Yesterday, while I was getting my hair cut at Tangles in downtown Los Gatos, I was shocked and appalled to see a truck drive by with hatred written all over it. It had horrible words written about homosexuals. I watched it drive by once, then twice.

I decided to drive down to N. Santa Cruz Avenue to see what was going on. People were standing on corners holding signs 5 feet tall of aborted fetuses. Now, I know I am extremely liberal; however, in this day and age, it is sad that people resort to preaching hatred. I also believe in freedom of speech. These people were doing what is legal; however, these are the same people that are calling for censorship on TV and radio.

Being a parent, I know when to shield my child from what goes on in the media. That is the responsibility I took on when deciding to have a child. Unfortunately, I could not censor my child from seeing these horribly graphic pictures because I could not turn these people off like I can the TV and radio.

The local teens that are coming out have an extremely difficult time; they do not need people like this standing on corners. As a society, we need to learn to accept people for who they are. Homosexuals are just asking for the same rights as heterosexuals. They have loving relationships and want to show commitment. Where does it say that this is so wrong? Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?

All people should legally be able to get married at City Hall. I am so happy that there are people like Gavin Newsom in the world. We should preach acceptance, not hatred, and be a good example to our children.

Kirstie Leary

Los Gatos

Boycott of
gas 'big boys'
is called for

Great article on "Gas prices are on the rise, but why so high?" Looks like you are from about the same era as I. You mention in your article Chevron and Union.

Go back in memory a couple of years ago when gas prices went sky high and there was a suggested boycott to not purchase gas on a certain day. Well, it did not work. Here is an idea. Stop purchasing gas from Chevron and Union period. These are two of the big boys, and then watch what happens. I'll bet the smaller distributors of gas will get the message.

Howard Theobald

Los Gatos

Cleaning up the
outside doesn't
change the inside

Regarding your article on Taco Bell and a small-town look, you cannot judge a book by its cover, as the old adage goes. You still get the same stuff inside, with the same mass-merchandiser décor.

I bring your attention to the greatly improved building that now houses Walgreens. It certainly is an improvement in architecture and ambiance on the exterior, but on the inside it is still an abysmal failure to making people friendly. They used to have "white, white" fluorescent bulbs instead of "warm white," which casts a pink, warm glow, making it so bright that you have to wear sunglasses as the light reflects off the battleship linoleum style floors.

The whole mood is so superstore, it makes you yearn for a mom and pop corner drugstore again. Prices certainly were not any worse there, as is evident by Walgreens. You better figure out who you're catering to or, to quote another adage, "you cannot fool all the people all the time," so get with it.

Justo Hernandez

Los Gatos

Early detection
key in battling
colon cancer

Your cover story in the March 10 issue provided compelling evidence of the importance of early detection of colon cancer. Your readers would undoubtedly benefit from an understanding of the various screening techniques that are available for detecting this cancer, which would be a worthy topic for a follow-up article.

That article could cover the much-advertised virtual examination by noninvasive scanners as well as those involving the insertion of a flexible tube. In the latter category are the sigmoidoscope and colonoscope, which are used for visual examination and the removal of polyps.

A sigmoidoscopy examines only the descending portion of the colon while a colonoscopy examines the transverse portion in addition to the ascending portion.

Obviously a colonoscopy is much more thorough.

Your readers might also benefit from a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of virtual procedures versus those involving the insertion of a flexible tube.

What many people consider to be the obvious advantage of the virtual approach is that it is noninvasive and, thereby, safer and more comfortable.

However, any polyps that are detected will require a subsequent invasive procedure for removal.

Thus, an advantage to the flexible-tube technique is that examination and polyp removal are accomplished in a single procedure.

In my case, polyps are routinely removed, but it would be important for your readers to know how typical that is.

Even knowing the procedure might save their lives, many people are reluctant to submit to the flexible tube for fear the procedure will subject them to considerable discomfort.

Speaking as one who has undergone sigmoidoscopies as well as a colonoscopy, the only discomfort I have experienced resulted from the need to insert a gas to inflate the colon in order for the operator to be able to observe the colon and to maneuver the flexible tube. For me, it helped to know what was causing the discomfort.

In any event, this is a temporary discomfort and cannot be used as an excuse to avoid these procedures.

To me, the most objectionable aspects of the procedures are the necessary process of emptying your digestive tract of any solid food products and adhering to a liquid diet on the preceding day, but that is because I have a nasty habit of enjoying real food.

Wesley I. Ferguson

Saratoga