Thank you, Brian and Beverly Ingelson, for your years at Palm Springs High

Thank you to the Ingelsons

Thank you for the lovely story on Monday's front page about Brian and Beverly Ingelson.

I was amazed to read about Brian’s success as director of the Palm Springs High School band. And Beverly has been just instrumental in guiding the school's flag corps.

Our high school band members have performed at the Sydney Opera House, Disneyland Paris, the Great Wall of China, Capetown City Hall and the second inauguration parade for President Barack Obama.

I doubt many other schools in the country can boast more success! These experiences are invaluable to our students. Thank you, Brian and Beverly, for your contributions to our community. Best of luck to Matt Ingelson as he continues the family tradition of service.

John Williams, Palm Springs

Why censoring thought always fails

Re: Even if they become law, 'don't say gay' bills are destined to fail (Guest column, May 23):

There's another reason why these absurd bills are going to fail.

When conservatives ban books or music, all the attention often increases sales. Anyone, especially ignorant, conservative petro-fascists, who tell others what they can and cannot do often has the opposite effect. It's only human nature to seek and speak about "that which cannot be spoken or heard."

John Rivett, Palm Springs

Critique 'don't say gay' bill accurately

In his guest column May 23, writer David M. Hamlin attests that Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is in error when he states that teaching children “they can be whatever they want to be” is “inappropriate.”

Hamlin interprets this to discouraging children from their “loftiest dreams and ambitions,” when any rational person would understand the governor’s remark as referring to changing their gender, especially as it’s in the context of the parental rights bill which Hamlin characterizes as the “don’t say gay” bill.

If you’re going to critique, be accurate.

Frank A. Simonetti, Palm Desert

Yes, it's still my body

Re: "Once you’re pregnant, it’s not just ‘your body’ anymore" (Letter, May 22):

We will never (ever) agree on this.

Sorry, yes it is “still” my body, and “still” my choice. Your opinion and that of people who believe as you do, apparently including the five uber-partisan justices on the Supreme Court, means nothing to the women who make the often-painful decision to terminate a pregnancy, for reasons of their own. Those decisions have absolutely nothing to do with you or anyone else eager to stick their noses into the private and personal lives of people you don’t know anything about.

It is really and truly none of your business. There is nothing false or misleading about any woman’s right to make her own choices about her own life, and that includes whether or not she has a child.

We who fiercely believe this would appreciate it if you would take your holier-than-thou attitude and apply it elsewhere. Preventing women from choice to satisfy your own beliefs and standards will never work.

All a reversal of Roe v. Wade will do is make abortion more dangerous, horrible and painful for women and their families.  It will not, and will never, stop it from happening.

Ronnie Marshall, Palm Desert

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Thanks, Brian and Beverly Ingelson, for serving Palm Springs | Letters