Our Web readers speak out:

Native American students can skip conquistador pageantry, Aug. 30

Now that the school district has acknowledged that its support of the Entrada offends many nonChristians as well as Native Americans, it’s time to end the unconstitutional establishment of religion in Santa Fe.” M.B.

Does your [notion of an] unconstitutional establishment of religion also include religious Indian dances on the Plaza?” P.O.

If you choose not to participate in the Santa Fe Fiesta, you don’t have to. Nobody has the right to tell us we cannot celebrate our Spanish culture. Not the racist protesters who cover their faces like [members of] the KKK. Not the people who just moved to [here] recently and think they know everything about Santa Fe. I’m glad Santa Fe Public Schools is doing this — this way we can celebrate our culture and the complainers can go elsewhere.” V.F.

It is about time. The Entrada is pretty much fantasy, as the Spanish in those days were brutal, racist, greedy, violent and bloodthirsty.” L.W.

I have opted out for years. Consider, please, a different sort of Entrada. The visual is of an arroyo just beginning to run. First come the Indians. Then a side stream starts to run: the Spanish flow in and join with the Indians. Then another side stream comes in, and the pan-Europeans join and mingle. Finally immigrants from all over the world enter and the arroyo is filled with New Mexicans.” S.L.

I asked my son’s godmother if she considered herself Spanish or Native American (she’s from Colombia). She told me she thought of herself as Native American. I then asked her if she felt ambivalent about being descended from both mass murderers and rapists (the Spanish conquistadores) as well as Native Americans. She told me she was. No conclusion here; I’m just throwing it out there.” B.G.

Considering all these people do when visiting the schools is yell and dance, it should be canceled. Let [members of] the Kiwanis visit the schools with the marionette of Zozobra and let the kids know what skills are used to put on such a big show. Engineering, mathematics, analytical thinking, estimating, safety, etc. At least the Kiwanis’ visit would be educational. The Fiesta Council visit is a waste of valuable learning time.” L.A. Poll reveals ‘sense of unrest’ in Santa Fe, Aug. 29

Santa Fe administration complains that it is losing its youth — well, if they cannot find a job, or an affordable apartment, why should they stay? When the real estate market collapsed and people started to rent, landlords got wise and jacked the rent up. It’s about $1,000 per bedroom.” M.B.

Where can we see a copy of the full report? If District 3 was underrepresented in the poll, then their opinions are also underrepresented. District 4 and District 3 are very different demographically.” B.B.

If you ‘batch’ the issues, they are really about Santa Fe’s ability to offer opportunity. Better education boosts employability. Better infrastructure, including internet capacity, would boost the number of businesses coming here and staying here, increasing their need for qualified employees. And more affordable housing, combined with the better education and jobs, allows people of all backgrounds who want to live here to do so. Instead of blaming one group or another, let’s figure out how to make it better for everyone. Hearing people increase the division is terrible. Let’s work from all sides to fix it; whether we were born here or chose to move here, we are all blessed to be here.” E.M.P.

All of that sounds good, but unless you create a business-friendly environment here, nothing will change. It’s friendly for retirees, art galleries, artists, and momand-pop cafes, but the real high-paying industries and businesses avoid this town like the plague. The regulations, red tape, ordinances, restrictions, taxes, etc., keep higher wages and better jobs out, and entrench the outrageously high cost of living.” M.J.

Not as many native born Santa Feans prosper, a lot are pushed out, living in Rio Rancho, East Mountain and Moriarty. Santa Fe has accommodated the uber wealthy for quite some time now. It’s gotten to the point where children see living outside Santa Fe as the only viable option. At some point in a previous time there was a chasm created by the local government. Not only did it divide the community, it segregated it by social standards.” R.A.O.

Sometimes very broad polling like this actually adds to the confusion. For one thing, I’d be surprised in this era of partisanship if we didn’t find discontent, although paradoxically, satisfaction with quality of life seems higher than most places. Hopefully the various candidates will stick with practical solutions and avoid rhetorical fire — we have enough of that already.” S.M. ‘Sense of unrest’ — really?” C.M. Are the schools better? Is the city safer in the areas of crime? And are our streets good to drive on? Is ‘everyone’ prospering at a fairly even rate? How’s the economy in Santa Fe? Are city services up to snuff? Too many illegal drugs in our neighborhoods! Too many speeders and drivers without insurance! More and more commercial buildings being vacated! … Politicians looking out for their interests while throwing the voters a bone!” P.P.