A Bankrupt Tradition

The tradition of naming American schools or sports teams after indians who were slaughtered for the very land you learn and play on is a bankrupt tradition.

Just as South Africa had to end apartheid because it had become morally bankrupt and the times required it, so will the practice of naming teams after the slaughtered peoples of America.

The calvary murdered the bow and arrow people. The Israelis are slaughtering stone throwing people now with Apache helicopters and Tomahawk missiles (from America and paid for with our tax dollars). It's like a 40-year-old man fighting a four-year-old and calling it a fair fight. Grow up and raise your children with a new message.

J. Kate Hart S.

Tomales

Drug Test The Supremes, Congress, Bush

Since the Supreme Court decided to uphold drug testing of students who sing in the choir, it raises the question of who's next? For example, since President Bush is calling for more drug tests, shouldn't he set and example and submit to drug testing himself? If the government requires children who sing to be drug tested then shouldn't the guy with his finger on the nuclear trigger also be drug tested?

Why don't we drug test members of the Supreme Court? Why don't we drug test all judges? Why don't we also drug test members of Congress? Let's be consistent in our drug testing policies and let those who would take away our privacy rights surrender those rights themselves. I therefore call on President Bush, all Judges, Governors, and all members of the Legislature to submit to random drug tests.

Marc Perkel

San Francisco

http://www.perkel.com

Welcomes CP

Hard to believe it's been a year since we were in Marin County and how I wish I were there now sitting in a Point Reyes Station hot tub rather than this office just outside the Washington, DC beltway.

The Coastal Post has been a welcome visitor to our mail box this past year bringing opinions not often heard in the DC environs (GW Bush is a puppet of the corporations that paid for his campaign and probably says a quiet thank you prayer for the "war on Terrorism" that has the sheep-like majority giving him high ratings) and we welcome this dissatisfaction with George W.

Thank you, Coastal Post. Keep it up.

Howard and Anna Lisa Brown

Falls Church, VA

Dear Mr. Simac

I picked up the April issue of the Coastal Post and read (all right, I skipped a lot) your "World War III Is Not Funny." So far, I agree. Not funny like the Vietnam war - that war was a lot of laughs. And certainly not funny like WWII, that war was a real hoot. Right?

I realize there are many of us who oppose the war, Steve, and make objections heard and seen. These people parade up and down the streets, wave signs, and yell "No War" over and over, and write silly stuff.

George Bush is no friend of mine; he does not inspire me, his platitudes annoy me. I don't believe him, but he is stuck with the problem of terrorism and he is probably doing the best he knows. And your anti war stand does not mention any alternatives. What those clowns did to us 9/11 demanded reprisal. Innocents died (and continue to die in Israel) and that is the horror of the situation.

Steve, cool it. If you cannot think of or propose a viable alternative, stop bitching.

John Salz

Ross

CP Arabic Press

The article, "Killing Softly With Money" by Edward Miller is one sided and has anti-Semitic overtones. It may have been written by an Arabic press, rather than by your newspaper. Nowhere does it state the provocation by continuous terrorist attacks on Israelis after its state was established in 1948, following the closing of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping by Egypt. Not mentioned was the daily shooting of Israeli farmers by the Syrians from the Golen Heights or closing the access to the Western Well to the Jews by Jordan. This was put to an end after the 1967 war; Israel has the right, like any other nation, to protect its citizens from Palestinian terrorists as well.

In this article, Arafat is not labeled as a terrorist, although he organized the killing of the athletic team in Germany, the hijacking of airliners, etc.

What about the terrorism of Iraq, Syria and other Arab dictatorships who kill their own citizens for political reasons?

Is it a fact that Saddam Hussein is not working to develop an atomic bomb? Did he not stop the UN inspections?

Israel is interested in a peaceful solution; like they did with Egypt and Jordan, the same goes for the Palestinians.

Samuel Sonnenblick

San Francisco

Israel Should Absorb Arab Land As Memorial

The question is not what to do with Yasir Arafat who at the moment is gloating with the success of his suicide bombers, but how can Israel hit back with non- lethal actions. The answer is simple. Israel should carve out many square miles of the towns attributed to the homes and supporters of the bombers and annex it to Israel. They will be as a forfeit from the Westbank Arabs who for the most part support the terror. Give the Arabs sufficient warning that their homes will be bulldozed and that transportation will be provided to take them to any other town of the Authority but they will have to move. Let these supporters of the merchants of death suffer not death by mutilation but the loss of their homes and orchards. The lands forfeited by the terrorists can be donated to the victims or subdivided and the names of the innocents inscribed at the entrance as a memorial, explaining that not a body for a body but acres of land. The Arabs may cry "collective punishment" but you and I will know that to support death by suicide bombs the community cost will be heavy. So get started Sharon and start the bulldozers moving.

Dr. Norman E. Mann

San Diego

Privacy Vs. Security

One of the cable networks recently ask viewers if they would be willing to surrender a little privacy for the sake of greater security. The question presents a false choice. First, privacy is a broad term with many meanings. Allowing a dog to sniff my suitcase at an airport is one thing, reading my mail or tapping my phone is quite another. It seems like there is a public relations move underway to minimize our privacy rights. The public discourse focuses on inconveniences such as lines at the airport while the policy changes run much deeper.

Secondly, the question assumes that the two aims are mutually exclusive. They are not. There are many ways to improve our intelligence handling without surrendering privacy.

Most importantly, privacy verses security is a false choice because privacy rights are a security concern. Some say that those who are concerned about privacy must have something to hide. This betrays an ignorance of the role privacy plays in a democracy. Restraints to protect citizens from government intrusions are a shield against tyranny. This was our founding fathers greatest concern in drafting the bill of rights. It should remain so for us as well. When we understand that privacy is a safeguard against tyranny, a fair restatement of the cable news question is this: "Would you be willing to risk greater tyranny at home in exchange for the uncertain prospect of reducing the risk of terror from abroad?" Most American's would say no.

Brian Lynch

Mine Hill, NJ 07803

BRILYN37@aol.com

New State Prison Rule

Imagine my horror when I arrived at a state prison on June 1 to discover that a "new" rule was in force. Without advance warning, we were not allowed to sit next to the inmate we were there to visit.

One officer said this was a rule they were not going to enforce. A sergeant said that the policy was for security and uniformity, because of excessive touching and contraband in the visiting rooms. I asked to see this written policy; "they were just writing the addendum." They didn't have to give advance warning because they weren't denying our visits. They couldn't treat each case individually because "prevention would be better."

How can we have an enjoyable visit if it's physically uncomfortable and harder to hear as we sit across low tables? Why should loved ones and friends be denied the bonding that comes from sitting close to each other? I haven't seen increased incidents of contraband busts in my visiting room. Not every couple does excessive touching. It is not right or fair to punish all because of the actions of a few.

The illegality of it, also, was that the policy was not yet published. Furthermore, the policy had come from the appropriate level of prison administrative staff.

Several visitors wrote letters and made phone calls. An inmate committee (Men's Advisory Council) met with an Associate Warden to discuss this and many issues. A call was made to the warden's office by a state senator's office. Fortunately, the new rule had been dropped the following week at visiting. If none of us had spoken up, however, the prison staff would have gotten away with it. It's a power trip for many of the staff.

Being in prison is already punishment. Much good comes from the few hours allowed to sit together and enjoy each other's company. Much anger and frustration will build quickly if this situation is not resolved. The public is not prepared to deal with released inmates after they've been continually subjected to worsening conditions.

I am a regular prison visitor and a journalist trying to alert the public.

Jo Ann Fawcett

San Anselmo

Tiburon Handicapped Parking

A few years ago Tiburon's Main Street was redesigned in a partial settlement of an Americans with Disability (ADA) lawsuit. The sidewalks were widened to 13', eliminating parking, but leaving two spaces. Due to Political Pressure those spaces were recently repainted to a "white" zone, mainly for the new Hotel's 'offloading'. 'Disabled' could no longer park there.

That left ONLY ONE other space in the entire area that was close to shops and restaurants, the parking spot close to the entrance of the parking lot, on Ark Row.

Last week THIS remaining "assigned parking" was painted out! Contrary to an original erroneous report that an "ADA official from San Francisco had ordered the change," the Tiburon Town Manager asserted that our former Councilperson/Mayor had filed a COMPLAINT, saying that the space was ILLEGAL. Ms. Hennessy is NOT handicapped and this parking space had been used for years. So, why would SHE file a complaint?

Supposedly, her elderly handicapped friend had experienced some difficulty in offloading her wheelchair, at that particular parking space. Ms. Hennessy evidently went home and filed her complaint to our Town Manager, by e-mail!

NOW TELL ME...IS THAT A REAL REASON TO PREVENT ANY OTHER HANDICAPPED PERSON FROM USING THE PARKING SPOT??

We need MORE not LESS parking for the Handicapped in the vicinity of Tiburon's Main Street. and it's the Town Management's legal duty to help, not hinder!

Nathaniel Marans

Tiburon, Ca. 94920

Blasting Al Gore

I have watched while you let Bush steal the 2000 election and rope us into this "War on Terrorism".

You are bought and paid for by big money. You don't give a thought to my needs or the needs of my children or the world's children, either. There are no longer two parties in this country. There is only one party - the party of the rich.

I wish you would take my name off your mailing and calling lists. I have no interest in supporting anyone because they are a Democrat. I will support decent candidates who are courageous enough to reclaim our civil rights, who will get us out of this stupid, endless, costly "War on Terrorism" and the corporations that have made it. Besides that I want you to create a new human domestic and foreign policy. I want this nation to treat democratic and union based movements decently - here and in foreign countries. Get rid of the death squads and the constant destruction of the people's rights and livelihoods here and in Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, the Philippines and Korea.

I don't want sweatshop labor - here or anywhere. I want you to do what you said you would do and actively seek new ways to protect the environment and end global warming. I want the weak protected through better schools, free higher education, better organic food, and health care and decent housing. We could do this all if we would stop our military spending madness and the rich brought to heel.

You have ceased being interested in any of this; so I do not expect you will show any sudden interest now. The world is dying and you have caused so much of its suffering. You, practically every Democratic Senator and Congressperson I can think of, have betrayed us. If you want to retrieve the people, send out a ringing apology, and show with real action that you can change your destructive ways. Then and only then can you come back to me for my vote or for my money.

Mary Ann Maggiore

Merrifield, VA

Thank You Woolsey for Supporting Falun Gong's Freedom

On June 11, Marin and Sonoma County Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey chaired a congressional briefing on a unique human rights issue: infringements upon our freedom by none other than the Chinese government.

Most of us know of China's horrific internal human rights record. Only recently has it been made public, however, that China's current regime is blatantly violating our liberties right here in America.

In addition to shamelessly butchering his citizens who practice Falun Gong, a peaceful, unpolitical meditation practice too popular for his taste, China's president is also trying to suppress the freedom of citizens who practice Falun Gong freely in dozens of other countries. Indeed, since Jiang Zemin issued direct orders to spread his persecution overseas, we have felt the impact in our own backyards.

PRC delegates are trying to bully elected officials worldwide, including at least three in our CA-6th District. Did they mistakenly think that the entire world utilizes their version of oppressive communism?

After being contacted by the Chinese Consulate, Santee Mayor Randy Voepel said: "I was chilled to the bones that a communist nation would go to this extent to suppress someone's freedom of action in this country." Martin McMahon, a lawyer leading a civil lawsuit against those P.R.C. ministries stated: "The Chinese government has stolen our Constitution and our Bill of Rights," adding, "We want it back."

Thank you Congresswoman for genuinely protecting the freedom of your constituents, and helping people everywhere!

Leeshai Lemish,

Rohnert Park

Leeshai.Lemish@pomona.edu

About The Pledge

There are few people who realize that when they pledge allegiance to the flag they recite a pledge written in 1892 by a socialist, to promote socialism in the most socialistic institution -government schools. That's an issue in the pledge debate that pre-dates the insertion of "under God" in 1954.

The pledge of allegiance was authored by the self-proclaimed socialist Francis Bellamy. Bellamy was the first cousin of the famous American socialist, Edward Bellamy. Edward Bellamy's futuristic novel, "Looking Backward", published in 1888, described a utopian Boston in the year 2000. The book spawned an elitist socialist movement in Boston known as "Nationalism," whose members wanted the federal government to nationalize most of the American economy. Francis Bellamy was a member of this movement and a vice president of its socialist auxiliary group. Bellamy had often lectured on the so-called "virtues of socialism and the evils of capitalism." In 1891, he was forced to resign from his church because of his socialist activities. He then joined the staff of the magazine "Youth's Companion" and wrote the pledge of allegiance.

An original salute to the stars and stripes was an outstretched hand, much like the "Heil Hitler" salute of the Nazi's. "Nazi" was an abbreviation of "National Socialist Worker's Party of Germany." After the Nazi's demonstrated full blown socialism, the US flag salute changed to the modern hand over the heart.

There is something more disturbing than all of the above: Most children are never told any of the preceding history in government schools, though each day often includes a collective recital of the pledge.

No one would trust the government to tell you the truth if it ran the newspapers. Why would anyone expect the government to tell children the truth in government schools? As Libertarians say: The separation of school and state is as important as the separation of church and state. And that is the real solution to the pledge debate and all other school issues: remove government from education.

Rex Curry

(Ellis Rexwood Curry, IV)

Tampa, FL

rexy@ij.net

America Will Need More Trains

Long distance Amtrak is a National Treasure. It's lines reveal our history through routes of pioneers. One sees the wilderness undisturbed, towns and cities where America lives and works. It was available only hours after the disasters of 9/11 closed the airlines. Rail travel may be crucial in future crisis whether it be caused by War or Nature.

Long distance Amtrak is for the people. Passengers who have to travel without time to qualify for an economy air ticket and have limited funds, passengers who want to relax and think before arriving, passengers who are afraid to fly or who won't fly, disabled passengers who can't even use the bathrooms on airplanes, and passengers who just want to see America, all depend on Amtrak. Once Amtrak is gone and the tracks have been destroyed, elderly people will travel less and children will never have the chance to visit their country this way.

American taxpayers pay far more for subsidizing airlines and roads than for Amtrak. We paid for huge bailouts after 911 and the airlines are asking for billions more. We pay for protecting the flow of foreign oil for jet fuel and automobiles, for airport security, for the FAA, and for the free technology transfer from taxpayer funded military airplane construction to commercial aircraft construction.

As our population grows, America will need more trains not less. Many areas in our nation regret the loss of rail lines that used to make local and long distance travel more accessible. Support funding for Amtrak's present and future needs. Help Amtrak get better. America needs a healthy passenger railroad. Save Amtrak.

Sara Donahue Reed

Berkeley

Saving American Souls

I can easily relate to the idea of television at nighttime being a substitute for the community around a fire that many of our ancestors experienced in which storytelling was the form of entertainment, distraction, and passing on of wisdom.

In a culture in which my particular temperament is pathologized with labels such as "depression," "mentally ill," "disordered," it's no wonder that when it's dark, and in some cases cold, windy, or rainy outside, I'd rather have the community of familiar sitcom characters from such programs as Cheers, MASH, Taxi, and The Simpsons than actual human company. After all, those people are a lot funnier than most Americans and I don't actually have to hang out with them!

I don't see much to laugh about in the day-to-day life of a culture whose economic system is based on people exploiting or taking advantage of each other's misfortunes. I had the misfortune of growing up under the rule of a cold, totalitarian alcoholic father and severely dysfunctional family whose daily atmosphere of emotional violence wounded me so badly not only emotionally but down to a biochemical level, that I cannot maintain a tolerable existence without the help of anti-depressant medication, which, of course, makes an exorbitant profit for pharmaceutical companies.

The American culture-at-large seems to view a wounded person as someone to be disparaged, scape-goated, or exploited for profit, and a mass of wounded makes for the existence of entire industries of hyper-educated, overly cerebral, white-color eggheads to occupy and enrich themselves by.

Of course, I could have always taken to booze like my old man, who financially has done quite well in the aforementioned culture, but who sacrificed his soul decades ago and whose existence on a personal level only succeeds in aggravating and injuring those close to him.

Are all Americans at some point in their lives forced to choose between saving their souls at the expense of their reputations or saving their reputations at the expense of their souls?

Name Withheld

San Francisco

Are We Alone

Scientists just found a solar system like ours with a planet like Jupiter in it-the missing link! But the day they exchanged God for chance, scientists became fools. I I I I I I I I (typographical error or ego?) have no respect for opinions or those giving them. Just give me the truth.

The first sentence of The Book (you know the one-the world's best-seller) gives you a hint. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." We have the universe on one hand and the earth on the other. That means the earth is pretty important.

Now does God mention "55 Cnc d" (the planet like Jupiter which star is 55 Cancri) or the earth in the next sentence? The earth is what God is concerned about. He put life here. Jesus Christ will come here shortly and God the Father will come here 1000 years after Jesus.

In the second verse God said the earth became a mess. He didn't create it that way. God doesn't mess up. The angels shouted for joy because of a perfect creation (Job 38). Satan and his demons (one-third of the angels) rebelled against God and left the earth (their home) to take over God's throne. They didn't get far and the real star wars is written all over our solar system on pock-marked planets. Jesus said he beheld Satan fall to earth like lightning.

So Genesis 1 is a rebuilding of the earth. It took place about 6000 years ago. But the earth could have been created 4 billion years ago.

Let's talk about some time-honored myths. The Big Bang. Ever seen anything good come from an explosion? Why would two big super-stars have to hit each other? There's so much more space than mass out there. For two to hit monkeys would have to type all Shakespeare's works.

Same thing for life to come from non-life and evolve. Animal brain could not develop into a human brain. To which some people have responded that animals think. To which I respond that animals have harnessed the atom, composed "Moonlight Sonata," and played basketball like Michael Jordan.

We have something animal brains don't have and it's not physical. It's called the spirit in man that gives us the power of thought. This spirit is not immortal. Why is there a resurrection and judgment if we go to our reward when we die? God says we are mortal and must put on immortality at a resurrection.

God has also said that those who say there is no God are without excuse. Just look at the heavens. The awesome universe! Something does not come from nothing. A gigantic universe means a gigantic God and puny scientists.

So are we alone? In the universe we are. But God is outside the universe on his throne with two-thirds of the angels. We are not alone on this earth because Satan and his demons are the real aliens amongst us. They aren't just throwing toothbrushes around rooms to scare us. They rule. But not for long.

Harold Reimann

Lucerne Valley, CA

eli3.tripod.com

GGB Toll Is A Use Tax

Definition: "toll, n., 1. tax or charge to pay for a privilege, esp. for permission to pass over a bridge, along a highway, etc. ..." -- Webster New World Dictionary

The Golden Gate Bridge toll is a use tax, a tax paid by users for their use of the bridge.

The reason or purpose for any tax should always have a direct relationship to what is taxed -- in this case, the use of the bridge. The bridge toll (use tax) should be used only for bridge operation and maintenance, to keep the bridge in proper condition for its continued use.

This toll-tax should never be used to subsidize the bus system. It's the other way around -- the bus system (and its passengers) should pay the toll for their use of the bridge.

The ferry system and its passengers do not use the bridge at all. Ferry passengers benefit from their enjoyable, tension-free trip.

It is a gross injustice to motor vehicle drivers that their bridge use taxes are used -- and even increased -- to subsidize ferry and bus passengers and the insolvent ferry and bus systems.

The fact that power-greedy politician bridge directors of a past board, in their self-aggrandizement and to provide a neat job for a retiring legislator, first chose to saddle themselves with bus and ferry operations, suggests that the directors now should divest themselves of those money losing systems, rather than raise tolls and unjustly penalize drivers for the past board's overreaching stupidities.

Fielding Greaves

San Rafael

Bush Allowed Terrorist Attack

On June 3, 2002, Stanley Hilton, a San Francisco lawyer representing the families of 14 9/11 victims and 400 plaintiffs, filed a $7 billion lawsuit in US District Court against George W. Bush and 10 defendants for "allowing" the terrorist attacks to happen -- they wanted this to happen to achieve the Bush Administration goals. Source: "SF attorney: Bush allowed 911." June 11, 2002, San Francisco Examiner, page 9A.

It is interesting that the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred one month before the 5000 member National Lawyer's Guild was to vote to ask the House of Representatives to start impeachment proceeding against the Supreme Court majority that let George W. steal the election. If the five justices got impeached, George W. would be next. The book by Prosecutor Victor Bugiloso, "The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President" was to be the legal foundation for this request.

Our family strongly believes that a group within the Bush Administration was deeply involved in the details of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They knew beforehand the when, the how, the where, the why, the who. So far, our family has 14 reasons why these evil people said nothing and did nothing to stop this holocaust (the complete destruction of people by fire).

Ricardo King

San Francisco

Veteran's Benefits Wanting

It is a real disgrace the way Veterans who answered this Nations call are being denied the health care and benefits they were promised. Cutback after cutback, plaque our VAs around this Country, and no one seems to care except the Veterans that are getting the short end because of these cutbacks. I really think its time for citizens, Veterans, news agencies and elected officials to get involved and stop these drastic cutbacks that effect our Veteran community. Especially today when our Country needs soldiers to put their lives on the line once again and people are flying flags and acting patriotic.

It is time for these people to take action NOW and demand better treatment by our Government at the VAMC's, before there is no one to answer this call. Who can blame the next generation for not answering the call if they are going to be treated second rate. These promises to our Veteran Community must be kept and top priority given to Veterans who answered the call now and in the future.

Tom McCarthy

Barnet, Vermont

bammo@webtv.net

Golf: How Much Can Our Planet Take?

Golf, though played widely around the world and especially in Marin, has effects on the environment that many fail to recognize and even more don't even know about.

In an age of environmentalists and humanitarians, golf is never brought to attention as a detriment to our land, water, and organisms. Golf courses introduce non-native grass species to delicate habitats. These foreign grasses take up essential water and space that native plants need. Golf courses disrupt migration patterns for birds and other animals because they are attracted to the grass and water. Golf courses use innumerable tons of pesticides that leach into local ecosystems and waterways. Plants, animals, and humans can all be affected. Discharge from golf courses can wash away sediments, pesticides, and harmful fertilizers into other natural water systems. There are many reservoirs in Marin that are often in the same or adjacent watersheds as local golf courses. Also, many courses are popping up in areas that are relatively dry. As it is, we have a shortage of fresh water, especially in the Bay Area and we don't need to be wasting it on golf courses.

Obviously we can't just stop golf. What we need to do is step up research evaluating the effects of local golf courses on the land and watershed. Whatever we do, we need to stop suffocating and poisoning our land.

Ramin Taleghani

Redwood High School

Appreciates Frank Scott

I've been reading Frank Scott's monthly columns for the past couple of years.. Do you appreciate the social conscience, the brilliance and insights of this remarkable writer? Foolish question. You would hardly publish his work if you didn't! I send it to almost every person in my extensive Email address book who I'm sure feel about his columns the way I do. He belongs in the big name media and, hopefully, will appear there some time soon. Meanwhile, consider yourself fortunate to have him as your leading light and may you both prosper!

Leon Lefson

Finding Judy Borello

While doing a web search on a fellow named Albert Gianquinto that I grew up with in San Francisco's Eureka Valley district, I happened upon a piece in your paper written by Judy Borello. Is there a way to contact her? I would like to tell her how much I enjoyed the article, to thank her for it, and would like to fill in a couple of gaps. Not much (I loved her eye for detail), like the cop, "Goynton's" first name was Joe, and his partner was Hobart Nelson. They lurked on the corner of 19th and Noe. Albert Gianquinto did indeed take piano lessons-of a sort-from Alice Snitman who had a dry cleaners next to Gurtey Gurnsey ice cream. We used to stand outside and listen to Albert drive Alice crazy by playing boogie woogie when she wanted him to play classical. "Shutup Snitman," Albert would yell as he launched into some early blues inspired stuff.

I am surprised that Judy's name doesn't ring a bell as every name she mentioned, including the priest, Father Harry rings a big bell with me. Judy might have known my sister, Jeanne Cook. She hung out at the gym. I didn't go there much, as the gang there usually wanted my hide-because I had the wrong shoes or some dumb thing.

Anyway, great stuff!

Carl Cook

Olympia, WA

clcook@olywa.net

The Enslaved Minds

The question we need to ask our African-American brothers who are currently seeking compensation for the injustices suffered by their forefathers who were brought to this country in chains when slavery was an accepted practice in our society is: Who is to pay whom? Apparently, they are asking themselves to pay themselves. We are now all Americans. We represent one country - one people. If our government has to indemnify anyone for any reason, we all pay that indemnity. Pay whom for what? We are the only country that has invested lives, blood and money to get rid of slavery. To this day, mankind is still suffering the cruelties and injustice of slavery in some parts of the world. If our forefathers were guilty of that injustice, they, themselves, have paid dearly to eradicate it. Is there a higher form of payment than to send your sons, brothers, husbands and fathers to the battlefields in order to right that wrong? That struggle was colorless. White brothers fought white brothers for the sake of our black brothers and they did so without expecting any form of compensation. All they wanted was equality for all.

It will shame our black brothers who were freed from slavery as a result of the sacrifices of those who fought to free them should they learn of this current effort by some African-Americans to exact payment from the country and people that freed them. Rather than sending Uncle Sam a bill for payment, our African-American brothers should send Uncle Sam a letter of thanks. Thanks for the courage and resolve to give blacks and whites equal rights. Thanks for the opportunity to be born in the country where almost everyone in the world wants to be a part of. Thanks for having been saved from the sad fate of contemporary Africans who are suffering from the hunger, persecution, cruelty, sickness, deprivation, oppression and injustice currently prevailing in their countries of origin. Thanks for giving every African-American the opportunity to carve their own future on the basis of their resolve and capabilities. Thanks for providing us all an equal playing field where our true potentials as individuals to realize our dreams in life can be achieved. Thanks for those opportunities that great men and women such as Michael Jordan, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Tiger Woods, Oprah, Shaquille O'Neal and a multitude of others have availed of. Thanks for creating a stage unequal in any part of the world where the black race has produced multi-millionaires whose collective wealth can equal if not surpass the GNP of the wealthiest African nation existing today.

To ask our government to pay the current generation of African-Americans for the hardships suffered by their forefathers in their struggle against slavery is tantamount to declaring that in the minds of these African-Americans, their bodies may have been freed by the sacrifices of their forefathers, but unfortunately their minds remain enslaved.

Antonio Serna

Rohnert Park

Finding An Old Friend

Was looking up an old friend, Tim Horvath, on the internet when one of the leads brought me to The Coastal Post. What a great find. Have been reading the past issues and am grateful to see the Bobo of the mid-70's is still there and doing well.

Some of my fondest memories are of Bolinas, even though we only lived there a short time. It is a great place to have lived.

Steve Gilbert

Pacific Real Estate Partners, Inc.

Bellevue, WA

www.pacific-re.com