Readers missed Fish Fry and fund-raisers...

Readers missed Fish Fry and fund-raisers

I was so happy and grateful to read Mike Scheafer’s rebuttal

(“Pilot should join the Lions Club,” June 20). As a lifetime resident

of Costa Mesa, the Fish Fry has always been a special family outing

and reunion of friends. In the past, my brothers participated (on

horseback) in the parades; my daughter celebrated her birthdays at

the Fish Fry for all of her growing years.

We have been extremely disappointed that a frivolous lawsuit

helped cause its cessation fro the past two years.

More importantly, for 57 years, more than $2 million came back to

our communities, especially for our youth, through the fund-raising

efforts of the Fish Fry. Thanks to Scheafer for speaking out. No one

in the previous letters had mentioned this very important fact.

RACHEL PEREZ-HAMILTON

Costa Mesa

Letter writer just got used to ‘under God’

In the wake of Sen. Joe McCarthy’s search for double agents and a

communist fifth column in the United States during the ‘50s, the

outcome some might say, was less than sterling. The more immediate

results included the loss of the “Loyalty Oath” for government

workers and many government contractors, while on the upside -- the

words “under God” were added to our Pledge of Allegiance.

When we first said the new words in grammar school, it sort of

gave one an uncomfortable feeling -- after being so used to saying it

the old way. Many of us fumbled for years about when the pause came

“One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for

all.” Or was it, “One nation, under God, indivisible ... “

At the very heart of this issue is not whether “under God”

alienates people, but rather “which God” are we talking about here?

The founders used the words “Creator.” “Which Creator” are they

talking about? I would argue they intended it to mean “Everyone’s and

everything’s Creator,” including unknown aliens from another planet.

The key focus in this discussion is “the thought” that the pledge

may in some way “exclude their God.” Not to worry folks. Not to worry

9th circus court. An atheist must even admit that “under [their] God”

-- the love of money, power or any other thought or meaning could be

inferred.

It’s a Libertarian’s dream: “under God” means we answer first --

before the government. So what’s all this big flub-a-dub about?

Perhaps it simply relates to the battle between Dewey’s “determinism”

versus the “existential school” of “me God -- you Jane” thinking. In

any event, America as a country was founded “under God” -- not even

with ... or on top of. Anyway, I just got the pause right ... “One

nation, under God, indivisible -- with liberty and justice for all.”

RON WINSHIP

Newport Beach