MAILBAG - Jan. 4, 2007

Santa an inspiration — like it or not

I would like to address Ray Shelton of Glendale (“Reason must trump belief in Santa Claus,” Mailbag, Monday). Although his letter was quite eloquent, and followed the form of the original letter by Francis P. Church, it did contain several flaws. In no particular order, I would like to answer back several of those points.

First, I recall nothing in the Constitution of the United States that is anti-cross, so where does he find the Constitution versus the cross? This country was founded for freedom of religion — the Constitution makes no mention of the cross, for or against.

On reason versus revelation — well, was it not a revelation to Sir Isaac Newton when the apple fell? He did not reason the apple to fall, although reason may have helped him understand it. As to the part about nobody seeing Santa Claus, well, maybe he hasn’t, but I have. And I am not talking about the ones sitting in shopping malls. I mean the real man who once appeared in my living room with my gift — surprising my entire family, including parents.

Not see Santa? Too bad for Shelton; perhaps he was not a very good boy.

Not seeing something does not mean it does not exist. For Shelton’s information, I have seen ghosts and many other things that he would choose to deny the existence of; however, I have not seen the pyramids in Egypt, I have not seen the Atlantic Ocean, for that matter I have not seen Shelton. Perhaps it is because he does not exist.

If Shelton chooses not to believe in all those things mentioned in his letter, including Santa Claus, that is his God-given right. Even if he chooses not to believe in God. But please do not label those of us who do as superstitious truth-hiders. Some of the most intelligent people in history believed, and if you search the records enough you will see that it is their belief that spurred them on to discover most of the wonderful truths that Shelton does believe in.

COLLEEN MCALLISTER

Glendale

Armenians do have icons to be proud of

Columnist Patrick Azadian says, I’m sure with tongue in cheek, that “The positive icons associated with my ancestry are not as grandiose as some of the other ancient civilizations” (“Membership comes with benefits,” Friday, From the Margins).

Positive Armenian icons abound, and I think Azadian actually knows that. But for those who don’t, consider singer and Academy Award-winning actress Cherylin Sarkissian. We know her better as Cher.

How about the winner of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the French Open, and an Olympic Gold Medal Andre Agassi? Or Chess Master Garry Kasparov, ranked No. 1 in world?

Golden-age Hollywood director, writer and actor Rouben Mamoulian directed the films “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “The Mark of Zorro” and “Silk Stockings,” and directed the original stage productions of such celebrated works as “Porgy and Bess,” “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel” and “Lost in the Stars.”

Director Atom Egoyan won 1997 Cannes Grand Prize and two Oscar nominations for “The Sweet Hereafter,” and also produced award-winning “The Adjustor,” “Exotica” and “Ararat,” among many others.

My father used to watch Michael Ohanian on “Mannix” every week, but never knew it, since he had changed his name to Mike Connors. These days, I watch “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” which features writer/actor Eric Bogosian, who hasn’t changed his name.

Screenwriter Steven Zaillian won the Oscar for “Schindler’s List,” and also wrote screenplays for “Clear and Present Danger,” “Patriot Games,” “Awakenings,” “Gangs of New York” and “The Interpreter.”

The last of the great surrealists and the first of the abstract expressionists was painter Arshile Gorky, and Ivan Aivazovsky is most well-known for his seascapes, featured on numerous postage stamps around the world.

Ardashes Aykanian invented the flexible straw, the spoon straw and holds many more patents involving plastics.

Other Armenian icons include George Deukmejian, Republican governor of California from 1983 to 1991, novelist and playwright William Saroyan, songwriter/singer Raffi (Cavoukian). And come on, Ross Bagdasarian, for gosh sakes — he was the creator of “The Chipmunks!”

Grandiose? Perhaps not. But certainly notable persons one can take pride in sharing a heritage with.

JEFF KURTTI

Glendale

Council has chance to protect city’s hillsides

A letter to the Glendale City Council:

As I was reviewing the voluminous e-mail in my computer’s sent file, I came upon the following item sent to you on Nov. 16, 2004. In that we are approaching a Jan. 17 Planning Commission meeting, following which the matter of building standards will be brought before you for a vote, I thought it an appropriate time to remind you of my message from 2004.

I hope, as you consider casting the city codes in more concrete, you will consider that message. Please consider the constituency that put you in office to represent them and not the big-buck development people.

Each and every day, as I leave my home, I am confronted by a monstrosity on the hillside. The property address is on Paddington Road in the Chevy Chase Canyon, however downhill on Golf Club Drive it can be seen as a huge, ugly mass on the crest of the hill. The down-slope land has been denuded and further enhances this most unsightly and incompatible creation from another land. I voted for some of you guys and even put money into your campaign coffers. Now I’m ready for a recall and a request for a refund. And, if this continues, kiss my support goodbye. And, you surely won’t get my vote if this dereliction of duty continues. If you haven’t seen the property, you must do so. If you have seen it, I hope you left the neighborhood with your heads hung in shame. The Nov. 16 (2004) council meeting will be your chance to do something about stopping the destruction of this community with these God-awful structures. I will be at the meeting and will begin to fill out my sample ballot for the April election. This is your chance to tighten the hillside ordinance once and for all.

No more of this destruction of the beautiful hillsides in the canyon. Do the right thing for the people of Glendale, not the developers.

BILL NICOLL

Glendale