Fired Bus Driver Got a Bum Steer

Thank you to The Times for reporting in such depth the case of the vegan bus driver, dismissed for his beliefs. It is to be hoped you will continue your coverage with an investigation into who leaned on the Orange County Transportation Authority. It’s not so many years ago that fired bus driver Bruce Anderson would have been dismissed for “insubordination” had he refused to implement a policy of making persons of color stand in the back of his bus. This situation is no different. Anderson is standing up against speciesism now as he undoubtedly would have stood up against racism then. He is to be highly commended as a man of courage, not dismissed under the guise of some pathetic excuse of insubordination.

CHRISTINE WATT

Irvine

* I almost couldn’t believe it when I read the story about Bruce Anderson and his decision to challenge the hierarchy of the OCTA. The OCTA is a public entity and subject to political pressure, yet they actually exercised executive privilege and management’s obligation to control the ranks of their employees.

Anderson failed in his responsibility to meet the expectations of his employer and he was subsequently held to the ultimate level of accountability. Those members of the community who came to his defense attempted, albeit poorly, to ameliorate Anderson’s conduct and willful failure to follow a lawful supervisory directive.

Anderson’s conduct, based upon his personal beliefs, is as morally impractical as a firefighter who is personally opposed to abortion and refuses to battle a blaze in a Planned Parenthood clinic, or someone whose beliefs compel them to have facial hair and yet tries to argue the point when he is hired by Disneyland. In any case, Anderson’s direct refusal to follow the directive of the OCTA was contrary to the good order and operation of the organization and could not be tolerated.

KEVIN M. O’BRIEN

Laguna Hills

* I’d like to support the OCTA bus driver who refused to dispense Carl’s Jr. fast-food coupons. What’s next--catalogs, beauty products, etc. Why doesn’t OCTA issue, upon request, a receipt for fare which might then be used for promotional or advertising purposes. The veteran Long Beach Transit bus driver whom I chatted with was aghast at the idea of turning pitchman.

SCOTT HOGARTH

Seal Beach

* We read with great interest about OCTA’s firing of Anderson for his refusal to distribute hamburger coupons. As members of a 5,000-year-old spiritual tradition, we applaud the efforts of anyone who seeks to limit animal slaughter and strongly support the principle of vegetarianism, which was the basis of Anderson’s action.

The Krishna consciousness movement represents many people of both Western and Eastern descent in this region for whom vegetarianism is an important spiritual principle. The Vedic scriptures of India, the world’s oldest religious teachings, prohibit meat eating on the grounds that animal slaughter violates the universal law of karma. These scriptures teach that all living beings have a right to life and that the law of karma exacts harsh penalties for those who violate such rights. Millions of people around the world follow religious traditions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, which advocate the spiritual importance of vegetarianism. Ethical considerations have attracted many of the world’s leaders to adopt a vegetarian diet.

In a time when spiritual values are sorely needed, we think it unfortunate that Anderson has been punished for standing up for his beliefs. We urge the OCTA to give him every possible consideration and to abolish its policy of free hamburger coupons.

REBECCA CORNIA

International Society

for Krishna Consciousness

San Diego

* I am not a vegetarian but I fully support Anderson’s decision not to hand out free hamburger coupons to his bus passengers. He is correct; his first priority should always be to the safety and transport of his passengers.

In light of his ethical beliefs as a vegetarian it does seem a violation of his 1st Amendment rights that OCTA would suspend this man for insubordination. What I find absurd and disturbing are the statements by OCTA and Carl’s Jr. spokespersons.

The OCTA spokesman stated that handing out the Carl’s Jr. “free hamburger” coupons is just like handing out transfers or calling out stops and that drivers have to be held accountable for their decisions.

The Carl’s Jr. spokeswoman stated that while the suspension was unfortunate she understood many other drivers are very excited and supportive of handing out the coupons.

Do these spokespersons actually believe what they’re saying? Both statements are at best naive, misinformed and stupid. At worst they are absurd and dishonor many people who follow and believe in a strict vegetarian lifestyle.

While Anderson is being held accountable for his actions, what of OCTA’s lack of leadership and Carl’s Jr. insensitivity?

DENNIS ANTENUCCI

Huntington Beach