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Letters

But what's the tear-puddle's motivation?

I was fortunate to be a member of the cast of Maui Community Theatre's production of Hair. We had 12 performances and it was one of the highlights of my life. I must admit, however, that there were times during the singing of "Let the Sun Shine In" that I was not quite "feeling it." Because it was 1990 and we were not at war!

If I were to sing it now on stage, I would dissolve into a puddle of tears on the floor. "Hair" is a very powerful anti-war statement. Everyone should see it.—Parvati Tresser, San Rafael

And he almost stole the 2000 pres election

Al Gore asks, "Why is it that facts, truth and reason play such a minor role in our democracy?" I can only marvel at the chutzpah, denial, or whatever failure to deliver honesty lies beneath that comment. In my opinion, a politician such as Al belongs to one of the most mendacious, Machiavellian, self-serving groups of Americans. They have built their careers on obscuring and distorting facts in order to prey upon voters' ignorance and emotions. Now he tells us that he is on the other side of the street?—Name Withheld, San Rafael

Hey, it ain't our fault...

Whats going on with earthquake insurance in Marin County? In 2003-2004 my premium with Allstate for a 15 percent deductable policy was $457. Today for the same house, same coverage it's $700. Did someone move the fault line? —Name Withheld

Several children left behind

All Marin School of Arts and Technology wanted was a home for all its students. The closing of MSAT is a result of the misguided actions of the Novato Unified School District. NUSD has a group of board members who just maintain the status quo. Integrity? Fairness? Equality of services? How can they claim any, after failing to help MSAT succeed? They cannot choose which of their students they help, and not help others. Just as they cannot choose to advance whites over blacks, they cannot choose to support one school and not the other. That is discrimination. Educators? How can they claim to be educators when they let MSAT fold? It is one of the best public educational institutions in Marin! All other districts to which Envision Schools has brought new schools have appreciated their programs. Why didn't NUSD? How many times has NUSD acted surprised lately? This is Jan Treppa's favorite ruse. For the president of NUSD's board to be surprised means she comes unprepared. She is surprised at MSAT's closing. Is NUSD trustworthy? Don't bet your school! They do not deal fairly with their clients, the students and parents they are supposed to represent. If they were wise, nay, if they had any sense at all, they would have learned from MSAT's new systems—the advances on all fronts of education that Envision Schools was growing through MSAT and brought it to all their schools. Envision shares its knowledge, and they would have helped NUSD. Envision Schools is supported by grants from many foundations. Novato has lost a great resource, but the sad thing is NUSD has betrayed not only the MSAT students, but all the students of Novato by failing to put aside whatever petty political reason they had for their legal—but highly questionable—actions. They won, but have lost the right to claim anyone's trust.—Parent of an MSAT sophomore

Mustachioed Bechtel drug pushers need not apply

This is the most unusual "personals" ad I've ever come across in the Pacific Sun. From April 9, 1982: "Desire lover in all senses, no robot, an original W/M 30-40 warm affectionate lively humorous mystical for occasional togetherness with attractive lady. Don't reply if you smoke, type A, have mustache, virgo, scorpio, opera buff, sloppy dresser, heavy-set, drug pusher, video addict, disrespect animal rights, Bechtel employee. Jacy Box 7060 San Rafael."—Chuck Heusser, Tiburon

When caffeine and racism mix...

Imagine my surprise to find anti-Semitism alive, well and unchallenged when I was in Larkspur on June 11. I am a professor of Russian and European history at Rutgers University in Camden who spent the weekend in the Bay Area and drove to Larkspur for breakfast at an Italian cafe. Seated next to a group of well-preserved, well-heeled, white seniors, I couldn't help but notice when a man walked in, showed a member of the group a newspaper article, and commented loudly that Joseph Lieberman looked "Jewish—as Jewish as you can get."

The disdain in the man's voice was unmistakable. His proximity and the impunity with which he spoke put me off my cappuccino, to say the least. When he walked by my table a few minutes later, I said quietly, "Excuse me, but I'm also as Jewish as you can get. Had I known the local Ku Klux Klan had its morning meetings here, I would have gone for breakfast somewhere else." Granted, this was a provocative and obnoxious statement, but I wouldn't have sat quietly if I'd heard a racist or homophobic remark, and I wasn't going to sit still for anti-Semitism.

The man, evidently a regular customer, responded by launching into a hateful tirade about how "you people now want to bomb Iran!" and "you people have ruined this country!" When I informed him in a quiet voice that I had no desire to bomb Iran and added, "Wow, pleased to meet you Mr. Mel Gibson," he grew louder and more aggressive, telling me "I hate you people." This was followed by the classic defense of all racists, i.e., he informed me that "Some of my best friends are Jewish." He also raised his voice and began wagging his finger in my face.

At this point, I told him "You're an anti-Semite. Get away from my table." He continued to berate me until two other customers intervened to chastise us for disturbing the peace. Neither they nor anyone else addressed the content of the altercation. The man returned to his group, and they spent the next few minutes bucking him back up and defending his freedom of speech. Outraged not by her friend's anti-Semitism but by my interference, an older blonde woman said, "We shouldn't be subject to the policing of what we say!"

I finished my breakfast, but not before telling them, "You should be ashamed of yourselves." And, indeed, they should be.

I left shaken and appalled. Needless to say, I will never return to this café when I visit the Bay Area again. Its morning regulars are clearly not my "people." Has anti-Semitism become acceptable in certain parts of Marin County? Is racism equally acceptable? Or did I just run into a bunch of bad apples in what is otherwise a good bunch?—Dr. Laurie Bernstein, Camden, New Jersey

As a matter of fact, I do own the road

Hi, Pac Sun. Just wanted to share my amazement with you that in certain areas, streets can be owned privately. This offensive note was placed on my windshield while I was attending the public Belvedere Chess Tournament:

"VISUALIZE BEING TOWED...

YOU ARE ILLEGALLY PARKED ON A PRIVATE STREET. Parking is reserved for Mallard Road residents and their guests only, as the signs at each end of Mallard Road advise. Please respect our privacy and our limited parking by parking your car on Community Road or in the city hall parking lot.

Repeat offenders will be towed, pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22658."—Loryn Sweet-Winer, Mill Valley