Why the move from ‘silence to action’
Concerning “Hard work of change begins” (editorial, Dec. 11): I take issue with two statements in your editorial about the recent surge in sexualharassment allegations.
First, not all of us “take a certain delight” when learning that highly visible people have been accused of such improper behavior. Many, myself included, instead feel a combination of anger and disappointment that politicians, cultural leaders and entertainment industry figures use their positions of power to prey upon and intimidate others. Second, the recent shift “from silence to action” is not because there are more women in the workplace. Rather, it is because this country elected a president who bragged about feeling entitled to sexually assault women and has himself been accused of sexual harassment by over one dozen of them. Jennifer Erickson-James, San
Francisco
Not power alone
Sexual harassment of women does not result from power alone. Many powerful men are not known to have harassed women. Harassment results from power combined with an attitude of self-indulgence and hedonism — an attitude increasingly celebrated by popular culture in recent decades. The 1960s slogan “if it feels good, do it” leads directly to the type of harassment in the news today.
James Holmes, Larkspur
Back to ‘reality’
Whatever the outcome of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama is, President Trump’s open support of accused sexual predator Roy Moore shows his complete lack of morals. After his term in office ends, whether through time or by impeachment, Trump can return to his role as a reality TV host. His next show should be called “How Low Can You Go?” Ferdy Bagdalian, Daly City
Flight turbulence
Of course airplanes have seat belts, but a real improvement would be “feet belts” to keep little buggers from kicking the back of your seat the whole flight.
Carlo Gardin, Fairfax
Dear Santa ...
There are pros and cons to the unseasonably warm and dry start to this winter season. The pros include ideal weather for events like the Santa Skivvies Run to raise money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The cons include an extension of the wildfire season and possible return to water rationing if we experience another drought. Given the severity of those cons, I’m including “rain” on my “wish list” from Santa Claus (and Mother Nature) this year.
Elliot Branca, San Francisco
State of stoners
Concerning “Legal pot will require higher level of policing” (Joe Mathews, Insight, Dec. 10): Whatever rules and regulations are put into place when recreational marijuana sales begin in our state in 2018, expect conservative commentators and the hyperbolic tweeter-in-chief to call California “the home of illegal aliens, liberal elites and unrepentant stoners.”
Dylan Seeger, San Francisco
Trump’s myths
Regarding “Trump’s wall of myths about Steinle case” ( John Diaz, Insight, Dec. 10): As a second-generation Mexican American, I’m deeply offended that the 45th president — who called people from my ancestral home “rapists” and “drug dealers” — is using the Steinle verdict to advance his ridiculous border-wall project and to attack sanctuary city policies.
In President Trump’s blackand-white world of law and order, there are only “good guys” and “bad guys” (or “bad hombres” as he pejoratively labeled men in Mexico), and encouragement for police to rough up criminal suspects. While I also disagree with the Steinle verdict, this Bay Area case is unfairly being exploited to promote a shameful racist and anti-immigrant agenda in Washington, D.C.
Herman Rivera, San Jose
Stop that bill
The GOPs tax reform bill is fiscally irresponsible and morally reprehensible. Half the lobbyists in D.C. have had their finger in shaping this grotesque pie, which will add hugely to our national deficit in order to bring the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent.
Let’s not fall for this tired and disproved claim that trickle-down economics will benefit the average American! As a teacher and parent, I am vehemently against this plan that will harm our children’s future by saddling them with additional national debt and by amplifying the income inequality that is destroying the American middle class.
Kristine Wyndham, Oakland
Backward thinking
“Future of aging” (Business Report cover, Dec. 10) was illustrated by wrinkle removal on a woman. I am surprised and appalled.
Marylee Glace, Truckee
Bad grammar
Are all of Trump’s advisers who know a little correct English grammar afraid to tell him to quit saying “I feel badly,” instead of “I feel bad”?
John Lum, San Francisco
No place like home
Just a note to thank you for the breath of sanity in your Dec. 9 editorial, “The A’s need to go for Plan B,” promoting the Coliseum site for a future ballpark. As others are coming to acknowledge, it’s the only option that makes complete sense. Ample footprint, already owned by the public via the Alameda County Coliseum Authority. And — look, Ma! — a current BART station in place, built to handle crowds. I’ve been a partial A’s seasonticket holder for 29 years.
Sherry Smith, Berkeley