Mailbag - Nov. 1, 2001

I laughed so hard when I saw your cartoon today about the postal

worker in the astronaut suit. I live directly across from the Huntington

Beach Post Office and could see all the commotion that day from my

window. What made the cartoon so funny to me is that I work for the NASA

Office Of Inspector General. In my line of work we are involved in these

types of issues so it is was nice to take a break and have a good laugh.

Great cartoon.

MICHAEL O. KREPS

Special Agent in Charge

U.S. Federal Building

NASA Office of Inspector General

A bit of perspective

In lieu of the recent tragedies I find it most difficult to believe

that there is a struggle going on, a minor one that continues, right here

in Huntington Beach. I live in Huntington Beach, with the other 200,000

residents of this town, and wonder to this day why a small handful of

residents are so persistent about the Dog Park being a “harassment to

their life.” It has been said by some of the residents off Edwards that

the park has interrupted their “quality of life.”

Here we are, with world issues at stake, terrorism acts right here in

our own country with the brink of World War, and my “dog friendly” town

has residents that are making a big deal out of a positive thing -- dogs

playing. Essentially, that is what we are talking about here. Dogs

playing, and people who love their pets enough to care for them and take

them out to exercise on a daily basis. We go out of our way to care for

our animals, and it is not respected. Do you know how many strays are out

there without homes? Or how many dogs with homes that do not have owners

that will take the time to care for their dogs appropriately?

I have not even met these individuals who are claiming inconvenience

by the dog park being across the street from their house, but I wonder if

they really are human? Maybe these are the people who do not let people

in, in traffic, or run red lights because where they have to go is way

more important than someone else’s life. Maybe they are the ones who

claim they have patriotism but do not know their neighbors enough to

recognize them at the grocery store and say hi. Do they smile? How could

they? I do not know that I could walk around making havoc about something

positive and be proud of myself. I guess it is the “all about me”

syndrome, maybe they just want to be right, or maybe they just want to be

heard. Or maybe they are that shallow and think that being self-righteous

and going after the town with “sue threats” is a way to get ahead in

life. (oh, God, I hope they are not teaching their children this.)

So, when will the saga end? This ridiculousness of writing to the

paper, running to town meetings and stating our claim of why the park

should be there? Like I said in the beginning, there are world issues at

stake here, so let’s leave the positive things alone, enjoy them, and be

pleasant with each other. Last but not least, let’s all have a bit of

perspective.

STEPHANIE KOZOWYK

Huntington Beach