New County Seal Is the Picture of Controversy

Re “New Seal, Sans Cross, Offers Other Changes,” Sept. 9: The proposed new Los Angeles County seal has been unveiled. The cross is gone because it connoted a link between church and state. In its place, a depiction of the San Gabriel Mission, a church, the house of God, a bastion of Christianity. This certainly won’t fly with the PC crowd.

Also gone are the oil wells, probably seen as a declining industry in the county. I have a suggestion. Replace the San Gabriel Mission with the Twin Towers jail, a symbol of one of the fastest-growing industries in Los Angeles County.

Jack Bailey

Studio City

*

I am incensed over L.A. County’s proposed new seal. The change of the central image from a powerful goddess to a woman carrying a basket is an obvious endorsement of the historical oppression and servitude of women. The cow is a not-too-subtle concession to the county’s Hindu population. It is also my contention that the seven concentric circles represent not the Hollywood Bowl but the seven levels of heaven (or hell -- take your choice). This is borne out by placement of celestial stars (or the fires of Hades -- take your choice) next to them. An obviously religious symbol! As to the fish, well, you need only scan a few bumper stickers while stuck in traffic to know the meaning of this symbol. Further, the triangle and calipers are Masonic symbols.

I therefore propose that L.A. County change its seal to a plain white disc. No, wait -- if it’s a white disc wouldn’t that be considered racist?

Dave James

Crestline

*

Apparently the motto of the ACLU and the county is “God forbid we show any sign of religion.”

Roy Midyett

Covina