THE VOICE OF THE BOURGEOISIE

Earth to Weekly: where’s the edge? In the softball interview with Leon Panetta and the mamby pamby editorial in the last edition, one cannot help but sense that evolution in proceeding in reverse for the folks at the local alternative paper. Do you remember what a spine feels like? The gushing praise for playing nice and appeasement is enough to make me ask you to surrender your radical credentials.

This country was not changed by “civility and a commitment to the common good,” as Mr. Johnson writes. Does anyone at your shop remember Montgomery or Chicago or Kent State?

Change is not pretty, it is terrifically hard, mean and sometimes ugly. Instead these days we have the lefty press endorsing Arnold Schwarzenegger and then offering up a local son of privilege as proof that if we all just manage to find a way to get along, that we too may look forward to the rise of the ex-hippie bourgeoisie. Fight the power. —Niels Flanders | Marina

PANETTA FOR GOVERNOR

Kudos to Eric Johnson for another well-reasoned and provocative editorial about Leon Panetta and the possibilities of politics. It is a testament to Panetta that he elicited from the editor both critical acclaim and thoughtful rebuke.

If Leon is looking back with the rose-colored spectacles of hindsight, so be it. This country did get a balanced budget, and the majority did work with the loyal opposition. Those are laudable goals.

I hope that Panetta sets his sights on Sacramento to allow California to regain its position as the leader of progressive politics in this country. —Betty Haroldson | Monterey

ALL CHRISTIANS AREN’T FANATICAL

In response to Dwight Truth’s letter in the Weekly [Nov. 2-8]: He is proof positive that not all Christians are the same. It is extremists like Mr. Truth that give all spiritual people a bad rap.

As a spiritual person I have never experienced the mocking that Mr. Truth has, but maybe that’s because I don’t use my religion as a scapegoat only when it’s convenient. I believe in God but also realize that religion does not always reflect God’s will.

Mr. Truth asks “So, whom should we believe? Man or God? I choose God.” God did not write the Bible. Man wrote the Bible, and Man is often stupid.

The Bible teaches that God loves everyone, yet extremist Christians would have everyone believe that if you celebrate Halloween or God forbid, let your kids read Harry Potter books, that you will burn in Hell. If God is as forgiving as the Bible says then surely our little earthly celebrations are not enough to banish us to Hell.

Of course if Mr. Truth believes everything that Christianity teaches then he too would be doomed for offering to “burn copies” of DVDs, an illegal activity. —Sue Braum | Seaside

CHOATES BEHAVED LIKE A BULLY

Kelita Smith’s argument that the police use “tactics only police have at their disposal” to undermine politics [Letters, Oct. 12-18] is totally irrelevant to the Weekly’s article [“Cops Say Choates’ Threatened Payback,” Oct. 19-25]. She cites incidents in Salinas and San Francisco involving police and political candidates. My question is: What does this have to do with Choates’ alleged threats to Seaside police?

This is a simple case of a politician using his clout to try to bully respected agencies into endorsing him. Anyone who’s ever observed a Seaside City Council meeting can attest to Choates’ brashness and arrogance. The fact is that all citizens, whether individuals or as members of a public agency, have the right to be heard. The police were right not to let these threats get swept under the rug. One would want their child to speak up if a schoolyard bully had threatened them; why should we expect anyone to tolerate full-grown bullies? —Linda Woody | Seaside

SEE THIS WAR MOVIE

You may feel saturated and discouraged with war facts…numbers of dead and wounded, numbers of dollars spent (Google “cost of war”)…but whatever your political persuasion, do not miss the video Iraq for Sale: the War Profiteers.

This latest film by Jeff Greenwald is currently being viewed privately both locally and across the nation. It has been described as “a horrifying catalog of greed, corruption and incompetence among private contractors in Iraq” (NY Times) and also as a film that could unite “viewers across all political spectra” (LA Times).

If you are not aware of showings through local organizations or individuals, check online for venues near you or call 373-1061. —Judy and Steve Doby | Carmel Valley