When enough is enough

Dear Editor:

Like many other small cities, Claremont elections are non-partisan. Candidates seeking municipal office do not campaign as Democrats or Republicans. Each party may have a club, but they are not part of official Claremont.

Over the years, the COURIER has shied away from taking a position on national political issues, while taking a position on local matters and candidates.  Neither have any of its outside columnists written about what is at the heart of the national agenda.

Therefore, it was somewhat of a shock to see Peter Weinberger’s editorial pleading for the removal from office of President Trump. Why this dramatic stance on America’s most divisive concern?

My guess is that the day finally came when the publisher had had more than enough of how this disgraceful, immoral, prevaricating egomaniac has demeaned the office and brought shame on the United States.

How anyone with a shred of ethical integrity can continue to remain silent is a devastating commentary on American integrity. I refer specifically to the evangelical Christians who helped elect him, and the honest Republicans including those in the US Senate, who continue to sit on their hands while still supporting him.

Charles Bayer

Claremont

Truth and ethics

Dear Editor:

Peter Weinberger, in his March 1 editorial, introduces the concepts of truth-telling and journalistic competence, which he then extrapolates to Donald Trump. By way of preface, there are with Mr. Trump, as there are with virtually any president, points that can be criticized.

On the subject of truth-telling, Mr. Weinberger states, “I was literally stunned at [Pres. Trump’s] consistent lying.” Yet, for all that, Mr. Weinberger offers only one single example of actual lying, namely a supposed exaggeration of crowd numbers at the 2016 inauguration. A quibble of insignificant irrelevance.

I wonder if Mr. Weinberger was equally as exercised over one of Barack Obama’s much more significant, colossal whoppers, repeated numerous times, impacting the health insurance and health care of millions of Americans, “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan.” A statement which informed observers knew for a fact, even at the time, was a blatant lie.

Mr. Weinberger then treats us to a litany of unsupported assertions against Mr. Trump: “administration is run like a mafia family;”?“is openly racist;”?“bullies anyone in his path;” and “is clearly owned by Vladimir Putin;” to cite but a few.

These read, suspiciously, like a laundry list of Democrat party talking points, and not, sadly, the result of serious journalism.

Due to space limitations, let’s examine just one item from Mr. Weinberger’s list, bullying. When we inquire into this, who, in today’s American society, is actually being “bullied” in a tangible way?

Well, Catholic teenage boys waiting for their bus while wearing MAGA hats; conservatives whose accounts were terminated or restricted by Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, PayPal, YouTube, etc., or denied services by a financial institution merely for their political beliefs; conservatives hounded out of restaurants; the Trump supporter whacked in the head with a heavy bicycle lock and the conservative student viciously punched, both by left-wing thugs in Berkeley; motorists in Portland, Oregon, assaulted by left-wing goons; conservative speakers such as Heather MacDonald, who was blockaded right here at our own Claremont Colleges; and the list goes outrageously on and on and on. 

So, yes, Mr. Weinberger, bullying, to use but one of your examples, is a serious issue. Perhaps you should initiate a serious journalistic investigation.

Considering that Mr. Weinberger believes “nothing is more important than getting the story straight,” I do wish he would have striven just a bit harder to get his editorial straight, by including some actual facts.

Douglas Lyon

Claremont

Historic monuments

Dear Editor:

The Millard Sheets historic “Welcome To Claremont” entry monument and road-sign rock monuments in Claremont definitely should be preserved.

The mosaic and rock monuments speak volumes about Claremont’s history—the monuments are a tribute to their designer Millard Sheets, and the rocks used are a reflection of the geology of Claremont’s alluvial fan, part of what makes Claremont Claremont. 

Not only do the monuments contribute to our town’s natural environment characterization of being an outpouring of granitic rocks from the local San Antonio Mountains, but the creator Mr. Sheets , is himself a key figure of Claremont. 

Mr. Sheets, once a Claremont resident, was an artist, architect and renowned professor of art at the Claremont Colleges, where he inspired many young artists.

During World War II, Mr. Sheets worked as an illustrator for Life Magazine. His plein air paintings, murals and other artworks are nationally recognized.  Some of Mr. Sheets’ paintings can be found in the Smithsonian, which consist of artwork he created during the Depression as part of President Roosevelt’s Public Works of Art Project. One such painting was chosen to be hung in the White House.

Additional artworks and murals are showcased at The Huntington Library, The Main Interior Building in Washington DC, Norte Dame University and many other locations around the country.

Locally, his mosaic murals grace the Claremont Colleges Garrison Theater and banks in Claremont and Pomona. The Millard Sheets Art Center and Gallery at the Pomona Fairplex focuses on fine arts education. Mr. Sheets’ artwork is historically significant and is a slice of Americana. Claremont should celebrate that connection by preserving his road-sign monuments! 

Potentially a small fraction of Claremont’s $16 million budget for the Foothill Boulevard Project could be used to restore, repair and preserve the monuments. The monuments are comprised of rock, glass and metal—materials that would be amenable to restoration by a qualified professional.

What makes Claremont’s culture unique is that it is the embodiment of a reverence for academia, the arts and natural beauty, which is why Mr. Sheets’ monuments are a perfect expressive representation for all those who enter our fair city.

Crystal O’Kelly

Former Chair of CPAT

(Claremont Public Access Television)

and former producer, host and writer of People to Know

Tragedy at the Colleges

Dear Editor:

I would like to express my appreciation to the city of Claremont and the Claremont Colleges in recent weeks.

Following traumatic events at Claremont McKenna College, I have continually received warm welcomes both walking around Claremont Village and being a customer at businesses in the Village.

At a time when uncertainty and emotions fill the campuses, feeling the community support uplifts students.

Friends of mine have particularly struggled with the tragedies and have made efforts to eat meals off campus and enjoy the change of pace the city offers. These experiences are continually positive and instrumental in the coping process.

Overall, it is great to know that citizens of Claremont stay informed with what is going on in their community and at the Colleges.

I have noticed a particular interest in the well being of others that is heartwarming.

Evan Davis

Claremont