Letters June 16, 2006

Send your letters to the editor to letters@atencionsanmiguel.org Atención will not publish offensive or defamatory material.

Editor,
On the Thursday after Easter at our Friends of Unity meeting we heard of the fire that happened the previous Friday in the area where people are dedicated to permaculture agriculture. Some people at the meeting donated some funds to help those affected. Later in April, we wrote a letter asking help for some people who lost necessary living items and plants, etc., in the fire. 

We were especially interested in helping Windsong replace her tent and its contents, because of her great kindness to Sue Paris when she took a bad fall over a year ago. We also knew a few people who lived in the area. 
The names we printed of people who were, or might have been, affected by the fire and of two people who came to help fight the fire were given to us. 
We had no knowledge there was an organized Permaculture Community with an elected leader. We used the term "Permaculture Community" because most of the people we mentioned were a community of people doing permaculture.
We regret offending any person of the official Permaculture Community.

We suggested people give donations, or offers to help with items, in Sue Paris's La Conexión box. Not a lot of money was donated, and it went to Windsong, primarily because it did not seem to be wanted by others. A few notes offering to give items or physical help also came into Sue's box. To our knowledge, these were followed through, and the people have received some help. We thank any and all who responded!
We thought we had agreement from the people who we listed as signing the letter. If this is not so, we apologize.
Again, we are sorry if our letter, which was written with great good will, was disturbing to or an offense to anyone.
Rev. Nancy Anderson and Sue Paris

Editor,
Thank you for printing the health law in the [June 9] Atención on page 6, as it helps us to know the real law about pets in restaurants in San Miguel de Allende and throughout Mexico. I find it interesting, however, that only this town seems to be enforcing the law. I take my Chihuahuas in restaurants in Guadalajara, Ajijic, León, San Blas, Mazatlán, Pátzcuaro, Zihuatanejo and Mexico City. I understand the part of not being allowed inside restaurants that are closed public buildings. But if the restaurant has a patio or outside seating, I do not see the problem. Especially if they are lap dogs in a bag. This is basically the law in the US. I have eaten my way across the US many times traveling with my dogs. But only in outdoor areas. I wonder if we could ask Doctor Juan José Molina if there is a gray area in the law he quoted by saying "public buildings that trade in food." That would allow us to continue to take our dogs to restaurants that have outside areas.
Rebecca Fass

Editor, 
It was heartening indeed to read the public response to the malicious, mean-spirited article by "Rex Rover" in last week's letters column. As any regular reader knows, Atención has an unfortunate predilection for printing nasty gringo vs. gringo attacks. I know, because I was the object of one such attack last fall, in a letter filled with falsehoods and exaggerations. It seems to be enough for you that these letter writers parade under the banner of wanting to improve life in San Miguel, while in reality their petty, selfish motives are patently obvious to any reader. As San Miguel grows and becomes less provincial and parochial, you need to do likewise. 
Tom King

Editor's response:
In the past two issues, Atención has published unique articles on local celebrations, the new administration offices, local opinion on US border issues, security advice for homeowners, illegal migrants from Central America and an exceptional article about an exemplary woman who is dying of cancer. Although the local radio station chooses to read some of these articles to its Spanish-speaking audience, Atención has not received any letters about these issues from our readers. Now, who is parochial?