OPINION
vcreporter.com
Power to Speak Instead of taking down monuments, update them and focus on injustices of today
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR murder.” Congresswoman Julia Brownley votes to Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer fully fund the military-industrial complex, and this STAFF WRITER year went along with the Democratic leadership to Kimberly Rivers give Mr. Trump everything he wanted in the bloatCONTRIBUTORS ed military budget for the 2020 National Defense Michael Cervin, David Michael Courtland, Ivor Davis, Emily Dodi, Authorization Act (NDAA). Alicia Doyle, Chuck Graham, Chris Jay, Daphne Khalida Kilea, Karen Yet the same politicians who support the miliLindell, Paul Moomjean, Mike Nelson, Tim Pompey, Emily Savage, tary murder machine are co-opting the Black Lives Kathy Jean Schultz, Alan Sculley, Kit Stolz, Mark Storer, Alex Wilson, Matter message. Why are protesters so obsessed Leslie A. Westbrook, Kateri Wozny by Bryan Rosen GRAPHIC DESIGNERS with removing statues — that don’t drop bombs or Bret Hooper, Paul Braun, Elaine Cota he people who were responsible for the icans occurring in his day, it’s noteworthy that kill Black people — and not directing more energy SALES TEAM LEADER bronze Father Junipero Serra statue being Father Serra actually stood up for them, and walked toward removing politicians from office? If statues Warren Barrett placed in 1989 outside Ventura City Hall to all the way from Carmel to Mexico City to protest or memorials are made of today’s leaders, do they ADVERTISING SALES replace the original 1936 damaged concrete statue the terrible abuse by the Spanish colonial govern- need to come down in a hundred years? Where Barbara Kroon thought it was important. A beautiful piece of art ment. There he presented a bill of rights for Native does it all end? CLASSIFIEDS Lots of lip service is given by politicians to Americans. In 1775, when Mission San Diego de was created. Ann Turrietta Martin Luther King Jr. and they love to “celebrate” On July 15, 2020, the Ventura City Council Alcalá was burnt down by Kumeyaay attackers and voted to take down the Serra statue. But their deci- his dear friend Father Luis Jayme was tortured and him during the holiday. If our representatives really Advertising information, call 805.648.2244 sion may be appealed by a referendum or initiative murdered, Serra pleaded with authorities for lenient want to celebrate him, they can stand up against the Classified Ads | Display Ads of the people. It looks like a lot of people are going treatment. “As for the culprits, their offense should big moneyed interests, and do more to help people EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE to be fighting over this, in the courts or on the be forgiven after some slight punishment,” he said. in need. For example, why doesn’t the Ventura City 805.648.2244 ballot. It has been a divisive issue at a time when “By doing so they would see we were putting into Council do more to help farmworkers around Venwarren@vcreporter.com (Advertising) unity is needed. practice the rule we teach them — to return good tura who are being subjected to toxic pesticides? What of the mass incarceration that exists in our nancy@vcreporter.com (Editorial) Tearing down monuments and degrading dead for evil and to pardon our enemies.” aturrietta@timespublications.com (Classifieds) people who can’t defend themselves is easy. CreatSymbolic gestures like removing statues may times, the warehousing of poor people and people ing a better world is more difficult. Monuments do be easy to do, but are also a diversion from the of color in miserable conditions? The Ventura County Reporter is distributed every Thursday in Ventura, Oxnard, Port Instead of removing statues, the government Hueneme, Camarillo, Ojai, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills. The not have to be about beneficent figures. Whether really important issues. Instead of wasting time Reporter is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. The Reporter may needs to put its energy into making life better for one loves or hates Father Serra, his historical on statues, how about condemning the injustices be distributed only by Reporter authorized distributors. No person may, without prior people today, into supporting decent wages, and importance cannot be denied. Instead of tearing occurring in the present? written permission of the Reporter, take more than one copy of each Reporter issue. The Reporter is copyright ©2020 by Times Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part down a statue created in the past in a public area, a President Obama killed many dark-skinned helping the poor get out of poverty. It’s notable of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means plaque can be put next to it, so the modern gener- people with drones in the Middle East. Most of what’s not on the Ventura City Council agenda: the without permission in writing by the publisher. An adjudicated Newspaper of General ation with its greater understanding can add to the them were bystanders. Would he have done so proposal for creating a beautiful monument to the Circulation (SP50329). Submissions of all kinds are welcomed. However, the publisher PROOF Chumash. It’s doubtful that will ever happen. It’s assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. A stamped,AD self-addressed envelope story. A mini library with books about the figure if there was a chance his own children would be must accompany all submissions expected to be returned. and the time period can be added. It’s important killed by a drone? Mr. Trump is helping the Sau- so much easier to take something down than create Marketing - Census (805) 648-2244 dis to commit mass murder against the people of something worthwhile. Ad Executive: Warren Barrett to Client: understand Mustang the past so mistakes aren’t repeated, Let’s not forget millions killeda in theProof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL and public monuments in over publiccarefully places and give indicate us Yemen. Please check this proof all corrections clearly.theYou will have “1st and1st Vietnam Luther King (APPROVED)” Jr. much food thought helpmeets stimulate Bryanbox, Rosen is director Citizens RUN ASforIS. If thisand proof yourinterest approvalIraq on the proof, wars. checkMartin off “FINAL PROOF date and signofatConcerned the bottom in his speech “The Three Evils of Society” spoke in NOTICE: learning. LetPLEASE each generation create its own for Environmental Health, an environmental advoISSUE: 8/6/20 FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine against the military-industrial complex, saying cacy group involved in animal rights issues and in monuments. VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt With so much brutal treatment of Native Amer- “millions, yes billions, are appropriated for mass the effort to reduce pesticide use in the Ojai area.
T
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