My condolences to the Jackson Family and to Michael Jackson's children. Mr. Jackson's early death was tragic. His talent and achievements should not be minimized or dismissed.

Nevertheless, his talent and charisma should not overlook or deny his personal issues and poor and inappropriate boundaries with children. To do so would be to raise personality and talent above safety, mental health and ethics. We cannot exonerate those who have talent, power and personality from accountability and responsibility for unsafe and unhealthy behaviors, especially toward children.



Republicans used fear of terrorism to rush into two wars. They used fear to undermine basic constitutional rights.

Democrats are using fear of continual crisis to further weaken the foundation of the nation: the economic crisis, the health crisis, the housing crisis, the global warming crisis, the job crisis. Constant crisis demands immediate action and legislation. No time for reflection. Be very afraid, the wolf is at the door! Only government can save you! Never mind that government created the crisis — government that now threatens to destroy democracy.

The real crises are over-population and globalization. Or, as Darwin might note, this is where The Herculean eat The Puny by imposing controls on them which completely strip away all individual liberties. Government thrives on crisis.

And the media have nothing better to do in a world gone so mad, than chase a corpse around L.A.!



South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, in explaining his dalliance with an Argentine woman, compared himself to King David in the Bible, "who fell mightily" he said, "but picked up the pieces and built from there." I don't know what Bible he is reading from, but after seducing Bathsheba and having her husband killed, King David's life was a total disaster. Or, maybe, just maybe, the religious governor thought he was living in King David's time, when it was perfectly OK to lie with another woman, just as long as she wasn't married.



Regarding "Give young drivers a 'brake,' Santa Fe," (July 3):

This letter was about the mother who was teaching her son to drive and encountered an impatient driver. I'm that driver. I could give her excuses for my impatience, but that's irrelevant.

I wanted to let both the mother and the son know that I am very sorry. Here I am talking about the horrible drivers in Santa Fe tailgating, etc.

I have been in the crosswalk when even the police cars didn't stop.

That mother is teaching her son correctly, and I'm sure he is most grateful. I'm sorry.



I read The Santa Fe New Mexican on the Web site most days. Recently, I clicked on "Forum gives public chance to sound off on DWI; the headline was of interest, given recent events. To my astonishment the banner directly above it was for the Santa Fe Wine Festival last weekend. Does anyone else thinks that this was pretty poor planning?



Impact DWI's meeting Wednesday night drew citizens and elected officials together to pool ideas for solutions to the DWI crisis. One of many concrete suggestions emerged when Rep. Brian Egolf asked that citizen activists attend the Roundhouse during the legislative session to support DWI bills when they are heard in committee.

Too often, by the time these bills are under discussion in the wee hours, only the liquor lobbyists are left in the room — with no one to speak up in support of the DWI bill. Much of the audience responded enthusiastically that they were interested in such activity.

The Santa Fe Community Foundation was proud to be a supporter of this gathering to honor all DWI victims, and we know that, as a community, the suggestions compiled at the meeting must result in meaningful action with the continued attention and support of our leaders and lawmakers.