Re: Dan Whelan’s Jan. 8 Letter, “Evolution a belief, not a fact�:

I have yet to hear about an evolved animal that will “shoot and kill each other.� Only humans do that! And, by the way, Carbon 14 dating of fossilized stratum is valid, not a fallacy.

—Norm Andersen, Ventura

Re: your Jan. 24 article, “Downtown theater posts loss of $600,000�:

It certainly seems to me there are many other choices of where to see a movie, and apparently residents within the county are really not interested in going to downtown Oxnard. Downtown presents an image that folks are really not interested in experiencing. There certainly is more to downtown Oxnard than the City Hall, police station, parking structure, theater complex and Heritage Square.

The community of El Rio will be mandated by the state to discontinue use of all septic tanks and hook up to a sewer system. A community meeting was held Jan. 24 at the Rio Plaza Elementary cafeteria. Why there? Did county officials think no one would show up?

Let’s call President Bush’s new action in Iraq what it is: an invasion by American forces — initially 21,000 more soldiers. He is also promoting that the force may need to increase by an additional 60,000 to control the oil fields and other cities during our repatriation. This is similar to the takeover of Germany after its surrender and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. In this way, Bush has put on notice other like non-democratic countries that American imperialism will continue against those nations.

Whatever you call them – insurgents, al-Qaida, militias or terrorists (I’ll call them all terrorists) — they all need money. Some have uniforms, all have weaponry and all have personal needs that require money. And, their families need money.

Where does the money come from? Most experts now believe that the money comes from Iran. And, Iran has lots of money due to the extremely high oil prices. Iran’s oil reserves are huge. If oil prices were low, Iran would not be able to supply money to the various terrorist groups and take care of its own internal needs.

Here we go again! Lyndon Baines Johnson, who is quoted as having said, “I don’t want to be the first president to have lost a war,� kept sending our boys to the quagmire in Vietnam. More than 50,000 of them ended up dying for a cause, which makes no sense when you look at it now.

President Bush has stated the final solution in Iraq will be in the hands of those who follow him in office. So more boys get ground up in the mess of Iraq.

Re: Terry Paulson’s Jan. 29 essay, “Healthcare responsibility�:

I’ve never met Terry Paulson, but I learned two things about him from this essay. One, he doesn't pay for his own health insurance, and two, nobody in his family has ever been seriously ill. I do buy my own health insurance, and there has been serious illness in my family. I can tell Mr. Paulson that his assertion that "providers and insurers would compete for your business" is nonsense.

I haven’t heard or read much about solving the existing problem of healthcare here in Ventura. California’s governor proposed healthcare for everyone, and that caused the healthcare experts to express their critical comments without suggestions on how to lower or reduce the cost of healthcare without reducing benefits.

Are people using restraining orders for the wrong reasons, based on lies, to get revenge on innocent individuals?

Also, I believe that people file restraining orders solely to keep children away from parents, to cause grief.

I believe restraining orders should only be granted on solid physical evidence, and not for individuals who are professional liars.

— Robert C. Wiley II, Simi Valley

Now here is something people can do to help the war effort without encouraging more war.

At the recent Global Exchange program at the Thousand Oaks Library, we heard from Judith Broder, who has started "The Soldiers Project" that gives free counseling for returning veterans and their families. Experiencing irritability, moodiness, angry outbursts and other post-traumatic stress syndrome symptoms is hard on veterans and their families. Recent studies show that 35 percent of returning veterans seek help. Unbelievably, returning Reservists and National Guard members are not eligible for help. Broder and other mental health specialists now make help free.

Re: your Jan. 31 article, “Chaos in Guardian’s Office is revealed�:

County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Matheney is a nice guy way out of his league. It's time he fell on his sword and resigned. A career bureaucrat, Matheney didn’t have a clue as to how to run the county Guardian's Office when elected to that position. Under his watch, senior citizens had their life savings stolen by the very employees Matheney was in charge of. He opened back accounts that allowed the theft to go on, then testified that he forgot about those very accounts. Even after the many crimes were uncovered, Matheney failed to conduct an audit.

Re: Yahya Merchant’s Jan. 30 letter, “Real hidden agenda�:

In regard to his use of quotes from "Zionist leaders," both are false.

Re: your Jan. 30 article, “Thousand Oaks Marine killed in combat in Iraq�:

Mike Melia was killed in Iraq on Saturday. He is the first and, I pray, the last person from Thousand Oaks to give his life in that foreign land. He was 20 years old.

I hope that when he returns home, this city will welcome him in a way befitting a fallen hero.

The people in the small Texas town of Comfort did it, and the people in Irvine did the same.

Re: your Jan. 30 article, “Thousand Oaks Marine killed in combat in Iraq�:

I did not know Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Anthony C. Melia, but I know he is a true hero, along with the hundreds of thousands of men and women who are in our military, along with the tens of thousands who have been wounded and, ultimately, along with the thousands in our military who have paid the ultimate price.

Thank a military service member the next time you see one. Nothing feels better than a stranger saying, "Thank you," when you are home on leave.

Re: your Jan. 31 article, “Edison explains power plant plan�:

I am writing this letter to express my concerns regarding the proposed "peaker" generating unit planned for the city of Oxnard.

Rent control is sorely needed in Ventura to protect residents from outrageous rent increases. Longtime residents in one particular complex are looking at an approximately 25 percent or more increase in monthly rent within one year. When I asked the management why the rent was being increased so high, I was told it was a corporate decision to bring everyone up to market rate. In other words, a resident moving in to a freshly painted, newly carpeted apartment with upgrades will be paying the same rent as someone who has been renting an older apartment for 10 to 15 years.

Re: Susanna Sukiasyan’s Jan. 26 commentary, “Genocide must be recognized by U.S.�:

As a Turkish-American for more than 25 years in the United States, I, as well as many of my Turkish friends, was shocked that The Star allowed misinformation and delusional history, at best, untruth at worst, regarding alleged genocide of Armenians in Turkey by the Ottoman Empire.

Sukiasyan should be thanking this country for graciously accepting her and allowing her to prosper by attending a community college in California where millions can only wish to live.

Jane Fonda is once again on an anti-U.S. tirade. This time, instead of sitting on an anti-aircraft gun in Vietnam and simulating shooting down American airmen, she can straddle a nuclear missile in Iran aimed at New York City.

— William Kidder, Camarillo

Re: Bill O'Reilly's Jan. 27 commentary, “Guaranteed — Al gets Oscar for Best Documentary�:

The Star really should consider adding a section on written humor to accompany the funny pages. Almost everything Bill O'Reilly pens would take pride of place on the humor pages, since it is such a joke. Well, OK, it's really mostly spiteful and mean-spirited hogwash, but we can count on a few comedy standards such as, "There is no question that Hollywood continues to . . . promote a secular society and boost liberal political opinions."

While I vehemently oppose the blood “sports� of cockfighting and dog fighting, and I back any measures that would severely punish anyone who takes part in these disgraceful events, I can’t help but be outraged at the hypocrisy of Elton Gallegly also despising them.

Re: your Jan. 28 article, “Ventura leaders to discuss vision for Victoria Avenue�:

I feel outraged after reading this article. The city leaders "have spent thousands of dollars on a draft 'smart growth' vision," and they plan to spend more money on yet another study of the effects of redesigning and reconfiguring Victoria Avenue. We are told that there is no money in the budget to hire more police officers and firefighters, yet there seems to be no limit for funds available for numerous costly studies.

George Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq seems to be too little, too late, but so far I haven't heard any critic say, "Here is my five-point plan (or however many points it takes) to solve the problems in Iraq."

So, my challenge to all the critics is: "OK, let's hear the specifics of your plan; otherwise, shut up and start working on some plan that will be part of the solution and not part of the problem."

Re: Randy Weaver's Jan. 29 letter, "Acts of war require same response":

In response to the letter from Randy Weaver, likening the attack of Sept. 11 to Pearl Harbor and asking why we didn't drop a bomb on Iraq like we did on Japan in World War II: After exhaustive investigation, there has been no evidence connecting Iraq to Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks.

Re: Randy Weaver's Jan. 29 letter, "Acts of war require same response":

I sometimes read the letters to the editor as my morning entertainment, bemused by one writer's inconsequential rage or another's misinformed pomposity. But rarely have I seen the historical ignorance displayed in Mr. Weaver’s letter. His grasp on history, both of this and the last century, is truly incredible.

Re: Randy Weaver's Jan. 29 letter, "Acts of war require same response":

Mr. Weaver's comments are patently absurd. He asked, "What's the difference between Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and Osama bin Laden's group hijacking planes and flying them into the twin towers?"

He follows with, "We dropped a bomb on Japan and brought it to a quick end. Why didn't we do the same to Iraq?"

Re: Randy Weaver's Jan. 29 letter, "Acts of war require same response":

Once again, people like Mr. Weaver who attempt to justify killing thousands, if not millions, of innocent Iraqis by bombs like we did more than 50 years ago in Japan are simply ludicrous at best. It is still a fact that Saddam Hussein and his government in Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with Osama bin Laden's terrorist attacks. So what does President Bush do? He pulls U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, where they were trying to find bin Laden, only for them to get killed and maimed attempting to quell a civil war that came about because of Bush's removal of Saddam, who kept all of Iraq’s ethnic groups under control, albeit by fear.

I’ve wondered for quite awhile why we announce our military plans in Iraq for the world — including our enemies — to hear. The “surge� is a case in point, but it is just an example of informing everyone who is listening about just what we are planning — for example, how many troops we’re sending, where they are being deployed, our strategy for fighting the insurgents, etc. I recognize that we’re a democracy and a free country, but does that mean that the public is entitled to know everything?

Re: Donna Sorek’s Jan. 29 letter, “Bad location for ‘celebration’�; Tony Lemos’ Jan. 29 letter, “Legacy of lies� and Noel D’Angelo’s Jan. 29 letter, “Criminalize abortion�:

Interesting that Ms. Sorek, Mr. Lemos, and Mr. D'Angelo felt that the "celebration" of the Roe vs. Wade decision was in poor taste. California State University, Channel Islands, is known as a free-thinking and educated site. This "celebration" was in no way saying, “Wow! Abortions are great!" This celebration was about a decision that gave a woman's reproductive rights back to herself and not the government.

Re: Terry Paulson’s Jan. 29 essay, “Healthcare responsibility�:

Terry Paulson may not have wasted an education, but he seems to have missed out on a significant portion of it related to critical thinking skills. I understand that, as a conservative, he finds repugnant liberal reliance on logic, reason and intellect. Otherwise, he would not toss a number of disassociated facts together as if they somehow proved a point.

Re: Lucy Walker Grace’s Jan. 4 letter, “Oak View needs skateboard park�:

I recently returned to the Oak View area as the new pastor of New Hope Christian Center and have also met quite a few young skaters with no place to go to enjoy their sport. Our church is very interested in working with the community to provide a safe place for these young people and would be happy to convene a community meeting to talk about this issue. Residents of the Oak View community may contact me at 649-2244, if interested.

— Mark Dornbusch, Oak View

Re: Alan Rosin’s Jan. 22 letter, “Electorate needs channels�:

I totally agree with Mr. Rosin’s objections to Time Warner Cable TV removing C-SPAN 2 and 3 from their basic standard channels. I was shocked when I found my C-SPAN 2 blocked out, as I watch the C-SPAN channels every day to see committee hearings, etc. In order to continue those channels, I am now paying $10 a month more. I feel this is unfair and unpatriotic of Time Warner to deny access to these channels. I encourage more Americans to tune in to C-SPAN instead of watching all the idiotic sitcoms or murder shows. I know sometimes it is boring, but if you really want to know what’s happening in Washington, you will see by watching C-SPAN 1, 2 and 3.

— Earline Randall, Santa Paula

President Bush's "nightmare scenario" in his State of the Union speech, which describes "an epic battle" between Shiite extremists backed by Iran against Sunni extremists aided by al-Qaida and supporters of Saddam Hussein's government, sounds preferable to those groups killing U.S. troops who are trying to keep them separated, as is currently happening.

That "nightmare scenario" would eliminate a lot of the people who represent a threat to the United States. A "perfect scenario" sounds like a more accurate description.

What's the difference between Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and Osama bin Laden’s group hijacking planes and flying them into the twin towers? Aren't they both an act of war? We dropped a bomb on Japan and brought it to a quick end. Why didn't we do the same to Iraq instead of sending all of our troops, putting them in harm’s way?

— Randy Weaver, Ojai

During the public comment portion of the Jan. 23 Oxnard City Council meeting, Phil Molina was speaking about financial reporting and questioned why the city manager, who is appointed by the City Council, does not release a public accounting statement monthly.

Once again, the Gideon Bible people are on the loose, undoing the safety message we parents have been teaching our middle-school children for 12 years. They recently stood near, but not on, school property in an effort to entice 11- to 13-year-olds to walk toward them so they could give them something instead of running away from a stranger. The kids didn't know whether the bright object they were handed was pornography, drugs or a Bible. Gideon’s are masters at marketing, using an almost fluorescent orange color and picking their target audience.

I cannot believe the city of Oxnard and developers from RiverPark have not done anything to the abandoned produce warehouse on the 5100 block of East Vineyard Avenue. Coming in from one of the only bridges (Wells Road, Los Angeles Avenue), the first thing you see before you get to town is an abandoned warehouse that is a testament to gangs with all the graffiti. If I were coming from Los Angeles thinking to purchase an expensive home here in hopes of moving to a nicer place, I’d think twice after seeing that eyesore.

Re: Cheryl Rollings’ Jan. 22 commentary, "Reproductive rights must be protected�:

Ms. Rollings’ commentary nauseated me on so many levels.

First of all, celebrating the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the deaths of nearly 50 million Americans is akin to being Osama bin Laden’s personal cheerleader.

To those who don’t know any better, Planned Parenthood seems like a benevolent organization that seeks to assist couples in planning their futures. This couldn’t be further from the truth. These are the facts:

Re: your Jan. 20 article, “Assistance urged to help farmworkers stay in area�:

This winter’s freeze was terrible, for both farmers and workers. But, to refute Tom Deardorff’s statement, “We are not providing any benefits or protections for these people� (farmworkers), do subsidized housing, free education and healthcare, food stamps and in-state college tuition rates count? “We� do provide these benefits. What about Deardorff’s farm. Do “they�? He does have a point about the federal immigration policy not addressing the issue — like in enforcing the law and employer sanctions.

— Radu Metea, Ventura

Re: your Jan. 25 letters concerning Planned Parenthood and abortion:

This is by no means a statement on my position on abortion; it merely outlines my concerns as to the nomenclature and logic used by both sides of the debate. You cannot deny the reality of this debate. It is the topic of discussion in many an ethics class and, although it appears abortion rights have won in the courts, the moral debate rages onward.

Re: Gary Cushing’s Jan. 22 commentary, “LNG good investment for California�:

Too bad that Camarillo’s Cushing and too many other inlanders are so willing to let Oxnard and Malibu be the guinea pigs for the proposed, entirely experimental, liquefied natural gas Cabrillo Deepwater Port. Apparently they fail to realize that they, too, will suffer the increased air pollution and greenhouse gas effects from this project.

After listening to about five minutes of our president’s speech Tuesday, I was grateful for the freedom to turn it off. President Bush’s ignorance makes me ashamed for my country.

I am immediately looking into starting a campaign for a Hillary Clinton/Nancy Pelosi ticket in 2008. They are both brilliant, wealthy women who have already proven their savvy in the political arena. We start with Clinton as president and, when her two terms are up, we can make Pelosi the president. The country will indeed benefit.

This letter is to protest the city of Ventura Police Department’s new policy of no longer responding to monitored burglar alarm systems between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. unless the alarm has been verified.

This policy is especially threatening to households occupied by single persons who are employed or have their commitments away from home, particularly the elderly who do not have family members to oversee the household during their absences. We need police protection, please!

Re: Alan Rosin’s Jan. 22 letter, “Electorate needs channels�:

Mr. Rosin is by no means alone in his unfavorable reaction to Time Warner Cable’s so-called “marketing� decision to “standardize� its offerings so soon after buying out Adelphia, our previous cable company. Rather than putting the needs and interests of its customers first as promised, Time Warner has consistently cut and/or limited the basic TV coverage previously provided by Adelphia.

One thing about Santa Paula, it sure doesn’t cater to the disabled. You can’t even get in the post office in Santa Paula with a wheelchair or crutches. And on the third of the month when Social Security checks arrive and people need to shop, the Vons in Santa Paula decides to redo the parking lot. Why is all this allowed?

— Betty Hudson, Santa Paula

As an American Christian, I have this message for Osama bin Laden: If you show us mercy, our Christian father will show mercy to you. This is written in our Holy Bible and spoken by our prophet, Jesus Christ. You must have forgiveness in your heart first before you ask the Father to forgive you.

— David Crow Cope, Newbury Park

Re: Jack Brewer’s Jan. 24 letter, “Campaigning wastes cash�:

Mr. Brewer’s assertions that “with news so readily available, there is no need for� the millions spent on campaigning and that “our people are well-informed and do not need the barrage of political spots on the radio and TV� is far from well-informed.

Re: your Jan. 17 article, “Skull found in cave shows both human, Neanderthal traits�:

Of course there was interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans. Humans evolved by mutation from Neanderthals. I believe that as firmly as I believe in evolution itself. Evolutionary scientists could have reached the same conclusion long ago, if it were not for human pride in refusing to accept “bestial� ancestors. There is no way around it: Whoever did come before humans were less than human. Period. I salute my Neanderthal ancestors, collectively, for having advanced civilization as far as they did. They laid the groundwork and deserve praise as well as recognition.

— Gilbert S. Bahn, Ph.D., Moorpark

Re: Janine Montoya’s Jan. 21 commentary, “Health insurance, doctors not a right�:

I might have actually been able to laugh at Montoya’s commentary had I thought it was meant as satire. Her statement that doctors can "barely make it on Blue Cross contractual amounts" is black humor if ever I saw any.

Does anyone know of a private-practice physician who is not in the top 2 percent to 5 percent of income earners in this country? Doctors, for the most part, work incredibly long, hard hours and deserve a good income, but to call what most doctors earn a "pittance" is just nonsense.

I am a resident of Westlake Village, which was covered in smoke on Monday. Our home backs up to an open area where you could see flames on the ridge from our house, and embers were flying down. Due to the hard work of the 300 firefighters who were out there working tirelessly, the fire was kept under control and eventually put out.
It is to these wonderful firefighters that I would like to say: Thank you. I only wish I had been able to give them some food, water or anything to help them out. I just want to say how much I appreciate their dedication to the work they do.

— Tara Gulrajani, Westlake Village

This letter is to all drivers who travel on Lynn Road between Reino Road and Wendy Drive. Please watch your speed. There are two school crosswalks on this stretch of Lynn, and the cars are driving faster and faster. I know this because I am the crossing guard at one of these crosswalks. Every day this week, there has been at least one car that has gone through the crosswalk while I've been in the crosswalk trying to stop traffic.

I'm asking drivers to please slow down and be aware that children may be crossing the street. Our children are precious. Let's keep them safe.

— Paulette Gallimore, Newbury Park

Tuesday night's State of the Union speech by President Bush sounded more like a man trying to save face with the American people and with the now Democrat-controlled Congress. His tone, in this respect, was one in which he was trying to draw attention away from the cost of the war and the tremendous loss of life and toward issues more reserved for Democrats, like energy and Social Security.

The California Supreme Court recently ruled that the death penalty via lethal injection is unconstitutional and imposes cruel and unusual punishment. We’ve suffered 35 years with the disaster known as Roe v. Wade. Mercy killing is on the rise in the Pacific Northwes,t and the United States is involved in another disastrous and failed war.

Taking life for any reason is wrong. The death penalty is rationalized by the word “justice.� Abortion is rationalized by the word “choice.� Euthanasia is rationalized by the word “mercy.� And war is rationalized by the word “freedom.�

Re: your Jan. 16 editorial, “No mystery to textbook costs�:

This editorial failed to provide an accurate understanding of the range of college textbooks that are available.

To help every student succeed, publishers offer thousands of options for textbooks and instructional tools at a wide range of prices. For instance, there are 216 introductory psychology titles currently on sale in college bookstores around the country at retail prices ranging from $24 to $120. This variety allows faculty and students to use course materials that best suit to their needs.

Re: Gary Cushing’s Jan. 22 commentary “LNG good investment for California�:

Cushing, an obvious shill for the gas industry, alleges liquefied natural gas is our only answer.

He's incorrect, and here’s why:

— LNG operations are horrendously expensive to construct, on the order of $3 billion each.

— Natural gas is a finite fossil fuel. Guesstimates on how much is economically recoverable vary widely.

— Extant LNG operations restrict boating and fishing operations while tankers arrive and depart. Many commercial and private businesses in our area would be severely affected.

— The Bush administration has pulled scientific considerations from the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval or denial of BHP Billiton’s proposal. The offal produced by existing port functions will be enhanced by an annual 20 million tons of environmental hazards anticipated from Cabrillo Port.

— Existing high-pressure gas lines do not exceed 250 pounds per square inch, according to the city's public works manager. Billiton proposes 30-inch pipes under at least 1,100 psi. What will be the effect of one of these lines ruptures?

— Is LNG worth going to war with China? That country has an ever-increasing need for natural gas as it raises its status to first world.

— LNG is a potential terrorist target. A naval base and a port operation make the Oxnard/Ventura area interesting to folks inimical to the United States.

— Southern California's deserts get sunshine every day. Our answer for independent power supply lies in commercial solar power plants.

— Conversion from natural gas to electricity or other power methodology for hot-water, heating, etc., will require at least two decades.

— U.S. chemical firms use more natural gas than our entire state uses for any purpose. Shouldn't we reserve such supply as remains?

Cushing's commentary contains only pure fiction. I suggest he and The Star’s readers study the facts and the science.

— Roger G. Pariseau Jr., Oxnard

Re: Bernard Lehrer’s Jan. 19 letter, “The farce that is religion�:

As a Christian, I agree with Lehrer about religion being based on fiction if one truth is correct: that God does not exist. I didn’t decide to become a “Christian� because I was looking for something to do. I didn’t wake up one morning and say: “Let’s see, I feel this urge to join something. Will it be the Moose, or the Elks, the Oddfellows, maybe Christianity? Yeah, sounds nice. I think I’ll do that.�

Re: your Jan. 2 article, “Ventura police, citing lack of resources, cut services�:

I would like to comment on the Ventura Police Department’s no-response policy to alarms between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. unless the alarm has been verified.

Police define a verified alarm “as one whereby the alarm company has confirmed legitimacy of criminal activity.� Video/audio verification or hiring private security are costly options, and having employees, neighbors or family members respond potentially puts them in harm’s way.

OK, so let me get this straight. Oxnard commercial and residential development has basically come to a stop due to the real estate market leveling off. Thousands upon thousands of undocumented workers are left without field jobs due to the recent cold streak. And now Technicolor is leaving Camarillo for Mexico — not to mention that gas prices seem to be on a downward tick.

Re: your Jan. 21 article, “County patients often unaware of allegations against doctors�:

In all fairness to our court system and due process, I find it unconscionable to discredit Dr. Wilson Fung prior to his court outcome. The Star neglected to mention the number of lives he is responsible for saving and the number of patients who are very pleased and dependent upon his medical skills. It was only a few years ago that his medical care saved my life.

At least twice a week, I drove down Olivas Park Drive to look at the progress of the construction of the new Olivas Park Golf Course, and, each time, I got discouraged by what I saw.

As a golfer of more than 40 years, I had had enough. I called the city offices and set up an appointment with Greg Gilmer, the golf services manager for the city. On Jan. 19 at 10 a.m., I met with Greg to better understand what was going on and when I could expect to tee it up on the first tee at Olivas. Greg shared with me the issues of the new type of grass and the poor weather we have been having and then drove me around the course.

As an owner of one of the homes was threatened by this week’s Thousand Oaks fire, I want to convey my family’s gratitude to the Ventura and Los Angeles County firefighters who came to our aid. I have always read about the fantastic job they do but had never experienced it in person until now. Given all the other stories we read, it is nice to see taxpayer dollars going to something that really works well!

Re: your Jan. 24 article, “Give Iraq effort a chance, Bush says�:

President Bush called the consequences of a U.S. withdrawal “a nightmare scenario.�

Unfortunately, when Bush is long out of office, cutting brush on his ranch, the rest of us won’t get to just “wake up.� Our troops, our babies, our kids, our families, our future – we’re stuck dying in the middle of the nightmare he and his cronies dreamed up.

Re: Reine Wiley's Jan. 14 Pulse commentary, "If only":

Yes, if only Wiley could have read Ann McFeatters’ "Bush's gamble of a generation," Ed Jones' "For war dead, we must find a better way" and Scott Lynch's "Beware of seeking ‘Peace in our time,'" which appeared on the same page.

Re: Cheryl Rollings’ Jan. 22 commentary, “Reproductive rights must be protected�:

Rollings deplores that "anti-choice lawmakers are chipping away at reproductive freedom" by passing laws that limit access to abortion. The laws she refers to are parental notification for minors, waiting periods, informed consent and similar legislation. These laws simply attempt to allow a woman considering abortion to be informed of the risks inherent in abortion and of the available alternatives.

Re: Cheryl Rollings’ Jan. 22 commentary, “Reproductive rights must be protected�:

Rollings decries any limits to abortion and makes misleading and erroneous claims about the success of Planned Parenthood’s family planning and sex education programs in California over the last 10 years.

For example, Rollings states, “California dramatically improved access to family planning and, as a result, has seen a 40 percent decline in teen pregnancy over the last decade.�

Re: Cheryl Rollings’ Jan. 22 commentary, “Reproductive rights must be protected�:

It takes some doing, but it is possible to peel back all the layers of sophistry, disingenuousness and just plain dishonesty in Rollings' commentary.

Re: John K. Carter’s Jan. 19 letter, “Roe v. Wade despicable�:

In this nation, the choice to have an abortion is a moral decision, not a religious decision. If we put religion into this mix, we are making the United States a country based upon a certain religion, i.e., Christianity.

The Bill of Rights gives each of us, even Carter, the right to make our own decisions from our own moral compass and where that may take us. But we must not condemn those who have taken another road.

Re: your Jan. 20 article, “Bid to bring skunk home raises a stink�:

Let's see, two people are going to fly to Buffalo, N.Y., to bring back a skunk that supposedly is from Torrance, here in California, but stowed away to Canada. This sounds like a very serious endeavor, so this should not be looked at too lightly.

First of all, how can we be sure that it came from Torrance? Suppose it's a Canadian skunk, eh? Then you can be accused of kidnapping and illegal immigration. Assuming it is from the United States, eh, then it now needs a passport, eh.

Re: your Jan. 20 article, “Commander of nuclear sub relieved of duty�:

The commander of the nuclear submarine, USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, was relieved of command when an investigation revealed that two of the submarine’s sailors died due to a decision made by the commander. It was determined that the incident that caused the two deaths was a poor decision and was avoidable.

Re: Richard Smith’s Jan. 15 commentary, “Study of evolution necessary�:

Mr. Smith makes one good point: “that we need to understand the world we live in.� But it ends right there.

Asking questions is what a chemistry and biology teacher should do. For starters, here are two simple questions: What information do I have? What information do I not have?
For example, a paleontologist digs up bones from an extinct dinosaur. The bones are examined and reassembled into a skeleton. What is not recovered are the soft tissues, such as the skin, muscles, internal organs, etc.

Re: Jim Barros’ Jan. 19 letter, “‘Deproductive’ rights,� and John K. Carter’s Jan. 19 letter, “Roe v. Wade despicable�:

To all those who would impose their religious beliefs on women by not only denying reproductive choice but vilifying anyone who supports women’s rights: Please, if you are truly Christian, find in your heart understanding and charity towards those who don’t share your every belief and cease from nasty name-calling and pointing to public officials who have the courage to support privacy and healthcare rights for all.

— Helen Conly, Ventura

Re: your Jan. 22 article, “Cursive: Handwriting gets less attention in computer age�:

Good handwriting matters, but don't equate goodness with cursive.

According to the May/June 1998 edition of the Journal of Educational Research, the fastest, most legible handwriters don't write in cursive. Highest-speed, highest-legibility handwriters join some, not all, letters — making the easiest joins and skipping the rest. They also tend to use printlike shapes — not cursive — for the many letters whose printed and cursive shapes "disagree."

No one likes abortion — not the doctors who perform the procedure or the patients who decide their life would be forever torn apart by having an unwanted child. If these well-meaning people who protest this right would work as hard to prevent unwanted pregnancies, the world would be better for it.

Planned Parenthood is not about abortion. It is about counseling to improve women's lives. It's about family values. It's about quality healthcare and the woman's right to make decisions about her life.

Re: your Jan. 19 article, “Council OKs leasing of Navy land�:

Isn’t it great that Port Hueneme has chosen to turn the area adjacent to my neighborhood into a parking lot? I don't think those who live in the Hollywood-by-the-Sea and Silver Strand areas realize what Port Hueneme’s move will do to our community. Get ready for 24/7 lights bright enough to light up the harbor, noise, traffic and pollution. Our neighbors in Port Hueneme couldn't steal land in their own city, so they decided to go after federal property adjacent to our streets.

Re: your Jan. 21 Pulse page, “California healthcare proposals�:

I read with amusement the letters and commentaries concerning our newly minted Democrat governor's "health plan." It amazes me that so few people have any concept of economics and reality. With the exception of Janine Montoya's excellent commentary, they are dreamland fantasies.

We now have a raft of people declaring their bid to run for president. This is an election that is two years away and a year away from any primaries.

Millions of dollars will be spent. I know of no other country where this occurs. With news available so readily, there is no need for this. Our people are well-informed and do not need the barrage of political spots on the radio and TV. I really don't think most people pay attention to them anyway and just get turned off. That is most likely why more people are registering as independents.

Before the election, the Democrats promised to eliminate earmarks. The new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, David Obey, now says that earmarks are not inherently bad and that eliminating them won't save any money. His plan is to eliminate only those earmarks that would "embarrass the House" and to reduce the number of earmarks — to only Democrats? Shades of “Animal Farm.�

— George Adelman, Newbury Park

Re: George Sjostrom’s Jan. 20 commentary, "The imperfect theories of bipartisanship":

Mr. Sjostrom stated, "In a rush to bipartisanship, … Schwarzenegger has made an unbelievable switch from his conservative promises … to this month’s radio address in which he proposes massive increases in the state’s debt."

I was shocked to learn that California State University, Channel Islands, hosted a "celebration" of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on its campus. The callous indifference to the 49 million deaths that this case represents is a mark that our civilization has indeed reached the bottom of the scale of decency. Not only will those attending enjoy a gruesome meal over the deaths of 49 million innocent human beings, they will also rejoice in the suffering of all those involved in this terrible devaluation of human life.

Re: Jerre Reimers’ Jan. 18 letter, “Don’t allow price gouging�:

I don’t know if price gouging applies here. However, let’s look at oranges as an example. Last week in Simi Valley, small oranges were 25 cents a pound, on sale. This week, they are 39 cents. Is this price gouging? No, they were 39 cents before the sale.

Re: Cheryl Rollings’ Jan. 22 article, "Reproductive rights must be protected�:

Ms. Rollings states in her article that a woman's "reproductive rights" must be protected, but women also deserve the truth, and no one's freedom or so-called "reproductive rights" should allow for the death of an unborn child in its mother's womb.

I am writing to add my voice to the discussion regarding the Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center — also known as Two Winds Ranch — and to dispel the suggestion that the facility benefits only 60-odd boarding equestrians. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A quality equestrian facility serves many purposes, one of which is setting Thousand Oaks apart from the rest of Ventura County. Simply put, there are no comparable facilities in the nearby area. The loss of this unique facility would leave little difference between Thousand Oaks and, say, Westlake Village or Agoura.

Re: your Jan. 19 article, “State tab high for prison oversight,� and your Jan. 20 article, “Pay error to cost state $440 million�:

The average Californian hasn't a clue about the high costs associated with incarcerating prisoners. Many could care less. The attitude seems to be that everyone in prison deserves to be there. Not so. And what about those who have been approved for parole, but have governors continually take away their dates?

Re: Jim Barros’ Jan. 19 letter, “‘Deproductive’ rights,� and John K. Carter’s Jan. 19 letter, “Roe v. Wade despicable�:

Even those who are not directly involved with an issue are entitled to an opinion, but I am always amused by men such as Mr. Barros and Mr. Carter who have one about such personal women’s issues as our reproductive rights. They will undoubtedly respond that this is a “human rights issue.�

In November 2006, the Oak Park School Bond Measure H-6 was defeated. It received 55 percent voter approval but required two-thirds voter approval for passage.

During the H-6 campaign, many community members found it difficult to tell which side was providing truly accurate and reliable data.

There seemed to be a high level of mistrust, as evidenced by the harshness and level of rhetoric contained in letters and blogs written by community members.

Monday marked a tragic anniversary in America's history, the date when Roe v. Wade legalized abortion throughout this country. In every abortion, a living human being is destroyed. The fact that the unborn child is very small and very undeveloped makes it no less human than a grown adult. He or she has its own unique DNA code from the moment of conception and sometimes also has a different blood type. If anyone has doubts about whether or nor the unborn child is human, just look at an ultrasound of a pregnant woman.

Here we go again. The 110th Congress is jumping right into the immigration fracas with new bills based on — what? How can so many people have so many scattered ideas about solving a complex problem that hasn’t been defined to any degree of precision?

The congressional immigration reform circus performed by the 109th session may have appeared to many as an honest effort. For those of us with years of experience enforcing immigration laws and a better understanding of the issues, it was merely a bunch of legislators aimlessly groping to satisfy special interests, including their own. Their impasse was a welcome relief, but only a temporary one.

I recommend that President Bush be tried before the world court for war crimes against humanity. Because of his actions and policies, more than 100,000 people have died in Iraq — directly or indirectly — who would be alive today if not for him. Saddam Hussein must be laughing in his grave.

— William Wolny, Oxnard

Though I live in Oxnard, I hold great affinity for Port Hueneme and spend a vast amount of time there. Oxnard has not managed its lands or streets very well, and it is very unpleasant and time-consuming to travel about now. I, therefore, prefer Port Hueneme. I frequent businesses there and visit the beach and the pier almost daily. I contribute with my parking fees and my patronage. Had I qualified for that home loan in 2003, I’d be a homeowner in Port Hueneme right now.

Re: your Jan. 2 editorial, “New day for C-SPAN�:

Commendable and ironic is The Star’s editorial. While it could be beneficial to democracy to allow C-SPAN to enhance its coverage of the House of Representatives, viewing of C-SPAN 2, featuring the U.S. Senate, is being restricted and denied by Time Warner Cable in The Star’s home county.

Re: your Jan. 15 article, “Council to rule on Simi woman's trio of goats�:

I was so sad to read about the great goat debate involving an intolerant neighbor's complaint about three little goats living in a private back yard. The Simi Valley Planning Commission's public hearing Wednesday on Debbie Wortman's request for a permit to keep her little pets in her back yard was just injustice at its worst. It was so sad to find out how many intolerant, animal-hating residents there are in Simi Valley!
Whatever happened to tolerance, live and let live, getting along with your neighbor, and granting special requests in this special city?

Re: your Jan. 17 article, “Schools seek ways to ensure graduation� and Richard R. Kibbe’s Jan. 17 letter, “Vocational ed is needed�:

How interesting that on the same day, there was an article regarding Ventura schools seeking ways to getting all their students to succeed and graduate and a letter stating the need for more vocational education at the community colleges.

The answer lies with having more vocational education at the high school level.

After spending a morning in the Social Security office, I decided there is nothing social or secure about it.

I needed to find out how to get a replacement Medicare card. First, you enter a stark, dreary looking room. At a machine, you punch in what you want, get a number and wait. My number was 472. The board said they were on 448. There were five windows, two shut and three manned.

Re: your Jan. 17 article, “Governor declares state of emergency�:

It is good and appropriate that a state of emergency be declared for growers who suffered losses due to the recent freeze. I support the use of tax dollars going to help farming neighbors who need help following a natural disaster, even though many growers have insurance and all growers know the risks.

Re: Richard Smith’s Jan. 15 commentary, “Study of evolution necessary�:

I am a creationist and fully agree with Smith: The theory of evolution must be taught in our schools. But, it must be taught using proper scientific approach.

The point is the importance of teaching evolution for what it is: a theory, based on scientific method. One goal of teaching young people evolution is to teach them how to reason, research and conclude on their own. The study of evolution is a perfect medium for this.

Healthcare is too important an issue for our society, our country and our state to continue letting the insurance companies dictate the terms of coverage or no coverage. I believe we need SB840, and I will be voting for it. Hopefully, my neighbors will feel the same as I do.

— Wes Ginther, Ventura

Periodically, I reread the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, just to see if I am still living in America. I can't find anywhere in either document where it says that a Mormon must give up his or her religion. I can't find anywhere in the documents where it says an incoming congressional representative or senator cannot take the oath on the Quran. Maybe I'm missing something, but wasn't the United States founded by people who were desperate for freedom of religion?

— Terry D. Gibson, Oxnard

Re: John R. Hanson’s Jan. 16 letter, “Protesters misguided�:

I agree that Sept. 11 was not caused by President Bush, but the Iraq war certainly was, as is the continuation of this war and the sending of an additional 21,000 soldiers.

This is like pouring salt into an open wound. There’s no mention of a timetable when our troops might be withdrawn and no mention of possible talks with both Syria and Iran, the major suppliers of arms to the Iraqis.

Re: your Jan. 10 article, “Grave undertaking�:

You cannot imagine my surprise when I read this article, only to have my grandmother's name jump out at me: Frances (Avalos) Gottardi. My mother, Alvina (Gottardi) Guadagno, was the oldest child of Joseph and France Gottardi. She was 15 years old when the St. Francis Dam disaster occurred. The article indicated that all of the family was lost, but in fact my mother saved my grandfather and herself by hanging onto a log.

Re: your Dec. 21 article, “Parking permit foes threaten to picket�:

It looks like the city of Oxnard has thought of another way of making more money from the working people. They didn't get enough from the street sweeping tickets, so now they are getting us with a parking permit program. Not only will they get money on the tickets from violators, some who may get ticketed may have come to visit family members who don't have enough permits for them.

Now that Saddam Hussein's half-brother has been hanged rather messily, I hope The Star will spare us any stories on "moral outrage" like those that followed Saddam's hanging.

I don't remember any outrage when Saddam and his henchmen were happily gassing Kurd villages and filling the fields of southern Iraq with the bodies of thousands of Shiite men and boys.

It is time to stop the madness of upgrading nuclear weapons. We should be dismantling them — all of them. The use of them is a nightmare! The United States needs to lead the way in showing the world that we are not all about defense at all cost. Who would be left to enjoy the spoils anyway?

— Marilyn Salas, Ojai

It seems that our dictator-in-chief once again has spoken. There’s no need to stall anymore about the Iraq Study Group, no need to spout off about listening to ideas from other sources. The decider had already made up his mind about the "surge" long before the smokescreen went up.

Kudos to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for making healthcare one of his top priorities for 2007. Shame on him for vetoing Sheila Kuehl's bill last year, which is, of all the plans, the most comprehensive and the one that will cost California the least. In addition, it does not cater to the insurance companies, which I believe his plan will do.

I believe our country should provide healthcare for every citizen. It's the compassionate way to treat people. I believe all should have comprehensive, reliable and affordable health insurance. Universal health insurance is critical to the health, security and economic well-being of our country.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had a chance to show where he stood on providing healthcare for all Californians when he vetoed Senate Bill 840, which would have provided health insurance for all at far less cost than his proposed plan. Why would SB840 have been cheaper while providing comprehensive care for all? Because SB840 would have eliminated the need for private, for-profit insurance companies who now walk away with billions of dollars of profit for private investors. It’s the old rubric that you can always get a better deal if you eliminate the middleman.

I think it is very sad that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has chosen to support the insurance companies rather than the citizens of the state he governs. Healthcare costs are exorbitant, but they are nothing compared to the ridiculous premiums the insurance companies charge for limited coverage. The only reasonable option is a single payer system.

Someone needs to stand up for the people. I hope we can find some legislators who will.

— Claudia Barton, Simi Valley

Re: your Jan. 17 article, "City seeks realignment of Hitch Boulevard":

That article really made me laugh. While gaining the stoplight at Grimes Canyon Road has helped Home Acres residents enter and exit the highway, its appearance poses some questions. Highway 118 is a state route. California Department of Transportation officials told me years ago they'd like to put in a four-way intersection with a signal at Grimes, but landowners were unwilling to offer up the land.

Re: the Ventura County Reproductive Rights Network’s Jan. 13 ad:

I was reading the Roe v. Wade ad sponsored by the Reproductive Rights Network. Reproduction means “remake.� Unless my memory fails me, this group is all about "legally� killing preborn human beings. This is not making anything but Planned Parenthood and the mechanics who kill the fetus richer. I think in all fairness, they should be called the group for deproductive rights. They will whip those fetuses yet.

— Jim Barros, Simi Valley

Re: Patrick Reel’s Jan. 3 letter, “U.S. ignores Israel’s sins,� and Gerald McGuire’s Jan. 5 letter, “Welcome criticism of Israel�:

Reel and McGuire are certainly entitled to their opinions. They are even entitled to their own delusions. They are not, however, entitled to their own facts. Facts are the truths that the world shares. And sorry, the overwhelming majority of the world does not share their version of the facts of history.

Re: your Jan. 11 article, "Residents say they want more development":

The article reports that the Ojai City Council was met with "a chorus of support for more development and higher density from some residents of the famously slow-growth city.�

What I witnessed was a small group of low-cost housing activists who came to pack the council chamber to push their pro-growth agenda, regardless of the damage it inflicts upon our environment and small-town quality of life.

In the past few years, I have found myself confused and saddened by some of the actions of leaders in Israel — authorizing and establishing settlements on land declared off limits by United Nations resolutions; targeting and killing civilians; oppression of Palestinians, both Muslims and Christians; excessive use of force on occupied populations.

When I have tried to express concerns to Jewish friends, colleagues and acquaintances, I have been met with intense hostility, been called anti-Semitic, shouted at or given the silent treatment. Dialogue was not possible. This concerns me.

Re: your Jan. 15 graphic, “How your lawmakers voted�:

It was interesting to see the votes of our two distinguished California senators.

One was on "an amendment to S1 to apply federal campaign finance laws as strictly to Indian tribes as they applied to businesses and labor unions. A yes vote was to kill the amendment on grounds tribes are sovereign nations."

Re: the Ventura County Reproductive Rights Network’s Jan. 13 ad:

Has Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long ever met a radical or evil cause she didn't like?

This ominous notice in the Jan. 13 Star celebrates the infamous Roe v. Wade anniversary. Roe v. Wade ushered in the unborn-baby killing era. Since 1973, more than 45 million babies have been murdered —more than a million each and every year in the United States.

Re: the Ventura County Reproductive Rights Network’s Jan. 13 ad:

What an interesting ad the pro-abortionists placed in The Star! The ad's black border, meant to show up the ad, instead really showed the sadness of what they were commemorating — Roe v. Wade, an unjust law allowing the killing of more than 45 million unborn human babies.

Re: Woody Woodburn’s Jan. 7 commentary, “Gary Tuttle deserves track named in his honor�:

Yes, Gary Tuttle has done a lot for Ventura outside of his running activities. We would not have our Avenue Library if not for his efforts and those of his sister, Trudy Tuttle Arriaga. We met weekly for almost two years at 7:30 in the morning. The early hour was so Gary could lead us and then go open his store. That's dedication!

— Laura Gulovsen, Ventura

Re: Scott Lynch’s Jan. 14 commentary, “Beware of seeking ‘peace in our time’�:

Mr. Lynch stated very clearly what I have felt for a long time. We are now facing the greatest threat to our country since the end of the Cold War. Muslim extremists have declared war on the west, with the United States and Israel as their primary targets.

This is not something that we can simply ignore and hope will go away, or we will face a hundred 9/11s. We also cannot continue to play partisan politics, pointing fingers and assigning blame. While we blame President Bush or say that Democrats want to "cut and run," these Jihadists are planning their next big attack.

Re: your Jan. 13 editorial, “Behaving like a minority party�:

Less than two weeks ago, the Democrats took control of the House and Senate. They have introduced more legislation to improve the lot of the American common man in that short time than the Republicans did in the last 12 years — increasing the minimum wage, funding stem cell research, negotiating lower Medicare prescription prices — and there’s more on the near-term agenda.

And yet, The Star’s editorial lambastes the Democrats for not doing more!

Re: your Jan. 13 article, “Scandinavian group explores effects of multiculturalism�:

This article summarized a complex presentation very effectively. At the meeting of the American Scandinavian Foundation of Thousand Oaks, Dr. Jose Marichal of the California Lutheran University Political Science Department described his view of Nordic identity in the context of global change. The article captured the essence of the challenge to apply ethnic identity for positive involvement in society rather than for preserving narrow isolation.

— Richard Londgren, Thousand Oaks
(The writer is a member of the board of the American Scandinavian Foundation. — Editor)

I've saved articles about Camarillo resident Pete Bokron, who wants to have a card club placed in Oxnard.

I find it interesting that a resident of another city comes up with the idea that Oxnard is the perfect place for him to carry out his "dreams.� If this is such a great idea, why doesn't Bokron give this wonderful opportunity to his city of residence — Camarillo?

Last year, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the health care bill passed by both the Assembly and the Senate, my reaction was: "I hope if he or his family ever need healthcare, they find someone with more compassion and empathy than he showed."

Within a few weeks, he did need care and had access to extensive medical care from compassionate and empathic people.

First, let me explain I have no connection to Moorpark or any other high school. My kids graduated in the 1980s, which means I grew up in a time and place where loyalty and honor meant something. I have played and coached football and always felt the discipline and value system learned from football went way beyond the football field.

This brings me to a young football player at Moorpark High School who apparently has not picked up on these values. His decision to transfer for the purpose of "playing football somewhere else" his senior year is a bad one, and not just for Moorpark High School. His school, teammates and coaches have given him full support and star status, which he earned. Where is his honor and loyalty?

Do you like to be informed of issues that concern you or your family? Would you like it if this freedom were taken away from you?

Senate Bill 1, Section 220, can make it very difficult to get information that might be very important to you. We have the freedom to write or call our senators if we are concerned about an issue. That's the way it should be. It's only right.

Re: your Jan. 9 article, “Son admits to abuse in mother’s death�:

I commend The Star for its fine reportage on the case of Robert Young, who admitted guilt in the horrific death of his mother.

I am infuriated that the defense attorney audaciously couched his plea that, out of supposed altruism, her client pleaded guilty so that his mother's personal information would not be publicized because she was a private person. In other words, if the facts were to be divulged, one would know how utterly absurd that statement is.

Re: John R. Hanson’s Jan. 16 letter, “Protesters misguided�:

We must all remember the old saying, "A patriot must always be willing to defend his country against his government.�

Jan. 11, I stood proudly next to members of my community, both young and old. They included students, World War II veterans and Vietnam veterans. I have, during the last few years, had the privilege of speaking to several Iraq war veterans.

Re: your Jan. 17 article, “Produce prices may triple for items in short supply�:

I call upon Attorney General Jerry Brown to investigate and enforce the state’s anti-gouging price laws.

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Jan. 13 commentary, “Giving Iraqis a fighting chance for freedom is vital�:

Bullying Bill's commentary has finally stirred my ire.

He is "chicken" and can only talk "hawk." He supports the "surge," only on condition he doesn't put his butt on the line. Why are the most vociferous supporters of President Bush's fiasco — Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and O'Reilly — chickenhawks who never served in the military?

I propose a much-needed alternative to the plan for "success in Iraq" offered by President Bush. One of the things he doesn't appear to understand is that a primary deterrent to restoration of stability in Iraq is the presence of U.S. and other non-Muslim soldiers there. It follows that a good strategy to achieve stability in Iraq would be to persuade Muslim nations to provide peacekeeping forces capable of stopping the sectarian violence in Iraq, relieving U.S. forces as rapidly as possible. The present U.S. plan to stop sectarian violence in Baghdad seems unlikely to succeed even if Iraqi forces step up to attempt it.

Re: your Jan. 14 article, “Venturans protest three-story building plan�:

The current zoning in Ventura’s midtown allows construction of buildings up to six stories high. It also only regulates a building’s height, lot coverage, setback distances and other easily measurable values. What it does not do is recognize that there are more important factors governing a building’s impact than just those variables. Nearly everyone can agree that having six-story buildings throughout midtown is not a desirable thing.

Once again, President Bush has attempted to beguile the American public by promising to bring "security," "freedom" and "democracy" to Iraq. And once again he has failed to offer the one thing Iraq is fighting for — independence.

Whether the Iraqi insurgents turn their weapons against foreign troops or those they believe to be collaborators, their purpose will not be deterred by military force. The cause of independence is as powerful today as it has been throughout history.

Re: Mike Seibel’s Jan. 15 analysis, “White House’s spin on the war clouds action on Iraq, critics say�:

I find The Star's practice of printing politically slanted "analyses" alongside factual news reports irksome.

Re: your Jan. 13 article, “From temple to Capitol�:

After reading this article, I had to ask myself, "Where is the freedom of religion?"

Mitt Romney's ancestors have been very devout Mormons since early Mormonism. His people went through many trials, and now Cyndi Mosteller, who doesn't know anything about Mormonism, is suggesting he "should defend his positions or reject his faith." He doesn't have to do either, as his religious beliefs are his business.

Re: your Jan. 16 article, “Officials may close three schools�:

The high schools are overcrowded; the elementary and middle schools are empty. Why don't they change the structures of the grades to have elementary, grades K-6; middle, 7-9; and high school, 10-12? I am sure the high school wouldn't want to lose the average daily attendance money by not having a ninth-grade class, but maybe it would eliminate the need to build another high school. I think grouping 13-year-old children with 17- and 18-year-olds puts a lot of pressure too soon to grow up too fast.

— Mel Ulrich, Camarillo

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Jan. 13 commentary, “Giving Iraqis a fighting chance for freedom is vital�:

I quit reading Bill O'Reilly's column a long time ago. He disgusts me. But the Jan. 13 headline caught my eye.

As an aside, before continuing on this thread, I must say that the Democrats owe O'Reilly and all the other fascist talking heads — like Rush Limbaugh — a big debt of gratitude. They really helped the Democrats to retake the legislative branch of the federal government. Let me explain.

I find it most interesting that community colleges are now reconsidering vocational education. It should have never left.

Having spent 15 years attached to the Business and Technology Division at Oxnard College during the 1980s and into the ’90s, teaching on-campus courses and running vocational education contracts with numerous local companies and government entities, vocational education was an ongoing, growing and popular course of study.

It was 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, Jan. 9. The call had just come in that the Office of Emergency Services had announced freezing weather was coming to Ventura County. We needed the homeless shelter at the National Guard Armory in Ventura to adjust its hours and let the homeless stay in the armory later in the morning during the four to five days of freeze.

During these frigid days and nights, where is this fallacy, "global warming?�

— Bernard Jozaitis, Thousand Oaks

The new stamp honoring Ella Fitzgerald prompted me to write and let the public know that Ella is still doing good deeds long after her passing.

Our family resides in Simi Valley, and we have supported the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley ever since the new building opened its doors. I am also on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood.

Recently a child was physically assaulted by two fellow students while on the campus of a Simi Valley middle school. The assault occurred under the vision of a school district employee. It was not until another student intervened that the child was able to make it to the safety of the school office. At this same middle school, I know of another student whose glasses have been broken multiple times because of bullying by another student in the locker room before and after physical education. Also at this middle school a student was beaten for not turning over an apple to a school bully.

Re: Craig Kronfeld’s Jan. 12 letter, “Conspiracy, just no proof�:

Mr. Kronfeld asserts that gasoline pricing is a conspiracy, but there is no way to prove it. He also asks for someone to explain “why, the majority of the time, in the month of October every other year, right before an election, the price magically goes down.�

Re: Tobi Ruth Love’s Jan. 12 commentary, “Jewish history one of survival�:

There is no such thing as a historical right to live in any particular place. If there was, no one living today in the Americas should be here. Instead, they should be in Europe, Spain and wherever else they came from to displace the original inhabitants here. Obviously such claims are ridiculous. Any claim Israelis have to Israel is the claim of conquest, just as the inhabitants of the United States claimed the land by conquest.
In Israel, the only difference is that the conquest is not yet over, since the original inhabitants are still fighting a war of resistance against the invaders.

Re: your Jan. 12 article, “Day laborers creating traffic hazard�:

Finally, The Star covers this long-overdue issue.

For two years, I have corresponded with our Thousand Oaks City Council sharing my unpleasant personal experiences as a result of the day laborer site. I've stressed the site has created an unsafe environment for residents, along with a negative impact to property values. I've urged them to cease misspending tax money and shut down the site.

Re: your Jan. 16 editorial, “No mystery to textbook costs�:

Having recently retired from the California State University system, I have seen a great deal of what I term, "publifation,� or inflation in publication charges for books. As The Star pointed out, students now get CD-ROMs, vast online resources, a host of workbooks and, yes, new editions every few years. One text I have used was totally revamped in the late 1990s and is now in its eighth or ninth edition.

It is no coincidence that President Bush waited until the Democrats controlled Congress to escalate the war. Why didn't he do it a year ago? The fact is this so-called "surge" has little to do with winning the war. It’s a cynical ploy to put the Democrats between Iraq and a hard place. If the Democrats decide to cut funding for the new troops, Bush can accuse them of losing the war and being weak on national security. If the Democrats do nothing, they will alienate the anti-war activists who voted them into office. The only one Bush consulted on this purely political decision was Karl Rove.

— John Blumenthal, Westlake Village

What part of "breaking the law" don't our politicians understand? You break, you pay! It’s pretty simple. Along with immigration bills being proposed, why don't they propose a bill to be placed on the ballot which asks the voter, “Vote here if you want all incumbents out of office.� What a shame!

— Bud Sweeney, Thousand Oaks

When President Bush, Vice President Cheney and the rest of the neo-cons were using their influence to cowardly hide from serving in Vietnam, they obviously were not paying attention to the numerous mistakes made in that war. Sending 21,500 more troops into an unwinnable situation only brings more needless death and destruction. This insane war won't end until the apathy of the American people ends. People must put down their Playstations, turn off “American Idol,� step away from YouTube.com and do something to stop the escalation of this disgusting, unnecessary war.

— Fred Dixon, Ventura

Re: your Jan. 12 article, “War strategy draws local opposition�:

How sad that only 170 people showed up in two cities to protest President Bush's surge policy, yet be given this type of coverage.

I was stunned by a statement made by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that, of course, we've known all along that we did not have sufficient troop strength in Iraq. The United States expected the Iraq combat troop commitment to be stronger than it is, she asserted.

This is a horrible admission that, in essence, our mission in Iraq could not succeed due to the lack of commitment of the government of Iraq. After four years, 3,000 dead and 20,000 seriously wounded U.S. soldiers, we are now poised to blame Iraq for our failures. The parents and families of our soldiers have been betrayed by our government, not Iraq's.

Re: your Jan. 10 article, “Board says no to Flynn as chairman":

I continue to applaud John Flynn's commitment to his principles. It seems to me many of his detractors are likely intimidated by his willingness to put himself on the line. I am not suggesting he never makes a mistake or misspeaks, but he consistently conducts himself in a way so foreign to most of those in public service, it's almost hard to recognize. He's authentic and fearless.

Re: Beverly Kelley’s Jan. 8 commentary, “No Towers folks should welcome open debate�:

Kelley’s taunting characterizations of residents’ efforts to protect their community are condescending and misleading.

“These folks,� as she calls organized residents, read every word of the exclusive negotiating agreement between the city and developers and examined the conceptual sketches on the city Web site as far back as 2005. Hardly uninformed “naysayers.�

Wednesday, I heard Lyndon Baines Bush give the “support me or die� pitch. If this is not Vietnam redux with pure criminality included, I don’t know what is. He tells us that he is the law. They tore up an Iranian Consulate in Iraq, and the new troops are being sent, and there’s no real objections from the Republicrat Party.

Re: your Jan. 4 article, “Delay in prison sentence rejected�:

The article ends by stating that the Public Guardian's Office is some kind of last resort for families who cannot or will not care for their family members.

Re: Chris Biller’s Jan. 8 letter, “Bush alone isn’t to blame� and Carol Lindsey’s Jan. 10 letter, “Sometimes war is best�:

Both writers claim that we were right to invade Iraq because of the events of Sept. 11. I thought that by now everyone was clear on this one fact: The terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center had no connection to Iraq. Bush himself has admitted this. The majority of the 9/11 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia. Perhaps we had the wrong address?

— Steve Phillips, Newbury Park

I was somewhat disappointed in not having a list of Rose Parade participants that in past years was available from the newspapers. Usually there is a picture description of the route in Pasadena and a listing of the bands and floats. This year, The Star did not have that listing. Next year, I hope The Star will provide us with one.

— John Adams, Camarillo

Re: your Jan. 9 article, “DA won’t seek death penalty in 2004 slaying�:

Chief Assistant District Attorney Jim Ellison is quoted, at length, describing the internal deliberative process involved in determining whether to seek the death penalty in a murder case in Ventura County. What Mr. Ellison, and by proxy District Attorney Greg Totten, did not say is that if Javier Acevedo is convicted, he will be eligible for a lifetime of free hot meals, exercise facilities, free medical care and the opportunity to demonstrate "remorse" by writing children’s books from prison — all at the burden of California taxpayers, provided he is not granted parole at some point down the road.

The Oxnard City Council passed a law in 1998 requiring residents to move vehicles for street sweeping within a designated time, as stated on street signs. The city is fining vehicles not moved.

It’s interesting the city has put these signs all over but has left out certain neighborhoods. Why? Could it be that council members live in these neighborhoods? Tom Holden and Tim Flynn live in the Heritage Square neighborhood: no signs. John Zaragoza and ex-Mayor Manuel Lopez live in River Ridge: no signs. Andres Herrera lives in Marina West: no signs. Dean Maulhardt lives in a gated community: no signs.

Re: Carol Lindsey’s Jan. 10 letter, “Sometimes, war is best�:

Ms. Lindsey asks if our freedom is worth any amount of money. We are not fighting for our freedom in Iraq. Iraq never threatened us or our freedoms. If anything, we are in danger of losing our freedoms from our own government in the form of the misguided Patriot Act.

Re: Beverly Kelley’s Jan. 8 commentary, “No Towers folks should welcome open debate�:

Open debate on redevelopment in Port Hueneme is an oxymoron. The argument in this commentary should be directed toward a City Council that has long been dismissive of the concerns of the citizens it purports to serve. The tone of this article bears a strong resemblance to a voice that often echoes from the walls of our City Council chamber. Just like it is hard to listen to the “William Tell Overture� without thinking of the Lone Ranger, it was hard to read this commentary without thinking of the famous quote attributed to Priscilla in "The Courtship of Miles Standish."

— Ted Waddell, Port Hueneme

Re: Dan K. Thomasson 's essay, “Right-to-lifers at it again�:

In his essay on genetic engineering, Thomasson stated, "Why, when it is not necessary, bring a flawed being into this world?�

The following day I noticed an obituary of a young woman with disabilities. Her family wrote that her “childlike spirit, loving heart and tenacity will be remembered by everyone." It was obvious she was well-loved and cherished by her family.

Re: your three Jan. 10 letters, “Port Hueneme towers�:

Shame on Marjorie Cole, Pam Hoffman and Patricia Willis. Each had the perfect opportunity to debate openly about the Port Hueneme tower in The Star. Instead of addressing the issues raised by Beverly Kelley though, each chose to make nasty personal attacks.

This is to whomever stole the two bags of shoes and clothing and ransacked the box of kitchen utensils — stealing a crockpot, amongst other things — that I put out, plainly marked, for theVentura County Rescue Mission. These people must be really proud of themselves, and I'm sure their parents are proud, too, of their actions. It must give them a really warm feeling stealing things meant to help the less fortunate. Good job!

— Jeanne Walker, Oxnard

Re: your Jan. 6 article, “In uniform�:

I was disturbed when I opened the obituary section and at the top of the page was an article with pictures and announcements of our men in uniform. Whose decision was it to place this article along with the death notices? Was this a political commentary or a joke by a member of the staff? I found it strange, and I hope it was just an honest error. I'm sure there was another area to feature our heroic military men who fight for all of us.

— George Murphy, Ventura

Re: your Jan. 7 article, “Color them different�:

After reading this article on "Indigo children," I realized that my own three children and most of those I taught during my 30-year career as an elementary teacher were also "Indigo children." Most children exhibit many of the characteristics and behaviors listed in the article. Most children have difficulty with authority, do not want to do certain things, are never shy in letting people know what they need, are definitely self-reliant — they want to do things their way! — and, of course, have trouble with rules. Most children and adults respond to praise and do not take criticism well.

I can't help but wonder: When are the American people going to stand up and say enough is enough? We voted for a majority of Democrats in Congress with the hope that somehow they will be able to end this war that seems unendable. To now hear that some people are still debating the wisdom of sending more troops is not only absurd, it is Kafkaesque.

Yes, we need a new plan for Iraq: to get the heck out of there, not send more troops! We have lost more than 3,000 American lives in this war, and yet President Bush continues to treat our soldiers as if they are expendable — just as long as he doesn't lose face.

Re: Carolyn Crandall's Jan. 8 letter, “GOP is what it is�:

When I was growing up and attending Adolfo Camarillo High School, most of my teachers were of a liberal persuasion. In the 1970s, they taught that progressive thinking was being open to all ideas, strongly for free speech and against narrow viewpoints.

Re: Dan Whelan’s Jan. 8 letter, “Evolution a belief, not a fact�:

Leaving aside the question of the scientific merits of evolution, if Mr. Whelan is correct that the mere act of spreading religion will reduce violent crime, then we should find an explicit link between the prevalence of religious beliefs and violent crime rates.

Let us take two examples that are on opposite ends of each spectrum.

Re: Dan Whelan’s Jan. 8 letter, “Evolution a belief, not a fact�:

When Whelan writes “evolution is a belief,� he seems to imply, incorrectly, that religious beliefs are comparable to scientific theories. A correct statement would be “evolution is a theory.� The word “theory� is important. The word “evolution� could be replaced by any other scientific theory, and the statement would still be correct. “Theories� and “beliefs� are very different, and it’s a good idea to keep religion out of science.

I have worked at the Ventura County Government Center since 1981 and am very familiar with congestion issues and how the commute along Victoria Avenue has worsened over the years. Monday’s situation with the gas leak and the police response caused me to write.

In light of the gas leak on Highway 101, traffic congestion was seen throughout the affected areas. Streets intolerable at best became much worse with the gas leak emergency. Many streets in Ventura and Oxnard were affected.

Re: your Jan. 8 article, “Sidewalks to become domain of landowner�:

While Ventura County Transportation Director Butch Britt states he is protecting the county's interest with potential lawsuits, this ruling also expands the base for any lawsuits. The property owners are now in the picture, which then means the attorneys have more to do. That’s more for their coffers, insurance rates do go up, and hence, at the bottom line, we all pay more for. Did I mention property taxes increasing every year?

— Larry Gieseking, Ventura

Re: Beverly Kelley's Jan. 8 article, "No Towers folks should welcome open debate�:

I became aware of this project in November of 2005 from reading an article in The Star stating the city of Port Hueneme granted an exclusive negotiating agreement for a 19-story hotel/condo to be built in the air space above Parking Lot E.

Re: Beverly Kelley's Jan. 8 article, "No Towers folks should welcome open debate�:

It’s interesting that Port Hueneme City Councilman Jon Sharkey, who narrowly won re-election this past November, has enlisted his wife to write such an outrageous article full of untruths and the arrogance to match his.

Re: Janet Bridgers’ Jan. 7 commentary, “Coast doesn't thrive well when oil and water mix�:

The commentary by Bridgers, identified as founder/director of Earth Alert, provides her view on the oil and gas exploration and development history of the Santa Barbara Channel to promote an upcoming documentary on the subject.

I'm still baffled why the news media calls the Iraqi occupation a war.

One definition of "war" is "a conflict carried on by force of arms, as between nations or between parties within a nation." Maybe for a couple of days — or was it a week? — the United States was at war with Saddam Hussein-led Iraq. But since that time, U.S. troops have been a rebuilding occupying force.

Government logic never ceases to amaze me.

Transferring the responsibility for sidewalks to the homeowner is a stroke of genius. They have finally found the perfect solution for poor maintenance: Lay it on the taxpaying homeowners who will gladly accept the liability by way of the responsibility. This is only the beginning. I expect future headlines as follows:

2007: Ventura cities follow county, make homeowners maintain sidewalks.

Sending more troops into battle would be unconscionable. This is an affront to everything the American people hold dear.

Our future is in the hands of Congress at this moment in history. Sen. Ted Kennedy says that lawmakers can prohibit any of the money authorized for Iraq from being spent on a troop buildup.

How many innocents must die or lose limbs or lose their very minds before we stop this madness?

Re: Steve Hunt's Jan. 7 letter, “God help us all�:

Mr. Hunt forgot to mention that if Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi needs more input on ethics, she could also contact Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay and Duke Cunningham. As for her experience in raising five children, that should stand her in good stead in dealing with the president.

— Pat McLean, Camarillo

Re: Steve Hunt’s Jan. 7 letter, “God help us all�:

I can certainly commiserate with Steve Hunt's problem with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. I find myself saying "God help us all" every time George W. Bush enacts a new law of his choosing.

And, of course, having five kids in six years is right up there with being responsible for killing more than 3,000 of our troops and untold thousands of Iraqis.

— Charles Albrecht, Camarillo

I fear the thought of us pulling out of Iraq without knowing what will happen after we leave. We have been brainwashed by politicians into thinking that this is the best action to take, but has anyone thought of the consequences?

Americans have short memories and little patience. We are ready to let the world know that we believe we have lost the war. If we leave after 3,000 Americans have lost their lives, and Iran joins with Iraq, along with other surrounding countries, where will we be?

Re: your Jan. 6 Pa Ventura note, “To Americans�:

What? Pa Ventura actually wrote, "This country has been most fortunate to have had exactly the kind of president we needed at crucial times in the nation's history."

Yeah, sure.

When the country's economy collapsed in 1929, we had exactly Herbert Hoover.

The Bush administration has started 2007 true to its word by finally showing outward signs of rehashing its Iraq policy. The voters spoke loudly in November, the study group has weighed in, Democratic leadership has had the president’s ear, and new appointments officially begin their tenures in key foreign policy and military posts.

That seems to be where the good news ends, as evidenced by growing hubbub with regards to President Bush’s likely upcoming decision to “surge� troop levels in Iraq. Perhaps that would have been a better idea in 2003.

Re: George Sjostrom’s Jan. 6 commentary, “You can’t run a successful war by committee�:

Mr. Sjostrom blames Colin Powell and the United Nations for the United States not capturing Baghdad during the Persian Gulf War. Fifteen years from now is he going to blame the United Nations and its generals for starting the current Iraq war?

Re: Timm Herdt's Jan. 3 essay, "Uncovering a hidden tax":

I was disappointed in this essay, in which Mr. Herdt writes that the solution to California's health insurance problem is to continue an employer-based system just because it's already in place, to a large extent.

Re: your Jan. 4 article, “Schism at Silver Strand�:

I read this article online after my daughter told me about it. While I liked the article, it was the comments — 38 as I write this — that got my attention.

Most of the people who wrote in seem to think that Deborah Katt should either be quite about the bar or simply move. This is not Simi Valley, nor do we wish it to be. Folks move in from out of town and immediately try to change things to suit their idea of a nice neighborhood. One squeaky wheel does not a neighborhood make.

Re: Thomas D. Elias’ Jan. 1 commentary, “Democrats could delve into changes in gas prices�:

Mr. Elias got one thing right in his New Year’s Day column on gas prices: There is no proof that fluctuations in what consumers pay at the pump are attributable to anything but market factors. The rest is just plain political posturing and baseless conjecture.
Dozens of state and federal investigations in the past 25 years — regardless of which political party enjoyed a majority in government — have found no evidence of anticompetitive practices by the oil industry.

Re: Timm Herdt’s Jan. 3 essay, “Uncovering a hidden tax�:

This was an outstanding essay. Mr. Herdt helped, in a language that all the readers could understand, see the connection that unites high medical insurance rates and the lack of medical coverage for some 6.5 million Californians.

Re: your Jan. 5 article, “Man sent to prison for sexual assault on girl�:

I must express my profound anger over Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark's decision to sentence Travis Martin to only three years and eight months for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl twice while taking pornographic pictures of her.

The judge could and should have protected this girl, her family, and other scared parents from sick people like Martin. He should have given him the maximum sentence, regardless of judicial loopholes, which could have added an additional three years to his sentence.

Re: your Jan. 8 article, “Sidewalks to become domain of landowner�:

OK, let me get this straight: The county has decided that sidewalks are to become the domain of the landowner, whether the landowner asks for the sidewalks or not.
We received a notice a couple of months ago stating that a sidewalk will be built on our street because the parents of the children at Mira Monte Elementary School requested it. So now I’m finding out that not only are we getting a sidewalk that we don’t want, we are also liable for this sidewalk!

Re: Dan Whelan’s Jan. 8 letter, “Evolution a belief, not a fact�:

Mr. Whelan is mistaken on several points.

Transitional fossils have been discovered and are on display at the Smithsonian showing transitions from fish to mammals to birds and then among mammals as well.

An April 6, 2006, article in The Star has an accompanying photo showing the fossil that links fish and land animals. There have been numerous finds throughout the world.

Re: your Jan. 4 article, “Schism at Silver Strand�:

I agree with Shawn Kelly, a very good friend of mine, that the Strand isn’t the same. Growing up here with family — namely my mother, Wanda Pirkle, a literal Silver Strand icon, having lived there for some 40-plus years and very active in the community — was such a wonderful experience. The beach was our playground. No one ever locked a door.

There was a very large fire in Ojai on Friday afternoon, and many emergency vehicles raced through Oak View to get there. I finally went online to see that it was a residential fire with dangerous wires in the street. Traffic control was needed, and there were 29 units of one kind or another at the scene.

Re: Beverly Kelley’s Jan. 8 commentary, “No Towers folks should welcome open debate�:

What is Kelley writing about? Port Hueneme citizens welcome an open debate on this development. In fact, we have been screaming for one. We, the citizens who pay taxes and live in this community, have been left out of the debate. Kelley's commentary is a prime example of how citizens are being ignored.

All religions — gods by whatever name, heaven by whatever name, life hereafter by whatever name — are fictions born out of the knowledge of our own mortality and fear of death. These fictions help us deal with the twists and turns of fate during our lives. And this fear is so powerful and so prevalent that it still forces men of all faiths to their knees to do homage to fables, “holy� books of fiction written and revised by men, scraps of paper, pieces of wood, idol images and other humans who claim to have special knowledge and power with these deities.

What we need is a president who will stand up for America and do what's right when everyone else is giving in to special interest groups.

For example, one president, when he vetoed money for farmers, said, “Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character.�

Re: George Sjostrom’s Jan. 6 commentary, “You can’t run a successful war by committee�:

Mr. Sjostrom correctly points out that our government has never defined victory in the war on terror. There is a good reason for this. The phrase “war on terror� is a marketing slogan along the lines of Pepsi’s “The real thing,� Nike’s “Just do it!� and Budweiser’s “This Bud’s for you�. Good marketing slogans have no literal meaning and are designed to evoke a feeling and create a specific attitude. They are designed to sell a product, which, in this case, is a war.

Re: Dan K. Thomasson’s Jan. 5 essay, “Right-to-lifers at it again�:

I wonder if Mr. Thomasson considers himself or his family members so terribly flawed because they had a bout with colon cancer that they should have been put down like dogs that don’t meet a breeder’s criteria. I certainly do not feel that way toward my dad, sister-in-law or many others who have also had to deal with this or any other disease.

Re: your Jan. 4 article, "Delay in prison sentence rejected":

This article serves as a message to individuals who are assigned the duty as guardians — and who abuse that duty — that our courts will no longer tolerate financial abuse of our elderly.

There is no reason why any criminal of this caliber should request or expect time off their sentence. Did her victim receive any such consideration?

President Bush is now asking Congress to act in a bipartisan manner. I, too, would like to see the Democrats and Republicans in both houses of Congress work in a bipartisan effort to put the disastrously corrupt Vice President Cheney/Bush administration behind bars where it belongs.

— Bob Stroh, Fillmore

Re: Camille Harris' Dec. 29 letter, "Nonprofit can't be political":

I have continually asked our Midtown Ventura Community Council members and community leaders to continue taking the high ground with regard to those who denigrate and misinform the public about the MVCC.

I repeated this at the last MVCC board meeting Dec. 28 and opened the paper the next morning to read more misinformation about the MVCC.

Re: George Pohoski’s Jan. 2 letter, “Not everyone agrees on the Bible�:

Pohoski seems somewhat confused in stating, “Evolution is based on sound scientific facts that describe the evidence collected from fossils.� “Facts� don’t describe anything. Scientific facts are defined as what we can test, observe and what is repeatable. The description is given by someone who interprets the facts — in this case, Pohoski claiming fossils equal evolution. In reality, all a fossil tells us is that the particular fossilized object lived at some time in the past.