Everyone has an opinion

Author Schooled

Ms. Braun says it is okay to attend a public high school (“We Like the Idea of Public High School...,” September 12 cover story). Sometimes invincible ignorance is amusing. In Ms. Braun’s case, it is tragic.

I began teaching as a teenager when the principal asked me, a sophomore, to tutor some seniors, most of them being football guys. I continued to teach, even in the army and in the navy, and have taught every level from middle school to graduate school. My conclusion is that the public schools of the United States are morally, intellectually, and spiritually wasted, and are a mortal danger to the survival of the United States.

A Christian parent, or any other parent, who sends his child into the public schools is either a fool or a madman. Ms. Braun notwithstanding, the schools run by the government are intended to root out every standard of morality and replace faith with the idolatry of the secular superstate.

Homeschooling is the answer. If not that, a parent should make every effort to enroll the child into the school of his own religion or denomination. Every religious community should build its own school.

We must rebel against, and overthrow the requirement to enroll children in the state schools and restore the freedom to educate to each parent. The supergovernment is our enemy and its schools are our destruction.

• Name Withheld
• via voicemail

Your Kid Is Not a Genius

I enjoyed Siobhan Braun’s cover article (“We Like the Idea of Public High School...,” September 12) about picking a high school for her kid.

I’m glad I never bred so I don’t have to deal with such matters. My family moved a few times during my childhood and we just attended whatever school was closest. My siblings and I turned out fine.

I was particularly amused by the section of the article where some of the parents are concerned that their kids will not be stimulated enough by the academic courses or will be too advanced for the material.

Why does everyone think their kid is a such a genius? How many geniuses do you encounter in your daily life? Parents should realize their kid will probably just end up working a crappy 9-5 job, and hate it as much as they do.

It is unlikely your child will cure cancer, found the next Apple, or be the first human on Mars. In the immortal words of Ted Knight’s Judge Smails in the classic movie Caddyshack, “Well, the world needs ditch-diggers, too.”

• Pat Wilson
• University City

Not Real, Doll

Realdoll has not given ex-mayor Bob Filner any dolls (SD on the QT: “San Marcos-Based Realdoll Manufacturer Donates Doll to Filner”). This article is pure fabrication. The CEO and owner is Matt McMullen, not Ina Nimate. Apparently the Reader does not do any fact-checking in regards to the articles you publish.

• Name Withheld
• San Marcos

The Cost of a Big Mac

I was truly disgusted at the nerve of the individual who wrote the letter (“Minimum Wage for the Minimally Skilled,” September 12) regarding the minimum wage and the made-up lies it contained as to what it would supposedly do to our economy, if it were raised to a decent living wage.

Here we are in the year 2013 and we still have ignorant and greedy people like this who have the gall to complain about something that’s a big issue today, and something that every legitimate economist states is not true. Raising minimum wage would not hurt our economy. Rather, it would boost it.

The letter quotes some random economist, and sounds a lot like the 12-percent-approval-rated GOP with talking points that are absurd lies. Obviously he only cares about what his Big Mac would cost him, and not about whether the person who put that Big Mac together could afford to feed his or her family. Unbelievable!

I’m a 45-year-old African-American woman who hasn’t worked a fast food job since I was a teen. I would never get so high on my horse today that I would turn down such a job if I needed it. The nerve of this man to state that those who work such jobs are minimally skilled is almost beyond crazy. I’m surprised that your magazine would publish such a letter.

Please realize that our country and our lovely city are in dire straits. And people like that individual are the main cause. They vote on things against their best interest simply because they despise our labor unions and working people. But they don’t hesitate to take advantage of the holidays and weekends that the labor unions worked hard to get for most of us working citizens.

Come on, Reader. I know we live in a free speech and free thought world, but his type of thinking angers many readers and is the reason for the divide in this country now. Down with his type.

If he feels that it’s okay for inflation to continue climbing while salaries stay stagnant or below a living wage, then I say he pack his bags. Get the hell out of the U.S. and go buy an $8 Big Mac in another country somewhere. Maybe then he’ll stop writing such nonsense and invest in getting a little more common sense.

• Leo Lion Lady
• Redondo

Draft Status

In the spirit of Jeorges Alvina’s letter (September 12) pointing out inaccuracies in the Reader, I would like to point out that his claim that student deferments were no longer in effect in 1971 is inaccurate.

In 1971, my draft classification was 2-S, i.e. I had a student deferment. I gave up my student deferment in November 1971, and after a month in the pool I was classified 1-H in January 1972.

• Mike Healy
• Serra Mesa

Thank You, San Diego

I’m calling to comment on this person who is suing the City of San Diego because he stepped in a gopher hole in Ocean Beach playing football (News Ticker: “Man Sues the City over Gopher Hole Infestation”).

Don’t these people ever stop to say, “Thank you, San Diego,” for all the beautiful parks and recreation areas that we have? When they get hurt, all they want to do is sue.

Why doesn’t he sue the animal protection rescue league? They’re the ones who stop the City of San Diego from filling in the holes and stuff. It’s not the city’s fault or responsibility.

So, again, next time you’re out there having a good time playing football or baseball, or you’re out in your boat, say, “Thank you, San Diego!”

Name Withheld via voicemail

The Fine Print

What the heck is wrong with you people? I’m looking at page 12 of the August 29 Reader, SD on the QT: “Solar Wrexus.”

It’s probably funny, but the print is so tiny I can’t even read the darn thing with a magnifying glass!

It’s bad enough that the Sunday funny pages in both the San Diego and Los Angeles papers have the captions so tiny that you can’t even read them. But your stuff is even worse! I’m telling you the truth that I’m sitting here with a magnifying glass and I still can’t read it. Maybe it’s funny but I can’t tell. Blow the thing up and print it on a whole page or something.

I’m not getting that old. You’re just getting ridiculous with the fine print.

• Blurry-Eyed Bob
• University City

Stop It

Re “What Got Filner into Trouble” (News Ticker).

Okay, I get it. Mr. Filner is an extremely nasty old man and probably has been for years.

In the early ’80s and many miles away, the president of the company I was working for grabbed me from behind. I turned, stood on my tiptoes, and yelled into his face. “Don’t you ever touch me again!” He laughed, but walked away and never again came close.

Could there be even the slightest connection between dozens of women coming forward to spread the word about his past misdeeds and Mr. Filner not playing politically correct with Irwin Jacobs regarding the roads in Balboa Park, and the City Council regarding cleaning up seal poop? I listened with great interest months ago when Mr. Jacobs was taking his many millions out of the extravagant plan for Balboa Park. I also listened when Mr. Filner told how he could accomplish the same results by putting up traffic cones. I thought to myself at that very time, Oh, my, Bob’s pissed off the man! There will be repercussions to follow.

Rejecting Mr. Jacobs’ plan and never engaging in political gamesmanship with Mr. Manchester of the Union-Tribune, presented a challenge the big-time politicos just couldn’t pass up. Bring on the highly insulted women and Donna Frye (a politician I once admired) screaming at the top of her highly menopausal lungs, and you get all attention that should be aimed at the City’s multitude of problems focused instead on Mr. Filner’s very nasty chauvinism.

Where were all these women when he was running for mayor? They obviously could have changed the election results.

Let’s get over this and face the City’s real problems. Women can stop harassment at the exact moment it happens. Just do it!

• Name Withheld
• via email

Variety is the Spice

I am delighted to see you are now including restaurant reviews by Barbarella. I think a variety of reviewers along with a variety of restaurants makes for a more interesting section. I hope in the future that you will add even more reviewers. Keep up the good work.

• Marge Suess
• via email

More to Baja

When you do articles on Tijuana, or Baja for that matter, do you ever cover anything other than food and booze? I never see any articles in the Reader about the Tijuana political situation, infrastructure, culture, or anything like that. It’s always food and drink, tourism, and tourists. Can you please tell your reporters to do something?

There’s a lot of stuff going on in Baja, California, and most of it has nothing to do with tourism.

• Baltazar Macias
• Mexicali

Location, Location, Location

For a long time now you have had an escalating problem with your restaurant reviews. You provide little information on the locations of the restaurants that you review. Usually you bury it somewhere in the article.

In the article, “Fancy Comfort Food,” you hit a new low. The restaurant, which is apparently called Great Maple, is located where??? I read the review over and over and still have no clue. I’m glad this Barbarella is familiar with the location formerly known as Brian’s American Eatery, but please answer me, Reader, as to how in the world anyone that lives beyond a few blocks of this place is supposed to clairvoyantly figure out the location?

Don’t you have anyone proofread these articles as to viability?

• Name Withheld
• via email