ReaderWire ReaderWire (May 14, 2004)

High on hovercraft

At the risk of jinxing the deal, I heartily endorse the hovercraft acquisition.

Such a vehicle would be helpful for mudflats rescue of aircraft both from Palo Alto and from Moffett, and the all-tide capability to patrol the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct and trans bay electrical lines might well qualify it for Homeland Security funds.

All those opposed, wade across a half-mile of mudflats.
Walter E. Wallis
Waverley Street, Palo Alto

Dead tree a hazard

Acterra has girdled a large eucalyptus tree in the Arastradero Preserve and proposes to leave it standing rather than taking the time and expense to cut it down.

Are the City of Palo Alto and Acterra prepared for lawsuits when limbs from the dead tree fall on unsuspecting users of the preserve? It sounds ill-advised to leave such a hazard on city land.
Kent Price
San Antonio Road, Palo Alto

Rumsfeld should resign

I am outraged by the Bush/Rumsfeld response to the atrocities committed at the Abu Ghraib prison. These acts of torture of Iraqi prisoners are hard to comprehend being done by one human being upon another; that these acts were committed by American military personnel carrying out their duties goes against the honor of this country.

This will have devastating effects on how people look at this country, probably for decades. Never again will we be able to say that Americans do not behave this way towards other people.

Obviously we do.

This country's leaders seem to be taking actions mindful of the forthcoming election, and not what must be done to salvage what little honor this country has left.

Rumsfeld must resign. Bush claims Rumsfeld has done a great service for this country. However, an atrocity of this magnitude against the foundations of this nation's honor requires a response of equal magnitude.

While only a handful of soldiers committed the acts of torture, it is our leaders who must take ultimate responsibility. If Rumsfeld remains in office, then the American culture of respect for human life is phony and hypocritical -- we deplore torture done by others, but practice it ourselves.

A number of years ago, the pilot of a JAL airliner "landed" his plane in the waters just short of the runway at San Francisco International Airport. The plane settled in four feet of water and muck; no one was hurt, and the plane was eventually salvaged.

Yet some months later this pilot committed suicide because of the dishonor he believed he brought his company and his country. I am not suggesting the Mr. Rumsfeld fall on his sword. I am suggesting that he make the ultimate sacrifice and resign.
Richard C. Placone
Chimalus Drive, Palo Alto

Missing graduation

So President Bush will not be attending his daughters' college graduations from Yale and the University of Texas, ostensibly to avoid disrupting the day for other families.

But the President will be giving college commencement speeches at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Guess if the girls really wanted dad to attend their graduation, they would have gone to college in swing states.
Janice Hough
Bryant Street, Palo Alto

E-mail a friend a link to this story.