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By Ruby Elbogen
In a momentous decision on Aug. 4th-a memorable day for many, a longtime Republican Federal District Court Judge appointed by Ronald Reagan handed down his decision that Prop. 8 should be overturned. Wow.
Just as amazing as the decision, is the argument heard and handed down by Judge Vaughn R. Walker, a conservative Republican; was the partnering to argue on the same side in favor of overturning Prop. 8 was the “odd couple” of Theodore Olson, former Solicitor General of the U.S. appointed By George Bush, and David Boies–who argued on opposite sides of the George Bush/Al Gore election debacle.
It is the absolute highest order of Democracy when two brilliant experts of the law-former adversaries, one a conservative, the other a liberal-team up to bring justice to a group of people whose civil rights were violated.
Civil rights should not be abused by hiding behind the veil of religion, especially when not every religion considers marriage a sacrament. Since marriage is a legal contract, requiring a license a couple cannot be married without, it is definitely a civil not religious act.
Religion only enters the marriage if and when a couple walks into a house of worship to have a Minister, Rabbi, Priest or Monk—who also must have the proper licensing perform the I do’s—with the added words: By the power vested in me by the State of wherever. Mere mortals should stop speaking for God it’s offensive. And, if you don’t support Gay Marriage–DON’T marry someone Gay, don’t let your OWN kids marry someone Gay, if they listen to you—but don’t speak for me or mine. Mind your own religious business, if you have time to speak for God, your own “business” probably needs your full attention.
By Ruby Elbogen
Whether or not member(s) of our City Council agree or disagree with the AQMD findings, or the statements by, and answers to questions by Lehigh representatives, they should be treated with respect—or at least good manners.
Being a sitting council member comes with an inherent ability to accuse and bully, whether it’s justified or not. So when a council member accuses,
And is just plain snarky, without explanation, the council seat becomes a bully pulpit.
Writers have a bully pulpit, of sorts-as well. So, using mine-I say listen and learn before you accuse and chastise. And, never trash a Former Mayor with innuendo and rumors. Especially when she’s not there to answer the behind her back rancor being freely dispensed. Who are you to dictate where she can and cannot work? When did that aspect of Cupertino life become the business of a city council member?
While there may be a few who agree with this nasty breach of civility, most of us do not. So, since you obviously did not listen to your Mama when she told you to be respectful, I echo your words to our sitting Mayor a few weeks ago when I say: Shut Up-and add:
Go To Your Room!!!!
By Ruby Elbogen
While any change brings explosive bursts of opposition, this one-at least-deserves some consideration. Since every School District has high paid Execs. at the top, as well as school boards, which often keeps money from trickling down to students, teachers and programs, exploring the notion of combining with open minds, would be beneficial to students, parents and homeowners. Knowledge is power.
Coming from a city the size of Cupertino, where the school district is unified: grade schools, Jr. High and High School-under one banner, there is more town pride and support from residents. We had 6 elementary, 1 middle and Jr. High and 1 High School, which bears the town’s name. When times are tough for schools, a city is more likely to go to bat for “it’s own” kids and teachers.
Combining or downsizing school districts means fewer Superintendants of Schools, Asst’s. of same-saving millions of dollars for music, art and the Three R’s. Combining Cupertino’s own kids into our own unified (just one for all) elementary, Jr./Middle, and High School(s) at the very least deserves serious thought, consideration and dialogue, with open minds.
Support may come easier if residents feel pride in “ownership,” as in-these schools are OUR schools!!!
 By Donna Austin
Video entries for The Democracy Challenge have been submitted from around the world: Africa, East Asia Pacific, Europe Eurasia, Near East, South and Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Of these, three finalists have been selected from each of the regions.
Monta Vista High School Alum, Nicole Dalesio was one of the three finalists. The Democracy Challenge will select one grand prize-winner from each region on June 15th.
As a teacher, Dalesio speaks on behalf of children, giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. She believes the best way to promote democracy, world peace, and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential, is to protect, nurture, and invest in the education of our youth.
She feels the power of digital media can make a difference, and as an idealist, she hopes her video skills will instill hope and make a positive impact on the world.
To support her effort, here is the Democracy Challenge on You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge
Click on VOTE. Go to Democracy is a child.mov by magrelacanela, click the green thumbs up to vote, only once each day. Every vote counts, every day from 5/15-6/15
 By Ruby Elbogen
You gotta love a town that cares about all the residents, children and teens in school, Senior Citizens and the under-served in these tough economic times.
First and foremost is the effort to raise millions of dollars for education with Their Future Is Now Program. It’s fantastic that parents have launched this program to fund our schools.
Cupertino’s Rotary Club is celebrating its 55th Anniversary of doing, giving, participating and
team work to help make this community a wonderful place to live. Add that to the efforts by our other Service Clubs: Lions, Quota, Kiwanis and Optimists and we realize what the words Good Deeds really means.
The ACS Relay For Life supports cancer research at a time when one in every three is diagnosed with cancer; and the adult list goes on. Toss in all the High School Service Clubs—Middle Schoolers who Go Green in an amazing effort, and it doesn’t get better than that.
If you aren’t already involved—please do so. There are plenty of opportunities. Just contact one of the above or contact WVCS at 408/255-8033 to help our community serve those who need our help.
 By Ruby Elbogen
It’s time to enlist Cupertino’s Dogs to join the fight
against the Geese and the Goose-Gunk taking over Memorial Park. Since the city is looking at options for keeping Goose Feathers out; and one includes paying thousands of dollars to rent a pack of dogs (I kid you not) to get the honkers out. Patriotic Cupertino dogs need to step up and do the job for free.
The way I see it, by having our own dogs chase the Goose Steppers away, our very own dogs would save the city enough money to pay for their own dog park. It doesn’t get better than that. The city council can thank me later.
So, Cupertino dog Moms and Dads it’s time to step up and do what’s right to fight the doo-doo. The people of Cupertino need your dogs; the kids at Memorial Park need your dogs—and our collective shoes need your dogs to do their civic duty and chase geese.
Get out there and make us proud. Dogs of Cupertino: Get Ready. Get Set. Go-Get-Geese!!!
 By Ruby Elbogen
It was interesting to read a short article from a news source that for almost one million people, cable is no longer their outlet of choice.
Since unemployment is up, college students don’t watch enough to make cable a worthwhile expenditure, and some are just sick of paying for channel after channel of crass display ads that move.
Should we have to pay for cable access trying to sell us pots & pans, church’s, squeeze mops that fall in love with bowling balls—and jewelry? No. It’s quite enough to pay for regular programming commercials that invade our homes every five minutes during our favorite shows.
I applaud the folks switching from cable to old fashioned antennas and laptops, because six channels airing the same promo to drive us to watch wrestling is nuts.
Will this be the wave of the future? We hope so, at least until cable companies wake up and give us what we want to watch, and not force us to watch what they mandate. The next best thing always catches on quickly, whatever it turns out to be. Let’s hope the cable companies soon feel the pain and turn the channels over to—we, the consumers—who should have a choice. Power to Antennas.
 By Ruby Elbogen
We, like many of you, are being barraged with frenzied emails bemoaning the jump from 20 to 30 kids in classrooms due to lack of funds.
In discussing the matter with residents who have lived in Cupertino for many decades, having 30 kids in classrooms used to be the norm here—until the mandate for 20, and these parents of kids who graduated from many prestigious colleges are not alarmed by going back to what was.
“Parent participation is what’s important, that’s what we did” said one Mom who volunteered and was even trained to teach the Music For Minors program in the elementary schools.
She continued, “there were also aides in the classroom. When classes went down to 20 students—many aides disappeared.”
Before parents become alarmed, perhaps they should do more research on the issues. These older residents remind us that it’s their kids, with 30 in classrooms, who actually brought Cupertino the Excellence in Schools reputation, which kept home values high.
So, unless plans are to have 30 kids and one teacher with no aides and no volunteers—the folks who have been through it don’t see what the big deal is all about. They say Cupertino’s reputation for having great schools will continue as long as parents volunteer their time.
Parents have always been busy, parents have always worked outside the home to make ends meet, they–like parents today were building careers, they also went through a huge downturn in the economy in the 80’s and needed 2 incomes to survive, Mom’s had to go back to work because Dad’s lost their high tech jobs so the Dad’s volunteered in classrooms instead of Moms; there have always been younger children who got dragged along, and older children who needed picking up—nothing has changed—it’s still the same, every generation of parents had the same challenges, but parents made time to volunteer and it is the supportive parents volunteering their time that makes and keeps schools good, great and excellent.
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