I never knew writer and reporter Diana Marcum, but I will never forget her | Opinion
A lovely sonnet
“Fresno writer Mark Arax recalls his friend Diana Marcum,” (fresnobee.com, Aug. 16)
Mark Arax painted such a beautiful, vivid picture of Diana Marcum, and the life she lived with such joy. It was full of beauty, choices and the shorthand language spoken by good friends.
Mr. Arax wrote a lovely sonnet about someone I never met, but will never forget. Thank you.
Elaine Bethel
Clovis
Touched by column
“Fresno writer Mark Arax recalls his friend Diana Marcum,” (fresnobee.com, Aug. 16)
I was touched by the recent column about Diana Marcum from Mark Arax. I’ve appreciated his writing before, and this definitely adds to it. I felt like I knew her.
Pearl Call
Visalia
Missing Marcum
“Fresno writer Mark Arax recalls his friend Diana Marcum,” (fresnobee.com, Aug. 16)
Mark Arax wrote a beautiful memoir of his special friend and colleague Diana Marcum. Although my husband and I never met her, we struck up a brief correspondence with her when we read her Bee articles and knew she was extraordinarily talented, as well as gracious.
We were happy for her when the L.A. Times opportunity knocked on her door, and excited when she won a Pulitzer, but we were also sorry to miss her special presence in The Bee. We will remember her.
Francine Farber
Fresno
Opinion
Dump Trump
“It is time for Kevin McCarthy to stop defending Donald Trump,” (fresnobee.com, Aug. 16)
Contrary to the popular myth, ostriches don’t actually bury their heads in the sand when they are scared or frightened. In fact, when an ostrich senses danger and cannot run away, it will flop to the ground and remain still, attempting to blend in with its terrain. What a creepy comparison to the Republicans who support Trump!
It’s astounding that a party that supposedly espouses ethics and conservatism above all else will only stick with Mr. 91 Felony Counts (and counting). Plus, hundreds of his supporters and dozens of his closest top advisors are also charged with felonies or have already been convicted and jailed. Looks like the hypocritical Republicans can only find a rotting fish for their candidate. Sad.
Fred Oakes
Fresno
Greed in Fresno
“Fresno passes law limiting where homeless can camp. Will the ruling be challenged?” (fresnobee.com, June 8)
There is a clear connection between rent increases and our local homelessness crisis. One is greed, and the other is despair. Both problems continue to accelerate. I see a tornado eruption coming: This greed must end, as people are being displaced daily. They are sheltering wherever they can — maybe it’s a vacant house or an empty building, or maybe it’s a relative willing to give temporary shelter or a tent at a canal location.
It is time to begin to protest this rental greed, especially in Fresno, a town known for its poor, uneducated and destitute population. Do we really think that we are getting away with this? It is time for legislation to control rent increases that are only serving to widen the wealth gap between classes. Some classes are becoming extinct. There used to be apartments available for people on limited low-income, but no more. Stop these greed mongers and their rent increases.
Without adequate public transportation, job development and affordable housing, there will be no winners in this town. The few and chosen will need to barricade themselves behind their human-built fortresses to enjoy their foraged goods.
Wake up, Fresno!
Teresa Rachel Romero
Fresno
Hypocrite
“Clovis councilmember calls Bee column on her views unfair,” (fresnobee.com, Aug. 14)
I am never surprised when a conservative, anti-LGBTQ person whines that they have been misrepresented in print about their standing and then goes on to show their true colors. Clovis City Council Member Diane Pearce claims The Bee misrepresented her position about the Pride display of books at the Fresno library in Clovis. She claims her email correspondence will support her positions. So let’s see the whole thing, Ms. Pearce.
While claiming she is not attacking the LGBTQ community, she doubles down by stating the “LGBTQ community (is) the group continually pushing this on kids.”
Here’s a simple solution for all parents concerned about their kids becoming gay after reading a book: Take it away. But please, please stop trying to force your own views on the rest of us.
Nancy Schultz
Fresno
