Thanks, Milkman
I was delighted to see your article about Straus Creamery in your latest issue of Bohemian (“Cream Dreams,” Aug. 29). I love to bike the backroads of Sonoma and Marin counties, often on the same roads that milk trucks and other large farm trucks travel on. I have noticed that the drivers of the large Straus milk trucks are always courteous and patient with bikers. This is certainly not true of all drivers on these local roads. As a member of the Petaluma Wheelman bike club and Bike Petaluma, I am grateful that Straus shows the way in sharing the road. We appreciate having them as neighbors and part of the community. I go out of my way to buy their products.
Via Bohemian.com
Racists Are Sick
According to Psychology Today, racism and xenophobia of any kind is a symptom of psychological ill health. People with a stable sense of self and strong inner security are not racist, because they have no need to strengthen their sense of self through group identity. Older adults, however, have a tendency to be more prejudiced than their younger counterparts. This is due to the fact that older people grew up in less egalitarian times. There is evidence that normal changes to the brain in late adulthood can lead to greater prejudice. They are more likely than younger adults to rely on stereotypes, and they have more difficulty than younger adults suppressing their stereotypical thoughts. They are also more likely to be socially insensitive in a variety of ways. All of these effects only emerge among older adults who show signs of poor frontal lobe functioning. The U.S. Census Bureau says that 85.6 percent of Marin County is white and the majority of those are 65 years and older. Hopefully that majority embraces diversity and inclusion. If not, race relations will automatically improve with the passage of time.
Sausalito
Foggy Notions
For decades Sir Francis Drake researchers have lamented his failure to discover the great and all-weather harbor he’d been looking for, regardless of where he may, or may not have landed in California.
Duane Van Dieman (“Drake Detective,” Aug. 15) asserts Drake’s landing was at Strawberry Cove. So how is it Drake failed to see the entire great bay directly in front of him while here? A few fickle fingers of fog days might explain the error, but not the extended stay Drake supposedly made. Further, a current map superimposed over a centuries-old drawing is interesting, but nowhere near conclusive.
As for Laura Goldenerg’s decrying the word “discovery” as an insult (Letters, Aug. 22), that’s an insult to logic. A culture halfway around the world with no knowledge of inhabitants here obviously discovered new land never before known to them. Since no known inhabitants were contacted, how can this not be a discovery, much less be an offense? To whom? How? This is typical leftist PC derangement that discovers “racism” under every rock, as it undiscovers and devalues history.
San Rafael
Editor’s note: Drake’s party did contact native Miwok Indians during their stay.
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