Learning English; Israel’s raid on an aid flotilla; Meghan Daum on CNN’s Campbell Brown

Lessons of learning

Re “State English instruction flaws cited,” May 28

I have been a teacher of English-language learners for 26 years. I get angry and frustrated at being blamed for our students’ failures. In this article, The Times balanced the many factors that go into a student’s failure or achievement.

Rosa Briseno’s lack of interest in academics and Nathanael Cueva’s desire to achieve — and his biliteracy — show the spectrum of what educators have to deal with.

At my elementary school, our focus is English-

language instruction. Our program is strong and getting stronger thanks to monitoring and parental outreach. But if student motivation and/or parental support is lacking, we can only do so much. Educators are not and never will be miracle workers.

Maria Reynoso

West Hollywood

The article on English instruction begins by citing the failure of existing English instruction programs and places the responsibility squarely on the education system. Yet later it outlines the reasons for the failure: linguistically isolated communities, students’ personal situations, transient lifestyles, lack of motivation and interest, and so on.

At the end of the report we are suddenly back to stating solutions to the problem. Only one addresses the need to involve the family.

The system will continue to have meetings, conduct studies and come up with strategies, but they will also fail, as the basic problem is not with instruction but a result of overcrowding, cultural isolation, unrealistic expectations and negative societal influences.

Marty Wilson

Whittier

A deadly raid by Israel

Re “Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla,” June 1

I’d like to conduct an experiment. I’d like to bring some contraband from Mexico into the United States — let’s say, perhaps, a couple of ounces of marijuana. Let’s further suppose that marijuana is actually intended as humanitarian assistance for my roommate, who suffers from glaucoma.

At the border, I am stopped. The police demand to see the contents of my trunk. Of course, as I am on a humanitarian mission, I feel no obligation to comply.

My response? I begin beating the border agent with a bat. A couple of my friends join in. One of them takes the agent’s gun away and shoots him with it.

We are all arrested and taken to prison in an obvious attempt to sabotage our humanitarian mission. Though we have no access to TV, we’re certain our images are being shown all over the world and that the U.N. Security Council is meeting to condemn this disproportionate action.

At that very moment, with great despair I realize my mistake, one that will leave me to rot in prison for a very long time. You see, I’ve violated the borders of the United States: Nobody would consider questioning that nation’s right to defend itself.

There is, indeed, only one country on Earth judged harshly for acting in its own self-defense: Israel.

E. Scott Menter

Irvine

Wow, those were some “peace activists” on the Gaza flotilla.

If this was all about “humanitarianism,” how come they were carrying clubs, knives and pistols?

Scott Abramson

San Mateo

Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, said last week that the Free Gaza flotilla, which was delivering humanitarian aid, was engaged in “violent propaganda” against Israel and would be met with all available force. Apparently he was not merely posturing. To consider the provision of humanitarian aid as a kind of violence — is this not a kind of insanity?

As an American Jew and a son of Holocaust refugees, I am deeply distressed by the depths to which the state of Israel has sunk. In light of this incident, the Obama administration should immediately suspend all military aid to Israel and join the rest of the international community in issuing a clear condemnation of Israel’s action.

Mark J. Kaswan

Sherman Oaks

The Obama administration’s “cautious” response to Israel’s killing of nonviolent activists on the high seas is not only disappointing; it is positively hypocritical.

In his speech to the Muslim world in Cairo a year ago, President Obama called on the Palestinians to pursue a nonviolent path. But over the last year, Israel has reacted with increasing violence, often with lethal force, and has imprisoned and tortured nonviolent activists.

And even now that at least nine international nonviolent activists have been killed, Obama has hesitated to condemn Israel’s actions forthrightly.

Can there be any greater hypocrisy than to encourage the oppressed to pursue nonviolent means and then ignore them when their oppressor reacts with violence?

David Lloyd

Los Angeles

Helping out on healthcare

Re “Stymied by rates,” May 27

California’s economic recovery depends on giving our small businesses relief from skyrocketing healthcare costs.

One thing that would help is requiring insurers to get their rates reviewed before they go into effect, so that regulators can stop unreasonable rate hikes. Many states already have such policies, such as Oregon, which this year reduced a 25% increase proposed by its Blue Cross plan by almost half.

AB 2578 would create this kind of rate oversight. Unfortunately, the California Chamber of Commerce is weighing in against small businesses, opposing the bill as a “job killer.”

The potential risk to insurance company profits is nothing compared to the damage unreasonable premium increases are doing to small businesses and our economy. The Assembly should stand up to the lobbyists and pass this important reform.

Michael Russo

Los Angeles

The writer is a healthcare advocate with the California Public Interest Research Group.

Honesty has its limitations

Re “Kudos for a failure,” Opinion, May 27

Apparently, what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander. Or should I say “candor”?

While Meghan Daum can heap praise on Campbell Brown for the anchor’s honest assessment of her CNN show — Brown issued a statement that she was stepping down because “the simple fact is that not enough people watch my program” — I point to the recent examples of Arlen Specter and Rand Paul. They told the truth about their respective beliefs (one switched his party to save his job and the other exemplified the ideal of true libertarianism) and have paid dearly for it.

In politics, telling the truth and getting elected seem to be mutually exclusive.

Todd Koerner

Hermosa Beach

The networks never think of the time on the West Coast. Brown is who we watched at 5 p.m. in place of the local news, which is nothing but murders, fires and car wrecks.

Brown told it as it is with no bias, as close to the middle as a human can be. The right and the left may be the choice of most, but we have a politically mixed marriage, and we will miss her very much.

Caryl Wadsworth

La Mirada

Pot union

Re “Medical pot workers join union,” May 28

Because medical marijuana requires a doctor’s prescription, why are we setting up whole new bureaucracies to regulate these dispensaries? Can there possibly be that many people who require this treatment as to justify the proliferation of these storefronts?

From “a chicken in every pot” to “a pot dispenser on every corner.” Simply have the prescriptions filled by your local pharmacy.

Bob Therrien

Mission Beach