Arizona’s banning of ethnic studies classes; the response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill; Gregory Rodriguez on WASP culture

Arizona hysteria

Re “Arizona goes astray again,” Editorial, May 18

The Times writes that the complexion of Arizona is getting darker and darker. The only darkness hovering over Arizona is its foolish practice of racial profiling.

Arizona stands as a shining example that mass hysteria has reared its ugly head again. Historical events such as the Salem witch trials, the Holocaust, the internment of Japanese Americans and McCarthyism exemplify the atrocities produced by this tragic theme. In each historical example, two major factors existed: fear and lack of knowledge. Also, a scapegoat was an essential component to the hysteria.

Apparently, history must constantly be revisited because mankind continues to repeat itself.

Louisa B. Caucia

Montrose

You write: “But it is now clear that Arizona’s problem isn’t only immigration — legal or otherwise. Its problem is Latinos.”

No, it’s even worse than that. In one of her first acts as governor, Jan Brewer rescinded many state benefits for the children and partners of unmarried state employees, heterosexual or homosexual.

It’s not only immigration; it’s not only Latinos; it’s not only gays and lesbians; it’s “I’ve got mine. If you’re different from me, I don’t care about you.”

Rodney Hoffman

Montecito Heights

It was mildly amusing to read your deleterious diatribe on Arizona’s extirpation of “ethnic studies” from the state’s K-12 curriculum. The Times claims that it is clear that Arizona’s problem isn’t only immigration, it’s (gasp!) Latinos: “What else are we to conclude from Arizona’s decision to ban ethnic studies from its schools?”

Well, for starters, ethnic studies courses are anti-American and seditious. In America, we teach our children about American history and culture. In English. We educate them to be patriotic citizens and loyal to their nation and its values and traditions. In America, no teacher would ever hang a portrait of a Third World butcher in his or her classroom as a representation of an authentic American hero. Che Guevara replaces George Washington: This is typical cultural Marxism.

The next step for Brewer is to ban ethnic studies from Arizona’s colleges and universities. Arizona is taking back America one school and one state at the time.

Joseph A. Lea

Mission Viejo

When spills happen, we pay

Re “Liability bill is blocked,” May 19

Here we have another example of the Republicans talking out of both sides of their mouths. They condemn the Troubled Asset Relief Program and other bailouts by U.S. taxpayers but block bills to make the oil companies pay more for the damages from oil spills.

Apparently they want more government spending rather than have the companies that are responsible for the problems pay their fair share of the damages.

Gerald Schneir

Santa Monica

When accidents such as the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico occur, because of the outrageously low liability cap provided to the oil companies, the American people end up paying the majority of the costs of cleanup and repair, essentially providing free financial support to many of the same companies that already gouge us. It is called corporate welfare.

Please give thanks to those in Congress who respect corporate privilege more than they respect the people who voted them into office.

Lewis Redding

Arcadia

With all the talk of responsibility regarding the horrific oil spill, we should hit BP in the pocketbook.

Why not boycott BP-owned Arco? If we stopped buying Arco gasoline and moved to other brands, I’m sure BP would find a solution to the spill more quickly.

Rik Barber

Orange

The buzz about WASPs

Re “Don’t count out the WASPs,” Opinion, May 17

So the Supreme Court now has black, white, Hispanic, Catholic and Jewish men and women. So what? Even those of us who have Anglo-Saxon ancestry (or Scandinavian) are open to diversity in American government.

We didn’t all come over on the Mayflower as British blue-bloods. Maybe poor Scandinavian settlers left their homelands for the same reasons as poor Mexicans and Central Americans: opportunity in a new land.

Most Americans recognize the value of diversity, even WASP Americans who voted for an African American president born “overseas.”

Get real. We’re not all racists or anti-female. Rush Limbaugh doesn’t represent all of us Caucasians.

Tom Novinson

Ventura

Though I agree with Gregory Rodriguez that “Yankee learning” has had a great influence on other ethnicities to be Yankee-like, I don’t believe that America’s best and brightest have originated just from Ivy League schools.

Thomas Jefferson was no Yankee, but he aspired to high ideals, progressivism and Western expansion. He was criticized by the Yankees for entering into the Louisiana Purchase, yet the “Yankees” certainly took advantage of Western expansion in California in the 1850s. Jefferson wrote most of the Declaration of Independence, believed in separation of church and state and formed the opposition party to the Federalists; we must include this Southern and Western “learning” as part of America’s cultural legacy.

Bottom line: Not all of our judges have to be “Yankee trained.” I would think we would welcome some judges that have been trained in other “sections” of the United States.

Chet Chebegia

Long Beach

Unboxed

Re “Rebuilding the Syria ‘box,’ ” Opinion, May 18

The most surprising element of Firas Maksad’s commentary was not the message it conveyed but the logic of the argument.

The writer claims that “engagement [with Syria] has proved its limits” and that “it’s time to put the box back.” Yet he fails to explain the logic behind replacing what he perceives as a “limited” policy with one proved to have failed. Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman is among many officials and politicians to declare that isolating Syria undermined America’s own efforts to further its goals in the region.

Syria is committed to renewing indirect peace talks through Turkish mediation, while Israel rejects them. This is a time for stepped-up American diplomacy to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region that would include Maksad’s own Lebanon.

This is what a sincere “advocate for Lebanon” would promote.

Ahmed Salkini

Washington

The writer is spokesman and political advisor for the embassy of Syria.