Letters: Selfish fun | Ballpark talks | Not a pretty plan | Reasons to say no | Educating girls | Testing Darwin

East Bay Times Letters to the Editor for July 16, 2021

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Illegal fireworks use is
epitome of selfishness

We were so excited to see the return of the Fourth of July fireworks on the river. Thank you, Antioch, for restoring this cherished tradition.

However, some people using unlawful fireworks almost ruined it for people by the Marina. One group was on the dock launching rockets — with loud booms and debris fell on the boats below. More illegal fireworks were set off among the crowd in the parking lots. As we left after the show, someone had placed lighted fireworks in the traffic lanes to explode as cars went by.

People putting their desire for “fun” in front of the safety of others is the epitome of selfishness. Thanks to the Antioch Police Department and Fire Department for preventing fires from getting out of control. We are thankful there were no serious injuries or even deaths like the NHL goalie, who died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast.

Nancy McDaniel
Brentwood

Ballpark talks smack
of ‘Good Old Boys’ Club’

When MLB Commissioner Manfred says, “John Fisher has done everything I’ve asked him to do,” he makes the Howard Terminal development sound like a deal between two powerful men, two fellow members of the Old Boys’ Club, not a community issue (“MLB chief turns up heat on Oakland,” Page A1, July 14).

Neither of these fellows has ever explained what is the matter with the current ballpark site for a new stadium. It sounds like they just want the place that makes them the most money. And anything anybody else needs or wants isn’t worth discussing.

Judith Offer
Oakland

Howard Terminal plan
can’t be made pretty

Howard Terminal vs. the A’s. Your two articles on July 9 (“Impasse clogs up stadium proposal,” Page A1, and “A’s Howard Terminal plan a threat to Oakland Chinatown,” Page A6 ) summed up perfectly why the A’s at Howard Terminal is a bad idea.

The Oakland Port makes money and needs all the room it has. The port is only going to grow in the future. The housing-hotel feature backs up to Schnitzer Steel Recycling which is upwind and not an appealing neighbor. Also, don’t forget the lousy public access to BART and an active rail line, too.

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.

Jeff Dennis
Richmond

Plenty of reasons
to say no to recall

As we approach the election to try to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, I think it is important to take into account some important facts.

One, this is costing $276 million when there is an election in September, a waste of money.

This is about getting a Republican governor and then pressuring Sen. Feinstein to resign and replace her with a Republican senator. That would put Republicans in the majority in the Senate and kill any of President Biden’s programs.

The majority of Americans voted for Democrats to govern, not play golf, give tax cuts to the wealthy and spread lies. Get out and vote to protect what we worked so hard to accomplish.

Zoe Simons
Clayton

Educating girls is
securing our future

July 12th marked Girls Education Day and Malala Day.

Education is the only way to fight ignorance and increase opportunity in this world. For years, women have been deprived of an education. Though times have changed, it still remains a problem in many nations.

Islam stresses that education for men and women is of equal importance. Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) stated that, “It is the duty of every Muslim man and every Muslim woman to acquire knowledge.” The Holy Quran also states, “O my Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (20:115)

So, last week, we recognized Malala, the Pakistani activist who survived being shot by a member of the Taliban for her pursuit of education for girls. She continues to set an example for many around the world to stand up for those who have been denied an education.

When we educate the girls of the world, we are not only educating the future leaders of the world, but we are educating the mothers of those future leaders as well.

Faiza Ahmed
Pittsburg

Anti-vaxxers testing
Darwin’s theories

Darwin’s science-based theory of evolution says organisms that adapt to changes in their environment continue to thrive whereas those that don’t fall by the wayside. This concept is being tested right now as anti-vaxxers opposed to the COVID vaccine are getting infected and dying at rates much higher than those who adapted to this new threat and received the vaccine.

If Darwin’s theory holds true, the next generation of Americans will have a greater percentage of people who base their health decisions on facts and science, and are able to better deal with new pandemics that are sure to come. Time will tell!

Robert Fish
Danville