Letters to the editor

on partisan problems

Editor,

Keith Kreitman is definitely one of my favorite columnists. His "Laissez Faire” column from the Dec. 13 edition of the Daily Journal hits the nail pretty much dead on.

The "conservatives” are the same folks who opposed Medicare, Social Security, worker safety programs, consumer protection and even any rational form of national health care plan. Yet they are the first folks to come calling Uncle Sam when things get sticky. They and their Republican allies have so precious little to offer thinking people.

I don’t want to paint them all with too broad of a brush.

There is plenty of shading between the ranks of the two major brands of politicos — those who call them selves conservatives appear to be far more removed from the realm of reality than the liberals who seem to err on the side of sensible government regulations, equitable tax structures, sustainable environmental policies and diplomatic rather then "Rambo approaches” to foreign problems.

It is indeed remarkable that the "law and order” conservative types amazingly see human nature as becoming totally benign once the income ladder has been climbed. The lack of oversight of financial institutions and those creative hedge funds people defies the imagination once you see the same politicos demanding three strikes and all other manner of dealing with the more common brand of wrongdoer.

While he ends on a cynical note and history certainly does support his attitude, I for one remain an optimist as to be otherwise is to court a permanent depression both financial and mental.

Mike Caggiano

San Mateo

A Christmas message

Editor,

Well, it is time once again for my annual message about the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is celebrated on the date, Dec. 25, when the pre-Gregorian, Julian calendar celebrated the date of the Winter Solstice — the shortest day of the year.

Because of imperfections in the Julian calendar, the actual Winter Solstice has drifted to Dec. 21 or 22.

It varies slightly.

The Winter Solstice has been celebrated by peoples all over the world for at least 6,000 years that archeologists know about. It is only natural that people, living close to nature, would observe a time when the nights stopped getting longer, the days shorter, and the whole process began to reverse itself. "Praise the Gods,” they might have shouted, "We will, again this year, not continue to sink into everlasting darkness. The sun is re-born. We can plant and harvest again. Hallelujah.”

The ancient Egyptian mother goddess, Isis, gave birth to her son, Horus, on this date.

Many other gods throughout ancient history also were born on this date, such as Dionysus, Apollo, Mithra, Attis, Osiris, Krishna, and innumerable others.

The equally mythical son of god, Jesus, the child born of a virgin mother and the Jewish god Yahweh, was also born on this day although the Jewish people deny it.

This was finally proclaimed as "true” by the young Catholic Church in 354 CE by Bishop Liberius of Rome.

The Puritans forbade the celebration of Christmas in the 16th and 17th centuries because of its pagan origins.

The Worldwide Church of God and the Jehovah’s Witnesses both do not celebrate Christmas due to their quite correct research which clearly indicates its pagan origins in the Winter Solstice celebrations.

But I say, "What the heck, celebrate away.” Have a big feast (Brumalia) as the Romans did when they celebrated Saturnalia (honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture). Exchange gifts and celebrate the rebirth of the sun — the "Dies Natalis Invicti Solis” — the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.”

I just wanted you to know what you are actually celebrating.

Don Havis

San Mateo

Jimmy Carter’s

latest Mideast trip

Editor,

Jimmy Carter has gone around the bend once again, recently expressing concern that U.S. foreign policy led by yet-to-be-confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President-elect Obama will tilt too far toward Israel. To quote comedienne Joan Rivers, "puh-lease!”

Carter’s stature as a presidential peacemaker, responsible for bringing Israel and Egypt together at Camp David, has evaporated as he has fraudulently accused Israel of engaging in apartheid-like policies while demeaning Israel’s legitimate security interests like building the security barrier.

Carter is dangerous, irresponsible and increasingly irrelevant on the international stage and is anything but an honest intermediary. He engages in quixotic attempts to regain his rapidly diminishing international relevance with stunts like meeting terrorists like Hamas’ Khalid Meshal and attempting to meet with Hezbollah terror leaders in Lebanon.

He cozies up to obstructionists like Syria’s Bashir Assad and adds nothing relevant to the serious issues that divide Israel and its neighbors.

Carter is more than a distraction. As an ex-president and a Nobel laureate, who should know better, he is dangerous.

Please leave the serious peacemaking to serious persons who understand that the situation in the Middle East is a two-sided issue, not solely the fault of Israel.

Steve Lipman

Foster City