FORUMS & LETTERS


Editor,

I’d like to heap deserving praise on local doctor, Roberto Maxwell. You see, back in November I was experiencing shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. I visited a local GP, had a blood test, chest X-ray and an EKG. The doctor proclaimed me fit. Still the symptoms continued. It just so happened I passed the office door of Dr. Maxwell and decided to go in and get a second opinion. I provided my records from the other doctor.

Maxwell said those test results proved inconclusive and I was demonstrating signs of someone who might have coronary artery disease but only a stress test would tell for sure. Maxwell scheduled me to have one in Querétaro at the heart clinic. Once returning to Maxwell with the tests results, he apologized and said they proved positive and he recommended I see my primary medical provider. Then it was early December and I stated I go to the States, in Texas twice a year for business and would be going up in March. Maxwell looked at me, blinked once and voiced, “NOW!”

The rest is history, I went to the VA in Texas, found out I was perhaps two weeks away from a major heart attack, perhaps death or at least to become a heart cripple the rest of my life. I went through quadruple bypass heart surgery. Now I am on the mend. I can’t begin to thank Dr. Maxwell for his insight and for being frightfully honest and to the point while suggesting my options. I urge all members of the community, if having symptoms such as I did, go see a qualified medical provider ASAP. Thanks to Dr. Maxwell, he very well may have saved my life.

Lou Christine



Editor,

In what is still a beautiful (maybe not much longer) historical town, I find it hard to believe the city would allow an American commercial institution Starbucks to locate on the Jardín at Canal & Hidalgo. Please, we have supermarkets, Office Depot, Walmart, etc. here or coming, but at least they are locating on the edges of town, not in El Centro. Starbucks sales are down in the US so this is the answer? After 15+ years here, I am truly saddened. Isn’t anyone else upset enough by this to stop it?

Joy Emery



Editor,

I read with interest the two most recent front page articles by my friend, Jesus Ibarra and wish to comment on three subjects.

First, the mention of rude behavior on the part of bus drivers: Riding busses 2–4 times a day adds up to my riding city busses a thousand times a year. I have seen my share of grumpy and unpleasant bus drivers, but never witnessed a bus driver being deliberately rude. Also, I am in favor of letting the bus drivers keep their stereos but prohibit them having amplifiers and speakers so large they can rupture eardrums.

Second, the issue of the size of city busses: If the new regulations on bus size were correctly quoted (8.5 meters) then the specification is incomplete. A more important statistic is wheelbase and turning radius. A 10-meter bus on a short wheelbase can easily negotiate corners in El Centro that a shorter bus with longer wheelbase cannot.

Finally, the statement that city authorities had not bothered to show up at the recent meeting sponsored by INAH’s World Heritage Department to discuss traffic problems in San Miguel. Kudos to the level-headed individuals in the Presidencia who realized they did not need to sit through two days of meeting in order to see the obvious.

The municipal authorities of San Miguel de Allende have done an absolutely outstanding job of posting hundreds of no parking signs in the city. Far from being haphazardly located, the signs are all very carefully situated with an understanding of the engineering required to insure smooth traffic flow. The problem is that every day hundreds of cars are parked in areas posted “No Parking.”

Many times while riding the bus I will amuse myself by counting illegally parked cars; always counting a dozen and sometimes 30–40. The most common violation is that someone will park their car too close to an intersection. This frequently results in busses and delivery trucks being unable to negotiate a turn at that intersection…and an instant traffic jam.

In other World Heritage cities, the authorities have found the will to deal forcefully and effectively with their traffic problems. In Amsterdam, anyone who parks illegally may expect to have their vehicle towed within minutes. The cost to recover a towed vehicle is 800 euros, or 12,500.00 in Mexican pesos.

Word gets around quickly, both here and there. People know that in Amsterdam you do not park illegally and if you do it could be a thousand dollar mistake. Everyone knows that in San Miguel it is okay to simply ignore the law because everyone does it and even if you get caught it is only going to cost a token fine.

The latter is something the authorities in San Miguel need to change.

Charles Miller



A thoughtful and democratically-led discussion

Editor,

Having been at the “Impeachment” session organized by the Global Justice Committee, I feel I must respond briefly to Mr. Butterfield’s long diatribe printed in your “Opinion” column. Rather than it being a discussion to “trash the United States,” I found it to be an informed effort to explore what I feel has been the damage that President Bush and his Vice-President have done to the Constitution of the United States and to the moral fabric of the country. All three panelists made clear their devotion to the United States and the Constitution. Mr. Butterfield seems to have joined that chorus of Americans who once again equate responsible criticism and analysis with “trashing.” Some in George Bush’s America, like Mr. Butterfield, assume that if American citizens don’t blindly love all that their government does they should leave it or shut up.

Mr. Butterfield had more than his share of air time at the session, compared to other discussants, to put forward his views. That is what a thoughtful and democratically led discussion should be. He also makes the mistake of assuming that the statement of one person in the audience about impeaching the cabinet, etc. was suddenly consensus. I, for one, don't agree with that view and I also expressed reservations about several other suggestions made during the course of that discussion.

I could go on about other ideas that were discussed, many of which seemed interesting and sensible to me—ideas and feelings for us all to consider even if we do not agree, rather than having the knee-jerk reaction evident in Mr. Butterfield's “Opinion” column.

Finally, I think he should be ashamed of ending the article with his veiled and very unacceptable innuendos about Cliff Durand. I applaud Mr. Durand and the Global Justice Committee for bringing to those of us who have come to San Miguel an alternative, thoughtful, open, democratically run, and critical series.

Thanks, also, to the Biblioteca for providing space (in all senses of the word) for alternative intellectual, political, and cultural events.

William Gilsdorf



Editor,

It would do well for certain persons in our community to seek enlightenment which they can do by ascending the nearest mountain top with Guru Cliff Durand. The sooner the better.

Sallie Latch



Editor,

We want to thank Mr. Beldon Butterfield for his excellent article publicizing the program that the Center for Global Justice is offering for the entire community of San Miguel de Allende. I am sure that those who are responsible for programming at the Center are grateful for the detailed account of the many aspects of national and international topics reflected by current events that are taking place in our world today. Obvious to these observers is the fact that most events are well received by the packed houses and the stimulating discussion periods that follow.

Mr Butterfield has attempted to us imagery that calls into question the intellectual honesty of those whose task it is to provide the best scholarship available. Perhaps he just doesn’t understand. Most people attend Global Justice events eager to expand their frame of reference and become better in formed. Dr Cliff DuRand, Dr Betsy Bauman and Dr Bob Stone are proven academics in their fields. They speak daily to a very informed audience about very difficult and triangulated issues. Often they must weave a very fine stitch through very complicated fabric. By Mr. Butterfield’s comments he obviously has a very stilted view of reality. He raises the issue of the legality or illegality of the Iraq war. If hearing that it is illegal troubles you, might I suggest that you raise the question up a notch higher to ask if the war is a just war or might it be an unjust war. An ancient spiritual mentor of mine wrote nearly 2000 years ago and I would commend it to Mr Butterfield. “If the light that is in you is darkness, 
how great is the darkness!”

Finally, a word of commendation to Mr. Ali Zerriffi, whose article also appeared in the Opinion section giving a very informed perspective on the accountability and intention of all events that are held in the Biblioteca Pública. You need to be thanked, congratulated….gosh, I don’t know…given a medal or something for your fine unsung efforts for a job well done. Thank you.

Orlo Espeland, George Olsen



Editor,

Bueno defense of La Biblioteca; against the fascist pulp fiction spewings of Beldon Butterfield. Tambien, total right on to Global Justice; keep on!

Peace,

Pedro Anillo Guevaraa