The turmoil in the Arab world; Barbara Ehrenreich’s views on civil discourse in America; the extended school year in Catholic schools

Preserving history

Re “Unearthing a city’s past,” Column, Jan. 28

Hector Tobar and The Times deserve commendation for their fine work in bringing public attention to the desecration of a burial site adjacent to the La Placita church near Olvera Street.

The cemetery was the final resting place for many of the early settlers of Los Angeles, including relatives of the original 44 settlers and indigenous people from the San Gabriel Valley and its mission.

Though Los Angeles has changed a great deal since 1781, we have an obligation to honor the city’s heritage and history. This can best be accomplished by not disinterring the remains of those ancestors.

This great city and its history are worth preserving for the generations that will follow us.

Robert Taylor

Glendale

A new era in the Arab world

Re “Looting grows in lawless Egypt,” Jan. 30

As an Arab American, I am immensely proud of the movements taking place in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen by people standing up for themselves, absent any foreign meddling. They’re standing up not for a pan-Arab or pan-Islamic cause but for governments that muster even a halfhearted attempt at democracy.

These movements are emblematic of the flaw in Samuel Huntington’s theory of the clash of civilizations, as they represent the collusion of the modern (Twitter) and the joining of secular, religious and civic groups in common cause for fundamental rights.

I look forward to seeing which opposition movement is the first to rip up its country’s constitution and write the first modern Arab constitution of the 21st century.

Omar Masry

Newport Beach

You would think that the example of Saddam Hussein would be fresh enough in his mind for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to know that the U.S. not only cannot protect its puppets, it is more than willing to slaughter them when they are of no further use.

Hopefully this episode heralds real change and a government that reflects the view of the people. This would make Egypt independent, not a “bought friend” of the U.S.

This could be the beginning of real change in the Middle East — change for the better.

Peter Hindrup

Bondi Junction, Australia

The thought of democracy advancing in Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Pakistan and even Saudi Arabia is great — or is it? More likely, regime change in these countries will lead to Islamic governments that will advance neither human rights nor the fight against terrorism.

In 1979, the totalitarian regime of the shah of Iran fell. In large measure this was due to the inept response by the Carter administration to the popular street demonstrations against the regime. The results have been disastrous for all.

Can we afford more Irans? One can only hope that the Obama administration handles the current challenges more adroitly.

Hal Bookbinder

Agoura Hills

“The just powers of government are derived from the consent of the governed.” Mubarak no longer has this consent; his government is no longer legitimate. And the United States should say so. Otherwise, our American creed means nothing.

This is a critical moment. It is time for our nation to stop prostituting itself to tyrants.

Richard Murphy

Whittier

Fighting words

Re “Armed and angry,” Opinion, Jan. 26

According to Barbara Ehrenreich, Americans who clamor for an expansion of the nanny state, who wish for a cradle-to-grave welfare system (including the confiscation of another person’s property upon death) — these are the strong and courageous Americans.

Those of us who wish only to earn a living free of the oppressive overreach of the government, people who believe we are not undertaxed, who want to be able to pursue happiness without Ehrenreich’s schemes for a greater redistribution of wealth — we’re the “wusses.”

That’s quite an Orwellian world she inhabits.

Robert Chapman

Downey

I am dismayed that Frances Fox Piven has received so many violent messages. Is civil dissent so threatening that those who practice it need to fear for their lives, property and loved ones?

I believe that civil dissent and discourse are important to a democratic society. Thus, I believe that those who threaten violence against those who are participating in civil dissent and dialogue are threatening to inhibit one of the basic functions of our democracy.

Are a significant number of people in our society not listening to President Obama’s call for continuing change and innovation while respecting the need for civil discourse? If so, ours is an even scarier society than I thought.

Karl Strandberg

Long Beach

Glenn Beck and his blogging buddies are right to bust Piven’s riot cheerleading.

Piven wrote: “An effective movement of the unemployed will have to look something like the strikes and riots that have spread across Greece.”

The Greek riots have caused three deaths and millions of dollars in property damage.

Of course Ehrenreich does not mention the largest political uprising of recent decades, the “tea party” movement, which has at most caused multiple paper cuts to its envelope-stuffing members. But the tea party does not conform to her politics.

Kevin Dretzka

Los Angeles

School daze

Re “L.A. Catholic schools to extend their year,” Jan. 28

As the parent of a Catholic school third-grader, I am not at all happy about this decision. There are studies that contradict the L.A. archdiocese’s thinking. According to a BBC report, in Finland pupils have the fewest class hours in the developed world, and they score among the highest in reading, math and science.

Our school talks about educating the “whole child.” That means time with the family — time to refresh and rejuvenate. Summertime is the best opportunity for that family time. We have overscheduled our kids so much that we are creating generations of overweight, uncreative drones who must be entertained constantly.

I’m happy for the success at Nativity School, which has thrived on the expanded schedule. But why can’t each school assess its own needs and make the best decision for its own students?

Lisa Niedenthal

Los Angeles

Poll taxes

Re “Poll numbers back Brown,” Column, Jan. 27

George Skelton points out the hypocrisy of voters who claim they would pay more in taxes to support education but oppose raising specific taxes.

Why don’t polls ask voters to choose from a list of taxes that would be acceptable to raise? “None” would not be a choice. Compel voters to choose in a poll and their attitudes toward raising specific taxes will change.

Maggi Messina

Camarillo