Letters to the editor

To our community

We want to thank you for your love, prayers, and support. We are humbled to know how many lives our son Christopher touched.

To Ramona’s youth we want to say thank you. Your actions to honor Chris have shown us the power of love.

We want to thank the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, especially the Ramona Substation. Your compassion, professionalism, and respect are deeply appreciated.

We would also like to thank Keith and Cindy, Carol, The Ramona Wranglers, our Band Family, and Mr. Lampe. Your overwhelming love and support have brought us comfort during this difficult time.

With appreciation,

Raul and Kathleen Jaquez, Ramona

Colossians 3:12-15Where’s my party?To: The paid/unpaid volunteer who opened this return envelope

Re: Why there is no check enclosed for the Democratic Party

Answer: Because, as a lifetime REAL Democrat, I don’t know where to send it. The group masquerading as Democrats is really a European-style Socialist Party, and everyone from Lenin to Castro has failed to sell the scheme to Americans.

I’m 77 years old, a lifetime Democrat. I cast my first ballot for Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson (unlike the South Side version we are now stuck with), a REAL Democrat, who was twice defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower, who held European Communists and Socialists at bay for eight years.

Eisenhower succeeded Harry Truman, Roosevelt’s vice president, and Harry, if you check it out, was our LAST REAL Democrat. Jack Kennedy might have make it, if he had lived, but Lyndon Johnson almost broke this nation in pursuing his “Great Society” and his refusal to allow our commanders to run the Vietnam War.

Enough of that. Please keep my little note, and if, on the day after the election, Obama & Co. have been given the boot, think about the good he might have done if he had simply kept to his “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” agenda.

I respect your service to your party, but it is no longer mine. Gone are the longtime tenets of real Democrat politicians. They are now fully committee to giving away the store in order to gain votes.

Wishing you well, and hoping you sometime see the light,

A.G. “Andy” Smith, Ramona

Choirs need their ‘choir riser boxes’

Ramona High School Choirs are looking for our blue and silver “choir riser boxes,” that were in use for many years by the RHS Show Choirs.

Over the past few years, many of the boxes have been loaned out or given to former choir and community members. We are trying to reinstate our show choir program on a small scale, and need the riser boxes in order to do that.

If you have one or more of the boxes, and would be willing to bring it back/donate it back, call 760-787-4105, or just leave the riser box at the RHS Office any time between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Concert Choir and Women’s Ensemble will appreciate it!

Donna Ransdell, Director of Choral Activities

Ramona High School, Olive Peirce Middle School, All-Elementary ChoirFrom one Whitnier to anotherCongratulations, Justin! An accomplishment to be savored and proud of.Reading about your journey brought back a flood of memories of my own “hike Whitney in a day“ trek a few years ago. It’s a remarkable life experience demanding a mental, physical and emotional commitment that you’re not sure you have until you are actually there.The strength, confidence, self-reliance and determination to accomplish this at your age can serve you well for a successful future.Thanks to the Sierra Club’s Wilderness Basics Course and five determined hikers approaching the half century mark, hiking Mt. Whitney in a day was an experience I’ll never forget.And yes, I agree—two days would be much more enjoyable.Congratulations from one Whitnier to a next,

Ruth Shaffer, RamonaRHS seniors give stellar TV presentationKudos to Ramona High School seniors for their stellar presentation on the NBC Morning News. Ramona High School was showcased on “The Game of the Week” segment.Most schools featured on the “Game of the Week” present screaming students, loud cheers, and the school band playing. Students asked to speak are drowned out by all the noise and very little is found out about their school.Ramona seniors (400) turned out in force for “Senior Sunrise,” as well as for the newscast. Instead of a loud band and cheers, 10-15 students thoughtfully spoke of 10 reasons why Ramona High was so great. Each student who spoke was accompanied by a banner which summarized what was said.The students were both articulate and humorous. Topics covered ranged from Ramona’s foreign student exchange program to special studies, from AP classes to animal husbandry and agriculture, and its award-winning automotive program. The presentation was well-organized and focused.Of course, it was mentioned that Ramona loved and supported its football team and is a “Friday Night Lights” community, but paramount for the students was their education, their love of Ramona High and what it has to offer, and their love of their community. These students were wholesome, well-adjusted young adults with values. I was really proud and heartened to see this when mostly everything reported these days is negative.Parents and teachers should be proud also. Great Job!

Sharon Lynch, RamonaIn appreciationIntermountain Republican Women Federated (IRWF) wishes to openly thank one of Ramona’s finest citizens for his act of kindness toward our local military families.IRWF, through our Caring for America Project, recently delivered one SUV heavily loaded with baby wipes and diapers in every size to the Ramona housing for military families. Mr. Gary Kreep knew of this project and went deep into his own pocket and donated over $500 to this effort. He made it possible for Nancy and Jim Frazee to display a storefront-like event at the military housing where very young moms and dads gratefully gathered selected diapers and wipes to fill their needs. Some of these dads would soon be deployed overseas to continue serving their country, defending our freedoms.What I observed was heart-warming. These very young couples, some carrying their babies, some young ladies pregnant with their first baby, were all happy to see us.It was due largely to Mr. Kreep that this project was overwhelmingly successful. It is his Christian love for this community that mostly showed in his generosity. Mr. Kreep, IRWF deeply appreciates what you did for us and these young heroes, defenders of American Freedom.

Sallie T. McKelvey, President, IRWFCongratulations, Chris, and thank you, teachersRe: New Principal Continues Family’s Tradition in Education in Aug. 23, 2012, Sentinel.Congratulations to Bill Tamburrino for another well-written story about a great family who has given so much to the community of Ramona!A hearty congratulations to Mr. Chris Gunnett on his well-deserved selection as principal of Hanson Lane Elementary and best wishes for continued success!We would like to extend a special thank you to all the teachers who have worked so hard to hone their craft in educating the Ramona’s luckiest students in a safe, joyous, and productive manner.

Mary and David Galusha, RamonaComment on commentaryHaving carefully read Ms. Arsham’s commentary and also Mr. Beck’s commentary, I wonder what organization she is referring to.She certainly has never been to a Ramona TEA’D Forum. To compare Ramona TEA’D to the John Birch Society in one breath and the KKK in the other shows her lack of understanding of why the Tea Party movement started or what we do.I would attempt to spell that out but I really don’t think she would read it with any understanding. My experience is that most liberal progressives demonstrate a lack of tolerance of any view that does not agree with theirs. In any exchange with those of this mindset, it does not take long for their response to descend into personal attacks, labeling, or name calling.It is also evident that advocating personal responsibility, limited government, personal freedom, or a belief in God constitutes a threat to her view of government. I would be most interested in exactly what that view is.Having lived on this earth for 71 years I can say, from experience and observation, that governments that exclude God, advocate big government control, massive taxes, massive spending, intolerance of disagreement, usually in one of the “isms” that have resulted in human misery, poverty, and millions of deaths.I have attended almost every forum and have helped plan all of them with the rest of the steering committee. And I assure you that as chair of that committee I would never support a group that represents the KKK.On what facts does she base that accusation? She has every right to say what she says, however, she does not share that opinion for those she does not agree with.It is so troubling that that old Constitution just gets in the way. Would she and those who share her world view be more comfortable if we were to dispense with it?That is at the root of the culture war we are in now, people. That’s my opinion. What say you?

Jim Tapscott, RamonaTo those who believe in socialism: Walk the talkIf you believe in socialism, I fully support you.In order to be of service, I’ve done some research that may help you fulfill your progressive dream of true global equality. I’m excited how your life is about to change for the good of all mankind. The first step is for you to walk your talk. Let’s begin—The top 50% of wage earners in the world make over $2,138 per year. The average is $7,000. If you make more than that, it’s not fair (by the way, if your household earns over $61,000, you are a world “one-percenter” — congratulations!). Send at least 50% of everything you make above $2,138 to the UN for redistribution to the world’s poorest countries. Cut the check. Send it today. Walk the talk.The average size of a residential dwelling unit in the world is less than 1,000 square feet. If yours is more than that, it’s not fair. But you can change that. Immediately move out of any portion of your home over 1,000 square feet, and allow a homeless family to live in it for free.But wait. You must also provide them with free access to your food, clothing, TV, automobile, smart phone, recreational equipment, bank accounts, 401k, and provide them with unlimited healthcare. Then you’ll really be sharing your wealth. Do it now. Live the dream. Walk the talk.If you are a student and get A’s in school, that’s not fair. Some students only get D’s or F’s. Immediately send a written request to the school board to forfeit your A’s. Instruct them to give your A’s to somebody with F’s. Now you’ll both have C’s. That’s equality. Too many students are failing today. You can help them succeed by giving them half of what you’ve worked for. Walk the talk.Only about 9% of the world population owns a car. That’s not fair. If you own one, sell it tomorrow and send the proceeds to the UN for redistribution to the world’s poorest countries. If your family owns more than one car, well that’s pure greed. Get your pink slips out and sign them over to people who don’t even own one. Now you’ll really be walking your talk!If you believe in socialism, I fully support your choice of lifestyle reduction. But before you and your friends in the government come to try to confiscate more of what I’ve worked for my whole life, and ask me to pay even more than I already pay – more than my fair share – I need to see you walk your talk. Step up and behave like you believe. I’m willing to do a little more—as soon as I see you give up at least half of what you’ve worked for first, based on a world standard.You have my full support. I believe in you. Get started right now. Walk the talk.

Joel Beyer, Ramona