Letters to the editor

Idol contestants knew the rules

Really surprised you printed the letter two weeks ago on Idol being unfair.

The use of karaoke track (lyrics on screen) and background tracks (no lyrics on screen) has been the contestants choice since Idols inception.

No wonder people give up on volunteering months of their time for community projects when others in the community are looking for things to complain about rather than looking for ways to help.

BTW — it was announced at every audition that either karaoke OR background tracks were acceptable and points may be taken away from contestants staring at the screen.

Furthermore, I would like to invite the “complainers” to come and spend some of the 6 months with us it takes to prepare for Idol.

Gin Boughner

RamonaMany donated to backpack driveOn behalf of Main Street Roca, Pastor Pablo and Jacquie Linares, their congregation, and the event coordinators of the Backpack & School Supply Drive, we would like to extend a very special thank you to the contributors who made this years Back-To-School BBQ so successful.Because of your generosity, over 500 children received backpacks with school supplies and can head back to school with confidence.Thank you to High Valley Veterinary Hospital, Stater Brothers, Clementina Galacia, Albertsons, Glen and Mary Cotant, Patriot Propane, In His Steps, Ransom Pump & Supply, Wal-Mart Poway, Sun Valley Florist, Dreamy Nails, A Country Clip, Susan Royal, Penny Pincher Accounting, Cathy Jackson, Talent Bridge Inc., James and Lynne Meier, Elizabeth Roper, Action Automotive Group Inc., Jerry and Joanna Rudge, First Baptist Church of Silver City, Q’nique Corp., Scott Lee Rudge Construction, European Portable Sanitation, Ramona Food & Clothes Closet, Treasures Christian Bookstore, Ransom Brothers True Value, Action Jumps, Ronald McDonald, Ramona Sheriff Station, Barbara Wallace, Carlos Nicasio, Remnant Youth, Costco Poway, Company Kids Store, Pete Zindler, Michael Mulligan, Next Wave Youth Band, Paula O’Bryant, Becky Mortier, DJ Abarca, Maureen Robertson, The Ramona Sentinel, Israel Navarro, IHS Women’s Home, and all who brought supplies to the donation bins.

Scott and Stacey Rudge

RamonaThank you, Ramona Girls SoftballWhether it’s attending church service, having breakfast together, sleeping in, or just spending some quiet time with each other away from the distractions of the world, Sunday mornings are a special time for families.It’s with great appreciation that I extend my “thank you” to Ramona Girls Softball for their decision to start their upcoming Winter League Softball games at 11 a.m. on Sundays instead of 9 a.m. This change will allow my daughters, as well as many other girls, to participate in their favorite sport.I’m not sure if it was their intention or not, but RGS’s consideration in this matter shows their understanding of the importance in setting aside time for what really matters. It shows their desire to make participation in softball open to as many girls as possible in our Ramona community and, most importantly, it shows that youth sports aren’t all about winning or losing, but rather that youth sports are about putting the kids and families that participate in them first.Again, thank you, RGS.

Connie Sedach

RamonaAppreciated commentaryAfter I came home from a trip, as I was catching up with my reading of the Sentinel, I did not realize what a pleasure was waiting for me — the guest commentary of Diane Conklin (“We are all Norwegians now,” Aug 4).Her message of tolerance and respect, and of the belief that all human beings are worthy of dignity and respect should resonate with all. It did with me. I am pleased and proud to share the same ground with Diane Conklin. We are a multicultural society — ethnicity, culture, religion, language, color, name any human traits. Ours is a free democracy with multitude of thought processes about society, politics, intellectual ideas, lifestyles, and conclusions and solutions as well. Agreement and disagreement abound. There is no room for hatred. One can be passionate without being hateful in actions and expressions, and in spoken or written languages.Conklin writes, “intolerance breeds hatred and (hatred) can breed more hateful actions” — the old adage is “eye for an eye make the whole world blind.” We are a miniature world. We are the ingredients that have the capacity to become a great society for us to feel the nobility and to set a new paradigm for the world to admire. Whether we rise to the occasion or not is up to us. Anyway, I am home.

A. Duttaahmed, Ph.D.

Ramona