You suggest that kindergartners may not be ready for these lessons. But kindergartners do learn to call each other "fags" early at school.
I don't agree at all that the legislators have mandated a "poorly crafted, politically motivated mandate."
Chuck Howard
Palm Springs
Not all lies are equal
Re "Undo the Stolen Valor Act to protect free speech," Opinion, Oct. 20
Under some circumstances lying can be a criminal offense, such as false testimony in court. A person can be fired for putting false information on an employment application.
For a person to say that he was awarded a Medal of Honor when he was never in the military, and to spread this lie for political gain, should be a criminal offense. This is not a case of someone making a story a better story.
Raiford L. Langford
Sherman Oaks
As a veteran, I resent people who lie about their military record. But as long as they're not lying to obtain money or a position, we shouldn't arrest them. If we arrested everyone who lies, half the country would be in jail.
However, deliberately lying to hurt other people should be considered a crime, just as deliberately hurting them physically is. Ergo, not all lies are equal.
Leon Schwartz
Altadena
Define 'success'
Re "Billions in tax dollars lost on dropouts," Oct. 20
As a retired workers' compensation judge who has taken courses for the last four years at community colleges, I disagree that billions were "lost" on full-time students who dropped out before completing their studies
"Success" in the article is narrowly defined as a student transferring to a four-year university. I think a more educated populace empowers society in immeasurable ways.
Community colleges should issue certificates of attendance that display the number of units a student has completed, which can be used on job applications. Certainly, a student with, say, 30 units of community college credit is better qualified than a high school graduate who never continued on in school.
Robert Y. Nakagawa
Los Angeles
