San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Authentic depiction
As a lifetime resident of the Bay Area and a pharmacist in west Contra Costa County, I have some unique perspectives on indigenous culture in the Bay Area. I think the mural at George Washington High School in San Francisco depicts, authentically, the development of our nation. It also gives a historic picture of the evolution of our democracy, which included slavery and suppression of native cultures. It is also a beautiful piece of artwork. To paint over it would be a Talibanlike act of cultural desecration.
Raphael Peck, Albany
A slippery slope
Regarding “Plenty to cover in covering up ugly history” (Native Son, July 7): In analyzing the decision to remove the offensive mural at George Washington High School, Carl Nolte is right. Political correctness has allowed us to understand insults and slights against women and minorities, which we had not realized were being uttered, written or portrayed. But the slippery slope we seem to be on now in erasing sins of the past is leading to a whitewash of history. Pun intended.
Ken Kashiwahara, Millbrae
Alarming news
Regarding “Nothing lampoons like an editorial cartoon” (Insight, July 7): It’s alarming to read that newspapers both here and abroad are terminating their contracts with editorial cartoonists for being too mean to President Trump. When it comes to being mean, Trump — with his caustic putdowns and namecalling aimed at political opponents, world leaders and prominent citizens — has no rival. Any editorial cartoon that criticizes Trump’s leadership style, immigration policies, kowtowing to dictators and disrespect for our country’s democratic norms is needed now more than ever. The fewer critiques that are publicly written, drawn or spoken about this thinskinned wouldbe autocrat will only embolden him to act with greater impunity.
Wealth impunity
The sordid details that continue to surface in the Jeffrey Epstein case remind us of how certain individuals, who have attained vast sums of wealth and prominence, can view that as a mandate to act with absolute impunity ... simply because, in their mind, they can. They can even go as far as to brag about sexually assaulting women because, “when you’re a star ... you can do anything.” You can even run for president and be elected, right?
Explain name change
Now that a Marin County school district has changed its name from Dixie to Miller Creek Elementary School District, I hope that its 201920 academic year will begin by explaining to its students that the former name was associated with the Civil War era Confederacy and its defense of slavery. They should also understand that discrimination continues to exist today against African Americans (in the form of racial profiling), as well as against LGBTQ citizens and undocumented immigrants. The America they are growing up in can rectify its past misdeeds with actions like this district name change, but it continues to act in ways that continue to deny equal rights to all of its people.
Support for Mayor Pete
Regarding “Many gay voters take pride in Buttigieg’s presidential bid” (Nation, July 11): I’m one of the many gay voters. While some voters question whether Mayor Pete Buttigieg is a viable 2020 Democratic presidential candidate due to his sexual orientation, he was in the top tier of fundraising in the past few months and displayed his keen intellect during the first round of debates in Florida. Some political pundits argue that Buttigieg, a smalltown mayor and Afghanistan war veteran, cannot be elected because many Americans still harbor prejudice toward gay people. But I would counter that millions of voters overcame past prejudices toward African Americans when they twice elected former President Barack Obama to lead this country, so perhaps they will do the same with Buttigieg.