews will accept Mel Gibson's apologies. We expect anti- Semitism. We grew up with it. We are pleasantly surprised when we witness the absence of it. It comes with the territory when 3 percent of the world`s population produces 90 percent of the brain power.

It is to America to whom he should direct his apologies and for Americans to decide his sincerity. He accepted America`s hospitality and became a billionaire as a result. Then, in a drunken stupor, he expresses his true virulent feelings about the equality of man, the basis of our democracy. Mel's got his money; he doesn`t need the Jews in America. The Jews may accept his apologies but not one Jew really believes he is sincere.

-- Bernard Lehrer

Ventura

Ignored racial slur

``While it is politically incorrect to say that all Muslims are terrorists, unfortunately, it's true that all terrorists are Muslims.'' This anti-Muslim statement was made on Bill O'Reilly's show, ``The O'Reilly Factor,'' by the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Dan Gillerman, on July 16, 2006.

This accusation, that all terrorists are Muslims and that terrorism is strictly a Muslim phenomenon, is outrageous. Yet not one part of the media challenged Gillerman to apologize, but rather, the entire media simply ignored it. How is it that Gillerman's comments went completely unreported while Mel Gibson's comments made front-page headlines?

-- Mohammad Alhinnawi

Tarzana

Cheap shot

Re ``Illegal hoops'' (Your Opinions, Aug. 2):

I do not see how Betty Jenkins can go from the illegal basketball hoops story to bashing illegal immigrants. There is no logic to your connection, but your hatred for us immigrants is obvious.

Immigrants have been blamed for everything bad in this country, while turning a blind eye to all the sacrifices and contributions we have done. I ask that people think twice before bashing us immigrants.

-- Victor Ordonez

San Fernando 

Balancing out

Re ``Our youths are spoiled about draft'' (Their Opinions, Aug. 3):

Thomas Sowell made some interesting and I feel valid observations in his column. Having served voluntarily in the Army from 1960-63, I do not favor reinstating the draft, but I wonder if the seemingly uncontrollable numbers illegally immigrating to the United States in the South would in part be offset by large numbers illegally heading north to Canada in an effort to avoid the draft?

-- Ralph L. Myers

West Hills

It is our house

Re ``Look who's falling short on decorum'' (Aug. 3):

Eric Garcetti is quoted as saying ``Emily Post wouldn't even invite these people over. We bring them into our house every day.''

Therein lies the problem. The chambers are not ``their'' house. I am under the impression that as citizens of Los Angeles, the chambers are ``our'' house. And I truly believe we have more manners.

-- Marianne C. Mellein

Encino

The Kennedy clan

Re ``Star treatment'' (Our Opinions, Aug.3):

Although I agree with your editorial, the only real star treatment in this country is extended to members of the Kennedy family. Most recently, think Patrick Kennedy. He was not alcohol tested, was driven home by the police, and it was called addiction to prescription drugs. The ultimate star treatment, of course, was given to Teddy Kennedy at Chappaqquidick.

-- Diane Newton

Northridge