Those were the days
Re "A positive border image," Column, Sept. 3
Hector Tobar's column brought back memories of my mother and father, who were from Juarez but lived and worked in El Paso.
A different era in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez; the passing of Paul Conrad; Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio
I was born and raised in El Paso too. Thank you for the article, especially at this time in my life.
I remember crossing over to get a haircut and going with my dad to the dentist in Juarez. Back then you just waved at the border officers on duty.
Rigoberto Vasquez
Rancho Cucamonga
I read your wonderful article on the easy crossings between Ciudad Juarez and my hometown. I was born in El Paso and remember the crossings with my parents and sisters in the '50s.
And the photo of Luis and Guadalupe Chavira in 1933 reminded me of one of my parents on a Juarez street at about the same time. Thanks for a great story.
Miguel Rodriguez
Buena Park
Memories of Paul Conrad
Re "Cartoonist had sharp pen," Sept. 5, and "A man and his pen," Opinion, Sept. 6
My ritual of digesting a daily newspaper began during my early college years, some 30 years ago. The legendary icons from that era — with Paul Conrad as the most quintessential "can't miss a day under any circumstance" — hooked me early and contributed profoundly to my worldview.
Thank you, Paul, for opening my eyes, engaging my heart and stirring up my indignation. Your work and your spirit will resonate for generations.
Darrell Hennegen
Huntington Beach
I am saddened by the passing of Conrad, in my opinion one of the most brilliant practitioners of his craft.
Though many will rightly acknowledge his ideas and his ability to express them so vividly and dramatically, I would like to point out that he was also a fantastic draughtsman and was arguably the most gifted artist ever to work as a political cartoonist.
As a young illustrator just starting in my profession in the 1970s, I was often "taken to school" by Conrad's drawing, line work and composition. His work was always impeccable.
Tony Gleeson
Los Angeles
One of my most memorable experiences was auditing Conrad's class on political cartooning at Whittier College in the 1970s. He thought it was — his word — "high-larious" that he was filling the college's Richard M. Nixon chair.
Although he affected a curmudgeonly demeanor, this never disguised the fact that he was also compassionate, incisive and "high-larious."
Linda Harris
Whittier
Like Conrad, my father loathed Ronald Reagan and Nixon. Conrad brought a lot of joy, laughter and insight to my father's life.
I often awoke to the sound of my father's hearty laughter after he had just read Conrad at the breakfast table. When I was in high school, my father would eagerly point out Conrad's latest gem, which we discussed and admired together. Those moments provided me with some of the fondest memories that I have of my dad.
Conrad and his pen could strike at the heart of the matter and masterfully capture the essence of his subject. His genius rendered brilliant depiction with just pen in hand.
He will be missed, because in the times in which we live, an artist is always needed to expose all the injustice that exists in the world.
Mark Richardson
Cardiff, Calif.
I read with great sadness about the death of Conrad. As Tim Rutten so poignantly stated, he was an inspiration to those of us coming of age in the 1970s. I remember opening my parents' Times every morning and going right to the editorial pages, where I looked for Paul's work. I would cut out the cartoons and post them in my room as a reminder of the day's current event. He taught history, politics and the power of the pen at a time in my life when such influences are so lasting.
I was disappointed at his departure from The Times. I hope you find a way to do a special edition showing many more of his great cartoons.
Sean Skehan
Arcadia
I wonder if Rutten would be praising Conrad if he had been a "thorn" in the side of Democratic presidents?
Bob Guarrera
Laguna Niguel
The Late Great Editorial Cartoonist Paul Conrad Was A Man Whose Powerful Drawings Always Kept Words To A Minimum. So Will I. He Was Just "The Greatest."
Arthur Stokes
San Diego
A controversial Arizona sheriff
Re "U.S. sues popular Arizona sheriff," Sept. 3
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was quoted in your article saying that "it's time Americans everywhere wake up and see this administration for what it really is: calculating, underhanded at times and certainly not looking out for the best interests of the legal citizens residing in this country."
That's funny. Many people felt that way about the former administration.
That's the reason our country, for the first time, elected a person of color (and around the same time conservatives started shouting "we want our country back!").
The Obama administration only requested standard paperwork, normal for legal matters such as this. The sheriff refused, instigating the latest lawsuit.
He says that President Obama is playing politics. No kidding — so is he.
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