Letters to the editor July 18

Commies inspired torture technique

| The New Mexican

7/17/2008 - 7/18/08

Military interrogation trainers at Guantánamo Bay taught an interrogation methodology which the so-called SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) program was set up to counter. What they didn't say is that it was based upon a 1957 Air Force study of Chinese techniques used during the Korean War, and that these are techniques that were long described by the United States as torture.

In a remarkable case of historical amnesia, officials who drew on the SERE program appear to have been unaware that it had been created as a result of concern over false confessions by American prisoners. These techniques now not only help despoil America's progressive reputation while aiding our enemies' recruitment efforts, but they were designed specifically to obtain false confessions.

If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, it just had to be the neo-cons who copied commie China, a country whose traditions remain deeply inimical toward democracy.

Barry Hatfield
Santa Fe

Expand choices
It is interesting that the leaders of the majority of G-8 nations who met in Japan have approval ratings in the 30-percent range.

How is it that the leaders of supposedly strong democracies have so little support from their citizens? Could it be that they don't represent the people except on a superficial level? Is it that they represent the interests of mega-corporations and the monied elite first? If this is true, as seems apparent, are there third-party candidates or independents who would favor people over corporations?

There are, but the campaign and election rules are crafted by the major parties and are naturally biased against minor parties, particularly at the federal level. The duopoly warns voters not to "waste" their votes on a candidate who does not take corporate money and would be hard on corporations. Without viable third parties, we can only vote for the least worst.

Russell Tyldesley
Santa Fe

Grand learning op
Marc Simmons' July 12 column, "Coronado Celebration proved a grand affair," was a strong reminder to us who participated in it. As high school students at St. Michael's College — now St. Michael's High School — that "grand affair" taught us an important aspect of New Mexico history. The Christian Brothers turned the Coronado Celebration theme into a practical and interesting learning experience.

For example, during the 1939-1940 academic year, the brothers included the theme of that historical celebration in an elocution contest. Consequently, to intelligently participate in that contest, we had to research the Coronado historical topic in the school and the New Mexico museum libraries. Thus, we learned to research historical topics and details of an important chapter of New Mexico history.

After the contestant eliminations in that elocution contest, the late Lawrence Valdes, St. Michael's Class of 1940, was declared winner. The Coronado celebration not only proved to be a grand affair, it also became a challenging learning opportunity for us teenage students to learn about the founding of New Mexico.

A. Samuel Adelo
St. Michael's Class of 1940

Hold your fire
Regarding the July 11 letter, "Fine fireworks": Brad Kraus is absolutely right about the lack of enforcement on illegal fireworks. The Sheriff's Department told us they have to see the person light the fireworks to enforce the law. Then how is it that murders or robberies can be prosecuted if the police weren't there to witness?

Every July, southwest Santa Fe is a war zone the week of July 4th, and law-abiding citizens must endure the attack while idiots, who have no idea what the holiday is about, blast away and terrorize the neighbors who apparently have lost their rights. Come on, sheriff, get tough, and don't pass the buck to neighborhood associations to do your job.

Bert Dalton
Tierra Real
Homeowners Association
 
Multi-tasking teachers
I read with interest the letter sent by W. Stanley Hall remarking that his eighth grade teacher was also the principal of the school he attended as a youth. Likewise, my eighth grade teacher was the principal (at Sonoma Grammar School, Sonoma, Calif.), but he was also my grandfather!

René J. Prestwood
Los Alamos

Short cuts
Congress just hit an approval rating of 9 percent. One hell of a job, Nancy and Harry!

Jim McCaughey
Santa Fe


Republican presidential campaign advisers like Phil Gramm are the best thing that ever happened to the Obama campaign. But then, I may just be a "whiner."

Russ Shinn
San Juan Pueblo


What's the difference between Obama and Osama? Just "B.S." "A rose by any other name ..." (Shakespeare).

José Vigil
Santa Fe