Mailbag: Griem’s lost innocence
In the In Theory column, the Rev. Bryan Griem once again preaches his brand of purity to us, and I imagine his congregation, not only for how we should worship but also, in his latest screed, how we should express our patriotism for our country. Here are a few of his choice phrases I’d like to put to you good readers.
In referring to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a “non-Christian cult” who would, in his youthful education, “remain seated ... and weren’t really faithful to the good of our nation,” he reasons that they were “thumbing their noses at us American kids.”
Leaving aside for the moment my disagreement with this, I can’t help but wonder how the young, more innocent Griem treated these anti-American religious cultists when he was just a lad.
Was he able to push aside their non-conformity and relate to them, just kids in his class? Was it really all that important to him way back then to sort out and categorize other children according to their customs and habits? Did he separate his “patriotic” friends back then from others who did not pledge their allegiance to the flag as he did? Were their religious backgrounds a criteria for his friendship?
Having taught children for all of my professional life, I would have liked to have known the young Griem at a time when he was not yet tainted by the strictures of, “How we should all be.” Like most other children, he would likely have been more accepting, more open to differences in his fellow human beings, and less inclined to “know” the ways of the righteous and true believers.
Oh, Rev. Griem, to be a child again.
Dan Kimber
Montrose
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Thorny road to regaining Sis
To welcome the Armenian Pope, the flags of Armenia, Artsakh, U.S. and California, were raised along with the Boy Scouts fanfare at the Glendale Civic Auditorium on Sept. 30.
“We lost everything during the Armenian Genocide. We preserved our Armenian identity through family, school, church, and by having faith in Christ as church is a spiritual home,” His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia said. He filed a lawsuit to regain the Sis church where the Catholicos once resided, and which now stands in Turkey. “It will not be a rosy road, but a thorny road.”
Sis — located in Adana, Cilicia — has major significance for Armenians: the ancient capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1080-1375), the Catholicos’ residence, Christendom haven, Kings’ coronation chairs, and it is where King Levon the Magnificent’s body was buried.
The fall of Sis ended the last Armenian Kingdom. King Levon V attempted reconciling the French and the English during the Hundred Years’ War. He died in Paris 1393, before recovering his throne. He’s buried with the French monarchy in the Royal Saint-Denis Basilica.
The Adana Massacre was perpetrated by the Turks in 1909. Armenians dispersed throughout diaspora and House of Cilicia relocated to Antelias, Lebanon.
Aram I seeks recovering his house in Sis; we seek recovering our lands of Sis in its entirety through prayer to open the doors of hope welcoming our beloved Cilicia. The night ended by singing: As the doors of hope open, I yearn to see my Cilicia. Let Armenia always be glorious and overcome the thorny road.
Rachel Melikian
Glendale
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Gatto, meet Friedman
Assemblyman Mike Gatto, who represents the 43rd District, is being termed out of office and is recommending Councilwoman Laura Friedman as his replacement. Gatto, who previously lived in Silver Lake when first elected to office, now rents an apartment in Glendale. He moved his family to Sacramento shortly after being elected. Therefore, how can he be aware of all the issues facing our Jewel City — all the out-of-control construction in our central business district and elsewhere? Projects approved by Friedman have caused major traffic congestion and parking nightmares in nearby neighborhoods. Her voting record has reduced the quality of life for many Glendale citizens.
Since Friedman was elected in 2009, her concern has been to ensure there is sufficient revenue in the city’s coffers to pay for her CalPERS union supporters with their outrageous salary and pension benefits.
Councilwoman Friedman has voted to raise our water and electric rate costs above the cost of delivery. Her vote to transfer approximately $20 million annually from Glendale Water & Power to the General Fund is a backdoor tax on the ratepayers. The increase in water and electric rates and the money transfer from GWP motivated previously uninvolved citizens to join and form the Glendale Coalition for a Better Government.
When term limits were brought forward at Glendale City Council in 2014, Friedman voted against term limits for her city. Now, because of term limits at the state level, she benefits and is able to run for the 43rd District Assembly seat.
Mike Mohill
Glendale
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Clinton did her job as attorney
That Donald Trump’s attempt to smear Hillary Clinton by charging she volunteered to defend a rapist isn’t met with outrage at Trump reveals how little many Americans understand about our Constitutional rights and the duties of attorneys as officers of the court.
Start with the facts. Hillary didn’t volunteer to represent a defendant charged with rape. She was appointed by a judge when the defendant requested a woman attorney and the public defender’s office was unable to provide one because it had none. Hillary represented the defendant and secured a plea bargain to a lesser included offense after her client passed a lie detector test and an expert witness, a child psychologist, cast doubt on the complaining witness’ credibility.
One of the cornerstones of American law is that all defendants in criminal cases are entitled to a presumption of innocence. The Constitution guarantees them the right to a fair and speedy trial and to be represented by counsel. The right to counsel was extended to defendants in state courts by the Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) 372 U. S. 335. Twelve years later public defenders’ offices were often still lightly staffed and judges frequently appointed private attorneys to represent defendants.
An attorney appointed by the court in a criminal case has limited grounds for refusing the appointment. These include a conflict of interest or ill health. Not wanting to represent the defendant because of the nature of the crime charged is not an acceptable ground.
Once appointed, Hillary was bound by the canons of ethics to represent her client zealously within the bounds of the law. The defendant was facing a sentence of 30 years to life if convicted. As his attorney she had an ethical obligation to provide the best defense she was capable of.
Rather than holding Hillary’s representation of a defendant in a rape case against her, voters should count that as a point in her favor. She accepted, however reluctantly, the obligation of a member of the Bar to ensure a criminal defendant received a fair trial. The case reminds me of the lawyer who defended the British soldiers charged with murder in the Boston Massacre. He feared it would be the end of his law practice and his budding career in politics, but he represented his 13 clients so well that 11 of them were acquitted and none of them was convicted of murder. Twenty-six years later John Adams was elected president of the United States.
Mary-Lynne Fisher
La Crescenta
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Kudos to News-Press staffers
Staff writer Kelly Corrigan did an outstanding article on the front page of the Oct. 12 News-Press regarding the passing of Gertrude Ness at 110. Gertrude was indeed an inspiration to all fortunate to have known her and I am proud to have been one among many.
Also, Joyce Rudolph did another awesome “On the Town” article about our upcoming Glendale College Patrons Club’s Scholarship Fundraiser.
I am only sorry that the News-Press is published only twice a week now. I have enjoyed reading all the local news in it through the years and hope it continues to be in print.
Karen Wharton
Glendale
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A bear of a problem
The threat is real as we scurry from our homes daily; looking over our shoulder, scanning the neighborhood — where is the bear today?
Residents wonder when more damage will be done (broken fences, planters destroyed, vehicles scratched, bears swimming in pools and threatening pets). The bear has entered a garage. What is next?
We dial 911. The Glendale Police Department arrives via patrol car and helicopter. They watch, they wait and they leave. Their hands are tied; unless someone is attacked, they cannot take any action.
Fish and Game says it’s the bears’ environment and that we should hide our trash cans and put pet food inside, etc. It seems they don’t want to be bothered.
My family has lived in this region since the 1930s; there were never bear sightings until recent years. Our long-established neighborhood is not in the forest; we are urban. We live steps away from Honolulu Avenue and the 210 Freeway onramp. We are told we are in the bear’s environment — since when?
Sightings are increasing. No one wants the bear(s) harmed, and we know from past experience they can be relocated.
What is the city of Glendale waiting for? Our children may be in danger because they move too quickly or are innocently playing in their own yard.
We need advice. Who do we contact? We need action to help protect ourselves.
Is it like when a city has to wait for someone to be killed before installing a signal light? I do not want to wait for a terrifying attack to happen because someone innocently provoked or cornered a bear before necessary action had been taken.
Maybe the city could start by giving us bear-proof trash cans to help eliminate the food source, or the maybe the bears can be relocated. Please do something!
Jari Kirkwood
Glendale