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Letters
- Details
- Written by: Franklin Ley
The plans they're making don't look like anything we would choose for ourselves. How much further from our constitutional base will we allow ourselves to drift? Who does our elected government really represent? What is the cause and cure of empire?
This is an uncommon opportunity to frame our own debate against a shared threat. Step outside the bickering of “conservative” or “liberal” politics to see that our country and our future are being stolen while, divided, we fall.
We are the 99 percent. There are hundreds of millions of us, and we've all been had. Now let's be heard.
The Occupy Lakeport event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in the “banker's block” at Fifth and Main streets.
Franklin Ley lives in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Amy Collins
On Sunday, Oct. 9, a support rally was held for the three men accused of allegedly raping a woman.
Approximately 35 family members, friends, old bosses and supporters of the men gathered at the Lake County Museum on Third and Main in Lakeport.
Together they made signs with various slogans: “Free the boys!”, “Lies ruin lives,” “Innocent until proven guilty” and several others were seen.
The rally started at noon and went on until the last few people finally left at 6 p.m.
Several times people driving by would pull over and speak to the rally attendees, and give their blessings. Also, a vast number of people drove by, honked their horn, pumped their fist in the air, or screamed: “They are innocent!” out of their windows.
Upon speaking to the supporters, it was apparent that everyone is worried about negative press turning this entire situation into a huge problem for the men.
I write this as a friend of theirs, but as a community member as well. I know what negative press can do to a person’s reputation in a community as small as ours.
Ajai Rodgers is a sweet soul. I have known him for about nine years. In that time I have watched him grow from a child into a man. I have seen how he treats other people, which is always with kid gloves.
I have never known Ajai to be a violent person. He has always been full of smiles, laughter, love and a whole lot of hugs.
Upon hearing the charges against him, I was sick. Never would Ajai be capable, even in the heat of the moment, to hurt a woman like that. He has had a few girlfriends in the time I have known him, and I have seen the gentle, loving way he treats them.
Isaiah Rodgers is Ajai’s brother and I am sad I am not better acquainted with him. He has been described as a wonderful man, much like Ajai in the way he treats women.
Isaiah has many, many friends in this community who are outraged to hear of the charges against him. In the few times I have met him, I never sensed violence, towards women or anyone else.
Leandro “Lee” Guerrero is a shy man, never the first to make a move. He has always held himself with the decorum of a gentleman around women. He has always been a shoulder to cry on for his female friends, the strong silent type, and protective.
Never, in the eight-plus years I have known him, have I seen him disrespect a woman. It’s not in his nature, he has been taught to respect women.
It was a lesson learned well, as I have seen with my own eyes how he treats his female friends. Lee is not the sort of man to be violent towards any woman, in any circumstance.
I am sure of their innocence, I support them.
I, like their other family and friends, am outraged at these charges. Upon speaking with the parents of the men, I was left feeling so sad.
Just the looks on their faces when they saw all the supporters was enough to make me cry. They walked around, hugged people, thanked them for their participation, cried, hugged more people and so on. It was an emotional day.
I only hope these men will be found innocent. They do not deserve the blame that has been placed on them. I, along with their family and friends will be waiting for the day of victory for them.
Free the boys!
Amy Collins lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Nelson Strasser
The United States Government is prohibited by law from giving military aid to countries that utilize such heinous abuses of children. However, the president can grant exemptions.
The Obama administration, in fact, has waived sanctions against four countries that practice such abuses. These include Chad, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
You just can’t clean this one up: Obama is abetting the abuse of children.
And yet, folks like Jesse Jackson still support Obama. The Democratic Party does not want to purge him.
It reminds me of the time when there was a segment, I believe on the show “60 Minutes,” called “Point-Counter Point.”
There would be a conservative debating a liberal. Nicholas Von Hoffman (the liberal) was thrown off the air for his frank comments regarding the Nixon scandal.
Von Hoffman said something to the effect that Nixon was like the dead rat under the kitchen sink, and no one in the family wanted to grab it by the tail and take it out to the garbage.
Many of us, including me, were exulted by the election of President Obama. He wooed us with the slogan “hope and change.” Well, there has not been much change, and little reason for hope.
We need to cycle through the five stages of grief and come to acceptance: Someone has to go back under the kitchen sink.
Nelson Strasser lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Bethany Rose and Judy Fletcher
Our local quilters are simply THE BEST. We are so thankful that we were able to display some very beautiful antique quilts this year, as well as a wide variety of more recent quilt projects.
Our show continues to be a success because of the community's willingness to share their treasures. A special thank you to our featured quilter, Renee Carpenter, for her willingness to bring so many of her quilts and to spend the entire day with us. You are a truly gifted quilter!
The results are in for the winner of our Peoples' Choice Award. The winner is Sandra Daggett who shared her gorgeous “Chocolate & Cream Dresden” quilt. Daggett has received a Kelseyville Pear Festival Pear Cookbook for garnering the most votes. Thank you to all who participated!
We also want to thank these wonderful individuals for their assistance in making this show a success: Kerrie Hershey, Peggy Browning, Shari and Dennis Sawle, Gary Rose and Ken Fletcher.
Another thank you to the Kelseyville Methodist Church for letting us use the fellowship hall. We are so appreciative of all of you!
If you might be interested in sharing a quilt with us next year, please contact Judy at 707-263-6317, and your name will be added to our list of quilters.
Thank you again, and we look forward to sharing more lovely quilts next year!
Bethany Rose and Judy Fletcher were among the organizers for the 2011 Kelseyville Pear Festival Quilt Show in Kelseyville, Calif.