LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Return to ‘Steadfast’

However well intended, “Steadfast” is not appropriate for the beautiful town of Pacific Palisades. Who is it that needs a symbol beside Old Glory to call us to patriotism? Who wants this shapeless dark thing to draw our eyes from the Red, White and Blue? And who thinks anyone needs this lesson? So little faith!

What then is this statue really a symbol of? I know one thing: Those who support “Steadfast” have called the citizens that don’t narcissistic and unpatriotic. So, I think it’s a symbol of what it reveals and inspires: authoritarianism and division. Who is it that wants this for our town?

Palisadians already have the best symbol of patriotism we could hope for: the American flag. We are patriotic citizens, but we are also families, friends and neighbors, diverse and wonderful.

There are many things beyond patriotism for which our city could and should be known. Peace, wisdom, compassion and grace are a few.

Maybe a symbol is too limiting for a town like this. Maybe the Palisades is its own symbol, changing and growing. Maybe a beautiful symbol that captures all that we are and hope to be will appear someday, but “Steadfast” is a calcified idea that was outdated and inappropriate as soon as he appeared.

Elizabeth Foley Morgan

Election Reformation

Most Americans weren’t pleased with the Presidential Election results of 2016. Our election system did quite a foxtrot.

Then there’s the November 2018 elections. Each side of the aisle raised Cain over how votes were tallied in this state and that state.

Guess we shouldn’t expect much when donkeys and elephants run the show. Undeniably, no group has a bigger conflict of interest. It’s a sure recipe for shady schemes.

Seems time we replaced that mish-mash of an election process. We should start with the oldest parts, the Electoral College. It’s quite the parasite—devised to pilfer votes from the majority and give them to slaveowners. That’s right, slaveowners. Look it up. Wikipedia don’t lie.

That vote swindler reared its shameless head in 2016, second time in the last five Presidential Elections.

Now there’s no doubt our Founding Fathers did a fine job with the Constitution. But with all due respect, they blew it when they added that trickery. Clearly it needs to go.

Next we have Public Enemy No. 1: Electronic Voting Machines. The company who made ATM machines built them. Only difference is with ATMs, you get a receipt if you want. Not with voting machines. That omission, along with the fact those machines are easier to hack than taking a straightedge to a dandelion, affords quite the opportunity for trickery.

Don’t take my word. Look at what Google, CBS and PBS say about it. Check out Bev Harris, she’s an expert on the subject.

Lastly, every state has their own voting process. Fifty sets of rules for one nation. And when it comes to politicians who make up the rules, that amounts to a pile of self-serving ploys.

So what do we do? We create a non-partisan Federal Election Agency—an independent entity that handles all aspects of our national elections. (Not to be confused with the Federal Election Commission. They oversee campaign contributions. That’s a problem for another day.)

This Federal Election Agency should assure that the same voting procedures are in place everywhere in our nation. That includes providing every precinct with identical high-security voting machines. Each machine will provide a receipt reflecting our vote—if we want one—and a receipt that drops inside the secured machine.

That way the incorruptible people at the Federal Election Agency can choose to count the paper votes in any precinct, county or state.

Such measures just might assure that your vote, my vote and even that crazy-haired neighbor’s vote counts (whether we want it to or not). What’s more patriotic than “We the People” honestly deciding who represents us?

After all, there is no democracy if a small, powerful group decides who rules us. Plain and simple, democracy requires a voting process that allows each and every American to have an equal say on who rules. And ultimately, democracy is in the honest count of the votes.

Roland Koncan, Esq.
Castellammare

‘Twelfth Night’

Thank you for at the in-depth and positive review of our current show, “Twelfth Night,” at Theatre Palisades.

There is one correction however that I wanted to mention: The reporter wrote that the set designer was Joanne Reich. Although Joanne is our scenic artist and designed our poster, she did not design the set; my Co-Producer Sherman Wayne did.

He designs, as well as builds, all of our sets. He designs the lighting as well, which the reporter did mention.

In fact, Sherman designed and built this particular set with very little help. He is a Palisadian, retired high school drama teacher and has been head of production at our theatre for over 15 years. At 83 years old, he is quite remarkable.

Actually, the Post did an article about Sherman about 10 years ago. I think that he deserves recognition for his amazing work.

Thank you so much and I hope that everyone will be able to come and see the show.

Martha Hunter
Co-Producer of “Twelfth Night”