Saturday, May 21, 2005

Letters to the editor

No to political spam

Editor:

Thank you so much for your rejection of political spam letters. I was one of the apparently many people who flagged the "Fair Voting" letter. Every once in a while, something like this gives me hope that American media still functions as the Fourth Estate.

Laura Sanchez

Los Lunas

Telling both sides

Editor:

In the past months we have heard about what has been going on with the treatment of prisoners in Iraq and other locations. I do not want anybody to think that I support any human rights abuse, but we also need to know the whole story not just the ones directed at the United States.

Throughout the war in Iraq, the brutality of the battlefield has occasionally spilled into interrogation rooms and prisons. The central figure in the Abu Ghraib prison-abuse scandal Pfc. Lynndie England, pleaded guilty a few days ago to seven counts of mistreating prisoners.

But now with the Iraqis taking a larger role in taking on the insurgency and policing their own streets as the new government begins work, accusations of human rights abuses are shifting away from the Americans and onto Iraqi police officers and soldiers.

The accusations of abuse range from reports of prisoner torture and death of detainees to arbitrary arrest and abuse at the hands of inexperienced and untrained police officers.

I was reading about these two Iraqi Special Forces soldiers, Ali Jabbar and Mohammed Ali, who insist they distribute out justice fairly. They beat only the prisoners they know did something wrong, not the innocents ones.

In March, when a rocket attack on one of their bases missed the target but angered the soldiers, they searched the area and found two suspects.

"You want to know the truth? My arms are still tired from hitting those guys," laughs Mr. Jabbar in an interview along with Mr. Ali in Baghdad.

A report issued in January, Human Rights Watch said that torture and abuse by Iraqi authorities had become "routine and commonplace."

The report detailed methods of interrogation in which prisoners were beaten with cables and pipes, shocked, or suspended from their wrists for prolonged periods of time tactics that are more associated with Suddam Hussein's dictatorship than the democracy that is beginning to take root in that country.

Now, how many times has this been reported in the United States or around the world when these police officers and soldiers are investigated? The report says, "'The police investigated and found that they were terrorists and they were dangerous guys. They attacked police and police stations,' he says."

They also point out that the rampant violence and instability of the country means many Iraqis are willing to tolerate harsh practices of their security forces if it means bringing some order.

So, in closing I guess it is OK for Iraqis to mistreat prisoners and their own people with beatings and pipes.

I just wanted to give you the other side of the untold story so that we can be better informed.

Ed Britt

Socorro

Currently in Iraq

The Pearce affair

Editor:

I read with interest Kay Brower's recent letter to the editor attempting to justify Congressman Pearce's plagiarism with the rather hackneyed "but other people have done it" excuse. Brower's letter (as well as El Defensor Chieftain's previous editorial on the issue) also used a fallacious, albeit plausible, justification that many politicians have speechwriters. The problem with that argument is, well, this wasn't a speech. It was an article in the newspaper entitled "Straight Talk" with his name on it, in which he falsely attempted to pose as the author.

While the congressman appears to have successfully scapegoated the issue (at least in his own mind) by having an aide resign, there is actually an even bigger and more serious problem with the plagiarism: the source from which it was plagiarized. El Defensor Chieftain's editorial board gave it the soft sell by saying that there are "think tanks" of all stripes and that many politicians use "think tanks" as sources for information. This soft sell is far too kind and overlooks a rather serious and insidious cancer growing not just on Congressman Pearce but on our current administration and many other politicians. The cancer has invaded the Republican party and has spread through almost their entire body (chemotherapy is in order), but make no mistake the cancer also exists, to an only slightly lesser degree, in the Democratic party.

The cancer to which I refer is government of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations, with the average citizen's voice given virtually no weight. In this particular case, we have Congressman Pearce plagiarizing his stance and "deep thoughts" on energy policy from the Heritage Foundation. The Heritage Foundation, lo and behold, receives funding from ExxonMobil and other large oil and business interests. (For those interested, you can examine ExxonMobil's annual report to see which other "think tanks" it funds.) So, we have our local congressman not only plagiarizing, but lifting his "facts" and "figures" about what's good for our country's energy policy straight from ExxonMobil's mouth piece, the Heritage Foundation.

Sure, there is some truth to El Defensor Chieftain's position that think tanks are often consulted by politicians. But to consult only one think tank for your entire stance on energy, then to lift word for word your position from just one source, one that is funded by big oil... hmmm, interesting. Some of us might ask the question: Just exactly who is the congressman representing? Remember during the Clinton scandal when many people felt that President Clinton should resign due to his unethical behavior? I wonder if the same logic should apply to a Republican congressman? God bless America. And God bless "Straight Talk" from Congressman Pearce.

Lee Herrington

Socorro

What of the

children?

Editor:

Wow! Councilor Pargas went off the deep end Monday night (May 2 council meeting). In case you missed it, here's a recap.

Councilor Pargas wants the other councilors to go to council rehab. It turns out that Councilor Pargas was upset and ashamed the Councilor Jaramillo argued with him and the mayor (at the) last meeting.

Councilor Pargas said, "The children were watching, and we need to set an example for them!"

Ah, yes, Councilor Pargas, the children. I could almost hear the brakes screeching and people screaming as he said that.

He went on, "My kids were in the crowd!"

Then he said, "I'll give any councilor a second to a motion so we can hear both sides of the story."

Huh? I sat and reflected on what Councilor Pargas had said. Isn't this the same confused man that supported the cage matches? When the issue of children watching two grown men beating each other to a bloody pulp was brought up by Councilor Jaramillo, Councilor Pargas said, and I quote, "we can't raise everybody's kids!" Councilor Pargas went on to say, "The can see it on cable TV, so what's the difference?"

So, let me see if I got this straight. Councilor Pargas thinks it is OK to sponsor an event where kids can see two grown men punch and kick each other while the crowd yells for blood, but some raised voices at a council meeting? No way! The kids, the kids!

After all of Councilor Pargas' hot air and laughable ideas Monday night, Councilor Jaramillo made a motion. Councilor Pargas, after all his "I'll give any councilor a second" speech, wanted to amend Councilor Jaramillo's motion, to take it to the back room and hide. Good boy, Ernest. If you watch the council meeting in slow motion, you can actually see Ravi flip him a treat. So guess what, no second.

Councilor Jaramillo told Councilor Pargas and others that he only had arguments with the mayor and councilors a few times since he's been in office, and everybody shouldn't get shook up because of one meeting.

I remember at least half the big arguments Councilor Jaramillo got into with the mayor were on behalf of Ernest and his failed boxing club. You all remember when Ernest would show up to meetings and cry to the council, and the only one that would stand up for him was Councilor Jaramillo, don't you?

So, Councilor Pargas' asking the other councilors to go to a "workshop" on how meetings are to be conducted is a silly idea. Apparently it's OK for Councilor Jaramillo to raise hell for Ernest, but he shouldn't do it for anyone else.

Here's some advice for "Councilor" Pargas: Get a babysitter.

If the council meeting is too rough for them, change the channel to a cage match. Sometimes there are going to be issues that need to be argued in public, so the public stays informed.

If you're worried about councilors raising their voices at meetings, find something else to do. City council meetings are for adult business.

For God's sake, Councilor Pargas, at least remember what you say and do from one day to the next. I have an idea! Concentrate on your "crusade." You remember, "The Field of Dreams." You act like you've already accomplished everything you've tried to do. The fact is, your tenure as city councilor has been a bust.

And in closing, I can't stay quiet one more day about Vivian McAlexander's letters to the editor. Isn't it strange that the only time we hear from Vivian, it is to rip Councilor Jaramillo for being brave enough for telling it like it is? Hey, Vivian! They're chasing off all your knights in shining armor! Wake up!

David Marquez

Socorro

New paper does no favors

Editor:

I was very disappointed to see that you have decided to publish a Spanish-language paper. I do not believe you are doing anyone — Spanish- or English-speaking — any favors by catering to the belief that Spanish-speaking immigrants do not need to learn English.

The burdens placed on Americans as a whole by Spanish speakers who refuse to learn English is tremendous. From the job market to bilingual education, the costs will continue to climb exponentially.

I have personal experience with the problems associated with a mostly Spanish-speaking population, having lived in Las Cruces for a couple of years. My work experience consists mainly of administrative assistant/customer service positions, and I found that most of those positions in Las Cruces required me to be bilingual. Some of them also require that you read and write Spanish.

When my husband was in the U.S. Air Force and we were stationed at a NATO base in Sardegna, Italy, and lived in a small village off-base, we were happy to learn Italian. I was not happy when we returned to the states and I discovered I needed to learn a foreign language to get a job in my very own home state.

Brenda Ford

Socorro

(Editor's Note: The writer is referring to "Fronteras," a Spanish-language newspaper published by Number Nine Media Inc., the Chieftain's parent company, and distributed free in Socorro.1/4

Water Festival

a success

Editor:

The Socorro Water Festival Committee wants to thank the businesses and individuals who helped make this second annual festival possible.

On April 29, the Water Festival was held to educate the school district's fourth-grade students about a variety of water-related topics. Our local Soil and Water Conservation Office provided the funds to run this educational event. State Rep. Don Tripp sent financial support, too.

The following businesses and individuals helped make this event possible. Please thank them for assisting with this vital annual event for the fourth graders of Socorro Consolidated Schools and Cottonwood Valley Charter School:

-- Soil and Water Conservation Office and committee, including Nyleen Troxel-Stowe and John Carangelo; Smith's Grocery store; The Water Store; Gamble's Hardware; Wal-Mart; Sammy's Deli.

-- The grade four teachers who participated and their principals, including Midway Elementary, Zimmerly Elementary and Cottonwood Valley Charter School; Frank Jaramillo and others at the Socorro Schools Central Office; Della Vega, Virginia Johnson, Cecelio and Lilia Requejo — community assistants; Bank of America, Emmy Stanzione; Mariah and Carly, two charter school students who did all sorts of jobs at Clare Field, the site of the Water Festival; Cathy Smokovich, a Sarracino Middle School teacher who gave lots of valuable input for this event; and district bus drivers who transported students to Clarke Field.

W appreciated the time and dedicated work of all our presenters, both the local ones and the out-of-town presenters:

-- Kimberly Kelly, Rio Grande Cutthroat Game (U.S. Forest Service-Jemez Springs); David Sanchez, Water Model interactive, New Mexico State Water-Santa Fe.

-- Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District presenters; Bosque del Apache and the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, who did macro-invertebrates microscope work, Daniel Perry and C. Bree; Rolling River trailer presenters, Soil and Water Conservation Office, John and Larry; New Mexico Tech, Susie Welch; Master Gardeners of Albuquerque and our local Master Gardener, Cheryl Learn, of San Antonio.

A special thanks to the City of Socorro for allowing us to hold the Socorro Water Festival at Clarke Field.

Jay Santillanes and the city hall staff were extremely helpful to the Water Festival Committee.

My co-chairman, Cottonwood Valley Charter School fourth grade teacher, Jim Stokes, was of invaluable assistance to me in attending to all the details of planning and presenting this dynamic learning experience for participating fourth graders.

A final warm, hearty thanks to all of you.

Susan Brennan

Co-chairman, Grade 2 teacher

Cottonwood Valley Charter School

Thanks from Drama Club

Editor:

The SHS Drama Club would like to extend our many thanks to you for helping us when we came to you for contributions to help us put together our trip to NYC. We cannot tell you just how wonderful the whole experience was and it was partly because of your generosity.

Some of us had never flown in a plane and most of us had never been out of New Mexico, needless to say as far as NYC! What a thrill it was for all of us to have gone and seen the places that we have only seen in movies, magazines or pictures.

Our ferry ride from Battery Park to view Lady Liberty was spectacular and on the way back we were able to stop over at Ellis Island to see the names of many of our relatives that entered this country at that very spot. Later that afternoon we enjoyed lunch at South Street Seaport, and our visit to the World Trade Center Memorial Area that same afternoon brought us closer to the destruction and those who lost their lives on 9-11. We ended the evening with dinner at Dillon's and entertainment with fresh Broadway talen and then made our way up to the top of the Empire State Building to see the lights of NYC!

The next day we walked through Central Park and had a very enlightening tour by a native New Yorker. She pointed out where a lot of famous people lived including where John Lennon's memorial, Strawberry Fields, is set. Most of us took a tour to see St. John's Cathedral before we were off to dress for the Broadway show "RENT"! The show was magnificent! We enjoyed the musical immensely! It blew our socks off! After the show were ready to join in with the people of NYC and we did as New Yorkers do; we walked and explored Times Square!

Our mission was not complete however so the last day of our trip we were able to observe performances from other high schools that were also there and later that day we were given workshops by some rather aspiring actors! They gave us finer points in how important it is to exercise our vocal chords and how to train for auditions and/or call backs! They were very encouraging and we were grateful for all the tips they gave us.

Our lives will never be the same since our trip. We came back talking about nothing else but NYC! We appreciate everything our parents, teachers, and our community have given us. This was after all the most awesome learning experience ever!

So with all our heart we would like to say: Thank you Socorro merchants and businesspeople.

SHS Drama Club

Simply amazing

Editor:

The interpretation of the Mexico word asombroso, is "amazing."

Very few people realize that I've written two books in my life: "Green Highways and Interstates" and "The Biggest Farce of All, The Oil Glut."

I've been writing a third book for two years now, "Am I A Fool or Is The Mexico Lady Weird?" In Mexico: "Always Yo A Tonto O Es Los Mexico Dama Extrano?"

A very interesting volume of writing, a lot of fun, a lot of heartbreak and very expensive.

I just completed the research activities and writing May 13 — Friday the 13th, a good omen.

It was the happiest day of my life when I wed with Michelle Tolliver right here in Socorro.

We plan on retiring soon on the Mexico Baja, and we'll do it together with two little beautiful girls; and it's like being in heaven. Asombroso!

LeRoy Heubner

Socorro

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