Letters to the Editor, June 9: The sound of democracy

The sound of democracy

EDITOR: When George Will, noted conservative and intellectual, describes the POTUS as a 'low rent Lear… (who) has proven that malignant buffoon is not an oxymoron,' it may assuage his (Will's) anger, but does not speak to Trump's famous gut-brain connection in a visceral and easily understandable way.

I therefore propose that all humans who wish to express their First Amendment rights in a non-destructive, yet salient way, either from their own back yards or peaceably and safely assembled elsewhere, use banging pots or pans, kazoos or whistles in a weekly (e.g. Thursday at high-noon) two minute cacerolazo.

This cacophonous calling for attention may compete with the abusive dissonance erupting from the White House. Although the president's head is frequently in a different astral plane, he can still hear the ego-deflating sounds of a collective Bronx cheer as he watches the country-wide cacerolazos on Vulpine Views.

Michael F Heiman

Sonoma

Déjà vu all over again

EDITOR: The current protests and riots tearing our country apart now are deja vu all over again for people old enough to remember what happened in the 1960s. I was in my 30s, living in the Oakland hills with my husband and three baby boys and can remember hearing the sounds of the riots and smelling the tear gas from the streets of Berkeley five miles away.

After order was restored President Johnson appointed a blue ribbon committee to find a path forward, and in 1968 the Kerner Commission published its conclusions. It laid out all the problems: institutional racism, bad police practices, poor housing, voter suppression, high unemployment in the black community, economic exploitation -- the same grievances behind today's protests. It also suggested a roadmap to a better future and urged people to get involved in rebuilding society.

At the time I was an enthusiastic member of the Oakland League of Women Voters. Like other civic-minded groups in the country, we followed the recommendations of the Kerner Commission to meet with our local police chief and urge him to consider various reforms — a civilian review board, more neighborhood patrols, foot patrols in the downtown areas, etc. All good stuff. Chief Charles Gain was receptive and we felt progress was being made. In the decade that followed several reforms were adopted across the country and not just in law enforcement. Remember Head Start, expanded school lunch programs, Affirmative Action, the Civil Rights Act. And there was hope — for a while.

A poet friend wrote a poem to my first-born son. The first line was 'Welcome to the world, Daniel Paul, this imaginary place…' Later in the poem though was this: 'The dragons that your daddy slew will rise up again for you. They always do.' And they have indeed — fiercer and more violent than before.

Anger and frustration in 2020 are heightened because cell phones and social media have made us all eye witnesses to the brutality. The video of the Cooper incident in Central Park was the prelude to George Floyd's murder and with COVID-19 layered into economic inequities and topped off by a malicious Bully-in-Chief, we are truly in the worst of times.

So, like the child at the table in Tuesday's cartoon by Joel Orff ('Little Kids Matter,' June 2), when we ask for equality and justice, will another blue ribbon committee agree and make lofty recommendations? Will we in another 50 years do this all over again because that's just who we are? In the last panel of the cartoon the child's plate is still empty. I want to believe things will be otherwise in our country, but I'm afraid the cartoon in yesterday's paper hits the nail smack on its cynical head.

Betty Ann Bruno

Sonoma

Essick decision was hubris

EDITOR: Sheriff Essick, please re-examine your positions ('City of Sonoma Police Will Enforce County Health Order,' June 2). You are charged with enforcing laws and health orders, not deciding which ones you deem should be upheld based on your own 'analysis.'

You are a sheriff not a physician, nor do you possess the health policy experience or formidable public health education credentials Dr. Mase does.

I fear you have given us another example of the very passe and absolutely no-longer acceptable non-expert countermanding the informed and educated policy created by an actual expert on such matters presuming you know best. Hubris. We see how well that is working out for the country as a means to handle the pandemic.

Shame on you Sheriff.

A. O'Brien

Sonoma Valley

Be the change, Sonoma

EDITOR: Last night my family joined a protest at the Plaza where we took part in a painful and beautiful outpouring of emotion, as well as a call to change ('I Can't Breathe'! June 5). Young people leading the charge, chanting things like 'I can't breathe!' 'Say his name… George Floyd!' and 'No justice, no peace!' Many people driving by the Plaza showed their support by honking or cheering out their windows. Like any protest, there were also those on the sidelines hurling mocking remarks. There were young people twisting the chants into a different message and adults, gathered in groups by bars, insulting the peaceful protesters. Peaceful protests like these can pave the way to beg important questions about the status quo, resist the entrenched American way of turning a blind eye to racism and to be courageous enough to create true change. Change which should not be seen as threatening. Change which works toward 'liberty and justice for all,' not just those with power and privilege.

Annie Cassidy

Sonoma