KHSD board must reject hateful rhetoric
I was shocked, disappointed and outraged over the comments made by Rock Harbor Church Pastor Brandon Holthaus at Monday’s Kern High School District board meeting. I am specifically referencing the following remarks from Holthaus: “Not only are they (the high school LGBTQ+ groups and presumably their advisers) involved in grooming, they are involved in overthrowing the (sic) heterosexual patriarchy. This is a radical leftist group that has made its way in our school district and we want it out.”
These vile, hate-fueled remarks directed at our community’s LGBTQ+ students and the KHSD faculty and staff who support them have no place in our community, and coming from a person who professes to be a man of God are especially egregious.
The ignorant, intolerant and hate-fueled have every right to publicly express their ignorance, intolerance and hate for all to see, and as a former Bakersfield Californian journalist and current journalism instructor at both Bakersfield College and Cal State Bakersfield, I would never call on the board to silence him, as reprehensible as those comments are.
But I am urging the board to recognize what Pastor Holthaus and his Rock Harbor Church represents, the enormous harm his ignorance and mindless spewing of right-wing culture war talking points presents to our dozens or maybe hundreds of innocent LGBTQ+ students, and, in the days ahead dealing with this very controversial issue, I urge the KHSD board to assign zero attention, credibility or consideration to the hateful rhetoric of Pastor Holthaus or his church.
— John Harte, Bakersfield
STOP THE DISCRIMINATION IN TECH
I would like to comment on the recent layoffs in the tech industry. The estimate is that more than 100,000 workers have just lost their jobs at Google, Twitter, Meta, etc.
I feel for any worker who just lost their jobs, but maybe with this loss, the tech industry can stop being racist and start hiring Blacks and Latinos. Only 6 percent Blacks and 7 percent Latinos work in the tech industry. This discrimination is the reason why many Blacks and Latinos do not make as much money as White workers.
The argument that Blacks and Latinos do not have knowledge in these fields is ridiculous; every American from the super-rich to the homeless carry a cell phone, which has more computer power than the old IBM 360. I’m a Latino and I had a computer science course at my junior high school back in the 1970s. America must stop this discrimination against people for simply being Black and Latino.
— William Guerrero, Bakersfield
‘NO RESPECT’ GOES BOTH WAYS
Marjorie Taylor Greene shows no respect for the president? I would say Nancy Pelosi ripping her copy of President Trump’s State of the Union address on Feb. 4, 2020, would also qualify for a “no respect” claim. Where is Rodney Dangerfield when we need him!!! — Jerry Sears, Camarillo
PUT ‘SLEEPY JOE’ ON THE JOB
A recent contributor to the Opinion section lamented the use of expensive military hardware, specifically a F-22 fighter armed with a Sidewinder missile. I finally agree with the author. As much as President Biden lies and prevaricates, couldn’t the Pentagon use Sleepy Joe’s nose to poke and puncture the balloon? — Gregory Laskowski, Bakersfield
THEY BRING IT ON THEMSELVES
Regarding Steve Smith’s letter of Feb. 9, “Officers, deputies put their lives on the line” — right on target, Steve. Those who risk a violent outcome when dealing with law enforcement, with few exceptions, bring it on themselves by their own behavior. The “silent majority” is with you on this, Steve.
— Frank Moody, Bakersfield
SUPER BOWL ADVICE
Some years ago, a lady acquaintance told me of unhappiness with her boyfriend. I suggested she not make any deep personal decisions between Halloween and Super Bowl Sunday. Just offer him a beer at halftime. Then decide.
Weeks later I was at a family gathering for a Super Bowl party. My cell phone rang. “I took your advice. Just popped us a couple of beers. He ain’t so bad after all. Thanks for the advice.” — Pete Carton, Bakersfield