Why stop with renaming Fresno streets after Cesar Chavez? Rename California, too | Opinion

Renaming ideas for roads, towns, state

The renaming of California, Ventura, and Kings Canyon streets after Cesar Chavez is not sufficient. One can go through life in Fresno and never go down there. But just think if a street like Blackstone were renamed … or perhaps Herndon. It seems to me the impact would be far greater if one of these more major streets were renamed as Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

Does anyone really think that justice was done to Martin Luther King Jr. by the streets that now bear his name? I think that the street that currently bears Martin Luther King Jr.’s name should be renamed simply Back Street. Then maybe a street like Alluvial or Nees can be renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The more I think about it, there are a lot of people who’ve done great things in the history of many of the ethnicities found in Fresno. And when this renaming business really gets rolling, there could be some really impressive street names all over Fresno. The movement will then spread to Clovis, too. Why not rename Clovis? Actually, why not rename the whole town? Why are we still calling this state California?

Animals deserve respect, care

I am writing in response to an article which appeared in the Fresno Bee on March 19 regarding an incident in which Alexandra Paul and animal rights activist Alicia Santurio rescued two chickens from a Foster Farms truck in Livingston in September 2021.

First, I have to praise both Paul and Santurio for their heroic and compassionate act of rescuing two chickens from a Foster Farms truck, and I wish they could have rescued more. They were doing the right thing and I am glad that they were not guilty of being charged with a misdemeanor.

By doing what they did, they are making the public aware of the horrific acts of animal abuse in factories like Foster Farms, and that law enforcement and the government are not doing their job in helping to stop animal abuse. I myself, would have done the same thing in any way that I could to help animals that are mistreated or abused.

I believe that factories like Foster Farms should be charged with animal abuse and should be closed down permanently. What prompted me to write about this was an article that I had read about Foster Farms mistreatment and abuse of chickens several years ago. The article described the way in which Foster Farms employees were abusing the chickens that made me sick to my stomach. It was not only disturbing but downright inhumane and cruel.

I felt that those employees should have been punished for their acts of cruelty. .Any kind of cruelty towards animals is a despicable act. All animals deserve to be treated with respect and dealt with humanely. I have great admiration for Alexandra Paul, Alicia Santurio and the animal rights activists and encourage them to keep up the good work.

Understanding freedom of speech

I disagree with Nicole Russell’s stance on the backlash that famous author JK Rowling has been receiving on account of her vocal opposition to the transgender community. More specifically, Rowling has been cited numerous times expressing her disapproval of certain legislations that would secure the rights of transgender individuals, leading a number of people online to boycott her content, including the newly released Hogwarts Legacy game that Russell uses in the title of her article.

Russell claims that “the ongoing attempt to cancel her [Rowling] does not bode well for free speech and is a spine-tingling example of an Orwellian society.” However, the only incidents in relation to the Hogwarts Legacy game that Russel mentions are instances of individuals stating their opinions, such as a gaming media website that addressed the controversy regarding Rowling in their review of the game, which one could argue is an equally valid expression of their free speech.

If Russell’s primary concern is maintaining freedom of speech, it would be antithetical to object to the expressed opinions of others. Freedom of speech does not equate to freedom of consequences, especially when that speech targets a marginalized group.

Seek vegies, fruit, grains, nuts

On March 20 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its latest assessment on climate change, drawing on the findings of hundreds of scientists throughout the world. The assessment details the devastating impacts of rising greenhouse gas emissions, including destruction of homes, loss of crops, and fragmentation of communities.

Animal agriculture is responsible for at least 15% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, including nitrous oxide from animal waste piles, methane from ruminant digestion, and carbon dioxide from burning forests to create animal pastures.

In an environmentally sustainable world, meat and dairy products in our diet must be replaced by vegetables, fruits, and grains, just as fossil fuels are replaced by wind, solar, and other emission-free energy sources.

Our favorite supermarket offers a rich variety of plant-based meat and dairy products. It enables each of us to reduce our carbon footprint, even as we improve our health and reduce animal cruelty.

On Fresno High and the ‘sex hallway’

A hall pass? I can’t believe the Fresno High sex hallway! Are you telling me everyone knew about this hallway? Do the kids need a hall pass?

I guess they don’t have audiovisual class like they did at Roosevelt in the ‘50s …. A camera may be a great idea, principal. Do you have a teacher doing yard duty in that area?

I taught for 35 years and can’t believe this story.

Kudos to Fresno Unified for washers

The Fresno Unified School District is to be commended for its decision to place washers and dryers to all of its middle schools. The alert school person who discovered that absenteeism was directly connected to soiled clothes is to be congratulated.

A child’s appearance and self-esteem are a great factor in educational advancement.

This story was originally published April 9, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Why stop with renaming Fresno streets after Cesar Chavez? Rename California, too | Opinion."