Patt Morrison’s interview with Condoleezza Rice; Neal Gabler on a ‘timorous’ America; California’s youngest students

Much too soft on Rice?

Re “Patt Morrison Asks: Citizen Rice,” Opinion, Oct. 23

I have enjoyed Patt Morrison’s commentaries over the years. Therefore, I was profoundly disappointed by her softball interview with Condoleezza Rice.

Given Rice’s highly influential role in supporting two aggressive wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Morrison’s question about Code Pink and war crimes begged for more. Millions have died or been made homeless by these outrageous and immoral attacks, yet Morrison let Rice get away with a lame and insulting reply.

Rice’s comment about defending the country legally is right out of Orwell. The Iraq War is built on a mountain of lies and distortions. It violates international law, not being mandated by the U.N. Security Council. It is a “crime against peace” under the Nuremberg Principles.

Morrison needed to press “Citizen Rice” far more than this timid exchange.

John Marciano

Santa Monica

Rice’s success has come at the expense of thousands, if not millions. The Bush administration lied so cynically that I don’t believe anything she has to say.

Libraries should have her book, I suppose, but I’ll never buy a personal copy.

Ronald Webster

Long Beach

Some Americans on America

Re “America the timorous,” Opinion, Oct. 25

We have certainly become a timorous people, but not in the way Neal Gabler outlines.

Gabler could readily substitute all instances of the words “nation,” “Americans” and “people” with the word “government,” and that would clarify his assumption of the motive force on the American scene.

Many of us believe that people define a nation, not its government. That might explain why Republicans over the last century have generally held the highest office except when they “screwed up,” as Gabler writes. Their notions of limited government and free enterprise continue to reflect the will of the people.

Republicans and “tea partyers” are not “terrified by any action whatsoever”; they are angered and mobilized by government actions that don’t align with the will of the electorate and will not pay for themselves as promised.

Robert Weil

Costa Mesa

Finally someone has recognized the truth of Americans’ colossal self-delusion.

For a long time, the two most conservative countries in the world were the Soviet Union and the United States. Both were terrified of change. America could have become a more modern, progressive nation — with healthcare reform, better infrastructure, a clean environment, a fair balance of private and public — decades ago. But we were constantly diverted by trumped-up “social issues” (communists, flag burning, bussing, gun rights, abortion, gays) while wars and the rich and powerful siphoned off our national wealth.

Now we cringe in fear of terrorism while the Chinese eat our lunch.

Democracy has become too good for Americans, who don’t bother to vote while complaining about their own government. It’s like watching the ancient Romans fritter away their republic through apathy and cowardice.

Alan Boatman

Rancho Cucamonga

Gabler spits at an electorate that consistently refuses to embrace untested and expensive government programs. Perhaps, then, it is time for the intrepid, bold progressives to be reminded of something by passive, frightened conservatives.

The United States became the most prosperous country in the world because of its prudence in not following the failed social experiments of Europe and in resisting, for the most part, ensnarement in other nations’ territorial squabbles.

There have been mistakes and missteps along the way. But Gabler should at least be aware that the “timorous” American electorate remains anchored to values that have prevented drift into murky ideological waters and provided journalists such as himself with a platform and a freedom to write contemptuously of their own country.

Avi Davis

Westwood

Gabler repeats what I have been saying for years. Timidity in the “masses” is common all over the world. For example, efforts to terminate compulsory religious classes in public schools have failed in Britain and the queen goes about her silly way blessing battleships.

The American system of government allows so much democracy that the fears of every ignorant voter are put into law far more than in most countries. China can build 10 new subway lines in a few years but Los Angeles has to wait 10 years before a single line can start. We can’t even adopt the metric system.

The solution is less democracy. As a first step, I would vote to get rid of California’s initiative system.

Julia Dunphy

Harbor City

The problem is elementary

Re “Kindergarten games,” Editorial, Oct. 22

I’m sure The Times would consider that “the needs of the state” also include the needs of California’s 4- and 5-year-olds. Your position would have the state save money at their expense.

So is The Times talking about money or the needs of 4-year-olds? Under the current system, these “fall birthday kindergarteners,” of which I have 12 this year, will cost the state as much or more — either sooner in referrals to interventions, special education or retention, or later when, after years of struggle and frustration, they give up and use other state services, such as law enforcement.

To suggest that the teachers unions would support a two-year kindergarten to create more jobs is a thought worthy of one of my 4-year-olds.

Michele Harris-Padron

Santa Barbara

Your analysis of SB 1381 missed some other issues. Eventually, all children whose birthdays are in September, October or November will be entitled to two years of public education before they start first grade, while children who are born in the other months will only be entitled to one. This means that it will cost the state more in the long run because we will be paying for an additional year of schooling for one-quarter of the children.

It also means that the first group will be the oldest and the most “experienced,” further exaggerating the advantage of being the oldest kids in any particular grade.

Having children start kindergarten when they are older is good policy because of the increasing academic demands of the kindergarten curriculum, but it would have been better all around for the legislation to have passed as first conceived.

Lisa Wilkin

El Segundo

Healthy choice

Re “A doctor’s Friday night rites,” Column One, Oct. 23

Reading the article about the 79-year-old physician who volunteers his medical services at high school football games, I recognized my old doctor.

In 1964 I broke my elbow so badly that my father — also a doctor — believed I would be crippled. He called the best surgeon he knew: Jerry Bornstein. Without surgery, he massaged all the pieces together, and six weeks later my cast came off and I began to exercise my arm; 46 years later, I still have full use of the arm with no arthritis.

Bornstein should be an inspiration to every retired person who is bored. Look around; there are many ways to be useful.

Howard Fox

Oak Park

Not the point

Re “Leaks focus on U.S. role in Iraq,” Oct. 23

The Obama administration is concerned about the documents being published by WikiLeaks. It wants to stop publication and discover how the documents were leaked.

It should be more concerned about the abuses the documents describe.

David E. Ross

Oak Park

Bad fence

Re “Costly virtual border fence in tatters,” Oct. 22

Note to the Department of Homeland Security, Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina and others: Political problems cannot be solved with technology.

Gordon Rudd

Laguna Beach