Solidarity over birth control methods
Regarding “Women seek birth control that will outlast Trump” (Open Forum, Jan. 12) and “Trump foe urges daily acts of resistance” ( Jan. 12): Birth control is a human right and is part of a standard of care for reproductive medicine. Republicans and certain religious groups have succeeded in “normalizing repression” for contraception and a full range of reproductive medicine. These women are smart to get long-term intrauterine devices and are fortunate that they can afford the fee of over $700 unless their insurance covers the cost.
But women should also be aware that Republicans, by “normalizing repression” of individual women and birth control, are contributing to women’s deaths from pregnancy-related complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control, pregnancy deaths went from 7.2 percent of 100,000 women in 1987 to 17.3 percent per 100,000 women in 2013. Women have miscarriages. Women have stillbirths. Woman have fetuses with severe genetic abnormalities.
Women need the full range of reproductive medicine. So, those fortunate women who can afford a long-term intrauterine device may want to join in solidarity for and with other women who need such a procedure and donate to Planned Parenthood or legal groups like American Civil Liberties Union.
Fiona McGregor, San Francisco
Drought still here
Regarding “Storms douse drought, feds say” ( Jan. 13): The Chronicle’s “glass halffull” headlines regarding our statewide drought is irresponsible at best. Thanks to nothing more than our recent good fortunes from Mother Nature (and certainly no thanks to our paltry water conservation “efforts”), while half our state is no longer experiencing drought conditions, half our state is still experiencing either severe or extreme drought conditions. Now is not the time to grow complacent and open up the taps.
Francesca Wander, San Francisco
Social activists
Regarding “Suhr’s Warriors job end quickly” ( Jan. 13): You are right about everyone in the Bay Area knowing “who former San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr is.” I know who Greg Suhr is; a good cop, dedicated public servant and authority on security issues. Hired and then, apparently, fired by the Warriors because of media attacks from “social activists” who do not speak for me nor the entire Bay Area. Warrior ownership, fans, players and personnel, don’t fear; management can just hire Shaun King or Sellassie Blackwell to provide your security. The Warriors, a strong organization? Hardly!
Jim Murphy, San Francisco
Youth lead the way
Regarding “We must coordinate opposition to Trump” (Letters, Jan. 13): The author didn’t go far enough in suggesting we need to fight back, hard. What many of us believe the answer to be is a superstrong third party that has no links whatsoever to either major party or mega-business, but that is truly a party of the people, by the people and for the people.
Whether or not I will see this in my lifetime (I’ll be a 79-year-old in the fall) is doubtful, but until the country can get a grip on itself and be what it was meant to be, and what I believe is what the people really want, there is hope. The youth of this country need to lead the way; the way of liberty and justice for all. Ken Malucelli, Daly City
Stop militarization
Regarding “Alameda supes accept disaster training grant” ( Jan. 11): No one questions the importance of coordinated training for emergency response units in a disaster. And the Alameda County Board of Supervisors took some steps to address the serious objections to the Urban Shield program. But the funds the board accepted will also pay for military training and equipment for local law enforcement, which will be used against civilians.
The Board of Supervisors at least agreed to meet with a coalition of community groups around Urban Shield. This is for Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, the new president of the supervisor’s board, to seriously address the militarization of our communities. Lorraine Lerman, Berkeley
Trends in culture
Regarding “Plight to delight” ( Jan. 13) and “Old rivals square off again over Lefty O’Doul’s future” ( Jan. 13): How fitting that, in the wake of our latest election, the front page clearly displays two trends in our U.S. culture.
The story of the two French nuns finding a space for their work to feed the poor with the help of Tony Robbins, many citizens and unanimous support of the San Francisco Planning Commission contrasts with the description of Jon Handlery claiming his family has proprietary rights to the name, history and baseball paraphernalia of Lefty O’Doul’s legacy to San Francisco when all they did was own the building (Apparently, without doing much to keep it up). It’s yet another example of acts of love, generosity and respect versus the force of greed and abuse of power.
Karen Kent, Richmond
Stand by reporters
If members of the press don’t stand up for one another each time Donald Trump tries to steamroll someone whose views are not to his liking, then eventually, the only press activity that will be allowed is that which praises Trump.
That is not what this country needs and is light-years from the hard-hitting reporting and investigative journalism a Democracy requires to function and survive. To all members of the press, I say, stand by your fellow reporters. If they are not allowed to ask a question, then you must press the question until it is answered. If you don’t, you will all eventually be silenced. And then we all lose.
Katherine Bowman, Berkeley
Won’t miss Obama
After reading “Obama’s moving speech” (Letters, Jan. 12) about people with tears in their eyes listening to Obama’s speech, I too had tears in my eyes ... tears of joy that he would be leaving office in a week. Roy Nair, San Francisco
A true gentleman
One year ago, San Francisco lost one of its true icons in Wilkes Bashford. At the same time, I, along with a number of you, lost a friend. I was nobody of particular importance, certainly not to the same level of fame and fortune as many of his clients and social circle. But whenever I walked into his store, he treated me like a king. Whenever we had lunch, he treated me like his most trusted co-conspirator. And whenever I had a question regarding how I should behave, react, or respond given a delicate situation, he was always my first call.
Because I knew whatever answer he gave would be the answer of a gentleman. That’s a word that still gets used from time to time but few actually know what it really means. And fewer still live their lives in such a manner. So not only did San Francisco lose an icon and I lose a friend, the world lost one of its last true gentlemen. And God knows we could use a few more of those these days. If more people carried themselves in that manner it would be a more peaceful and beautiful world.
Brent Johnson, San Francisco
History repeating
Current news events surrounding the president-elect bring to mind Eric Larson’s bestseller “In the Garden of Beasts.” The book chronicles how Adolf Hitler rapidly ascended to power while no one seemed to notice the cumulative effect of what was happening until it was too late to stop it.
Today, radical Republicans are giddy over the prospect of plundering our government for corporate enrichment. Social Security, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act are on the chopping block. National Parks may be next. Presidential decorum and ethics are ignored. The freedom of the press is repeatedly threatened while any kind of criticism or dissent is berated and not tolerated. It seems that history is indeed repeating itself as we watch news events unfold in disbelief. Keith Weber, San Mateo