LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 9-13-12

Religion and politics
Editor: May I have the last word in the Henderson-Amato debate that has proceeded from the Susan Swartz essay of four weeks ago? I write in support of the position of Swartz and Henderson regarding the terrible state of our current national political discussions. In this case it has focused upon the movement of American Catholic nuns about freedom for all, especially women. While the issue of whether or not Catholic theology teaches “that black folk really do not have souls like the rest of humans” may not be pertinent to the issue, it is well-documented that the Roman church supported the institution of slavery for centuries including the traffic in Africans to the New World because God supposedly had not seen fit to embody slaves with the concept of freedom. How that fits with the concept of “soul” is a metaphysical question I am not prepared to answer; but it is an example of the changeable policies of the Church on individual freedom. So, to suggest that Mr. Henderson is not telling the truth is a desperate attempt to cover up the twisted and false statements made by Mr. Amato: (Swartz did not define the bishops as a “wing of the religious right.”)
Such are the tactics of another avowed Catholic opposed to change, Paul Ryan, who makes the question of women’s health and contraception into a political issue, as does his Church, using religion as a subterfuge for his personal ambitions to become Vice President of the United States, of all things! In bringing these issues to the fore, Swartz and Henderson do not attack the faith of any individuals, any more than do the nuns of the Women Religious. They are talking about the political actions of, and support by, the Church institution, a political institution (the Vatican is a sovereign state with a supposedly infallible ruler) that continues to insert itself into the affairs of this and other democratic nations. In the past, the Santa Rosa bishop has used the tax-supported public property of the Santa Rosa plaza for some of his political pronouncements, instead of his tax-free church property, where the nuns are forbidden to speak out about the rights and equality of women. Free speech?
I agree with Mr. Amato that the Tribune does a good job of presenting controversial issues in its editorial sections.  Let’s keep it up, with honesty.
Jack Russell Stone
Healdsburg
4-H
Editor: It’s that time of the year again everyone. Healdsburg 4-H is starting up its meetings again. They are the second Monday of every month at The Good Shepard Church in Healdsburg at 7 p.m. We would like to thank Scott Silveira for letting us use a Yukon for the night to get our officers to their training.
Kim Remillard
Healdsburg
Bicyclist struck
Editor: I am looking for anyone who may have seen a bicyclist get hit by a car or have an accident on or near Memorial Beach Bridge this past Sunday, September 2, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The bicyclist was knocked unconscious and was missing from his friends and family for over 24 hours.
He was finally located at Memorial Hospital with a very serious concussion, as well as bruises on his face, ear, and right side of his body. A person posing as his “friend” told the police he/she would take the expensive mountain bike to their friend’s house. They stole the bike.
Shame on HPD for releasing the bike to an unidentified person without requesting ID and a phone number. If anyone has any information about the bike or the accident, please call me at 799-4070. We have no idea what really happened, but my guess is that he got hit by a car and then tried to ride the bike home and passed out/fell down on Memorial Bridge. I don’t know who called 911, but thank you. I would bet that the person who hit him with the car also has the bike. Thanks for your help.
Julie Galvez
Windsor
Helmets aren’t enough
Editor: I nearly hit a cyclist today. Not one of those that we love to hate, but a boy, around 10 years old. He had his helmet on (thanks, parents). I was driving south on Healdsburg Avenue at 35 mph, the posted speed limit. The young man came screaming out of Paul Wittke Drive, all the way across HB Ave. at speed, failing to heed the stop sign. After crossing four lanes, he turned right, directly into the lane I was driving in, against traffic. I obviously had to stop suddenly to avoid hitting him. His pal had enough sense to stop at the stop sign (congrats, parents).
Parents, please, helmets are NOT enough.  Your children need to be trained about the rules of the road. Those rules are there to protect everyone from injury, or worse.
Peg Beveridge
Healdsburg
Thank you
Editor: On behalf of the Board of Directors and Volunteers of the Green Dog Rescue Project, we want to thank this community for your tremendous support of our first inaugural fundraiser held on August 25th. We nearly sold out the event AND through generous donations, we netted just over $50,000! A special thanks to Karen and George Dutton for the use of Dutton Ranch and the fabulous Dutton Ranch wines, Octavio Diaz for the wonderful cuisine and margaritas, and Ruth McGowan’s for the beer. A great time was had by all AND we were able to send five pooches to their forever homes as a result of that evening! Thank you to the new pet parents! You made room in your hearts for dogs who need someone to love and by doing so, you made room in our rescue so that we could save 7 more dogs from a bad situation in Auburn. They are now safe at our shared facility in Windsor, where they’ll be rehabilitated and ready for adoption in the future. Thank you to all of our sponsors, Healdsburg Sunrise Rotary, Costeaux Bakery, Sonoma Bank and the Wallace’s for helping us realize our dream.  And last, but certainly not least, a BIG thank you to the volunteers who kept things moving, on track and running smoothly. We couldn’t have done it without you. Until next year, or sooner.
Susan Jones
Board President, Green Dog Rescue Project
Ancestors Festival
Editor: We want to thank everyone for the great support and success of the “Ancestors of Mexico” exhibit currently at the Healdsburg Museum. It features stories of Mexican-Americans, past and present, who have contributed to Healdsburg’s history.
We would also like to encourage everyone to attend the family-friendly Ancestors of Mexico Festival on September 16 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Healdsburg Plaza. There will be Ballet Folkloric dancers from the Healdsburg Schools, adult folkloric dancers, mariachis, tamales for sale by the HHS MAYO (Mexican-American Youth Organization), and more. Come join us.
Jeanne Leal-Hartlaub and
Gabriel Fraire
Festival Co-Chairs
An officer’s salary
Editor: I feel compelled to reply to the letter from Vernon P. Simmons, comparing beginning teachers’ salaries to police officers’ salaries.
Many of my friends are teachers and excellent ones at that. I recognize their dedication to the children of our community. I am only trying to point out the unfairness of that statement.
A teacher, earning $38,000 per year works 180 days. That comes to $211 per day. A police officer earning $55,743 (his figures, not mine) per year works 245 days. That takes into account a three week vacation and two days off per week for the remaining 49 weeks. This comes to $227.52 per day.
This means a police officer earns $16.40 more per day. For an eight hour day, this is $2.05 per hour more. For this amount, he ususally works shifts like 4 p.m. to midnight or midnight to 8 a.m. They also work Sundays, Christmas, New Year’s, 4th of July, and any other holiday.
Let’s not forget the fact that it is also a very dangerous job. Do you really think that $2.05 per hour is worth it? Would you do that?
During the 36 years my late husband was in law enforcement, I was privileged to know many officers personally. I can tell you that 99.9 percent of them were dedicated officers who certainly weren’t in it for the salary.
By the way most law enforcement officers have college degrees and all of them must graduate from a police academy.
Dolores Rochester
Healdsburg