Mr. Bresnahan, your apoplectic defense of the U.S. Marine Corps in Saturday's (2-9-08) Independent is insulting to persons in and out of uniform and sad on several counts. Your tirade honors neither the Corps nor yourself.

In the first place, the Corps does not need your defense. Secondly, it's almost frightening your public disdain of one of the institutions my service buddies died to preserve the freedom of citizens to elect their representatives in government, and in this case, the city council of Berkeley, Calif. Did you take the time to ask WHY their council felt the need to take the action they did? No!

While you appear willing to call for the demolition of the East Bay to resolve your problem, wouldn't a more fair, more rational response be to ask the council why it felt it necessary to take the action it did? Your interests, then, could be served along with the readers of the Independent, whose editorial space you occupy.

David E. Harris

2906 Idaho Ave.

Youths repeatedly vandalize van

In early summer of '07, my wife and I were enjoying a nice evening on our patio when I noticed three young people coming out of the alley across the street. We'll refer to them as the "courageous ones." They obviously didn't see me as they walked past the driveway my van was parked in, when I noticed one of the "courageous ones" take a few steps toward the van and throw something at the front windshield. I stood up and let my presence be known and needless to say they showed their "courage" by running down the street as fast as they could. I looked to what damage may have been caused only to find dog feces on the glass. I reported it to the G.I.P.D. and went to look for them but to no surprise their "courage" kept them in hiding.

I'm sure your readers would agree that few would actually go looking in someone's yard with big dogs, pick up with their hands something most wouldn't touch, and carry it in their hands until they find some window to throw it on!

Now late summer, early fall had arrived and again the "courageous ones" returned to shoot out the rear glass window (of the same van) with a BB gun. So I made report #2 to the G.I.P.D. and took the van to the glass shop for $180 repairs. This only happened again in a month or so, but this time they returned to put a landscape brick through the front windshield (again the same van). Now I made report #3 to G.I.P.D. and $208 in repairs!

Now, it's February '08, a new year is upon us and again the "courageous ones" strike. Again they use their trusty BB gun to shoot out the rear glass for the second time. Now with the fourth report to the G.I.P.D. and a glass I can't afford to fix yet, I begin wondering just what it is about the glass in my van that the "courageous ones" can't stand, and I think I have finally figured it out ... I don't think that the "courageous ones" can stand the reflections staring back at them, and this is also why their "courage" comes out only at night!

I just wish they would tell me why, but that would take "bravery" along with their "courage," and I just don't see that happening.

I just hope they know that when they get caught, their parents are going to be so proud. And all-in-all, that's the reflection that should matter to them.

Dennis Onnen

103 E. 15th