Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

It should be abundantly clear by now that someone is either extremely paranoid or just likes to tell scary made-up stories. (Letter: “Schools: Next terrorist target?” written by Frank Aquila on Jan. 6). This isn’t Aquila’s first rodeo in this arena, you’ve read many of these kind of letters before.

Let’s examine just a few of the apparent paranoid schizophrenia, scary made-up stories in this latest edition of Aquila’s “Scary Campfire Series” which contains more volumes than Harry Potter. This time his focus is on parents and their “Defenseless Children”.

1. “ISIL leader, Abu Bakr al Baghadadi will become a household name.”

Actually this guy has reportedly been killed and hasn’t been heard of since his reported death at the hands of President Obama’s ordered Air Strikes against  ISIL. Paranoia or scary made-up story?

2. “President Obama released the thousands of ISIL members and the dead guy from custody which make up ISIL.”

Actually it was an agreement signed by President G.W. Bush in 2008 that mandated that all detainees be handed over to Iraqi forces. Baghadadi was transferred to Iraqi custody in 2008 who set him free in 2010. Also ISIL members are mostly made up of Sadam’s Iraqi Army. Guess which President got  that ball rolling? Paranoia or scary made-up story?

3. “Reports say Baghadadi (the dead guy) is targeting American schools, and has called them “Soft Spots”.”

No explanation as to the source of these “reports”. Apparently voices in his head or maybe Rush Limbaugh. Paranoia or Scary Made-Up Story?

4. “President Obama claimed Benghazi was a response to a You Tube Video. When in fact he was responsible for the attack.”

Actually President Obama was correct. On Aug.1, 2014 the House Intelligence Committee concluded that there was no deliberate wrongdoing by the Obama administration and the violence was indeed caused by the video. Paranoia or scary made-up story?

5. “Through an open border policy, ISIS terrorists are already here and have aligned themselves with the MS13 Mexican gang.”

First of all there is not an “open border policy”.  Secondly, the Mexican border is not the only way illegal aliens arrive in this country, thousands come on ships and airliners from many other countries. Think about it, if you were a ISIL member seeking to sneak into this country, would you disguise yourself as a South American child and swim across the Rio Grande into Texas or would you just get a student visa and fly in to LAX and forget to leave? I suspect the MS13 reference was thrown in for an extra scary effect. Paranoia or scary made-up story?

6. “...school administrators should be required to have a firearm....a tablet will not shield a child.”

 Apparently heavily armed teachers are the answer. What could possibly go wrong there? I suppose if the easily angered Mr. Colt, the 5th grade English teacher is packing heat, his students will be more inclined to not anger him by tossing spit balls around the room. But what is meant by “firearm”? Would that be a hand gun or assault weapon? Consider this: have you ever seen a picture of ISIL terrorists where the only weapons displayed are hand guns?

 Does Aquila really believe battle hardened ISIL terrorists would attack a school armed only with hand guns? And would he send the school librarian armed with only a small hand gun, out to do battle with these assault weapon armed terrorists?

I have no idea why the “tablet” comment was made. I suppose he was referring to the controversial digital tablet issue which will soon be replacing textbooks in schools everywhere. Does Aquila believe the money spent on these digital tablets would be better spent on assault weapons for teachers?

Paranoia or scary made-up story? You decide.



Larry Baca

 Manteca