Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 9

Sauls CniM County Oentinel Friday, Aug. 9, 199 Opinion Page A9 As we see it A day without AOL is just another day 5 tta lives of most Americans. The numbers tell us that most people can and do get by quite well without keyboards and modems. A good many of us have no need to chat with people we don't know or contact firms that we can reach with a phone call. We can still wait for the nightly news or the morning paper to find out what's new.

Someday, that may change. We can imagine that people once said "a horse and buggy still works fine," and "who really needs a telephone?" Just as cars and phones are vital to our lives, online services will someday be indispensable. We will wonder how we ever did our banking, made long distance phone calls or hotel reservations without a computer. But that day is not now. STEVE CASE, chairman and CEO of America Online, apologized to customers Thursday, saying the incident "reminds us all of how important AOL is becoming in our everyday lives" and "a day without being able to access AOL is disorienting and downright frustrating." Sorry Steve.

A day without AOL may be frustrating, but we still remember how to send faxes and pick up the telephone. The sun does not rise and set with the Internet. At least not yet. AOL OFFLINE: Breakdown of America Online shows the world can still function with- out an Internet service. THESUNsetWednesday.lt rose the following morning.

The Giants won a baseball game; Bill Clinton made a campaign swing through our area and we discovered there might have been life on Mars. And it all happened without AOL. America Online, the nation's online computer service, crashed Wednesday. Big time. Down for almost 19 hours.

No e-mail for some 6 million customers. No chat lines. No Motley's Fool investor site. And we survived. No doubt about it, a great many people were inconvenienced.

Some businesses were hurt and some had to scramble to make up for lost time. But we survived. Not that we should be surprised. Although AOL has some 6 million users an estimated 40 percent of all online service users that's only 6 million people in a nation of 250 million. And while big business may be well plugged into the Internet, it doesn't have much need for a service like AOL.

With all the hype about the Internet we hear everyday, we have to face the truth that it hasn't become all that crucial in the day to day Send them State Sen. Henry Mello California State Senate Sacramento, CA 95814 '(408) 425-0401 Assemblyman 321 First Hollister, CA (408) 636-4890 Dred Scott a message Peter Frusetta Sen. Dianne Feinstein Suite A 331 Hart Office Building 95023 Washington D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3841 Santa Cruz County Sentinel 207 CHURCH ST. (408)423-4242 SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060 David B.

Regan, President and Publisher John L. Lindsay, General Manager Tom Honig Karen Carnot Apolinar Acevedo Editor Advertising Director Production Director Mike Blaesser Dorothy McCoy Wayne L. Stanton News Editor Advertising Sales Manager Composing Room Manager William Condy Heather Davis Richard Lewis City Editor Advertising Sales Manager Press Room Manager Robert M. Hughes Mardi Browning Douglass Melorie Bowen Controller Circulation Manager Systems Manager The editorials on this page represent the opinion of the newspaper's editorial board. Members of the board are: David B.

Regan, John L. Lindsay, Tom Honig. ms FoRr wom 4tar-tel6tzaa- to San Diego ing in slavery. That decision led to the Civil War. The 14th Amendment was adopted alter the war, to wipe put Dred Scott forever.

For children born in this country to aliens, the amendment was simply the written expression of accepted 300-year-old common law brought to America by colonists jus soli, citizenship by right of the soil. For blacks, it became the constitutional expression of their birth citizenship and then for all Americans of their right to equal treatment the bedrock of the Constitution and of civil rights. Eliminating citizenship as birthright unravels the careful weave of the entire amendment. What comes next? A little rewriting of the equal treatment business? Would you bet not? This Dred Scott plank also is moving America toward exceptionally ugly results, which we are too delicate to face straight on. Prof.

Gerald Neuman of Columbia Law School did. He has warned Congress America would be creating a hereditary class of aliens, even made-in-America stateless. Walter Dellinger, now acting solicitor general, did too. He put it to Congress: Rewriting the 14th would fundamentally alter the American Republic. Amending the Constitution needs a two-thirds vote in Congress, and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

It's a long process, but has been done 27 times. As this plank moves out of San Diego and to the nation for acceptance or rejection in the Constitution, it will drip bitterness and poison into the land. It is a very nasty piece of work. A.M. Rosenthal, The New York Times Urban Institute as a source is merely mouthing liberal propaganda.

Maurice E. Connor Aptos August 7 Caring, not homophobic It is a sad day when those who hold biblical beliefs concerning sexuality that have stood for centuries are being labeled "homophobic" (Sentinel, Aug. 1, Dl) and "(tenant" (Sentinel, Aug. 1, Tragically, the word "homophobic" seems to have made it into the mainstream. Journalists know belter.

The suffix "phobic," denoting fear of, is inappropriate unless a reporters agenda is to discredit and defame those holding tho view that homosexuality is one of tho deviant forms of sexual behavior. 1 do not Tear homosexuals 1 love them as God loves them and, therefore am com- polled to tell them the truth. As for Mark Dewey, the "defiant" Gi- -nut, his actions were, as the Apostle Paul wrote, "speaking the truth in love." So-' called "safe sex," and I'uniieling millions of dollars to AIDS-activist organizations, and solemn observances like the Giants' "Until There's A Cure Day" last Sunday only add to the spread of the epidemic. Only the application of sound, compassionate public health measures that have always been used successfully to slop epidemics will bring about positive results: The "red ribbon" approach to tho HIV epidemic will only ensure that thousands if not millions more will die, Not phobic, not definnt; but caring, ci Richard Tonnnscn i'' Cnpitola The Sentinel welcomes letters 6o timely public Issues that are no more than 200 words. Editors may condense them even more to make room for as many letters as possible.

You must include your name, address arid daytime telephone number for verification purposes. Only your name yvill be printed GOP brings THE REPUBLICAN Convention has not started yet but already the delegates writing its platform have violated the meaning of being an American, the nature of America, the spirit of the American Constitution and a specific American ideal that has given it strength at home and glory abroad. Violated? They spat in its face. If you are born in America, you are immediately and forever American no matter who your parents, their origin or history. You can become anything fine open to any other American kids, even if they came from the Pilgrims! You can be president! Is there any American reading this newspaper who was not taught that in school? For those born in America to foreign-born parents, it was a candle that warmed the heart.

They believed it, and the beautiful part was, they knew so did children of American-born parents. Abroad, it made America seem close and shared. But the 107-member platform committee now says to the Devil with that. It has something else than the presidency in mind for some children born in America taking their birthright citizenship away from them by rewriting the 14th Amendment, which mandates citizenship and equality under the law to all persons "born or naturalized" in the United States. The committee adopted a platform plank to change the 14th, refusing citizenship to children lucky enough to be born in America but stupid enough to select illegal immigrants as parents.

It would also strip citizenship from children of legal immigrants who have limited-time visas. That means no citizenship for born-American children of foreign students studying in America their allotted years, or those of foreigners the United States As you see it themselves: One which has been suggested before but never acted on is to do careful upstream work clearing the channels of thousands of tributaries so that water retention does not build up to contribute to over-flooding; the other suggestion is to build temporary dams in the deep river canyons lying between Santa Cruz and Felton. These could be utilized when flood stage is being reached in the main river, with water being released in calculated stages. Perhaps some alternative like this would enable us to avoid the ugliness of a bigger and better sluice through the center of the city. Herbert Foster Jr.

Santa Cruz August 6 Right-wing drivel In response to Michael Shackelford's letter (Aug. 8), the reason abortion is not an issue with the Democratic Party is that it's legal. That detail is often overlooked by pro-lifers, the Republican Party and the Congressional Screening Committee. Mr. Shackelford mentions partial-birth abortions used as a selective process.

I have been a medical transcrip-tionlst for 24 years and not even once during that time have I transcribed such a procedure. The fact is that procedure is rarely performed and only done under emergency circumstances. I continue to be amazed at the drivel exuding from Ignorant right-wingers. They so fervently seek to protect the unborn, but once they're born, they're on their own no welfare, no food stamps, no Head Start, no school lunches, It just doesn't make sense. Elizabeth Handley Capitola August 8 American life not fair Knock, knock.

"Hello, I'm from the government and I'm afraid we need a bit more of your money." "I see. And may I ask what It is for?" A. M. Rosenthal invited for a while to do work nobody else wanted, or to children of legal asylum-seekers awaiting approval. The plank was passed without roll call or debate, and no floor fight scheduled.

Never have Americans so submissively permitted their own rights and heritage to be so jeopardized. Maybe Americans thought this was just about immigrants. The stinkweed of anti-immigrant prejudice spreads across the country. At first it was planted by fringe folk and politicians screaming about the black, brown and yellow hordes at the borders. Soon enough they were joined by more elegant people immigrants who want to make sure that other immigrants rather more like them got in people with talents.

But it is not just about foreigners, oh no it isn't The San Diego plank will be walked by all Americans, and America itself, present and future. In 1857, the Supreme Court's infamous Dred Scott decision denied citizenship not to children born to foreigners, but to American-born whose parents and usually grandparents were also American born. These people were blacks, then liv "Actually, we're having a bit of a problem with illegal immigration, and we need more money for welfare and education." "I see. Well, it hardly seems fair. I mean, you caused the problem by not guarding the borders." "It's a bit late to think about that." "I see.

Well, what will happen if we don't give them the money?" "Oh, nasty business. Their street gangs will go wild and sell even more drugs to your grandchildren." "I see. The only problem is: I've worked hard and not accumulated very much. What I do own, my insurance company raises the premiums on constantly. I can't go to the doctor anymore because he always advises me he'll have to remove my wallet.

I'm forced to give to the arts in the form of out-of-work mall musicians. It just doesn't seem fair." "American life is not supposed be be fair. Look at the O.J. trial. You have to pay up if you want a country safe for doctors and lawyers." "I see.

I'll get my checkbook." Allen Grasso Soquel August 1 Welfare spending wasteful Tom Teepen, Cox News Service, laments the congressional attempt at welfare reform, calling such efforts "shoot the poor plans" (July 30). Give us a break! Food stamp fraud was estimated at $17 billion in 1994. A program that started in 1964, serving 424,000 now serves 27 million, and costs about $149 billion! Has poverty increased that much? Between 1965-68 (Great Society programs of LBJ), welfare spending more than doubled, from $38.3 billion to $80.5 billion in today's dollars. By 1993 welfare spending surpassed defense spending. By the year 2000 it will be twice as much, It Is estimated that 7.7 million families making below $14,700 annually (poverty line last time I looked) could be given a check for that amount, and we'd save $180 billion yearly.

The welfare system costs about $300 billion yearly or about $40,000 per family. And please, citing the know that since the new amusement tax was levied on certain businesses in town (including the Boardwalk) an unresolved issue continues to grow in very filthy, slimy, and smelly fashion the appearance of our beach. Contrary to New Age belief, the Municipal Wharf, the Boardwalk, and the once attractive, soft and spotless sands of the Main Beach still attract more visitors to Santa Cruz than any other section in this county. The city has an obligation to maintain beauty here, not only to the businesses that are charged enormous rents, but also to the tourists and travelers who flock to our area weekly in droves and spend their hard-earned money. Turn the tide, whoever you are who keeps turning your head or leaves it buried in the unsanitary sand.

Kenneth Lamb Santa Cruz August 8 Make assault on kids an issue The United States is Number One! It is part of our national character to be Number One. We are Number One of the Industrialized nations with kids living in poverty. We can, with the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill and Clinton's readiness to sign it, now aspire to be Number One (not merely 20th) in another area infant mortality. The percentage of our children who die before they are five years old Is higher than Cuba's and equal to Jamaica's (see the United Nations Children's Fund's annual report on "The Progress of We can do better. Let's be Number One, Let's surpass Bangladesh in infant mortality.

How can politicians sleep at night with the knowledge of this shame-making record? We, as conscientious citizens, must make this assault on kids a major issue in the presidential, senatorial and congressional campaigns. GUNordquist Santa Cruz August 8 Suggestions for flood Concerning the flooding problem In August 6 History lesson Sandy Lydon didn't do his homework. Regarding his July 29 article, "Call it just don't call it pristine," Mr. Lydon states that the forest adjacent to Nisene Marks Park also known as the Hetzer property is not pristine, "is dot ted with hundreds of huge stumps most of the trees are second or third-growth redwoods it's actually a logged-over forest." Judging from Mr. Lydon's description of the forest, he has not visited the site.

According to the licensed forester's description of the proposed harvest area, portions "remain as unentered old-growth" forest. In fact, the southern and eastern portion of the forest have never been commercially logged. ZA tree inventory of the Hetzer forest implemented by retired ecologlst Dan Miller indicates that more than 50 percent of the trees marked for logging are in pristine areas, that is, In clusters of never-before-logged, unentered, lold growth trees. Mr. Lydon refers to "'hundreds of huge stumps" in the Hetzer forest.

In truth, we scoured the timber harvest area looking for stumps during inventory. We found Just 43 logged 'stumps. incidentally, by the forester's own ad-Mission there are trees in the Hetzer for-est that are at least 1,000 years old. Now that, Mr. Lydon, is real history! ISandyHenn August 8 i Unsanitary sand Why Is it that only the stretch of the Main Beach in front of the Boardwalk has been cleaned on a regular basis, while the other strand northward, to- ward the wharf and including Cowell Qeach, has been Ignored this summer to the point where it is nearing a stage of becoming a health hazard? Some of us who have spent generations around the waterfront know that the Sea-'Side Co.

owns the machinery which consistently cleaned up the entire spread of sand in the past years. Some of us also.