MAILBAG:

I read Ila Johnson’s tirade on Jimmy Carter (“Carter really was that bad, look at history,” April 25). He has not gone to talk to Hamas as a mediator or negotiator. He has gone to talk to them to try to make peace. Any person has a right to try to do that. Yes, there is apartheid in that region. Bishop Tutu, whom I respect, said it is worse there than it had been in South Africa.

We read on the front page of the papers of the terrorist attack killing eight students which is indeed sad. The same week 126 Palestinians were killed by Israelis in Gaza — we read that on the inside pages.

Three and four times as many Palestinians are killed than Israelis. The Israeli historian Ilan Pappé says no peace will ever be possible with or without Hamas until Israel acknowledges its original sin: the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

More than 500 villages were totally demolished and more than 700,000 forced from their homes. My husband and I have seen many times how Palestinians are treated so disrespectfully as they try to exit the gates at the obscene wall. We all pray for peace for both the Israelis and Palestinians — but with justice for both sides.

GWEN JOHNSON

Newport Beach

Committee doing right in evaluations

As president of the volunteer board of directors for Youth Employment Service of the Harbor Area Inc (YES), I was very interested to read the April 29 article, “City changes funding process.”

Having attended the 3-R subcommittee interview of our organization the past two years, I must say I have been very impressed with the pointed questions asked by the committee and the degree of seriousness with which they take their volunteer role in vetting the organizations that apply for funding.

I do wish to comment on a point made in the article as well.

[Trevor] Murphy said, “The new criterion has helped those who have an easy way of objectively showing the value of their programs…”

In truth, it is always a challenge to evaluate the success of social service programs.

It requires careful thought and planning, along with time and resources devoted to the effort.

But it is a critical part (or should be) of any organization’s services.

Measurably evaluating one’s efforts is how organizations are held accountable and how they know they are filling a community need, doing what they say they are doing and improving the quality of their services.

As president of YES, I am proud our staff takes measurable objectives and evaluation seriously, and as a taxpayer I am glad the city of Costa Mesa’s 3-R committee does as well.

MICHAEL MCNAMARA

Newport Beach

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