Mailbag

First, let me say that I am a Dutch/Norwegian-American. This means that my heritage is different than those that are elected to the City Council. In my culture it is just fine to sun bathe nude, to participate in the use of drugs that this country calls illegal and to have a little fun with one of the "girls" who work out of their cribs. Some in this city would call these activities unlawful and have negative words to use such as indecent exposure, drug addicts and prostitution. In my country these activities are not unlawful and are sanctioned.

Just as Aram Barsoumian ("Angry at council's decision on grilling," Oct. 30) wants his culture not to have to adhere to a bunch of silly laws, I am sure there are many others out there with their culture and heritage that find the laws of the United States burdensome.

Margaret Hammond spoke out for Glendale businesses and residences to adhere to local laws of our community. Barsoumian wants Hammond's 1st Amendment rights terminated. Hopefully Barsoumian will learn that there are many cultures in the United States that have become one in this country. We call ourselves Americans. Dissent is the very backbone of our 1st Amendment right as an American.

The maligning of Hammond for her views by Barsoumian, and taking the further step to include every organization that she is a member of, and probably every one who has even spoken to her on the street, is a display of shocking intolerance.

CAROLE WELING

Glendale

Don't believe what drug companies say

Bravo to Dan Kimber on his column about autism ("Mercury may play autism role," Education Matters, Oct. 20). I have been meaning to write along the same lines.

And Ray Shelton, I am neither a scientist nor a doctor, nor a mind-numbed robot ("Columnist needs to look closely at science," Mailbag Nov. 2). I do much research, and if you would, too, you would find the other side of our so-called established (brain-washed) medicine.

Just give me some more chemicals for a so-called quick fix. Forget about the side effects it causes, and every chemical does cause them, making a spiral downward to more and more chemicals. So who gets rich, very rich?