McDonald’s night for Rea Elementary a...

McDonald’s night for Rea Elementary a paradox

Does anyone else find it both sad and incredibly ironic that Rea

Elementary School teachers and administrators recently spent an

evening working at McDonald’s “to help entice Rea families to eat at

the restaurant” while their “day job” is to educate our children

about such issues as nutrition (i.e. health); and that such health

education is critical nowadays because of the epidemic of childhood

obesity and diabetes, which is itself in large part a function of the

now taken-for-granted but nevertheless abominable practice perfected

by McDonald’s of marketing directly to children (“the key to

attracting kids is toys, toys, toys”) and selling huge amounts of

soda (the food at fast food chains usually have the lowest profit

margins and soda has by far the highest); and that the funds raised

by “enticing” Rea families to eat at McDonald’s goes to Rea School’s

“sixth-grade outdoor science school week” -- during which time Rea

School children learn about such issues as “ecology” and preservation

of the “natural” environment -- which is critical nowadays because of

the devastation of the environment caused by an overreliance on

growth hormones, anabolic steroids and antibiotics in poultry and

cattle, and herbicides, pesticides, poisons, and commercial

fertilizers in agriculture -- in order to ensure profits for

corporations such as McDonalds?

In other words, shouldn’t we be teaching our children to “just say

no” to McDonalds?

LAURA DESFOR EDLES

Costa Mesa

Bombing drill did not belong at high school

A terrorist bombing at Costa Mesa High School? Burning cars? Gas

masks? I’m shocked that city and county officials would see fit to

enact such a grim and frightening scenario in front of minor children

(“Practice makes perfect,” Oct. 17). Couldn’t they have practiced

this drill at Orange Coast College, or in a place where “the victims”

were adults? Was it really in the best interest of these students,

some as young as 13, to witness such a vivid and awful demonstration,

when they should have been focusing on their studies? A level of

preparedness is certainly appropriate in times like these, but is it

necessary to use our children in this way?

CHERYL KAUFMAN

Newport Beach

Planning Commission did right by Mormon temple

As a proponent of the proposed Mormon temple, I would like to

thank Chairman Steven Kiser and the Newport Beach Planning

Commissioners, not necessarily for their vote, but for their

impartiality and patience in listening to the extensive testimony

with respect to the proposed temple.

As they deliberated this complex issue, I particularly appreciated

their tireless and thoughtful efforts in explaining the reasoning,

analysis and conclusions that preceded the rendering of their

decision.

As residents of Newport Beach, we should all recognize the

considerable uncompensated time and effort these dedicated citizens

volunteer in our behalf.

RICHARD A. FULLER

Newport Beach