The power of books; restoring majority rule to the Senate; Supreme Court ruling on support for terror groups

What books do best

Re “Who needs books? All of us,” Opinion, June 20

Susan Straight supports what many of us know from decades of teaching the classics in literature. The better we understand the struggles and triumphs and defeats of those who preceded us, the better we understand ourselves.

My students’ appreciation for novels, poetry and drama has little to do with their (or the author’s) gender or ethnicity or religious background. The books come alive for them because of what they discover about the unchanging human heart. Like the growth rings of a tree, each reading adds more substance, breadth and strength to their own experiences, and the layers continue to grow and expand as long as they do.

Dale Salwak

Glendora

The writer is a professor of English at Citrus College.

This is one high school English teacher who says thank you, thank you, thank you for running Straight’s wonderful essay.

I have noticed in recent years that my students seem more restless, and that my classes are personally less fulfilling. I realized it’s because I’m trying to be a “good soldier” and adhere to an LAUSD-imposed timeline that makes us focus on “persuasive” and “expository” reading material with the rationale that this will make teens better thinkers and communicators.

This strategy works only sporadically. Do students need to be better critical readers and writers, more convincing in the arguments they make? Most definitely. Can nonfiction be mesmerizing? Yes, indeed. But I also know that we all need story, which is the soul-satisfying part — for me, anyway — of teaching English.

It is through reading splendid narratives that we experience revelations about our own lives. I’ve seen this time and again when my entire class becomes a community as they experience truth through fiction. My resolution as I teach summer school is to keep it full of story. Persuasion and exposition are going to have to fit in the cracks.

Lori Pike Uebersax

Hollywood

Restoring majority rule

Re “Ending the filibuster debate,” Editorial, June 20

I had a good laugh when in your editorial you felt a need to point out that Richard Nixon was a Republican. Perhaps I am just getting old and many of your readers, especially the younger ones, would not know that.

As for me, I have consistently objected to the filibuster, regardless of who has been in the majority over the years: Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals. That is in stark contrast to the many hypocrites that switch positions depending on who is in power or the particular issue.

The increased use of the filibuster in recent times is a testimony to past abuse by both sides and the strong grip political parties have on individual members who do not dare deviate from the party line.

John C. McKinney

Cerritos

I fervently agree with The Times. A minority should not find it so easy to unnecessarily delay the people’s business.

Lowering the Senate requirement of 60 to 51 for ending a debate is the fairest way to curtail the excessive and often abusive use of the filibuster. It would more truly reflect the democratic principle of majority rule.

With equal fervor, I strongly condemn any aspect of voting for legislation that requires a two-thirds vote to pass. That means that a minority of 34% can hold the majority hostage on many issues. One of the basic tenets of our democracy has been that the passage of any laws should require a vote of 50% plus one.

The filibuster system and the two-thirds majority vote are two examples of the erosion of our democratic way of life. I would think all fair-minded citizens would agree.

Robert C. Lutes

Temple City

Money exists for social programs

Re “How will we ever retire?,” Editorial, June 19

What nonsense. There is enough money to fund Social Security and other social and environmental programs if we stop wasting trillions on unnecessary wars, for-profit healthcare, Wall Street bailouts, tax cuts for the wealthy and other forms of enriching the already rich.

Victor Nicassio

Los Angeles

I have been reading for years that the retirement of the baby boom generation will leave too many retirees to be supported by the Social Security and Medicare contributions of the working population. I would think that Americans who worry about the loss of a safety net would be anxious to welcome immigrants into the contributing classes to fill the void.

It puzzles me why more people do not support providing a path to citizenship for the many currently illegal immigrants who want to become a part of the country. Those people are their future source of security. They will buttress social support systems.

The clamor to throw them all out is not in the interest of current generations of workers in the U.S. Maybe that’s why so many of the nativist faces I see at those rallies are older folks who are already retired and getting theirs.

Donald Schwartz

Los Angeles

Support for terror groups

Re “High court rules against advising terror groups,” June 22

Certainly, voluntarily collaborating with terrorists is a terrible thing. But the “material support” rule, which was just reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, has unfair and destructive impacts which have received little notice.

Colombia offers a prime example of the rule’s potential unjust impacts. Parts of rural Colombia are roamed by illegal groups which the U.S. government correctly considers to be terrorist organizations. The overwhelmingly impoverished residents of these regions often live in terror of these guerrilla and paramilitary groups and frequently have no choice but to collaborate with them — by giving them money, washing their clothes, providing them food or shelter and so on. Those who refuse may be driven from their homes or even murdered.

Tragically, these people who are victimized once by these outlaw groups can become victims again if they appeal for refugee status in the U.S. In the past, the material support rule has interpreted these people’s very victimization as collaboration with terrorists, barring them from entry into the United States.

The rule should be interpreted and implemented using common sense and basic concepts of justice.

Mike Ceaser

Bogota, Colombia

There are many reasons why I am proud of the institution USC has become.

Our athletics are entertaining but were never very high on my list. I am at present proudest of all of my colleague Professor Ralph Fertig.

I have never met the man, but I have followed his case. The stand he took in the federal courts on protecting free speech and the constructive engagement needed to persuade hostile groups to pursue peaceful means, and his deep commitment to the rule of law, leave me genuinely inspired and very proud.

James E. Moore II

Los Angeles

The writer is a professor, and chair of the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at USC.

10 students who didn’t miss a day

Re “Ten students are ‘perfect,’ ” June 20

Why, oh why, did The Times not run this article on the front page of the California section?

Ten students at one school graduating with 13 years of perfect attendance should not have been pushed aside in favor of such depressing news as the “ LAPD’s new jail still sits empty,” “Man shoots family, self” and “Hip Hop High’s last notes.”

Where was your admiration for such an achievement?

Lori Graham

Los Angeles

I always enjoy reading stories about students overcoming adversity to further their academic futures, but I am disturbed by stories lauding perfect attendance.

These are the sick kids who came to school coughing, sneezing or worse, possibly infecting the rest of the class and teachers.

These are the irresponsible parents who forced me to take days off from work to nurse my child back to health.

Suzanne Beck

Long Beach

Oil firms as outside agitators

Re “Bid to halt climate law joins ballot,” June 23

Thank you for exposing the horrific “California Jobs Initiative” for what it is: a blatant ploy by Valero Energy Inc. and Tesoro Corp. to rob California of its burgeoning green jobs sector and to deny our state the means to effectively fight global warming.

Educating voters about the unconscionable tactics of these Texas oil companies is essential for defeating this ballot initiative in November.

Vicki Kirschenbaum

Burbank