Letters to the editor: Berkeley's flap over diversity; trouble in L.A. County jails; California's Dream Act

They should have found a store owned by a Mexican and then forcibly taken it from him and killed all those who dared to resist. Then they should have enslaved several black families and forced them to make the baked goods. Then, to complete the event, they should have imported some Asians and paid them starvation wages to ferry the goods to UC Berkeley. Then they should have put up their signs explaining why the prices are different.

Maybe the Berkeley Republicans should take some history courses offered at their fine university.

Miguel Rosales

Glendale

Minorities upset with the bake sale are displaying the same ugly racism that many whites have long been unfairly singled out for. Attempts to shut down this event and silence any debate over the controversial subject expose a glaring hypocrisy on the part of those who've been accorded victim status but who are now acting like victimizers.

Regardless of how it's rationalized or spun, affirmative action is favoritism based on ethnicity and, therefore, discrimination. The only part that's affirmed is that supporters of this lunacy never intended equality, just the redistribution of racism.

Pat Murphy

Pacific Palisades

The Berkeley College Republicans say they are protesting admission decisions based on race or gender. Their publicity stunt actually exposes the right-wing myth that white students are victims of efforts to increase

diversity.

The proposed legislation, SB 185, does not allow the use of quotas or weighted preferences; it would simply allow public colleges to consider, but not give preference to, an applicant's race, gender, ethnicity, country of origin and household income. Considering household income is key because students from privileged backgrounds have a significant advantage in meeting admission requirements.

This legislation will not discriminate against white students; it will instead increase the availability of educational opportunities for upwardly mobile students of any race, ethnicity or gender.

John D. Kelley

Santa Barbara

Clean up the jails, now

Re "FBI probes jail beating allegations," Sept. 25

The FBI has revealed a rogue's gallery of sheriff's deputies in charge of inmate security at L.A. County jails. It is unbelievable that Sheriff Lee Baca seems to be upset only because the feds' informant was able to get a

cellphone.

That Baca oversees such unspeakable brutality makes it obvious that he is unsuited to supervise employees who must remain sensible while doing their jobs. There should be zero tolerance for abuse of inmates. The ultimate responsibility rests with Baca, who must be relieved of his position now.

If we are to pride ourselves on being a just and humane society, it is in our best interest to keep people safe from physical harm while they are incarcerated.