Response to rebuttal re: Separation of Church and State
I am glad that Earick Ward sought to correct me.
Let’s start with my use of the word god. If god was a proper name, like Tinkerbell or Tooth Fairy then it should be capitalized, but if god is a thing, like a “fire truck” or “lamp shade” then it need not be capitalized.
The Romans, Norse and Greeks had names for their many gods and goddesses, they were capitalized as in Zeus and Thor, but “god” and “goddess” are not.
As for the use of “G-d,” since Jews are forbidden from destroying, erasing or dishonoring the name of G-d, they refrain from writing it out in full. (The commandment not to erase or deface the name of G-d comes from Deut. 12:3).
In regards to the Pilgrims, the people that settled Plymouth Colony, may I suggest Ward read http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/History/religion.php and you may want to also read /Hypocrisy Unmasked/, by Edward Winslow (London, 1646).
A report on events surrounding the New England colonies’ arrests and prosecutions of Samuel Gorton and associates, followed by a section on why the Pilgrims originally decided to leave England and Holland to settle Plymouth. (Available for download as a PDF from the Web site listed above).
There you will find out all about them, and you will learn that the Pilgrims were a Puritan religious sect (maybe we should teach this in school again).
His suggestion that we “study” the existence of god gets no argument from me. I am fully supportive of a comparative religion class where all gods and goddesses and all mythologies get equal treatment. In fact, I even suggested that in my article (last paragraph).
As for the religious beliefs of the Founders, may I point you to research done by Ian Dorian at http://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/qtable.htm where an attempt was made to determine the beliefs of the Founders.
And the caveat does state “church affiliation is an imprecise way of determining a person’s beliefs; some religious people rarely attended church, only a small percentage of church attenders [sic] in the late 1700s were actually church members, and some church members were not particularly religious.
George Washington, for example, was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, but he was neither deeply religious, nor particularly Christian (most historians count him as a Deist).”
“Teaching values” is the responsibility of a parent, not the public school system. In fact I know that I don’t want my child taught the values of say Genesis 38 (8:10) in which the Elohim (the Hebrew name for their god) kills Onan for spilling his seed on the ground, or Genesis 19 (32:36) and the story of Moab’s fathering where Lot’s daughters got their father drunk and committed incest.
I would much rather teach my children my values than have some third party decide that someone else’s religious values are worth teaching my children in a public school.
Society has developed some good secular values, not based on what some mythical god or goddess decreed, not based on “an eye for an eye” or “turn the other cheek.”
Values based on a secular belief that hurting the innocent is wrong and that the guilty should be punished by man for their actions against others in a fair and just society.
These are values that have been discussed and considered from Plato to Thomas Hobbes to Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Martin Luther King. Terence, circa 195 B.C. noted that that there is a difference between law and justice; “rigorous law is often rigorous injustice.”
Values, not based on some god’s word, but based on man attempting to align law and justice; what is right in relation to man’s interaction with his fellow man. Ward closes with that good old refrain “In God We Trust” showing that you didn’t bother to read paragraphs 10-14 of my original article, didn’t understand the history of that phrase, or just choose to ignore the facts presented.
J.M. Ivler
Los Alamitos
Save tennis courts
I’m not sure if Seal Beach residents are aware, but plans are underway to demolish the tennis courts at McGaugh in order to expand the parking lot.
Principal Palmer’s “State of McGaugh” letter sent to parents on Feb. 11, stated, “The city of Seal Beach and the Los Alamitos School District have come to an agreement that the tennis courts would better serve the community by becoming additional parking for the school.”
As a McGaugh parent and a huge fan of Principal Palmer, I am aware of the need for more parking and know that Principal Palmer always has the best interest of her staff and her students in mind. That is her job, and she does it amazingly well.
But, as a member of the community, I hate to see recreation facilities taken away. Personally, I would like to see a compromise where one or two courts are saved, which was an idea discussed by the PTA when Principal Palmer asked for parent input on the topic in January.
I do not know how the decision-making process progressed beyond that PTA meeting, but I am told that the School Board voted 4 to 1 in favor of converting the tennis courts to parking, with only Karen Russell voting against.
Meg Culuti of the Hill and Joseph Ribal of Old Town voted in favor.
The meeting minutes are not yet posted on the board’s Web site. It turns out that many community members are completely opposed to converting the tennis courts into parking. Anyone interested in saving all or some of the McGaugh tennis courts should contact their City Council representative.
Alison Cotter
Seal Beach
City needs more, not less recreation facilities
The city of Seal Beach and the Los Alamitos School District are talking about removing the tennis courts at McGaugh School and using the space for addition parking.
This is something my wife, Glenda, and I are totally against. I have lived right across the street from the tennis courts for 36 years and want to see them remain. People have enjoyed the use of the courts for years, not only for playing tennis but also basketball.
When my sons were young, I took them to the courts to teach them to play basketball and improve their skills.
I personally use the courts to “shoot hoops” to have fun and get exercise. There are few other places that offer the smooth surface of the courts for dribbling and fences to keep the ball in play.
Kids also use ther courts to play dodge ball and other games where having an enclosed area is vital.
The residents of Seal Beach need all the recreational facilities possible, and facilities that are convenient to people who live in Old Town and on The Hill. Don’t make us get in our cars and drive somewhere else to play when we already have a place that we can walk to or ride our bikes to.
The people of Seal Beach have spoken over, and over, and over again for open space and places where we and our children can enjoy the outdoors.
I would rather have cars parked on the street in front of our house than to lose the tennis courts for a parking lot.
Steve and Glenda Snyder
Seal Beach
Keep tennis courts
I understand that the Los Alamitos School Board is in favor of eliminating the McGaugh Tennis Courts and replacing them with additional parking. I respectfully ask that they reconsider their decision.
These courts have not only been used for tennis over the years, but for basketball, skateboarding and as a place for kids to just have fun. For years I played tennis on these courts and my children who are now adults have played tennis on them also. If they are eliminated, there will be only be the court at Marina Center on this side of the 405 freeway for anyone desiring to play tennis.
Why does the school need additional parking? Isn’t there adequate parking for the teachers and staff today? Granted the traffic situation around McGaugh is crazy and I live it each and every school day, but I don’t think the additional parking gained by eliminating the tennis courts will solve this problem. Please reconsider and keep the tennis courts. The children need them.
Jack Dampman
Seal Beach
