A journey of hope from San Diego to Gaza

by Faith Attaguile

August 24, 2010 (San Diego) -- Recently I spoke to a group of people about a 31-day journey I took a few months ago. It was a land convoy to Gaza of 200 vehicles and 500 people from 17 different countries. We were Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Atheists and Humanists journeying together over 4,000 miles through 13 countries. We traveled from London to Gaza on a journey of hope.

“Democrats' idea of increasing taxes delays REAL budgetary reforms and stalls true economic recovery in State.”

By Mike Cully
President/CEO, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce

August 19, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- It is disappointing that the Democratic Legislative Leaders continue to delay California’s economic recovery by increasing taxes and delaying serious budgetary reforms.

By Dave Patterson

August 18, 2010 (Ramona) -- The birthright debate that Congress now wants to engage we Americans in is, in fact, a smokescreen designed to divert our attention from the real issue: what to do with 12 million illegal aliens currently working across America. The real responsibility for this problem falls squarely on those that employ the illegals--not on Mexico, not on the border leaks, and not our welfare system. Here’s why.

By Alan Ball, Chair
Sustainability Alliance of Southern California

July 28, 2010 (San Diego) -- I urge a NO vote on PROPOSITION 23.

As Chair of the Sustainability Alliance of Southern California, a community based non-profit committed to a sustainable future, I am convinced that we must not abandon the course that has been agreed to protect our health as well as those who will be following us.

“Moms are uniting and leading the charge to end drug prohibition, just as they did with alcohol prohibition in the 1930s. It’s time to end the pointless and punitive criminalization of people who use drugs and the needless deaths caused by the illegal drug trade.” -- Gretchen Burns Bergman, Executive Director & Co-Founder A New PATH

By: Dennis Moore

July 10, 2010 (San Diego) –Family members of drug victims have joined forces with healthcare and others to forge a coalition calling for changes in failed drug policies.  These policies have led to increased violence and mass incarceration, while failing to curb addiction and overdose deaths.

“Many have difficulty traveling very far, and to make someone travel 10, 15, 20 miles or more to get their medicine is inhumane. For some who are forced to take public transportation, such a trek could easily take up to half of a day.” – Charlie Imes

An Open Letter to the San Diego Board of Supervisors

By Charlie Imes

June 29, 2010 (San Diego) – I am a medical marijuana patient. I wasn't using marijuana prior to my diagnosis and emergency surgery in 2001 for stage 3 colon cancer. I had complications. I almost died a few times; the chemo almost killed me, too. I've had subsequent abdominal surgeries for diverticulitis, then later for a ruptured spleen, and finally for a severe abdominal hernia related to the previous surgeries.

By Bob Kipper, Vietnam War veteran and owner, KIAC Insurance Agency, San Marcos

Editor’s note: Last week we ran an article titled “Prop 17 would hurt veterans and consumers, experts warn.”  The Yes on Prop 17 campaign has responded by submitting the editorial below.

By Patrick Osio, Editor, www.HispanicVista.com  

May 20, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Ignorance is a sad state.  It stops being sad when the ignorant person holds public office, where actions can be harmful to the community, state or nation he/she serves.  This is particularly true when adding to ignorance are biases and a narcissist personality. Further damage is often done by passing on to sons/daughters those traits.

By Miriam Raftery

 

"Your comments about American Indians indicate that your knowledge about us, and about the historical relationship between Indian governments and the United States, is lacking to the point of being shameful." -- American Indian Movement of Colorado, in an open letter to President Ronald Reagan, 1988

May 13, 2010 (Alpine) – Alpine's Native American tribal members were not invited to serve on a committee to recommend a name for Alpine’s planned new high school. A Union-Tribune editorial published during  debate over whether to build a 12th high school observed, “The Viejas and Sycuan Indian tribes consider Alpine to be their community. The tribes fully understand how important education is…They are important allies to have when taking on a forgetful district bureaucracy.”