Wake-up call on racism
The disgraceful white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., was a direct affront to our country’s founding principles, mainly the extent to which we should tolerate even the most egregious forms of free speech. Is it better to confront the provocateurs of hate or to simply ignore them? While there is no easy answer to that question, I think the most important — and honest — step we can take in response to this offensive event would be to examine more critically the ways in which we allow soft, quasi-disguised racism to persist in our midst.
It’s easy to condemn the naked hate of ignorant white supremacists, but how many of us are willing to consider, for example, how blithely we accept increasingly segregated schools and neighborhoods in the ultra-progressive Bay Area? The tragedy of Charlottesville should be a wake-up call. Mark Wardlaw, Santa Rosa
Not an alpha male
Regarding “Tea Party mad at Republicans, too” (Aug. 13): Joe Garofoli’s article about the Tea Party’s madness quotes California caucus board member John Woodrum calling President Trump “an alpha male.”
I think Woodrum is confusing an alpha male with a bully. An alpha male takes responsibility and takes ownership. When was the last time Trump did that? Every failure in his administration is somebody else’s fault. For instance, with the recent failure of “Trumpcare,” he blamed the Senate, saying they had seven years to work on an alternative health plan. What was Trump working on during that time? Former President Barack Obama’s birth certificate! Tom Rudolph, Brisbane
The biggest shame
Concerning “The shame of equivocation” ( John Diaz, Aug.14): President Trump’s response to the hatred and violence being fomented by white supremacists in Charlottesville is disgraceful and (as John Diaz rightfully notes) “the most disgraceful moment” in his “toxic presidency.” At his inauguration, Trump promised to be a president for all Americans. Instead, this vow was just another piece of empty rhetoric from an ill-informed individual who values no one’s feelings or opinions except his own and (perhaps) his immediate family members. That character flaw is the biggest shame of this president.
Jean Louis Cook, San Francisco
Generous contracts
Regarding “UC perks are part of the problem” (Editorial, Aug. 14): University of California Regents policy, giving the UC President and chancellors returning to faculty posts a year off at full administrative pay after five years, was instituted by former President Richard Atkinson (1995-2003).
Noting that UC practice varied — some campuses allowing full administrative pay and some half pay — Atkinson recommended that the regents set the post-year administrative sabbatical at full administrative pay. I voted no, opting for half pay and a half-year sabbatical. But the majority, including recent corporate appointees of former Gov. Gray Davis, prevailed.
The UC policy’s ostensible purpose is to enable administrators to retool, preventing extinct volcanoes in the classroom, and requires one year of post-sabbatical teaching. The regents have poorly enforced this policy. After former UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl left teaching in the middle of the academic year to become president of the American Association of Universities, he was not required to repay his sabbatical salary. And although UC President Robert Dynes was allowed one day a week for research, he was granted a post-administrative sabbatical. The Chronicle is performing a public service by bringing UCs overly generous administrative contracts and their arbitrary implementation to the public’s attention. Velma Montoya, University of California
Regent Emerita, Los Angeles
BART conflicts
Thank you for your ongoing articles and editorials about BART’s security and cleanliness issues. I arrived at Civic Center BART station the other night around 9:30 p.m. and walked through the concourse level above the platform in order to make my way to the Eighth Street exit. The corridor was crowded on both sides with homeless men, legs sprawled into the center of the aisle. I personally witnessed four men shooting themselves up with syringes and two men lighting up to smoke weed as I gingerly walked from one end of the corridor to the other.
It was like walking through a war zone. There was not a single BART official or security guard anywhere to be found. I appreciate your continuing to highlight these unacceptable issues with BART.
Thomas Matson, San Francisco
Call them Nazis
After the white supremacist terrorism in Charlottesville, let’s stop the politically-correct politesse of referring to these people as the “altright” and just start calling them what they are — Nazis.
Edward Chmelewski, San Francisco