Mistrial ‘sickening’ but not surprising I am...

Mistrial ‘sickening’

but not surprising

I am sickened by the decision Monday to declare a mistrial in the

gang-rape case of Greg Haidl, Kyle Nachreiner and Keith Spann. And I

feel great sorrow for Jane Doe and the blatant disregard for her

human rights, yet I am not surprised.

In a county which by majority represents, supports and embraces

the neocon, fundamental Christian-right views of George W. Bush, it

is to be expected that basic women’s rights and violations against

women, are unimportant.

This decision is a precursor to the role and place women will take

in society, if we sit back and refuse to take a stand against the

Bush machine. At this time in our country, women’s rights dangle by a

much-frayed thread. The parallels of this decision and our future are

undeniable. Women must wake up and smell the stench of the pile

placed before us by this administration.

All women must concern themselves enough to take action against

the fervent effort of the Bush Administration to reverse

constitutional law protecting a woman’s right to make decisions about

her own body. If they don’t, then they need to place themselves and

their daughters, mothers and sisters in Jane Doe’s shoes. Jane Doe,

as the court’s decision confirms, had no rights protecting her body

or her choice.

PAMELA BRANDE

Costa Mesa

Campus for education,

not political statements

With regard to the controversy over the recent UC Irvine

graduation, when people come here to get an education at the expense

of the taxpayers, people should know that the UC system is also paid

partially by taxpayers.

If people want to go there to get an education, I’m all for it.

But to go there and make a statement about their sexuality or their

belief in religion, I just don’t buy that.

The UC Irvine chancellor needs to put his foot down.

We’re talking about a lot of these students, who are using the UC

system. It’s almost like they’re not going there for an education.

They’re going there to show their contempt for the United States.

TOM THOMPSON

Newport Beach

Congregation reminded

to be good to neighbors

Exception must be taken to Warren Christiansen’s letter Tuesday

(“Expanding church delivers flowery show of appreciation”). St.

Andrew’s has been our church home for 50 years. During this time, we

have been reminded by our pastor to be considerate of our neighbors

and try not to park in the neighborhood if other places were

available.

Just this past Sunday, a chart was displayed with alternative

routes to church that we were asked to use, so that we wouldn’t be

driving on the neighborhood streets, even though we legally have a

right to do so. We will use the alternative routes, because we want

to be good neighbors.

Christiansen compares St. Andrew’s to Rock Harbor Church. This

facility has always belonged to St. Andrew’s, where as Rock Harbor

was nesting in the senior center until its new church could be

established and built.

Not only have we been members of St. Andrew’s for many years, I

also have had the privilege of being an employee for 15 years, during which time I witnessed the number of kids who would show up after

school to “hang out.” They would cram into the tiny offices of our

youth pastors and lie on the hallway floors to do their homework.

All we are trying to do is provide a safe, roomy area for the

youth and more parking spaces to relieve the street parking out of

consideration for our neighbors.

Our leadership is and has been meeting regularly with the

neighborhood. Hopefully this issue will be resolved soon to the

satisfaction of all.

PATTY HEALEY

Costa Mesa