Editor,
This is in response to Mr. John Jaeger’s missive regarding statewide percentile immunization standings and our public schools. Firstly, I don’t get his point as he did not take the time or thought to explain in detail his accusations. If he is a medical professional, then he should elaborate his concerns so us “lay” folk can understand.
His abrupt attack on our, and the Capistrano Unified School District’s, apparent falling short of expected quotients for vaccinations per the California Department of Health leaves me questioning his true agenda. Is he an executive of a major pharma company or just a germaphope?
What really gets me is his specific references to our “LGBT issues, beautification, arts and tourism.” I have lived here, in my fair city, since 1973 when I moved here due to a company relocation. At that time, Orange County was kind of the “wild west” to me but I knew I would be most accepted in Laguna. I am damn proud of our town and would not trade it for the world.
In this case a writer with an apparent grudge from Irvine sees fit to chime in in how we do business and conduct our lives here in Laguna. Mr. Jaeger, some of my best friends live in Irvine, but I’m sorry when it comes to culture, we win. So, come walk in our shoes for a bit before passing innocuous judgment. Sir, we are not suffering from the plague; come visit.
Mark Hild, Laguna Beach
I totally have the plague. Oh, sorry, I mean plaque. Time to see my hygienist.
Mr. Hild, I have walked on your sidewalks, if not in your shoes, many times. Obviously I touched a nerve with my letter, and as the old farmer’s saying goes, “The pig that squeals is the one you hit.”
Leftists always think themselves “cultured,” and “intelligent” and countless other benevolent characteristics. But the subject is the welfare of children, and clearly Laguna Beach has been doing the worst job in Orange County in terms of vaccinating children, for their own protection. For you to try to deflect such criticism, entirely justified, is the height of arrogance and ignorance.
Now I opened with the statement of having walked on your sidewalks, and my earlier letter published in this very newspaper cited the neglect of you citizens – all of you – to report widespread graffiti etched into your own sidewalks years ago. It was an eyesore that not one of you cared enough to report to city officials for removal. I came from Irvine to do it, not because I don’t like Laguna Beach, but because it needed to be done for the welfare of everybody.
The graffiti all over sidewalks on PCH wasn’t the only problem I brought up with city officials, however. There was also the matter of bushes overgrowing a public sidewalk, also for years. That too was quickly addressed by the city after I sent them photographs, no thanks to you or any of your so-called “cultured” friends.
Some time you should try to help others beautify and improve their town instead of looking for some ulterior hidden motive I might have. What you display isn’t “culture,” sir. It’s pretension, and dishonest pretension at that. And it’s truly a plague infecting the Left.
Wow Mr. Jaeger!
Way to spread invective from Irvine. I hope that you get immunized so it doesn’t spread. I suggest that you keep it at home just to make sure.
How dare you tar and feather “all of you” “left”, negligent, Lagunans. Your assertion that the “city” vaccinates “its children” and is shirking its duty, is ludicrous. These would be individual, family choices. Or, they were, as State law has changed it is going to become very difficult to abstain from public health mandates, such as vaccinations.
Often, folks that do not consider themselves “left”, believe there is too much government mandated regulation. But here, a fellow criticizing against “the Left”, loves mandated vaccinations. I don’t disagree with the need, just the diatribe.
Perhaps you want to find out a bit more about our diverse population and our unique history before smearing us all with your well-defined sidewalks and belief in being right! I will take my “Diamond in the Rough” over your tidy stucco town over the hill, every day of the week, warts and all.
Waiting to hear back.
Your arrogance precedes you.
John Walker
Laguna Beach
Where to begin, Mr. Walker? I make salient, and well-documented points of criticism (you call it a “diatribe”) regarding Laguna Beach’s residents, and all you and Mark Hild can do is attack me personally as well as Irvine. A “diatribe” is a bitter attack. It seems to me that pointing out Laguna Beach’s failure to protect innocent children is anything BUT “bitter.” You people are the worst in Orange County at vaccinating school children. One would expect much more from such “cultured” people, given to expensive houses, artistic magnificence, and “unique history,” as you call whatever that must describe.
One need not be “an executive of a major pharma (sic) company” to understand the importance of protecting children from communicable diseases. Talk to your personal physician if you need help comprehending such an elementary aspect of public health.
Irvine also has its share of graffiti, etched in concrete. Nor did I suggest otherwise. But Mr. Hild intoned your city’s “culture” and you attacked me for my “arrogance.” Both of you missed the entire point of my original letter, which addressed safety for children. Your attempts to change the subject and attack me personally – those are the real “diatribes”. Pathetic, sir. But so very typical of elite, self-styled, artistic “intellectuals” of the Left.
You paint with a broad and sloppy brush, Mr. Jaeger. Conflating several different peoples’ individual opinions with “elite, self-styled artistic “intellectuals” of the left.
Pathetic.
Good-Day