Reader Wire Reader Wire (February 14, 2003)

Enid's good analysis

I was very glad to read the article by Enid Pearson in the Feb. 5 Weekly!

Her analysis and suggestions have cleared up much of the controversy for me. Barbara Lilley Emerson Street, Palo Alto
Pro peace

Please add my voice and opposition to this rush to war by President Bush and his White House group.

I do not think I am anti-war as much as I am pro peace. Mother Teresa, when asked if she would attend an anti-war march, said, "No. But hold a peace march and I will be there." Richard K. Freeman E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto
Anti-war history

I want to congratulate the City Council for passing a resolution Monday night (Feb. 10) against a war with Iraq, except for the mayor, who left the meeting.

Forty years ago such political action would have been frowned on by this city. I was working as a volunteer, along with Joan Baez and Ira Sandperl, at a Peace Center started by Roy Kepler on Stanford Avenue, near the campus in a building where a motel now stands.

We distributed as much anti-Vietnam War material as we could find. Getting a reputation as "pinkos" among the more conservative citizens' organizations, such as pro-America. McCarthy was flourishing during those years. So, when Roy persuaded two of us (Beth Coats also, another Peacenik who supported the Center) to go to the Junior Chamber of Commerce with some anti-war material, we both blanched, but performed our duty willy-nilly.

Today Beth and Roy would both be proud of their town. Shirley Ledgerwood Waverley Street, Palo Alto
Another Vietnam?

We're now told to expect terrorist attacks in the United States.

Is Washington brainless? We're about to test our most powerful weapons, including possible nuclear weapons, on a small, much-weakened nation of the Muslim faith, one already hog-tied and contained, on the pretext of waging peace. Expect no reaction?

Remind you of Vietnam, one of the world's poorest, where successive U.S. administrations caused 58,000 U.S. and several million civilian deaths, to save that country from communism, which collapsed on its own a few years later?

Is this war really to assure the President's re-election? Wartime presidents always get re-elected.

Whatever your views, let the President know before it's too late. Call 1 (202) 456-1111 and leave your brief message. And be patient -- the line is busy these days. Roger F. Berg Mumford Place, Palo Alto
Time for change

The recent protest march in Palo Alto (Weekly, Feb. 5), as well as others across our nation and our world, represents a rising sea change of anger and frustration of the people. The cries of the people are not being heard, for we are now being controlled by the quasi-dictatorship.

Mr. B has both houses in his hip pocket, and the U.S. Supreme Court in his hip pocket. The hour is late -- it is time for the people to do more than just protest to affect a regime change in Washington. Larry Henderson Newell Road, East Palo Alto
Repeal tax

My error and my apology.

A CPA I consulted to check out the deductibility of the city's utility tax just got back to me and he reports this tax was deductible under the old rules, but not under the revisions, which limit state and local taxes to property taxes and DMV payments.

Since we cannot deduct it, we ought to at least repeal it.

This tax was never truly needed by Palo Alto, which is one of the richest cities on a per capita basis in California. Giving extra cash to our town spend-spend administration has fueled more hiring and excessive salaries.

Onward. Richard Alexander Santa Rita Avenue, Palo Alto