Fly the flag proudly

This is a response to a letter from Sue Girard published May 23 asking for flag lessons on displaying our flag on Memorial Day:

This is a most important flag-flying day for all Americans as we pay tribute to millions of veterans for their many sacrifices in support of America.

First, every American should display the flag on this date. Don’t take this right for granted. Not every country even allows their citizens to possess their country’s flag.

For in-ground poles, begin by raising the flag to the top of the pole and then slowly lower the flag to the half-staff position, where it will remain until noon. At noon, raise the flag back to the top of the pole until dark.

A flag may stay up after dark if it is illuminated. If your flag is displayed on a house-mounted 6-foot pole, simply tie a black or dark blue ribbon into a bow at the top of the pole above the flag. The truth is that every day is a flag day in America, so exercise your right to do so. God bless America!

John and Bridgett Solley
Arroyo Grande

An American hero

Hopefully, everyone will take some time during this Memorial Day weekend to dig deep into their souls and honor those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in honor of our great country.

I also encourage everyone to make the effort to honor and sincerely thank all the veterans, both strangers as well as those in your life, for their extreme sacrifice.

I wish to acknowledge my husband, Richard Grantham, who served in Vietnam as a combat medic in 1969-1970. His two Purple Hearts, Silver Star and Bronze Star tell it all. Congratulations, and welcome home. You are an American hero.

Claire Grantham
Morro Bay

Sewer backers say thanks

This is an open letter to our San Luis Obispo County supervisors and the county Public Works Department.

We, the undersigned, who live in Los Osos, want to express our appreciation to you for your perseverance and hard work in getting Los Osos a sewer. We don’t often, if ever, speak before you, and we felt, in light of the continued negativity toward you and the project, that our viewpoint should also be heard.

We do not support the negativity from certain citizens who speak often before the board. They do not represent us. We do understand that this is an expensive project and that it is going to be challenging for some members of our community. We also recognize that the battle to get a sewer here has been going on for more than 30 years and that the problems are not going away. We are also satisfied that the technology that we have chosen will do the job and is not a threat to the environment as some claim.

Please accept our sincere thanks for your work along with our hopes that you will continue your efforts toward finishing the sewer project for Los Osos.

Jean Gandy, Toni Graham, Mike and Judy Miller, Roy Bayly, Maggie Juren, Susan Chandler, June Wright, Carol Stern, Stanley Stern, Jan Di Leo, Sharon Philippe, Jan Harper
Los Osos

No-show Abel

I attended a SLO Republican Women’s Club meeting on May 16 to hear congressional candidates Chris Mitchum and Abel Maldonado speak. I was disappointed to hear upon my arrival that Abel Maldonado had canceled his appearance just that morning.

I wanted to hear his current views and ask him a few questions. I have since heard that he has been a no-show at similar events other times this campaign season.

The change in the program did have a positive side in that Chris Mitchum had extra time to tell the group of his plans to better represent us and start to right the ship in Washington.

If Abel will treat a segment of his supposed base group (Republican women) with such disrespect, just imagine how he would treat his entire constituency if he got to Washington. Citizens of the 23rd District as well as Americans in general have been disregarded by our present congresswoman, Lois Capps, for years.

Abel would be more of the same. I’m voting for Chris Mitchum.

Curtis Reinhardt
Pismo Beach

Allan’s ‘doom and gloom’

Whether or not Mr. Lon Allan has always thought of Atascadero State Hospital as a prison (“ASH officers should carry guns,” May 22) is not an appropriate basis to arbitrarily declare that it is, in fact, a prison.

This pronouncement does a profound disservice to the large dedicated staff who devote themselves to providing a variety of services to patients. These staff members include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatric technicians and a multitude of other dedicated employees.

It is plain and simply factually incorrect to proclaim that all patients released from a psychiatric hospital or that all inmates released from a correctional facility cannot be helped and that rehabilitation is therefore impossible.

These sweeping generalizations of doom and gloom are not only inaccurate but also do not represent a genuine problem-solving approach.

Dan Rich
Atascadero

Johnson walks the walk

Christine Johnson (for Morro Bay City Council) talks the talk and walks the walk! I’ve seen her in action, and she is impressive on both accounts. You can read her list of accomplishments other places, but I want to tell you what I know of her personally.

Christine is as genuine as they come. People gravitate toward her because she really listens and cares. She shops locally and strongly encourages others to do the same. She smiles and laughs freely (the sign of a good temperament and welcoming personality).

She isn’t afraid of hard work and often spends long hours educating herself on new issues, responding to emails and calls and making sure to give lots of recognition to those who work around her. She is passionate about Morro Bay and promotes it every chance she gets.

She is a devoted mother who is concerned about kids and families in the community. She loves the outdoors and realizes that it is one of our major selling points to attract visitors (eco-friendly is business-friendly in Morro Bay).

She is an educated leader who earns the respect of the professionals she works with. We would be well-served to have Christine Johnson on our City Council!

Joan Pedersen
Morro Bay

Don’t cut education

I cannot understand why our government continues to make major cuts to the educational institutions!

Leave education alone! Balance the California budget by cutting down on the ridiculous government-funded projects that we do not need! Education should be the last place to make cuts, but our Democrats love to waste our taxpayers’ money on more government fat!

Ben Simons
Templeton

College to career

When I first read F. Stewart Thomson’s letter regarding college not being training for jobs (“College not for jobs,” May 21), I considered writing my take on it; however, I finished the paper and dutifully recycled it, and my senior moments continued. Now that Richard Placak has put in his two cents’ worth (“College and jobs,” May 25), I feel impelled to add mine.

The one and only reason I chose my major in college, called information sciences at the time, was because I thought I would be able to get a job with it. I would have loved to major in journalism, but I saw too many liberal arts majors working in retail or as secretaries.

I worked my way through college as a full-time secretary, taking nine years to get a four-year degree because I took almost all my classes at night. I then enjoyed a satisfying and rewarding career as a systems analyst and was able to retire at 60. I think anyone who chooses a major on any basis other than how good a career path it might lead to probably isn’t spending their own money to do so.

Sharyn Young
Morro Bay

Civil talk at Cal Poly

I recently attended a talk given at Cal Poly by a visiting Israeli Special Forces soldier. The young man reminded me of our special Navy Seals type: tall, strong, confident, intelligent and clearly capable. The speaker hoped to dispel myths surrounding Israel through sharing his own story as a citizen, giving a face to everyday realities in the tiny Middle East nation.

He wanted to see people come together for an active and participatory dialogue, no matter what their politics. Argue, it’s fine, but if you say you don’t want to talk? Makes no sense.

Fortunately, there were no disrespectful or intimidating disruptions, as has happened on too many campuses. The questions afterward were at times pointed, but within an atmosphere of tolerance and sharing information and thoughts.

It has seemed too often that balanced information, critical thinking, and the liberty to express oneself is being lost in propagandized, uninformed, rowdy and ugly behavior.

I hope we can have more such discussions in the future, where people can come to learn both sides of an issue.

Susan Shalit
San Luis Obispo

Behind the curve

While I applaud The Tribune’s efforts to encourage public giving for the homeless and hungry (Bouquets and Brickbats, May 25), in all honesty I think you are a bit behind the curve.

People in San Luis Obispo know how hard it is to get by in this economy, and we are already giving $40-$50 per month to the homeless in addition to our volunteer hours.

Since the beginning of the year, our family has given more than $400 to charity and schools, and a sizable amount directly to people on the streets.

We are by no means exceptional in this regard, nor are we anywhere close to wealthy. If county residents were to start giving the homeless and needy only the occasional dollar or two, their lifestyles would drastically change for the worse.

Now excuse me while I talk to my sister about getting her broken-down car up and running again.

Kurt Rightmyer
Los Osos