Food for Thought and a Whole Lot More Found in Mail

Transfers, yuppies and pigs.

Sounds like the makings of a cool song title, don’t you think? Actually, it’s simply a hint at what lies ahead in today’s edition of reader mail . . .

Dear Barbie:

I am writing you in reference to your April 23 column regarding high school student-athlete transfers (“Transferring Athletes Leave Behind Loyalty, Commitment.”)

It is time for parents and student-athletes to “stop and think about perspective.” The time has come to establish some hard, fast and just rules regarding transfers. It is also time for Sunset League officials to take a careful look at the issue of open enrollment and its probable side effects.

Open enrollment would only create lopsided athletic programs with the intention to fend off the voucher system. There must be other alternatives.

It is time to put an end to illegal athletic transfers in high school athletics. More serious attention should be given particularly to the “prima donnas” who get away with it.

Kids should attend schools in their own attendance areas unless true hardship rules apply. When these transfers do occur, proper investigations and follow-up to the initial investigation should occur. This would avoid the effects of lowering the boom on an entire team at season’s end (when the team has to) forfeit games, championships and CIF participation.

Students bad-mouthing another high school program is dirty pool. What has happened to responsibility and commitment? Obviously, some kids today have minimal values and standards.

The current state of affairs saddens me; it needs to be stopped. High school officials, parents and their children need to wake up and smell the roses!

PATTY A. GORDON

Huntington Beach

Touche, Patty. I’m with you. Unfortunately, the situation probably will get worse before it gets better. More and more athletes seem to be guided solely by self-interest these days, and the Southern Section doesn’t have near the resources to keep the transfer trend in check.

But hey, if you--or any reader--come up with a solution, no matter how creative, go ahead and send it to the address below. The author of the best solution will receive--brace yourself--a genuine, commemorative On The Prep Path bus transfer!

Barbie Ludovise:

Your story on the (Muslim) track star Hana Khatib (“On the Track Or Off Of It, Marina’s Khatib Keeps the Faith,” March 28) would have made a much more positive impact if you had included the correct facts.

What Hana’s father has her wear and keep as pets are his views on raising his (Muslim) daughter, but (they are) not the norm.

The (Koran) only mandates that men and women dress in ankle length clothes for praying, not for everyday life. The dress code you described is traditional of a few Middle Eastern countries that have both (Muslim) and Christian populations, but it is a political not a religious dress code. American (Muslims) wear shorts, skirts and tights as long as it doesn’t violate common decency.

You were right when you said devout (Muslims) pray five times a day and don’t eat pork products. The reason (Muslims) don’t eat pork is because pigs eat anything and we don’t want to pollute our bodies by eating their garbage as well.

JASMINE SHOUKRY

Fullerton

My apologies, Jasmine, if my observations of Hana’s religious devotion and lifestyle offended you. There was no intent. As you know, sometimes there are not two sides of every story but thousands. Thanks for expressing yours.

Dear Barbie,

My schedule and lifestyle is extremely hectic, so I’ll make this short.

In the past, I have read your column a number of times. Now, as soon as I see that an article is written by you, I skip it.

MICHAEL SULLIVAN

Newport Beach

Gosh, Mike. How very sweet of you. I’d ask what the problem was, but my schedule is extremely hectic. Gotta go.

Dear Barbie:

Regarding the complaints in your recent column (“What’s All the Yapping About? Look Inside the Mailbox,” Feb. 21), don’t let any of those South County yuppies fool you.

So many of these S.C.Y.s can’t stand to see success north of the El Toro “Y.” They think that wherever they go everything must be the best. Well, they have another thing coming.

This year it’s taken a well-established parochial school like Mater Dei to show these folks the downside of the success cycle, but that’s life!

BOB TORRES

Orange

Thanks for speaking up, Bob. Though I have a feeling those “S.C.Y.s” might want a chance at rebuttal. Actually, they owe it to us. It’s not every day you’re immortalized in a potential song title.