Mailbag: Nationalistic outrage is much more frightening

I see yet another letter writer complaining about UC Irvine students banning the American flag at an American university (“Flag ban by students was absurd” March 28).

If these people would do a minimal amount of fact checking, rather than watching Fox News for information, they would see that a few students voted to have no flags displayed in a lobby at a student government area. This is far removed from removing a banner at an entire institution.

I am much less concerned about students making a political statement that may be unpopular — after all, what could be more American? — than I am about nationalistic paranoia. We all know where that leads.

Jan Rainbird

Irvine

*

Seeing irony in the flag debate

Some people want less government until it comes to government flags. Then they want more government.

Lance Jencks

Costa Mesa

*

Flagpole dedication was meaningful

Re “Corona del Mar Today: Lawmaker on hand for flag pole dedication,” March 29:

I am happy that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) dedicated a flagpole at Harbor View Elementary School. The students know about good citizenship and helping their community.

Al Wonders

Newport Beach

*Voter turnout was shamefully low

March 17 was the day people were to elect the person who would represent them in the Senate of California — a state with the largest population in the nation. This was an important special election.

I arrived at my polling place at 5 p.m. It was announced that I was No. 50 for the day.

Our precinct has 2,700 registered voters. What a shame that so few people exercised their right to vote.

Carole Urie

Laguna Beach