MAILBAG - April 26, 2007

Don’t give Jefferson quote ellipses

If you are going to use Thomas Jefferson’s “Letter to the Danbury Baptist Assn.� on New Year’s Day, 1802, then quote it accurately, (“Leave Bible out of lectures,� April 19).

You used ellipsis to thwart the true meaning of Mr. Jefferson’s writing. You quote, “The legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions� (“The� should not be capitalized, as that was not where the sentence began).

Then you use ellipsis in order to shrug off the following: “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.� That, dear editors, is what Jefferson meant, not what you and countless other twisters of fact would have the average voter believe.

SANDRA HICKEY

Garden Grove

“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.

Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.�

Paintball pollution is unacceptable

I was recently walking on the city beach, south of the pier near Huntington Street, and was shocked when I saw hundreds of paintball pellets in the sand, left over from the paintball competition that took place a few weeks back.

If one steps on one of these tiny balls, they splatter paint all over the sand, and maybe your shoe.

I cannot believe that the city would let this organization use our public beach and then leave it in this state. This is clearly a serious form of beach pollution that should be brought to the public’s attention.

If this paintball association is going to use our beaches again in the future, there needs to be better safeguards in place to ensure these incidents do not occur. I also find it highly ironic that the city was preparing to celebrate Earth Day while this pollution was on our very own beach.

KENNETH BODDY

Huntington Beach

‘Caregivers’ article helpful, insightful

I enjoyed Michele Marr’s article on caregivers (“Faith-based group needed for caregivers,� March 29). I found it helpful and insightful.

I think her articles are very worthwhile.

MARY TIERNEY

Huntington Beach