Toss-up on who’s worse: Nichols or Aitken...

Toss-up on who’s worse: Nichols or Aitken

I’m sure I’m not the only one who just about tossed up their

breakfast (from the recently rescued Omelette Parlor, no less) when I

read Linn Aitken’s comments on the Dick Nichols affair Sunday

morning. It’s incredibly depressing to know that there are actually

people who still think this way in Newport-Mesa, but at the same

time, it’s even more depressing to know that there are more of them

than would care to admit. Wonder what he or she thought when picking

up the paper this week to learn that Latinos are now the largest

minority in the country.

His or her views are so incredibly backward, perhaps we can round

up all those who feel the same way (including Nichols) and ship them

off to somewhere in Montana. Get with the 20th century, Mr. or Mrs.

Aitken, because this is the future. As Rodney King so eloquently said

some years back: Can’t we all just get along?

MIKE MCNIFF

Costa Mesa

No fair singling out Mexican immigrants

In response to Linn Aitken’s letter published Sunday.

Aitken should try substituting the word Mexican for any immigrant

ethnic group of the 19th and early 20th centuries. “These are people

that [Ireland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Poland] does not want and is

glad to rid themselves of: poor, low class, unproductive, uninspired,

uneducated.” Aitken sounds like the elitists of my poor, low class,

unproductive, uninspired, uneducated Irish and German ancestors’ day.

How did these unproductive Mexicans come to be on Aitkin’s beach?

They saved, toiled and struggled all the way here.

It is by sheer chance and by the grace of God that Aitken was born

in America and not in another country that lacks free market

opportunities to improve oneself. Unless Aitken happens to be an

American Indian, Aitken’s forefathers skipped out on their country

and hopped a boat to be greeted by often unwelcoming Americans.

Most immigrants are “inspired” by the thought of better paying

jobs, a better way of life and a better future for their children.

May they learn fluent English, become rich, educated and productive

in this classless nation of ours.

KELLIE BIEBER

Costa Mesa

Quit playing games

and get to work

I hope that Assemblymen John Campbell and Ken Maddox and our other

state legislators read Jerry Patterson’s commentary. Are they going

to let our state go over the cliff while they play their partisan

games -- like the totally irresponsible recall campaign? It is time

for the Republicans to offer a constructive alternative budget

instead of just rabid anti-tax rhetoric.

But I think they are afraid to, because they know that the only

alternatives to a tax increase are massive cuts in education,

children’s health care, and other vital elements of state government.

Our state legislators need to show Patterson and the rest of us

that they value our community college system.

PAUL EKLOF

Costa Mesa