Page One

Reader likes her Berkeley funky 

Too bad the freeway had to be built over land that would otherwise have been very pleasant for recreation and for habitat preservation. As it is, being within range of the overbearing noise and pounding of traffic on the road, imposes a heavy toll on people who do tolerate being in the area voluntarily. It bothers me that among us are people who accept brushing away their initial discomfort because we’re told we’re supposed to. I want people to acknowledge and respond to impositions to our senses. We should want to be in pleasant surroundings. We give up too much in the name of getting along. 

The noise and other brutalizing sensations at the freeway, in the parks and at the beaches, should be intolerable for us. Making nice structures or parks near there should not be considered. A way for us to get over the freeway easily is, of course, essential. But all this other stuff about first impressions of Berkeley, a nice place to sit, a park, is part of the ruse our social environment perpetrates and we, too often accept. It’s bad in range of the freeway, period. 

And, of course, I like Berkeley funky! I don’t want us to participate in mall-ification designs. Plane old broken down is just lovely – not really broken. Good impressions are more than skin deep. Berkeley’s tone of commitment to the best possible, and to improving, lives for us here and for the rest of the world is our excellent impression to be made on the world. 

Norma J.F. Harrison 

Berkeley 

AIDS as attack against Africa 

How come AIDS is killing off the African people? There was sex before AIDS yet no devastation; simple logic leaves a hole in the whole fabric, namely, where did it come from and why Africa? 

The Red Army newspaper (during the cold war) said AIDS was started by the CIA “to wipe out the black race.” Right on cue, Berkeley City Councilmember Maudelle Shirek wages a campaign in the press and at council meetings, saying the same thing. 

Now she (and Moscow) remain silent. Meanwhile back in Africa. . . 

George Kauffman 

Berkeley 

Newspaper fills a void in town 

Wow! Did we ever get response to our ad asking for Sunday morning child care at University Christian! The Daily Planet ad succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. In fact, we hope those who responded will forgive the fact that we could not answer each inquiry, such was the flood of calls. Berkeley has needed a paper like the Daily Planet for a long time. 

Margaret Grosse 

Berkeley