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THE WHY AND HOW
One of the reasons we don't hear about the violence in Fanta Se [Cover story, Nov. 15: "
"] is the Republican daily newspapers know that's not good for business. We also live in one of the most violent countries in the world, with more people incarcerated than any other country. Many of those people are the mentally ill, whose crime is no health care and not being able to follow directions (many will spend eight or nine years in prison for being mentally ill). While the CEO of a local health care company, Presbyterian, makes $100,000 a week. The TV violence is senseless and incredibly constant and beyond belief what passes as entertainment.
Edgar Heap of Birds says it best: "The violence that is America makes Mad Dogs out of what were once Beautiful Children." Consumer capitalism is a mind virus, and, like the computer viruses we dread, they corrupt our files (moral and spiritual values). We must first face our incredible shadow of false wars, Iraq, Vietnam, et al., and the killing of 60 million Native Americans and 60 million buffalo at the same time, 20 times the Holocaust, if we are to heal our incredibly violent history.
Robert Francis Johnson
Santa Fe
CRIME TSUNAMI
I am moving: The leadership of this community will be asleep until well after the point of no return (which has already happened).
Does your police dept have an anti-gang task force? How effective will it be after the "strip search" class action lawsuit drains further funding from your department? Nothing will change…Want to know why? Read your review of
Fast Food Nation
…
Reality: This city (like many) is one smart gang leader away from a full-blown criminal insurgency. Don't believe me? Pick up a police scanner, listen to it for 24 hours and you'll be thankful that the gangbangers don't pay attention in history class! They outnumber and out-gun the police by a factor of at least four.
Somebody better step up with some funded anti-gang programs before the gangs start eating the rich to fund their own programs.
We will finally reap that which we (as a community) have worked so diligently to sow.
Now what about that endangered minnow?
David Hiss
Santa Fe
IMMIGRATION IRE
Hey Shelley, you missed the point on the immigration issue [Letters, Nov 15: "
"], as does most of NM, including SFR. Immigrants are not the problem. ILLEGAL immigrants are. Do any of you get it yet...ILLEGAL! That means not here legally. Name just one country that you can enter illegally-i.e., sneak across the border without permission-and it's OK. In fact, they will welcome you with open arms and give you all the benefits of a legal immigrant…name just one! Only the USA, because of people like you who keep missing the all-important LEGAL vs. ILLEGAL part. Illegal immigrants are not "new Americans" that you boast of wanting to support and thank. "New Americans" are immigrants here legally, not those who have crossed our border without permission. Does Canada have an open border policy with us so we can cross over illegally and work there? I think not. Want to feel sorry for the poor and help them? News flash: We already have some and they're our own poverty-stricken American citizens. Help them! In fact, how about a novel idea-let each country take care of its own.
I say welcome to the immigrants who are here LEGALLY as new Americans. I say keep sending and signing those petitions against illegal immigration until it stops. And finally, a big heartfelt thanks to the Minutemen who are taking time out of their lives to take a stand and help defend our borders. Someone has to when our own government won't. They should be admired, not put down as "testosterone-crazed" men and women.
Lastly, regarding that fence at the Mexican border…If there is no money in the government coffers to build it, how about this: If every American gave $1, betcha we'd have enough money to build that fence. I know I'd give a buck and so would everyone that I know. I know it's confusing that this state is called NEW Mexico and we are adjacent to OLD Mexico so it sort of all runs together. Trust me, New Mexico is supposed to be part of the United States, not part of Mexico. There's a border between us. And if immigrants can't seem to acknowledge that border, then I guess we'd better put up a fence so they can tell where their territory ends and the USA begins. If they want to be here, fine, but do it legally. That is not too much to ask and only what every other country, including Mexico, demands.
Lois Gacher
Santa Fe
PRESSING A POINT
The local press has taken on the job of judge and jury in the Coss/Kepler caper and in the great public school ripoff! You are misinforming the public with your one-sided views. The press consistently supports the same tired councilors who like to push everyone aside. They should start a quilting bee and keep their noses in their district, where 50 percent of the people don't acknowledge them.
Mayor [David] Coss is not up to leading; he's perfectly fine being a follower. He allows councilors [Patti] Bushee, [Karen] Heldmeyer, [Rebecca] Wurzburger and [Miguel] Chavez to do as they please. What's the sense in showing up for work?
We had started to see a significant improvement at the Santa Fe Trails after City Manager [Asenath] Kepler took over [Outtakes, Nov. 15: "
"], because the current mayor and council never saw fit to make any improvements, and they proved their worthlessness. Look at what you're doing!
The local press casts their opinion on city affairs as if everyone shared the same sentiment. They claim they're happy with the present city council, a perpetual puppet show. They assert that term limits are not necessary and that councilors are accessible to all. Yes, if you're part of the inner circle! The least we expect is unbiased reporting, not redneck journalism!
It's too bad the mayor needs people to think for him, thus creating a perpetual puppet! Of course, we have the professional string pullers, Councilors Wurzburger, Heldmeyer and Bushee, who show no restraint in being divisionists. Who ever said a mayor has no power hasn't been to Santa Fe, where a live donkey show exists every day at city hall!
Councilor Chavez should spend quality time with his people and quit favoring the eastside! The mayor is also slipping; we presumed you were a people's man, but you are too easily influenced the other way. Don't you have a voice of your own? Since Heldmeyer, Bushee and Wurzburger run the show, then, mayor, what is there left for you? Break ties? We've had a lot of problems with these councilors in the past to the present. And you, David, were part of that inner circle. We've been through a "bad trip" with them. The local press, it seems, bent over for them! All to the advantage of the same culprit!
Dennis S Perea
Santa Fe
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