There’s more to culture than beer I...

There’s more to culture than beer

I read the Independent’s article on Oktoberfest at Old World

Village and think it missed the mark on what this celebration is

about (“Taste of Bavaria,” Sept. 23). It quoted someone in the

opening paragraph along the lines of: “It’s all about getting drunk.”

I like to think of this event as more of a celebration of German

culture. It’s really about having fun, being with friends, listening

to music and tasting some of Germany’s great exports. Sure, a lot of

people drink beer, but I don’t think their main objective is to get

drunk. I think the paper could have gotten a more accurate

perspective by interviewing more regulars and more people in general,

not just a couple of partyers. Isn’t that what good journalism is

about?

COLLEEN COLLINS

Huntington Beach

Congressman losing his conservatism

Your question on the front page of a recent issue of the

Huntington Beach Independent really caught my eye. I have always

considered Rep. Dana Rohrabacher to be essentially a conservative

Republican. I have voted for him several times.

Has he suddenly become chairman of the ACLU? Has he suddenly

joined the Libertarian Party? George Washington and Alexander

Hamilton (who was born out of the country himself and could not be

president) will roll over in their graves if this amendment to allow

foreign-born citizens to run for president ever makes it to the

Constitution. Get my drift? I say no to this proposal. Rohrabacher,

if he continues to support it, will lose my vote until I join

Washington and Hamilton. At least make sure the candidates have a

driver’s license.

HOWARD DAVIS

Huntington Beach

Has a strong body clouded the issue?

I wonder what the heck is wrong with Dana Rohrabacher. Does he

need publicity that bad that he wants to change the Constitution

because he’s the fan of an ex-bodybuilder? Come on, Rohrabacher, get

on to something important. Leave the Constitution to the people who

knew what they were doing.

LARRY MOORE

Huntington Beach

Rohrabacher should get priorities straight

With his proposal to allow foreign-born citizens to run for

president, Dana Rohrabacher, the lapdog of the Republican leadership

in Congress, now wants to curl up with the governor of California. He

is so transparent that I am ashamed this man represents us in

Congress. He should devote his energies to solving problems like

healthcare, the economy and education, not trying to get Brownie

points from “Arnie.”

PETER CLARK

Huntington Beach

Change would open

a Pandora’s Box

My answer is absolutely not, although I understand that Dana

Rohrabacher is proposing this so perhaps Arnold Schwarzenegger can

become president. I voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s not a

personal thing. He may be an excellent president, but proposing a

constitutional amendment for a thing like this, for one individual,

is opening a Pandora’s Box. Who knows how many terrorists, in this

country, have lived here already for 20 years or more and therefore

would be eligible for president and perhaps be able to garner enough

votes to do this. Rohrabacher needs to think a little less about

surfing and a little more about the overall country. He has not been

voting for the interests for all the citizens of the United States

for the last umpteen years. He’s been in power, and I think this

isn’t a very well-thought-out idea.

RUTH SADLER

Huntington Beach

Sports complex solution not complex

RE: What should the city do about the sports complex?

I say, tear it down and put in a Costco. Get your money back in

the first year of operations. The residents want Costco so bad and

are just waiting for that opportunity. Wake up and smell the coffee.

That’s where your tax-revenue dollars come from.

MARILYN GRONGRUTH

Huntington Beach