Ignore the right wing
I have an idea, why don’t we let these right-wing conspiracy reality show personalities have their visit and no one pays attention? Space and time on news and print media makes their ideas reach a greater population of people. Having huge demonstrations against them actually gives them power and feeds their narrative that the left are against free speech. Minds aren’t changed through violence.
My views against their hate speech are not threatened by their event. Honestly, when I was a Cal student and before social media, people like Milo Yiannopoulos would be a lone person standing on the steps of Sproul Plaza with a bullhorn being mocked by students as they walked to class. His voice wouldn’t be international news. He’s just be an angry guy with a bullhorn.
Kali Jones, Orinda
Expensive state
Concerning “Homelessness hits rural areas hard” (Sept. 8): As a young adult who was hoping to own a home in California one day, it is very upsetting to see that this might now not be possible, and if it is possible, it will be almost more expensive than it is worth. The way housing prices are rising, it seems like the only way it will be possible to actually own a house here is to stay and hold your spot. I believe, based off this article, that in the coming future, it will be almost impossible to leave and then move back to California unless you are very wealthy.
As a native to California with all my family here, it is scary to think that if I leave, there may be no place for me when I return. Parallel to these rising housing costs, the percentage of homelessness is another sad and startling issue. It is upsetting to see that amongst all of the issues this country is facing no one seems to notice these people, and if they do, their prejudices keep them from having empathy towards their fellow American. Ka’lea Haynes, Walnut Creek
Honor the victims
Regarding “War victims some would rather forget” (Sept. 12): Thinking that this statue is solely about singling out Japan is missing its greater purpose. “Women’s Column of Strength” uncovers forgotten histories, challenging the notion that time can bury the truth for the sake of politics. This project honors the victims of the past and also serves as a contemporary symbol of the fight against sexual abuse. Jennylee Flores-Nguyen, San Francisco
Not ‘world-class’
I just returned from a trip overseas in which I visited France and Switzerland. We spent the final day in Zurich. This city was without a doubt, the cleanest that I had ever visited. Virtually no graffiti, hardly any scrap of garbage anywhere, even in large public squares. San Francisco likes to think of itself as a “worldclass” city ... really? Walk around Union Square a little and tell me what part of “world-class” applies? The people of Zurich display a real sense of pride in their country and especially their home. San Francisco? Not even close.
Al Comolli, Millbrae
No reason to host
The concept of free speech does not require any university campus to provide a venue to just anybody, or to any student group. For starters, in the mind of the general public, such arrangements seem to confer some academic legitimacy on university sanctioned events. There may be significant academic reasons to sanction some events and debate on campus, however controversial, but I see no reason why any university (public or private) must provide a stage for the political and/or monetary purposes of political or social shock jocks, or any particular student group. Such groups or individuals are certainly free to rent any number of off-campus venues, and students are certainly free to attend, discuss and report all matters in a proper forum, but they have no particular right to any venue on their campus. The sanctioning of any campus event is up to campus administrators.
Terry Allan Clark, Bayside