Letters to the Editor – August 22 edition — for and against God, oil in Hermosa Beach, and spandex-clad scufflaws
A brief history of religion
A brief history of religion
Dear ER:
Richard Smith asks, in his cowardly attack on the 11-year old J.E. Morris [Letters to the Editor 8/15/13], what our alternatives to religion are. I’m happy to oblige him and his hilarious Hope Chapel fairybook version of history. First, though, about the alternative he asks for, well, I have two: spirituality and/or atheism. After all, religion is just the corruption of spirituality and atheism is spirituality taken to its only logical end-point. Smith will blow a gasket to discover this, but that’s beside the point.
As is typical of religious “arguments” – be they Judaic, Christian, Moslem, Ba’Hai, or what have you in the West and in the parts of the Orient drawing from the world’s most famous science-fiction novel, the Bible (in the East, they have the Mahabharata and other fantasy epics) – nothing but fallacies and contradictions abound. First, Smith tells us that “man is basically an evil S.O.B.” and then that he “is born pure and evil-free”. Well, that makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean, we’re *basically* evil, which means we’d be born that way, except, um, well, y’see, we aren’t, we’re “pure and free”. Yeah, tons of logic there.
Then we’re told Christianity vanquished the Dark Ages and such. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the Roman Empire is a red herring, though I don’t expect Smith to understand rhetorical devices any more than he comprehends much of anything. Actually, man went from grotesque corruption (Rome) to even worse perfidy (Christianity, which created the Dark Ages), and later cured the descent via the Florentine Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment, now happily moving on to an increasing Age of Atheism. As to Christers “saving science”: pshaw!, preposterous. The Crusades were designed wipe out the marvelous Ottoman Empire and its vast stores of knowledge, both far ahead of Europe; as we saw, the pogroms there succeeded.
With all due respect, which is very little indeed, to Smith, the Renaissance and Enlightenment both were rebellions against the ape-ish knuckle-dragging brutalities and ignorances of religion (divine rights, papacy, snake handling, indulgences, satanic psycho-dramas, etc. ad nauseum). We, history shows us, were ruled by religion for far too long. Shame on us. Then we woke up a little and started becoming human/Humanist instead, though I will agree with Smith’s inference that we haven’t gotten very far in that. We unfortunately replaced the ersatz businessmen in religious transvestiture (the rabbinate, the priesthood, imams, etc.) with, I am sorry to say, their barely evolved successors: capitalists. We presently see all too well what that’s brought us.
Reading history, we find fundamentalism (Republicanism, religiosity, any other depravity) is corruption in the flesh as well as the motive force for all the decay Smith misattributes. Curiously enough, if we peer deeply into ever more sharply emerging historiographies, we discover all Christians since Rome are actually Constantinians through the notorious madman Constantine, his prostitute empress Theodora, and then the Councils of Nicea. The Xians, then, are plainly eons removed from the teachings of the fictional but admirable hippie Christ Mythos. Ironically enough, the Roman Empire perverted what was once an ascetic Christianity into its modern form (see the Gnostic Gospels and other contrivances for the proofs, then shudder at the hideously truncated governance device called the “holy” Bible in its Nicean, King James, and other versions)…making all Smith’s assertions and “knowledges” purest farce.
When I first read his essay, I’d intended to laud young Morris for his courage at such a tender age (I didn’t turn to Eastern philosophies and atheism until I was 14, so this very smart kid beat me by a mile!), but things got in the way and I didn’t. I therefore now make up for that and have a piece of advice for him:
Adults are largely idiots and bullies, as you’re finding out. Never take anything they say without challenging it, and never give in to pressure from reptilian cowards such as Mr. Smith…and there’s a very dismayingly huge percentage of his ilk out there. Truth *always* stands firm in the face of rigorous inspection, lies fall away very quickly. Rebellion is the healthiest mindset. Question everything. Literally. Use that as your base yardstick in life, and you’ll very rarely ever go wrong. You’re already off to an excellent start, and we who have long tread the path welcome you to the clan. You’re an important young man, and we’re depending on you and others to keep yourself and mankind ever awake and intelligent after we’re gone. It’s a tough job, trust me, but you’re off to a killer start. Knowledge, not faith, is the solvent for all problems.
And hey, Smith, pick on someone your own size….like me, f’rinstance.
Mark S. Tucker
Manhattan Beach
Faith full
Dear ER
Master Morris should be very grateful to have the Easy Reader recognize his concerns in ink. If I were you master Morris, I would carefully frame your faithless document and hang it where you will easily read its information each day, and make a truthful journal about yourself. My husband Chuck and I bet that you won’t do any more than the religious followers who are upset with your unmitigated outburst, who truthfully don’t study God’s Word through the ever-present Holy Spirit. Chuck and I have hung your personal beliefs on our refrigerator door reflecting for our souls a reminder of where we were spiritually during our misspent youth.
I was born and raised in the middle-east, the middle of East L.A., City Terrace, where faith was the only thing we had; my loving brother Reuben was murdered, my best friend was incinerated by the father of her unborn child. I was constantly haled off to tent revivals where some “GREENGO” pharisee took our money.
Believe me master Morris, I’ve seen God’s facial anger of metaphorical tornado and pillars of fire. God wanted me, not religion.
Dora Perez-Meyer
Torrance
Doubt full
Dear ER:
What an inspired piece of writing, especially for so young a thinker. Doubt has been the cornerstone of our system of philosophy since Descartes. I was 20 when I first heard of him.
Paul Skolnick
Los Angeles
Questions of faith
Dear ER:
How truly sad that a boy of 11 has become so hardened by this world, (“Faithless” Aug 8). It takes more faith to believe science will cure the ills of man than it does to believe in God. Take a good look at the world news on that huge LED flatscreen that science created my young friend. Other than high definition feed showing mankind round the world behaving badly, the technology cannot cure the disease in our hearts — separation from God. We vainly attempt to live without the knowledge that we were engineered to live with. Our mistaken notion that mankind will through science overcome his malady was touched on by Paul the apostle, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).
Chris Burkey
Redondo Beach
Spandex-clad scofflaws
Dear ER:
I note that the MBPD has undertaken a program to “remind” motorists of their driving indiscretions. I would suggest that they give similar attention to bicyclists.
Over the past year of so, these neon-clad, “Blue Zone” pseudo-athletes have been shining about their “right” to use the same traffic lanes as motor vehicles. However, in the process of asserting their right and demanding “sharrows” (gotta laugh at that one…only an overpaid “consultant” or bureaucrat could concoct such a ridiculous term) have become a menace.
Stop this foolishness before this “save the planet” mentality gone mad truly gets out of hand. The vast majority of people are not going to abandon their cars. This is nothing but a small group of selfish individuals bent on “solving” our traffic problems by creating even greater jams in order to serve their hobby at the expense of the majority.
Lest the bicycle commandos dismiss me as anti-bike, you will have to eat your indignation, as I ride a bike several miles six days a week. However, I do so in a sane manner without being a danger to myself and those around me and stay the hell out of the way of faster moving vehicles. Of course, this comes from many years of riding bicycles as well as motorcycles so I have nothing to prove (and no fashion statement to make). On that basis alone, I have more credibility than these arrogant, dilettante clowns. Perhaps you elitist idiots should be required to demonstrate your proficiency before being remitted to throw a leg over.
Get Lt. Andy ‘I’d give my mother a ticket for having gray hair’ Harrod out there to corral these self-important, spandex clad scofflaws.
Robert Drinkward
Torrance
Out with Bobko
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach city councilman Kit Bobko’s affection for the limelight has clouded his judgment over and over. His recent press release to the newspapers about the selection of Police chief was wrong. His judgment and his critical thinking process are way out of whack. He seems to be more interested in his name being published in the paper and heard on radio or TV than performing the duties of his city council post. His ego caused the city to retain a public relations firm to the tune of $10,000 a month and the city council has spent over $200,000 on this public relations firm over the last 20 months. Bobko wastes money further by going outside this highly paid public relations group and issues his own personal press release, touting his Mayors position for his pick for new Police Chief.
In doing so he went against city policy, a code of ethics and the established procedure for this city hire. He misleads the public as though his title of mayor was voted upon, which it was not. His need for media attention superseded all common sense. Worse yet, he does not understand that his actions actually cost his favored selection the job. The city manager would have appeared to be a stooge of Bobko’s had he gone with Bobko’s press release candidate for police chief. The reason the city council does not get involved in the selection of department heads is that it would lead to a poor selection process. Bobko knows this. He is currently serving as ceremonial mayor at the pleasure of his four other council colleagues. In addition to a resolution of censure, he should be voted to be removed by his other councilmembers as the ceremonial mayor as soon as possible.
Hermosa Beach has no use for such self-promotion and abuse of the ceremonial title of mayor. In November, the electorate can elect some less publicity oriented persons onto the dais.
Michael Keegan
Hermosa Beach
(former city councilmember)
Pure poppycock
Dear ER:
Hermosa Beach Councilmember Kit Bobko’s self promotional letter about how he was instrumental in ensuring “that our City was not overrun on the 4th of July” is pure poppycock. First of all, he alone cannot authorize spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for 50-LA County Sheriff’s Deputies, a “35 foot ‘jail bus,’ and mounted horse patrol.” Secondly, the real reason such significant resources are required is because Bobko and his council colleagues have tolerated a party atmosphere with rampant drunkenness and out of control people for years. Moreover, when the city allows July Fourth to begin with the “Iron Man” event that violates Hermosa Beach’s prohibition of alcohol on the beach, it sets the “agenda” for a day of out of control partying and drunkenness. Residents should ask themselves if a more reasonable solution would be to close all our alcohol serving establishments at 6:00 PM on July Fourth and also cancel the illegal “Iron Man.” That would probably stop the city from being “overrun” on July and cost a whole lot less than the city is currently spending on public safety for July Fourth
Fred Huebscher
Hermosa Beach
Oil and money
Dear ER:
I’ve heard talk going on around town indicating that the city of Hermosa Beach will go bankrupt if we do not allow oil drilling. This is totally untrue, the city will not go bankrupt. The following facts are taken straight from Hermosa Beach’s 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the city’s June 2013 budget report and from the oil settlement agreement itself:
-The City of Hermosa Beach currently has no debt. (CAFR May 2013).
-The City has nearly $5.1 million earmarked for the E&B settlement already. (CAFR May 2013).
-In addition the city has $2 million in unspent monies from the General Fund. (CAFR May 2013).
Hermosa has $10 million in unrestricted monies to pay creditors. (CAFR May 2013).
-The Hermosa Beach Budget for the coming year (fiscal June/June 2013-2014) includes a court-imposed $6 million set-aside in case the city is found liable to pay an oil development company for denying a previous proposal to drill in the city. (June 2013 budget report)
-The City shall repay to E&B the full amount of the E&B Loan on commercially reasonable terms to be mutually agreed by the City and E&B. (E&B settlement terms)
-As you can see from the above facts, the city is well set financially and well positioned to pay back the E&B loan.
Bottom line, Hermosa will not go bankrupt.
Scott Frantz
Hermosa Beach
Oil omission
Dear ER:
Why was an important statement, regarding Hermosa’s Environmental Impact Report for E&B’s proposed oil drilling project, edited out of the city’s scoping meeting video?
Near the end of the 07/24/13 public scoping meeting, Mr. Perez, MRS’s EIR project manager, revealed that no matter what level of risk this project would bring, they could not recommend “no project.” In all cases, they had to recommend going forward with a “mitigated” project.
In the EIR scoping meeting video #3 at 00:35:55, a conversation starts with Mr. Almanza answering a resident’s question about mitigation, thresholds and risk acceptability. After assuring there would be “transparency,” he hands the conversation off to Mr. Radis, who begins to further the response.
The video edit happens at 00:38:45 and picks up after Mr. Perez made the statement. The actual dialog is, at the time of this writing, still available on page 145 of the scoping meeting transcript.
Who ordered the removal of this video segment from public view and why? When will a true “unedited” version of the EIR scoping meeting video be put online and made available to the public?
When the city intentionally edits out information about E&B’s proposed oil drilling project, it makes us distrustful. And it also makes us wonder… what else is the city hiding from Hermosa Beach residents about this project?
Rick Ciampa
Hermosa Beach