L.A.’s troubled Probation Department; California’s out-of-control initiative system; remembering when Catholics were feared in the U.S.

Helping troubled kids help themselves

Re “On Probation: In an earlier era, kids in the camps were treated like human beings by adults who cared about them and wanted to help them change,” and “Today, federal intervention is necessary to fix intractable problems at Los Angeles County’s Department of Probation,” Oct. 10

It is shocking to read about the new lows in California’s juvenile justice system.

Fortunately, as author Sal Martinez modestly reminded us, there is something we all can do to help make an important difference in the lives of young people.

Regardless of education, income or experience, we can take an interest in the kids in our communities and spend quality time developing mentoring relationships.

Indeed, according to the experts, spending one-on-one quality time with kids, as did Martinez’s case worker, is the biggest factor in whether they will “make it” as an adult.

Sarah A. Jones

Captain Cook, Hawaii

The problems described have the potential to start dialogues similar to those regarding public education. It can bring out intractable ideologues on all sides.

The hollow choice

between tough-on-crime/boot-camp proponents and those pleading for rehabilitation and understanding of delinquents is now refereed by lawyers and legislators who have separate agendas.

Evaluating public programs, policies and bureaucratic organizations cannot be productively accomplished in a sound bite.

The problems of L.A.’s Probation Department probably have complicated human and organizational dimensions. They are not going to be solved by changing superficial

“expert” beliefs that have guided the favored correctional programs of recent decades.

Arleigh Ronning

Tehachapi

The illustration with the article depicts a Big Bad Mean Prison Guard looming over a Poor Little Sad Criminal Convict.

All animals, even predators, look sad and pathetic when trapped or caught.

Once again The Times directs the reader’s sympathy to the criminal and not to the victims of crimes.

By the time humans are 13 years old, they should know the difference between right and wrong — especially when it comes to crimes of violence.

Stop coddling criminal convicts. It only creates an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance for the intolerable. Find and incarcerate the parents of juvenile offenders and let them do time together.

William I. Brenner

Beverly Hills

Making sense of the propositions

Re “Nine cures that will make it worse,” Opinion, Oct. 10

Joe Mathew’s excellent, albeit dense, analysis of the nine initiatives on November’s ballot leads me to conclude that most of us who think we know the basic pros and cons of each issue really have just a superficial understanding of the long-range impact of our decisions.

From Propositions 19 to 27, it took me several slow reads to understand the subtleties and far-ranging tentacles that my vote would help support.

It should not take a doctorate in political science to cast an intelligent vote, but when confronting the complexities and repercussions of this ballot, it certainly might help.

Stephen Pouliot

Venice

Having read the excellent article on the propositions, I find myself in a dilemma.

The author states: “When you vote yes on any of them, you’re voting not for change but for more of the same.”

So let’s see. If I vote yes on all of the propositions on the ballot, I’m voting for more of the same. However, if I vote no, I’m also voting for more of the same. Right?

Seems to me there’s a simple solution — maybe circulate a proposition to put an end to propositions.

David Strauss

Arcadia

Mathews’ piece made me think about the initiative system in California.

Many folks like it (including me, sometimes), but it has generally left us with a burdensome legacy of poor legislation.

A simple solution might be to keep it as it is with one exception — all initiative legislation or amendments should have a built-in sunset provision, which would automatically terminate the initiative after a prescribed time period unless reinforced by a Legislature-passed law, a non-initiative constitutional amendment or a new initiative (which would also be subject to the sunset provision).

This would allow voters to try something but would let poor initiative experiments disappear naturally, the so-so ones to be made better and the good ones to be kept through the Legislature or the ongoing will of the voters.

William Tenant

Thousand Oaks

Catholics then, Muslims now

Re “When Catholics were the enemy,” Opinion, Oct. 10

Sharon Davies’ comparison between the anti-Catholic fervor of the early 1900s and the current attitude of many toward Muslims in America has merit.

In the 1900s, many U.S. citizens feared that Catholics presented a foreign threat intent on destroying our nation. However, I am not aware of instances during that period in which Catholics were urged by the pope or their priests or bishops to carry out any actual physical harm to our nation.

We must avoid irrational fear of the normal Muslim citizen. Nevertheless, in addition to the destruction and death brought about by Muslim extremists on 9/11, there have been various plots to kill U.S. citizens.

This does not justify restrictions on Muslims, but it does illustrate the difference between the concerns about Islam today versus those about Catholics in the 1900s.

Jeremiah Flanigan

Long Beach

What Davies strangely ignores is that Catholics were not exploding bombs, nor were priests teaching that nonbelievers were to be put to death.

Brad Scabbard

Woodland Hills

This article is a reminder of the time when it was feared that Catholics were plotting to overthrow the United States. As a liberal Catholic, I feel that this fear was somewhat justified.

Though we do not know of any subversive or treasonable plots then or now, we may detect a willingness on the part of some Catholics, including some bishops, to impose Catholic moral perspectives on others.

Would we allow divorce in this country if the Catholic Church were to have its way? Would we have government-sponsored programs advocating condom use? Would we allow stem cell research? Would gay people be allowed to live openly together?

Many Catholics like the idea that state and church are separated, and do not wish their own beliefs to be imposed on others.

Catholics and Muslims would do well to increase their dialogue on how to live in a democracy.

Bob Doud

Glendale

Televised rescues

Re “Chile revels in its triumph,” Oct. 14

We watched breathlessly as the Chilean miners were each rescued from their underground tomb, while remembering the Kathy Fiscus tragedy of 1949. The only thing missing this time was having recently retiredKTLA reporter Stan Chambers there on-scene to bring us the good news.

Roy Reel

Culver City