EDITORIAL: Valley Watch's grassroots focus works
Valley Watch is an example of grassroots done right. The group started a couple of years ago when parents who wanted to protect their children from sex predators banded together.

COLUMN: Why own pets if you don't care?
I didn't know whether to cry or to curse.

English immersion keeps proving its worth
The headlines were small when California education officials released this year's numbers on the effectiveness of the English-only classroom instruction mandated by the 1998 Proposition 227.

Correction
The singer of Hemet High School's graduation song “Forever Young” was Heather Watson, rather than Claire Cozad as reported last week in “Light, solemn moments for HHS.”

Judges may ratify homosexuality, but it still remains a sin
Hurray to Derrill Miller's article last week (letter, “God and the Bible say gay marriage is wrong”). He is absolutely right. The Bible, God's word, was true when written years ago, is true now, and will be true when Jesus returns. We do not do what we want because we think it's right. Sin is sin, and the judges that ratified these changes do not change what God said about homosexuality. It is like saying we all agree that breaking into our neighbor's house and stealing their stuff is OK and the judges back us up - it is still wrong, and God is the ultimate judge. God will not let us get away with this, in our community or in our country. We will pay dearly. I am so glad I am under the blood of Jesus because I can count on his help in the trying times ahead. And they will come.

Judges take an oath to uphold the Constitution, ‘not God's law'
Just a reminder: Judges on courts of appeal take an oath to uphold our U.S. Constitution, not “God's law” or what we think is God's law. Politics and/or religion are irrelevant in court decisions. It's the Constitution that counts! We are all equal under the law, even the least of us. Hmm, I wonder whether or not Jesus might have been gay, with all his men associates. Could be.

Gay friend disproves the myth of homosexuality as a chosen lifestyle
Re: June 20's letter that gay marriage is wrong. Derrill Miller states that no one is ever born gay. I have a wonderful friend who is gay, and he told me that no one in their right mind would want to be gay. He knew from his first memories that he was different and has done everything he could not to be gay, including two failed marriages. So much for a chosen lifestyle.

Lack of compassion made pain even worse
Regarding Marise La Chapelle's comments on Hemet Valley Hospital's care in the June 20 issue (letter to the editor, “Hospital nurses, staff made her feel welcome”), I have this to say:

Liberal media claims similar to ‘04 claims
If 40 percent of Americans think that most government politicians are too conservative and 40 percent think they are too liberal, then 80 percent must think “America is on the wrong track.” So the liberal media can proclaim that 80 percent of Americans are opposed to the current government and the Democrats are a cinch to win in November. Of course, this is all very similar to what the liberal media proclaimed in 2004.

Cats should not be allowed outdoors
I am responding to your item in this morning's Chronicle regarding the tragic situation with abandoned cats (column, “Why own pets if you don't care?” by Kari Helton). Although I am a dog lover by nature, I do love and care for all animals.

Columnist makes point on high-speed rail
Mr. Elias has a great point (“Revenue bonds should fund high-speed rail,” June 13). I worked for the Pacific Electric Railway in the 1940s. You could go from San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Long Beach, San Pedro, and throughout the Valley via the subway to Burbank. I disagree in the way it has been presented by our political interests in that we do not need more freeways with expensive land acquisitions and upheavals when we can emulate San Diego's Tijuana Trolley, and we have the right of way down the center of the current freeways as evidenced by the rails along the 210, west of San Bernardino. Get rid of the toll roads and return the property to the people. New electric cars are fast, quiet, comfortable, and affordable. We currently have rails into Hemet, as well as other hubs, such as Corona, L.A., Orange County, etc., with park-and-ride stations along the way connected by pedestrian overpasses. Mr. Elias speaks on a larger scale, whereas I speak to the commute from the Inland Empire to the coast. Many businesses would probably be happy to have mini-buses meet the trains and provide local transportation. You could arrive at work rested and relaxed.

VHS union is not good for the employees
Re: “Union calls on VHS to sell Menifee hospital” (June).

Faith and hate control the multitudes
I would like to congratulate Roy De Selms for his well-written opinion (June 13), his illustrious ancestry, and his study of the Old Testament. I'm sure he is also aware of the fact that Huguenots were largely the successful settlers of South Africa. A very ethical, religious, hardy group of pioneers who developed a beautiful subcontinent and mistreated a backward minority, as did our Pilgrims, Crusaders, Conquistadors, Romans, etc. Faith is a powerful tool and “power corrupts.” There are many ways to control multitudes - the two most powerful are faith and hate.