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
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