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Letters
Change may result in a 'Lost' Gatos
I am writing in response to the editorial regarding the control of speeders on Winchester Boulevard. Every week I used to look forward to reading what was new and happening in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. I can't say that anymore. It has nothing to do with the journalists. They only have so much they can work with, right?
It saddens me each and every week when I see the town issues and troubles of our community. I am a resident of Los Gatos and have been for over 21 years.
It is what I read and what I hear about that saddens me the most. It seems like there is always a complaint to top another complaint about someone doing someone wrong. That there aren't enough police and that there are too many speeders, too many crimes, too many dogs, and too many people who have too much time to complain about it.
We live in Los Gatos, for cryin' out loud! One of the most beautiful cities in the United States.
I recently lost my sister, Kristine Swearson, in the Sept. 11 attacks on America. It really has given me a greater appreciation of what I do have. I am saddened, brokenhearted and sometimes angry with the things I am seeing and reading and hearing. But, what I see here in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times is that the complaints, the fights, the loss of love has become the norm here in our town.
I believe that Los Gatos is a great place, and if we make too many changes, Los Gatos is destined to become "Lost Gatos."
There are many streets in other cities that have issues just as we do. But putting a speed bump or stop sign every 500 feet is not the answer here; eliminating dogs from our city streets or parks is not the answer either.
I think we should all take a little more time and stop the complaining, thank those on the board for doing the best they can do and take the time to smell the roses. It's not that bad, people. Really, it's not.
KerriJane Roberts
Los Gatos
Reader upset at unsightly weeds
I used to enjoy driving down Blossom Hill Road, especially when it was orchard property. I hated seeing the Summerhill development going in, because I don't think that we need to lose our open space to more million-dollar homes. Now it is getting worse. The weeds in front of the development were at least 5 feet high in some spots. They finally mowed them down, but now they just lie there, an eyesore for us all to look at. Can't something be done to clean this up? It looks simply horrible.
Pam Ashford
Los Gatos
Students show 'silence' does fan the flames
Without having said a word, the courageous Gay-Straight Alliance students and their supporters indeed proved that silence does fan the flames of intolerance as well as expose the intolerant.
Dennis Elia
Los Gatos
Tolerance an important lesson to learn
I'm writing in response to the article [on the] "day of silence" in the May 1 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.
First, let me applaud Los Gatos High School for supporting this nationwide day of silence protesting the discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. When my daughter came home that day and explained it to me, I gave it a lot of thought. I finally reached the realization that it was an incredible and very ingenious exercise to help anyone who does not understand the pain of being discriminated against. And for those who participated as members of the Gay-Straight Alliance, an opportunity to share information, through silence, and gain perhaps a few more people who now understand more about discrimination.
Most of us enjoy the daily freedom of expressing to others who we are, how we honestly feel about various issues, and to be who we are without fear for our lives, employment and popularity among friends and associates.
I was disappointed at Ted Kucklick's criticism. His statement that "The purpose of a school is not to provide every special-interest group with a political platform" was arrogant and irresponsible. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been aware for some time now that we have a world crisis going on: hate, violence and killing of innocent people in every corner of this world. Much of this condition has started by the teaching, training, even breeding, of children throughout the world to learn hate.
Every day our newspapers are filled with hate crime incidents, from Laramie, Wyo., to the Middle East. So, as I see it, to bring about a solution to this does start with our children, in our homes and schools. Somewhere we need to teach our children to seek understanding, practice compassion, acceptance, respect, and, yes, love for one another. Without this, how can any of us honestly stand up and say that we desire and wish for, and seek world peace?
And what does world peace mean? Is it a time when racism, homophobia, sexism and religious strife finally end, and humans--no matter what race, gender, religion or sexual orientation--can finally live peacefully together? Or is it a time when the dream of someone like Hitler prevails?
What lengths are we willing to go to end discrimination? To end hate, violence and killing? What lengths are we--as individuals, small groups, schools, societies, a nation--actually willing to go to in order to dramatically do something to improve our world? Is it politically incorrect for schools to support activities that help our children learn the hurtful effects of discrimination?
Mr. Kucklick, if my daughter graduates from LGHS with a high GPA and excellent SAT scores, but does not have a clue about living in peace with the rest of the world, then in my opinion she has not learned anything worthwhile and supportive in terms of preparing her for the task of real life and living in harmony with others.
Gee, when will we ever get it into our adult heads that school is not only about getting an A on that geometry test or English paper, or learning about political correctness? I hope [school] is about the joy of learning, exploring new ideas, expanding our minds, encouraging self-discovery, and learning how to face and deal with life challenges and even how to get along with those who are different from us.
In closing, Mr. Kucklick, if all the clubs in the school start asking for their own special day, maybe this would be an encouraging sign that we have exceptional students at LGHS. Their voices should be heard, not silenced.
Debbie Chase
Los Gatos
How sweet it is to reminisce!
Your editorial about Nicholson Hill [Cat's Hill race, May 8] being a challenge to automobiles (as well as bicycles) reminded me of when we would get a running start and see how far up the hill we could go in my Model A before having to shift gears. We never got far.
Others with Model As at that time were Dick Wall (LGHS class of 1947 and former LG fire chief) and Don Lindstrom, '46. I think we were the only Los Gatos High students with Model As at that time.
George Chrisman Jr.
Los Gatos (Class of '47)
DeCinzo to be praised for his originality
The denizens of Los Gatos have to be the most unsophisticated lot imaginable. Leave cartoonist DeCinzo alone and enjoy the cartoon for what a political cartoon should be. I don't always agree with him, but I do admire his originality.
Incidentally, the cartoon in the May 1 edition of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times was hilarious! I am going to miss the police chief. He was such a perfect foil for a clever cartoonist.
B. Foley
Los Gatos
What's wrong with enjoying fruits of labor?
With regard to Mr. Ralph's letter on your fine article, "King Vendor," it would seem that if those who complain about another's success would direct the energy spent on their envy toward getting themselves a life, they might have a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in this valley.
I don't know Mr. Aerts, but I do know that his accomplishments were not achieved without a huge commitment of hard work and capital risk. Think back, Mr. Ralph, to the days when you sacked groceries in a grocery store ... or maybe you didn't. Instead of attacking this kind of accomplishment, we should applaud it!
And if, after years of providing jobs to the area and paying taxes to local governments, Mr. Aerts has enough left over to be able to unwind by taking a glass of wine out to his garage to enjoy his classic cars, who are you to tell him he should feel guilty about it just because it isn't your thing?
I guess there will always be the movers and shakers out there producing, and those sitting on the sidelines throwing stones, wondering why socialism doesn't work.
Chuck Weber
Los Gatos
Stop whining about those cartoons
Let's stop with all those whining and sniveling anti-DeCinzo letters, fellow Los Gatos Weekly Times readers. I'm constantly amazed at the volume and tone of what seems like an endless flood of letters accusing DeCinzo of single-handedly undermining the fabric of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno society.
If DeCinzo's cartoons do "harm to our community" then we are a thin-skinned population that needs to toughen up and honestly ask ourselves why we are reacting so strongly. Could it be that there is a strong element of truth to many of DeCinzo's talented social satires?
It's a good thing the Los Gatos Weekly Times hasn't employed the talents of a national political cartoonist or he would be quickly dragged beyond the town line behind a fleet of latte- and cellular phone-laden SUVs and European sport sedans!
Philip Levine
Los Gatos
Correction
In the May 8 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, the phone number and website for the Twin Lions Estate bed-and-breakfast were incorrectly listed. The correct phone number is 408.399.6131 and the correct website is www.twinlionsestate.com.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
