Plus Letters to the Good Times Editor…
Food For Thought
Endless Wars
Dance is hot. Take one look at some of the offerings on television and it’s easy to see that’s true. But beyond reality shows, there’s a fascinating reality that one local woman is living. Her name is Ruby Vasquez, she lives in Watsonville and she’s doing everything in her power to keep a Mexican tradition alive. Vasquez is the subject of this week’s cover story (page 14), where writer Leslie Patrick explores the local’s passion for dance, its value and the importance of honoring it. Read on.
In the meantime, I found myself doing a dance of another kind. Actually, it was more like sitting out of the wild, sometimes overly hectic dance of life. I took a respite recently. (Highly recommended.) In between the bliss of road-tripping to Big Sur and beyond, I stopped in Sedona, Arizona. There, I decided to hike Bell Rock, a fascinating rusty-red- looking behemoth with an energy vortex that is supposed to balance male and female energies. (Always a good thing.) The views from each landing are tremendous. (Doesn’t hurt to take time to see the bigger picture.) I returned the following day to climb higher but on the way down I opted to go another route. Sure enough, I suddenly found myself on a ledge looking down at the next landing, which was about four feet in distance, maybe five. “I can jump this,” I thought, thinking of an old Six Million Dollar Man episode. “No you can’t,” another voice cried from the nether regions of my brain. “You’re not 20 and it’s too far.” I looked up. But I couldn’t really go back. So … I contemplated my choices, or lack thereof, for about five minutes, before going for it. I landed, rolled like a stunt man, sunglasses flying off and everything and then … “that’s my ankle!” I sprained it. The following day it looked like Gwenyth Palrow’s foot in Shallow Hal. Because I always look for meaning in things, I pondered what the metaphoric significance might be: “Don’t take the leap!” or “Don’t be an idiot!” And then something else floated through my mind: “Plan well before you take a leap.”
Remember that one the next time should you find yourself pondering life’s decisions, big, small, or otherwise.
More next time …Greg Archer, Editor
Letters to Good Times Editor
Food For Thought
The recent article on school lunches, although entertaining was not quite correct on many of the facts. Perhaps asking some of the people qualified to answer the questions on Santa Cruz school lunches would be more appropriate.
Many of the food service workers in this district serve-safe and know the government regulations regarding the food program. Unlike Cynthia Hawthorne who is a school board member, not certified , does not know the government regulations, and has given more than one interview with misinformation. The current director of food service, Jamie Smith, I don’t believe was even mentioned in the article, or any of the food service workers who daily feed the children, and know what the real deal is with the food. Maybe the next article will cover all the aspects of the food, including the children.
Jackie Russell
Santa Cruz
Endless Wars
Regarding the recent commentary on war, the year I was born, 1916, was president Wilson’s year to end all wars. Dare we count how many wars the Unites States has since engaged our young men and women? Many of these wars were far away. Our soldiers probably did not have a clue who their enemy was.
Is the American reading public aware that more than “51 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan in August, making it the bloodiest month for American forces since the US-led invasion in late 2001?”
Why are we there? Gates reminds us many times that the Al-Qaeda threat is real. Does that mean that Afghanistan will invade us if we don’t invade them first? Our Defense Secretary and the Pentagon insist that the troops must stay, increase their numbers, and continue the war in Afghanistan. Is that really going to solve the Al-Qaeda problem and help bring democracy to Afghani citizens? The American citizens have a right to more answers on our reasons in having our military in Afghanistan.
Ruth Hunter
Santa Cruz
