Ventura County Star - Jan 10, 2005
Mon, 10 Jan 2005 14:57:23 GMT

City must atone for 1964

Re: Patricia Clark Doerner's Dec. 16 commentary, "City needs to find moral compass regarding park":

I came to live in Ventura in the fall of 1964. Having no roots in the community at that time, I was still saddened by the action of the city to demolish the cemetery. However, I thought then, perhaps it was not unreasonable to make the land a "memorial park," where quiet contemplation in a beautiful setting could take place. Now I see that action as the first step down a slippery slope to totally destroy the nature, the history, the memories and the meaning of this consecrated land.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to bicycle in northeastern Vermont. Some of the most meaningful sights were the little cemeteries tucked away -- some even in the woods -- all carefully and reverently maintained. Generations after generations were buried in these cemetteries, dating back hundreds of years. It says a lot about the humanity of the people who inhabit Vermont today. Surely, the people of Ventura County have an equal amount of humanity.

I totally agree with Doerner and the quotes she included in her commentary by Bill Clark and former Rep. Bob Lagomarsino. This land's history as a cemetery should be enhanced as an atonement for the mistakes of 1964.

-- Dorothy L. Schechter, Ojai