Library paint: I like it

I like the color of the paint for the new library. Please don't change it. I watched it being painted. And they did a great job. The cost and time to repaint it would be very irresponsible. And would pay for a lot of new books. Anyway, you could never come up with a color that suited everyone.

Margie Sjolander, Albany

Pea green: Sequence backward

The home improvement and decorating magazines often show remodel projects with photos of "before and after." The public library seems to have the formula backwards. The library building with its brown paint and large blocks of what looks like fluorescent, pea green paint has now become a before! I wonder what surprises are inside the building.

Jessie Schuetze, Albany

Did they taste the paint?

The people who chose and approved the atrocious colors on the new public library building managed to take a not particularly attractive building and make it ugly.

I will use one of my mother's appropriate sayings. "Their taste is only in their mouth."

Please publish the names so curious taxpayers know whom to blame for the costly blunder.

Ruth D. Hope, Albany

Obama has proved it

Yes, we're ready for change. And we're ready to erase the racial barrier. One way to do this is to hire the one most qualified for the job. Stop hiring for color or ethnic background. Obama has proved if you are qualified you don't need affirmative action.

Margaret Hanson, Albany

Gaza still under siege

Israel has shut off access by journalists to Gaza. (They've also kidnapped an American; see Democracy Now's last show.) The last time Israel shut off journalist access was during the massacre they committed in Jenin in 2002.

Leaders of the Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times, BBC and CNN have signed a letter criticizing Israel's banning of journalists from Gaza.

The situation in Gaza is dire because of Israel's closure of all borders since Nov. 4: the U.N. has no food to distribute although 80 percent of the population depends on it; there is electricity only eight hours a day; incubators and other hospital equipment can't be used regularly; they are short some 3,000 medicines; flour plants have shut down from lack of electricity so there is little bread being made; and (one of the worst things) Israel has prevented the import of needed equipment and supplies to repair and expand the sewage treatment plants, so essentially raw sewage is being dumped into the Mediterranean. Public health officials are very concerned that these contaminants will seep into Gaza's aquifers, causing widespread disease. The International Red Cross just reported that 1.5 million Gazans suffer some degree of malnutrition because of Israel's siege.

Censorship of journalists usually means war crimes are being committed. The piddling rockets from Hamas pale in comparison to the large-scale killing of the much-more-powerful Israeli army.

This is not a level playing field, not a "war" between equals. The world should rise up in protest of this indiscriminate collective punishment of Gazan civilians.

June Forsyth Kenagy, Albany

Deflated the ranters and ravers

I want to express my appreciation for the letter written by Kristen Hart (Mailbag, Nov. 15). It was superbly written and deflated the "sour grapes" pronouncements of both local and national conservatives.

Mrs. Hart was measured and reasonable in outlining her opinions. It was a huge contrast to the ranting and raving of those who have promoted fear and hate. The calm rejection Mrs. Hart laid out is truly a relief. Mrs. Hart - I thank you!

Dennis Newton, Lebanon

Higher fees? That's terrible

Our governor, Ted Kulongoski, wants to up the fees to license vehicles and get a driver's license. We were born and raised here in Oregon. We've seen a lot through the years; this is as bad as it gets.

Governor Kulongoski's plan is terrible. There are a lot of poor people here in Oregon and also on Social Security, as we are. So many of us can't afford higher licensing on anything.

Just because he is well-off, doesn't mean the rest of us are. His plans are only a hardship for the people in Oregon.

May God bless all of us in Oregon.

Donna Morrie, Brownsville