Letters to the editor

As far as their heading to the cafeteria after a shooting at the gate, remember this is just "a day at work" for them.

- Micki Bishop Stultz, Wilton

The 'Bergular' in Clinton's midst

Re " 'Bergler' steals Clinton's credibility," commentary, Oct. 19: Kudos to columnist Kathryn Jean Lopez! Once in awhile the liberal Bee prints an insightful and truthful column. Surprise.

Lopez couldn't be more accurate in describing the Clintonian actions and reasons for keeping "Berger the Burglar" within the family circle. Nor in describing the current administration's failure to fully expose the heisting and destruction of the classified information to the American people and the 9/11 Commission. This concerned national security. Berger was President Clinton's foreign policy advisor, handling national security information. You bet I'm questioning Hillary's decisions on who is advising her campaign, and so should you.

Only through lies, deception, corruption and their corrupt associations have the Clintons continued to blind the American people. Lopez is absolutely correct: For serious people, in serious times, it should disqualify Hillary for the presidency. This concerns national security.

I pray there are enough Americans out there who are as tired of liars, thieves and scoundrels as I am in November 2009.

- Estella L. Blee, Elk Grove

The refugee flood from Myanmar

Re "Myanmar refugees in U.S. spark worry," Oct. 14: Apparently bringing in thousands of Myanmar refugees – many of whom test positive for tuberculosis, have no job skills, speak little or no English – is going to be beneficial to our country in some bizarre way.

With 5,000 landing in the United States in September alone, they have created havoc in school systems. Am I wrong to think that people carrying these deadly communicable diseases should not be allowed into this country?

Then you have Van Tin Lian Zathang, a new refugee being interviewed in Indianopolis through an interpreter (of course) who has been given the privilege of coming to this country with his wife and two children, at no cost to him whatsoever. He has the nerve to say that he is getting some support but not enough. Please inform this man and any other person living on the taxpayers' money that free America does not mean everything in America is free! Don't you just love the way our government spends your money?

- Jane Shafer, Lincoln

Columnist unclear on the concept

Re "Social workers: Liberal or else," commentary, Oct. 14: Embracing the "findings" of a right-wing "think" tank, columnist George F. Will accuses social workers of being liberal (like that's a bad thing) because they are taught to fight against discrimination, oppression and social injustice (like those are good things).

The study to which he refers takes particular aim, as did Will, at the value their ethical code places on social justice advocacy, "from local to global levels." What it actually emphasizes is advocacy for social welfare: "Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local to global levels" (an obviously liberal and radical notion).

Will's complaint is that academic programs "mandate an ideological orthodoxy to which students must subscribe." The actual mandate is to recognize that "the primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being." Their ethics code explicitly recognizes that the interpretation of this injunction is subject to individual values and beliefs.

I'm not a social worker, but I don't see anything wrong with academic institutions teaching them that they should do good and prevent suffering. Would Will prefer instead that they be taught conservative values, like indifference?

- Paul Mattiuzzi, Sacramento

Speak kindly of Justice Thomas

Re "Thomas' bitter book makes it hard not too judge," commentary, Oct. 5: Columnist Marie Cocco should look in the mirror when accusing Justice Clarence Thomas of being "bitter," "consumed by rage" and "driven by his own demons". She just cannot get over the fact that all the justices are not ACLU shills. None of her remarks about Thomas describe the honorable and humble man whose career I have followed since the embarrassing confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court. The disloyal opposition stopped at nothing to smear Thomas simply because he is a conservative.

- Leolin Brush, El Dorado Hills