The end of a career
Re "One answer ends a career of questions," June 8
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs should remember that the country for which he works protects free speech, even if he and his employers deem that speech to be "offensive and reprehensible." What is truly offensive and reprehensible is that Helen Thomas, an iconic figure with a decades-long career, can be forced out of her position because she states her opinion about Israel.
As for the ageist remark by Talk News Radio bureau chief Ellen Ratner that, at 90, "people just don't have the same filters" — if filtering is what we are doing when we refuse to stand up against oppression, maybe it's time for those of all ages to turn off the filters.
Cathryn Roos
La Habra
It is sad to see a pioneering career end so abruptly because of the raw and unguarded opinion Thomas expressed in response to a question about Israel.
Her comments were offensive to many, not just Jews. As a Muslim American with strong sympathies for Palestinians who have suffered under the suffocating occupation of Israel, I stand with those who consider her response to be utterly reprehensible. But I also ask one simple question: Can we start applying the same standard of decorum to comments about Muslims, Latinos and African Americans?
Pervaiz Anwar
Irvine
Although it is fine that Thomas apologized for her nasty comments about Israel and the people living there, what cannot be erased from people's memory is the fact that deep down in her heart, she really does believe that Jews have no place in Israel and that they should simply disappear or go to Germany or Poland.
Let them all go to Europe and have the Arabs take over the land — one big happy Palestine. Never mind that the Arabs have many countries of their own, almost entirely populated by people of the Islamic faith. The Jewish people, on the other hand, have just one tiny sliver of land barely big enough to write the word Israel on the map.
Good riddance, Helen Thomas.
Arnie Keren
Los Angeles
Wasn't it Voltaire who said he may not agree with what you say, but he would fight to the death for your right to say it? Wasn't this one of the premises on which America was based?
I do not know the history of how the Jewish people were awarded part of Palestine by the U.N. I do know words like "racist" and "bigot" are intended to stifle dissent.
Paula M. Heim
Valencia
Taking care of our own
Re "L.A. County OKs boycott of Arizona," June 2
Don't L.A. Unified school board members have enough work to do without getting into other state's affairs?
The district's students are about 73% Latino, a third of whom are learning English. How much of the district's budget is used to cater to non-English-speaking Latino students? And how many of these students are either illegal immigrants or born to parents who are illegal?
Wake up, people, and do the math. The school district is facing a budget crisis and laying off teachers. It makes sense to plug any possible loopholes.
We should take care of our own problems first before extending compassion to people coming to this country illegally and burdening our society. Arizona is brave enough to face the unpleasant fact and passed a law to remedy it. We should emulate it, not condemn it.
Teresa C. Yu
Rancho Palos Verdes
I cannot believe that not only the L. A. County Board of Supervisors and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, whose job it is to enforce the law, but now the LAUSD is getting involved in the Arizona law.
If they want to discuss immigration law, let them know that people have the right to become citizens. First, they must go back to their countries, get their papers in order and come in the legal way, just like I did many years ago.
Maria Diaz
Temple City
I, like so many others, fail to understand why illegal immigration remains an issue. Simply put, the law is being broken; those breaking it are criminals; they must be punished; and politicians abetting the criminals must be thrown out of office and convicted of obstructing justice.
End of discussion.
Bill Mouzis
Lake Balboa
About those special ed cuts
Re "Disabled students losing 200 classes," June 3, and "Special ed funds," Letters, June 7
I would like to provide some clarification of my statement in The Times about special education cuts, regular students and students with special needs.
Students with special needs are special students. I do not apologize for distinguishing between regular students and students with special needs. When you consider my record, no one has supported the parents and students with special needs more than I have. Thinking outside the box, I have found a way to support the needs of this student population with minimal disruptions to their overall educational program.
As most are aware, the federal government does not provide adequate funding to meet the mandates of special education laws. I have the responsibility for about 618,000 students in grades Pre-K through 12, plus thousands of adult students.
