Where’s the Beef


Thursday I rushed out to get what I thought would be the California Rodeo edition of the Weekly and was disappointed to find “Sex for Sale” instead (“Tricks of the Trade,” July 21-27). 


I am a woman and a social worker and I read that article with interest. It was the best of what the Weekly is known for. 


However, the timing could not be more wrong. With two big family-friendly events like the Rodeo and Moto GP in town, you missed an opportunity to showcase the best of the county to visitors. I am not an editor,. but I could imagine sidebars featuring our ag culture that would send Rodeo goers to local businesses to ride or see horses, agriculture in action and the wineries. The same could be said about the need for speed and Moto GP visitors learning about our Laguna Seca racing school and our car shows. Sure the Rodeo has been done, but so has Christmas. 


I love our traditions and I want my Rodeo coverage back! - Daian Hennington | Monterey


Legislate It


You cannot get rid of the sex industry (“Tricks of the Trade,” July 21-27). Better regulate it, tax it, health-check it. This will eliminate human trafficking and HIV diseases. - fanghuzhai | via Web


Sensitivity Training


In response to the article “Con Artistry” (July 21-27) by Walter Ryce, I found his comparison of anime to “the energy of an ADHD boy on candy bars” both inappropriate and offensive (“Debut AnimeiCon convinces audiences that imaginative geek equals creative cool,” July 21-27). 


Using a mental disorder so flippantly makes light of a serious condition that affects many people. Surely such a phrase as “fans devour anime with the appetite of a bulimic teenage girl” would have been deemed to be in poor taste. 


Furthermore, although perhaps less offensive, the writer follows that quip with “and the drama of a tween girl humiliated on Facebook.” While the emotions of some adolescents may be fair game for chiding, this particular example could be confused with “cyber-bullying,” another serious concern in society. The article is otherwise fine, but these two excerpts fail to meet the standards of the Weekly. - Danny Funt | Pebble Beach


Aid Agenda


The Free Gaza Movement’s agenda isn’t to send humanitarian aid to the “Palestinians” in the Gaza (“Marina mariner detained in Greece after setting out on humanitarian mission to Gaza,” July 14-20). In violating international law by running a legitimate blockade, their true goal is to provide anti-Israel propaganda on behalf of the Hamas terrorist organization.


If the humanitarian aid was their goal, they would transfer the aid through legitimate Israeli channels. Daily, humanitarian aid and other consumer goods enter the Gaza area. Even the U.N., which often is no friend of Israel, confirms this.


The Free Gaza Movement is associated with the International Solidarity Movement, an organization that doesn’t recognize Israel’s right to exist, and the IHH, which is a Turkish Islamic organization with close ties to Hamas, Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.


Considering Israel has had over 10,000 rockets fired at it from Hamas-controlled Gaza, it would be suicidal for Israel to allow cargo ships to have uncontrolled access to the area.


Last year, when IDF forces boarded a “Freedom Flotilla” ship in an attempt to search it, they were attacked by the “peace activists” on the ship with knives, metal pipes and firearms. When the IDF forces defended themselves, killing nine of their attackers, left-wing and pro-Hamas activists attempted to use the deaths as “proof” of how “evil” the Israelis are.


“Humanitarian aid” was never the goal of the “Freedom Flotilla.” - Brian L. Burleson | Seaside


CORRECTION: The photo caption for last week’s news story on Seaside’s veterans cemetery (“Hitch the Wagons,” July 21-27) incorrectly placed Monterey Downs developer Brian Boudreau at a July 19 Sustainable Seaside meeting. Boudreau went to Sustainable Seaside’s meeting place at the time listed on the group’s website, but that meeting did not occur. Sustainable Seaside has not taken a position on Monterey Downs.