"Sign's misinformation will spread to others" and other letters
Sign's misinformation will spread to others; What was purpose of criminal history?; Sacred only applies to non-tribe projects; Agriculture, military here prior to move
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SIGN'S MISINFORMATION WILL SPREAD TO OTHERS
I read the article on April 10 about President Bush's visit. I took special notice of the pictures of Edward Snook and Brian Lesh. First of all, Snook's sign clearly reads "Worst President Ever." I'm sure this is a clear indicator of his age because he obviously wasn't around for Carter or Nixon. He might have been for Clinton.
Anyway, Lesh's sign said "Bush: Support the troops, don't veto their funds!" I would like to take this opportunity to point out that Bush is not threatening to veto funds for the troops. Never had and never will. It is the Democrats who control the Congress that have come out and said that they plan on pulling the funding for the war.
Bush has promised to veto any set withdrawal date. The Democrats are the ones saying that if they don't get what they want, they are pulling the funds. That is why Bush is vetoing the withdrawal date. It is these incidents that make me sad.
This one sign will probably put it in about 100 heads that Bush is vetoing funds for the war. Those 100 heads will then go out and make signs with the same wrong information. Those 100 heads will each put it in 100 more heads (100 x 100 equals 10,000) so from one misinformed, incorrect sign, we end up with 10,000 misinformed, incorrect signs and it just keeps snowballing from there.
I wish the protesters would at least research what they are putting on their signs.
By the way, I was happy to see that nobody messed with Snook's sign this year. I may not agree with what he says but he has the right to express himself peacefully on our soil. I would be one of the first to defend him for that. That is what the U.S.A. is all about.
JAY CAMPBELL, Yuma
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WHAT WAS PURPOSE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY?
How sad that a young woman's life was taken over money owed. Or at least that is the story The Sun printing concerning the death of Lydia Correa recently.
It is very sad, I am sure, for her family and friends. It is also a very bad reflection of how things have changed in Yuma. It used to be that Yuma was a relatively safe place to live where neighbors took care of each other and when you went somewhere, you knew everyone there.
I am pretty sure that those of us that have lived here for a few years know that those days are gone. But I do have a question for The Sun. What purpose did it serve to print the prior criminal history of the victim in this case? Why was that important? Think about it.
MARY WHITNEY, Yuma
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SACRED ONLY APPLIES TO NON-TRIBE PROJECTS
I am writing to comment on the recent lawsuit announced by the Quechan Indian Tribe's President Mike Jackson to stop the land transfer in Wellton for the Arizona Clean Fuels Refinery. The tribe is claiming that this land, which by my estimate is 40-plus miles away, is sacred to them. More on that later, but I would like to start with some other "sacred sites" in the state of Arizona facing similar problems.
For the past several years, the Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff has been trying to generate artificial snow with reclaimed water. This is due to severe drought affecting the area. This also has been denied by countless lawsuits brought by American Indian tribes (Navajo and Hopi) under the religious freedom act.
Yet several tribes in the state are either operating or planning to operate several golf courses using the same type of water. They also claim the site (the Snowbowl) is sacred and would trample their religious freedom, although the area in question is less than 1 percent of the entire San Francisco Peaks area.
Next we have the Hualapai Indian Tribe at the Grand Canyon. While in the past they have objected to most development at the Grand Canyon, they now have that monstrosity called the Skywalk that juts 70 feet out over the canyon rim.
Hmmm, no lawsuits filed by any tribes on that one. Oh, that's right, there's that sovereign government immunity rule that all the tribes hide behind to fill their coffers. It seems the tribes of this state only find the bulldozers offensive when they are not the ones operating them!
Which brings me back home to Yuma County. The people of the Wellton area have decided that the refinery to be operated by Arizona Clean Fuels will be a benefit to their entire community. It will generate taxes and high paying jobs.
Even so, the people of Wellton and the Wellton Mohawk Irrigation District are taking every precaution, because they would not sell out their culture, their community or their land without the due diligence they have exercised!
On the other hand, let's look at the claims of the Quechans and their dedication to preserve their "sacred sites" that they actually do own.
To understand this better, one just needs to take a journey to downtown Yuma. Take a tour of the Territorial Prison, stroll the historic Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge and the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area and gaze at the mission on the Quechan Reservation.
While viewing this pristine area, gaze down and observe the Quechans' idea of preservation of this historic and most sacred of sites. Words may truly elude you as you view the casino area.
So, Mike Jackson, tell us again about your plans for protecting that land 40 miles away that is so sacred and vital to your tribe. But before you do, maybe you should think of how Forrest Gump might sum up the merits of your lawsuit. "Sacred is as sacred does."
KENNETH R. DARBY, Yuma
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AGRICULTURE, MILITARY HERE PRIOR TO MOVE
This is in response to the letter from Helen Morgan ("What about smoke from burning fields?"). To everyone who moves to Yuma and then complains about the agriculture and the military presence, did you ever think to research an area before you moved here?
Moving is a major event in a person's life and should require a little research on your part. If you live here, guess what, agriculture and the military base were already here before you decided to move to Yuma.
RENO MAYNARD, Yuma
