Egyptian women joining the protest movement; the case of the Irvine 11; bus-only lanes on Wilshire Boulevard

Egypt’s women

Re “Protests raise hope for women’s rights,” Feb. 3

It’s wonderful to see women, who have been treated as second-class citizens in Egypt, surprisingly being treated with respect during the protests.

The story of a group of men repeating the chants of a woman yelling into a megaphone, without objection or criticism, is amazing. It shows that women too have strong opinions and need to voice them.

This could be a very small step toward something big. Considering the circumstances, women could be viewed as brave demonstrators who lead the way during these protests.

Kimberly Ramirez

Van Nuys

Your article states that the status of Egyptian women is “considered enviable” in the Muslim world. Perhaps.

However, according to government reports, about 95% of Egyptian women are victims of genital mutilation. Although they are allowed to drive cars and veils are not required, they live with the physically painful reminder that they are still subservient to men.

Until that practice is ended, true gender equality will continue to be an elusive goal.

Sandy Smith

West Los Angeles

Re “Beware Islamists in the wings,” Opinion, Feb. 5

Tim Rutten’s reflections on the problems with a potential fundamentalist government taking over Egypt are commendable, but I don’t know why these concerns are considered important now.

As Rutten notes, the United States has been quite happy with Islamists in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. As long as they keep buying our military hardware, allow the operation of our military bases and keep the oil flowing and the sea lanes clear, Americans couldn’t care less about burkas and women’s rights.

It’s high time the American people learn the meaning of realpolitik and the hypocrisy it engenders.

William Straub

Pasadena

Re “Israel recoils at Arab change,” Feb. 5

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Americans against “romantic ideals” that prevent us from identifying “things as they are, not as we’d like them to be” as we contemplate the Egyptian revolution.

Judged by the same standard, Israel’s “stable democracy” is neither stable nor democratic without Israeli citizenship and voting rights for Palestinians residing in occupied territory.

Anthony Edwards

Del Mar

Free speech and the law

Re “Overkill in Orange County,” Editorial, Feb. 8, and “D.A. moves ahead in UCI case,” Feb. 5

The attempt by Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas to equate the disruption of a speech by the Israeli ambassador at UC Irvine by Muslim students with “anarchy” is laughable, if not sad.

Having studied at UC Berkeley during the hyperactive years of the Vietnam War era, I wonder how many careers would have been derailed or destroyed then if we had had a Rackauckas-style demagogue arousing the passions and prejudices of the people.

The proclamation that prosecuting the students is important for the future of “our democratic society” is disgraceful.

Pervaiz Anwar

Irvine

Jacqueline Goodman, attorney for the Irvine 11, states, “The last thing we want to do is inhibit the free exchange of ideas, and that’s the only thing that prosecuting these students can achieve.”

Goodman has it backward. The district attorney did not inhibit the free exchange of ideas; her clients did with their actions during the “free exchange of ideas” by the Israeli ambassador.

Michael McCaffery

Los Angeles

Those who see hypocrisy in the Irvine 11’s appeal to the 1st Amendment appear not to understand that the 1st Amendment protects speech from infringement by the government, not by private citizens.

Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren does not have a constitutional right not to be shouted down by private citizens who disagree with him. However, the Irvine 11 generally do have a right to shout at the ambassador without the government telling them to be quiet.

Brian Fodera

Sherman Oaks

Elections count

Re “Out of the way, GOP,” Opinion, Feb. 4

Harold Meyerson seems to advocate for elected representatives ignoring the majority of voters who put them in office. How democratic of him.

His call for the Republicans in Sacramento to ignore their constituents and the state Constitution — which requires the governor and the Legislature, not voters, to balance the budget — typifies the far left’s view of governing: ignore the rule of law as long as such ignorance is in favor of those who share their views and ideology.

Mr. Meyerson, we live in a representative democracy; deal with it.

Dennis C. Smith

Long Beach

Westside traffic

Re “A bus-only brouhaha,” Editorial, Feb. 4

Opposition to bus lanes is about geography. We’ve had trial bus lanes west of I-405. The impact of removing two lanes of traffic from this gridlocked area was so severe that the trials were halted early.

The area is wedged between the 405 and I-10 freeways, mountains and the Veterans Affairs campus. Those traveling from east or north from West L.A., Santa Monica, Brentwood or Pacific Palisades must shoehorn themselves onto gridlocked freeways or one of only a few streets that reach the 405.

A subway from the VA to downtown in 20 to 25 minutes may persuade people to switch, but is the improvement in bus travel time enough incentive?

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority must quantify both savings to bus riders and time lost by people who must drive so that everyone can make informed decisions.

Lauren Cole

Brentwood

The writer chairs the Brentwood Community Council Transportation Committee.

Police drama

Re “Will gang units’ turmoil lead to benefits later?,” Column, Feb. 5

Kudos to Sandy Banks for her column on financial disclosure for the Los Angeles Police Department’s gang officers.

I recall a similar scenario in the Sidney Lumet police drama “Prince of the City.” A Manhattan detective agrees to help weed out corruption in the New York Police Department. In doing so, he becomes a pariah to his fellow officers.

The fact is there are cops who are highly susceptible to bribes. Thank God for those honest men and women who hold the line against malfeasance and are part of the solution rather than the problem.

Rodd A. Amos

Baldwin Hills

Story line

Re “LAUSD halts reality show filming,” Business, Feb. 4

As a high school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 49 years, I was amused at the proposition that a reality show on cooking could cause concern over how the district would be portrayed.

The only reality show likely to cause concern and consternation would be one about L.A. Unified’s administration and the Board of Education.

Rex D. Walker

Los Angeles

Weight problem

Re “Ralphs faces penalties in overcharging case,” Feb. 4

I find it nauseating that several Ralphs stores have been ripping off customers by inaccurate weights. And to make matters worse, the company has been fined for this same practice in the past.

The solution is simple: Customers should take their business elsewhere. They’ve certainly lost me as a customer.

Barry Fisher

Chatsworth