Hey! Wait! Where Am I?

It’s all Barbara Evans in your “Desal Project Stalled in Court” article—I am unnamed in the picture with Barbara and nowhere am I mentioned in the article [“Desal Project Stalled in Court,” Feb. 23-March 1]. How can this happen when I know more about de-salt stuff about the coast of the Ivory Coast than anybody west of Needles?

The Weekly needs to crank up its society editor and recognize the importance of what I am doing in the field of Micromanipulation.

Ed Leeper | Monterey

Note: The Weekly society editor must have been snoozing. Mr. Leeper—the great local artist and agitator—can clearly be seen in that photo standing next to Ms. Evans. Hmmm. —Editor

Smiley’s Got Her Facts Straight

Jane Smiley and her insightful commentary do not need my unsolicited defense [Forum, Feb. 16-22]. However, it is a shame that her well-written, accurate article has been unjustly criticized by a reader, Charles L. Pifer, who appears to be in denial when confronted with documentable facts [Letters, Feb. 23-March 1].

I suggest that he get acquainted with original documents, sworn statements and the Congressional Record. Fox News is not a reliable source.

Truth is difficult to accept. Admitting one is wrong is humiliating. Until we face the facts, we have small hope of getting out of our current mess. I for one am grateful for Ms. Smiley’s presentation. I am grateful, too, for a newspaper that publishes superior journalism.

Ann Sherman-Flint | Pacific Grove

Hey! Wait! Where’s My Sentence?

Does freedom of speech apply only to liberal speak!? By omitting my reference to the Clinton administration you deprived me of my freedom of speech.

Charles L. Pifer | Carmel

Note: The following line was cut from Mr. Pifer’s letter of last week, which criticized Jane Smiley’s jerimiad against the Bush administration: “Interestingly, the Clinton administration is factually guilty of most all of her accusations!” The line was cut for reasons of space. We regret that, because its ommission made the clever headline (“Impeach Clinton!”) meaningless.—Editor

Big Pharma Buys Bad Science

This is in response to John Mount’s critique to the autism story [Letters, Feb. 23-March 1]. All the studies that negate the vaccine/autism connection are riddled with conflicts of interest, and their authors are on the payroll of Big Pharma. There is a revolving door between the FDA, CDC, NIH, and the pharmaceutical conglomerates.

Robert Kennedy’s article “Deadly Immunity” is a very well-researched article, and published in Rolling Stone, which doesn’t run pharmaceutical ads, and is thus not beholden to them, unlike the rest of the controlled media.

As far as “vaccines being thimerosal-free for years,” there has never been a recall, only a weak recommendation in 1999. There are still millions of mercury-laden vaccines stockpiled in pediatricians’ offices, hospitals, and HMOs. Everybody needs to double-check the vaccine inserts.

If the mercury is gone, why have about a dozen states, including California, had to pass laws banning them, while others scramble to pass similar laws? Why are Bush, Frist, and their cronies constantly shaking provisions to give Big Pharma protection against lawsuits?

Almost all of the influenza vaccines have a full dose of mercury, and pregnant women are being told they must have it, even if the fetus receives 200 times what the EPA says is safe.

Informed parents of these vaccine injured children, be they autistic, ADHD, etc., have no conflicts of interest and are only trying to warm others to not have blind faith in their doctors or government.

Ana Morales | Salinas

Mercury Really Is a Poison

Anywhere in the world, at any time that thimerosol is used as a preservative in vaccines in babies, the incidence of autism goes up. The epidemic of autism is not inherited, nor is it because of different types of diagnosis.

Politicians and the media are well known to be addicted to pharmaceutical money. They use this power to get retroactive protection against liability.

Pete Saenz | Salinas

Hotel Employees Unite and Fight

Hotel workers are rising here on the Monterey Peninsula and across the country. It was so good to see the Weekly bring some attention to this national movement [Reorganizing Labor Priorities,” Feb. 23-March 1].

My co-workers and I are paid just $8.84 an hour and get no insurance or pension. We know we are not the only hotel workers with such poor wages in Monterey. There are hundreds of thousands of hotel workers in the US who make even less.

The hotel companies are growing bigger, so the hotel workers have to grow bigger and stronger, too. That is why we are joining together in this Hotel Workers Rising campaign. Our goal is to make service jobs the new middle-class jobs in America. These jobs are not going overseas. They are a big part of Monterey’s and the country’s future.

I was proud to ride the bus up to San Francisco with 50 other local hotel workers and community supporters. It was amazing to see more than a thousand workers from all over North America there.

We will work together for fair pay, benefits, safe workplaces, and respect. We will work together to rebuild the middle class. We will work together for the American Dream.

Juana Enriquez | Seaside

Let Leaves Lie; Let Oaks Stand

It was an honor and pleasure to be quoted in “Street Talk” regarding the best gardening tip I might share. Unfortunately, one word was lost in translation, which may have left readers a bit confused. I am quoted as saying, “When leaves drop, do not crunch them.” It should have read “do not rake them.” Leaves’ natural mulch provides nutrients and minerals as well as improving the soil.  

When asked the second part of “Street Talk” and sharing with readers what plant I would be, the Coast Live Oak, I was passing on my father’s love and passion. Forty eight years ago, when my parents, Barbara and Carlo Silva, first came to the Peninsula and rented a house on Van Buren Street, my father planted two Oak seedlings. Though the house no longer stands the Oaks live on and tower above the urban landscape. I continue my father’s legacy by planting Oaks in my Marina garden.

Grace Silva-Santella | Marina

The Hippies Are In League With The Fascists

If you were a monarch or a fascist dictator you might, to keep your people quiet and obedient, call out the Storm Troopers, or open a few concentration camps. But if you’re the president of a republic, even a “national security” republic, you can’t do that.

You could persuade your people that what really matters is self-improvement, getting in touch with their feelings, eating health foods,  jogging,  immersing themselves in the wisdom of the East, etc.

Harmless in themselves, these pursuits, elevated to a program, signify a retreat from the sordid world of politics.

Of course you’re not forgetting Sept. 11. How could you? The people scared spitless of terrorism…all those poor dead people…you made some moving speeches for their families.

But there’s nothing to stop you now…you can move your presidency to the right as fast as you want…

and no one will say you nay…afterall, we’re saving the world from

Araby Colton | Carmel

Letters to the editor: letters@mcweekly.com