Comments by Stella
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3 of 4 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 20 at 8:33 p.m.
PAM LOPKER, NOT THE SHERIFF OWES AN APOLOGY
So imagine that a neighbor has faced a horrible loss, home, business, and then were blamed by some that it was all their fault - without fault.
How you react? How did some, esp. Pam Lopker respond:
From Pam after Westmont loses buildings, dorms, homes and instead of crying is helping our community, and after finding out Westmont students did not cause fire: HERE IS WHAT SHE POSTED ABOVE:
"Why is it that the community is quick to point to Westmont College? Most obvious it is their proximately to the Tea House. But I think it goes much deeper than that. While Westmont and it’s faculty housing is on 120+ acres the density and intensity of it’s land use is much greater than the surrounding neighbors in many aspects including; population, buildings, traffic, noise, water, sewer and community services.
"Westmont has a history of pushing past the limits that the neighborhood can tolerate. In my opinion much of the anger expressed in this situation is a manifestation of decades of neighborhood issues with Westmont."
Yes, the Sheriff made a mistake - he sort of blew it, but oh my he meant no harm.
Pam Lopker is the CEO of a public company, and instead of having empathy for a neighbor after a loss - she attacks them. WOW.
Facts.
1. Westmont's campus is 80% open space.
2. The faculty homes are 41 on 29 acres - maybe half the density of the closest homes.
3. The faculty Homes at Westmont pay more to Cold Spring School, one of the wealthiest in the state, more than 75% of the other residents in the community.
Who owes an apology? Yes Bill Brown should say - opps - I'm sorry - I blew it.
Pam Lopker needs to say - I am sorry to be a selfish self-centered multi-millionaire who is so angry that I cannot see or feel a neighbors pain.
I am embarrassed to live in the same neighborhood as Pam Lopker.
5 of 5 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 20 at 7:10 p.m.
This is a tragic event. We all have to admit that no kid wanted to start a fire, it was a mistake. One they will never forget. They will pay a horrible price. It may define their life from this point.
No need to jump on, no need to hate.
There are a number of bloggers who owe Westmont an apology - be good to come clean and just say you are sorry you jumped the gun and said there was a cover up to protect Westmont, that if it was not Westmont they would have announced names.
So what just took place is the Westmont campus, faculty homes, dorms, classrooms have been destroyed. And then many in this blog attacked them without the facts.
What has Westmont been doing? Working at Cold Spring School, helping others who lost homes, in fact, handing out cards to get help sifting through your burnt home or to help move at last nights meeting.
Christian, for some reason Christians make you mad, for Westmont, Christians are stepping up, not pointing fingers, not being mad, and are helping when they were hit the hardest.
Interesting to ponder.
Makes me question who I am and what I believe. How about you?
2 of 2 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 20 at 9:23 a.m.
This part of the property is privately owned. A plan for a home, albeit a large home, was rejected by the Montecito Planning Commission.
If not rejected it would have been private and no one would have been there to start this fire. When one takes private property rights away, that leave properties like this vacant and an attractive nuisance - leading to tragic endings. Either we allow people the enjoyment of their land or the public needs to buy it and protect it.
Surprised it took so long.
2 of 2 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 19 at 10:35 p.m.
JUST FOR FUN - HERE ARE TWO POST BY MR GLM:
FROM THIS AM:
________________________________________
gml - - - - You have been horribly abusive to Westmont - this what you said:
"Obviously, these were 10 oblivious Westmont students with no regard or knowledge of the community around them. It was not intentional, but the degree of stupidity and negligence is unbelievable and deeply saddening. To me, this terrible event just shows that it is too dangerous to have a bunch of "college kids" living the time of their lives amidst residential neighborhoods and Santa Barbara landmarks. Westmont is, to some degree, responsible." gml
FROM TONIGHT:
"I would have to say that most of the posts i have read on here are over-sensitive and over-defensive with any mention of Westmont and the possibility that the fire was caused by some of its students. This is a discussion forum and it is about expressing and DISCUSSING our opinions.
This is by no means a witch hunt.
For instance, i am entitled to my opinion that I believe that it was some kids from Westmont who started the Tea Fire and I am pissed off about it. If you cant handle reading this and think that it is insensitive for me to speculate this, get over your own hyper sensitivity. And wait to give your shame-on-you lectures on integrity and apologies until we receive the press release, with FULL details, from the SB Sherrifs Dept."
SO GLM WHEN THE SHERIFF CONFIRMS - YOU WILL APOLOGIZE?
3 of 3 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 19 at 10:25 p.m.
LWH16
Never quoted you at all - sorry if it appeared I did. My request is that those who attacked Westmont should apologize. Did not call you out, but maybe you should examine how you responded to this.
It is a tragic mistake by kids, I forgive them no matter who they are . They will suffer enough without us adding to it.
My case since 11 am today has been the hate spewed out at Westmont, never mentioned you at all, only you know your heart.
On Westmont Says Its Students Cleared of Tea Fire Wrongdoing
1 of 1 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 19 at 9:50 p.m.
hangemhigh - you are so right.
I have wept for the Hoffman's, for those who have no home, no cloths and for a college without classrooms and dorms.
To attack the very people who suffered the most because we disagree with what they believe when they never force anything on us except kindness and help is just sad and so wrong.
I hope we are better than this.
2 of 2 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 19 at 9:45 p.m.
gml -
Read my earlier post on the first story. Very clearly I talked of integrity and apologies. Take a look at what I wrote at 11 am today:
Stella wrote:
Sheriff Brown is a wise man.
As exhibited here, there are those who are willing to jump to a conclusion, or worse to create a conclusion to forward a personal hate about a person or a group of people.
Lets say these are Westmont students, I read here that because they might have voted in favor of Prop 8, and because they are from out of town, the college campus should be sold to pay the victims.
What if it is not Westmont? What if it was the UCSB Gay and Lesbian Club? Should UCSB be sold to pay the victims?
Westmont as a College and the faculty have been hit maybe the hardest by this fire, and if it is caused by another group, how will Westmont respond?
Will Westmont attack them because they may voted differently at some time on some issue?
Will Westmont and those faculty who have lost everything demand - those in any way related to those who started the fire be forced to sell and give them money?
I doubt it. I think Westmont after all the pain and cost, will forgive.
Maybe Westmont is in our community for a reason. Maybe we can learn forgiveness and integrity from these young men and young women.
And maybe we can see the extreme sharp contrast to those who hate Westmont no matter what and Westmont and their students and then determine who do we want as a neighbor at a time of trouble or who we want around when we make a mistake or need a helping hand.
For me the answer is clear. I will pick Westmont, they are a bright light in a community obsessed with wealth and selfishness.
Time to back off, wait for the truth and then there are many on this blog who need to apologize if what most know that it was not Westmont students.
Will you?
________________________________________
gml - - - - You have been horribly abusive to Westmont - this what you have said:
"Obviously, these were 10 oblivious Westmont students with no regard or knowledge of the community around them. It was not intentional, but the degree of stupidity and negligence is unbelievable and deeply saddening. To me, this terrible event just shows that it is too dangerous to have a bunch of "college kids" living the time of their lives amidst residential neighborhoods and Santa Barbara landmarks. Westmont is, to some degree, responsible." gml
_______________________
So gml when this is done and confirmed we will see your apology?
On Westmont Says Its Students Cleared of Tea Fire Wrongdoing
3 of 3 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 19 at 6:16 p.m.
Did Westmont have any choice but to announce that it was not Westmont students?
For 24 hours there has been thousands of fingers pointing at Westmont students. And attacking the students for any faith belief or political belief they hold. They have been attacked because they do not allow alcohol or co-ed dorms on campus.
While Westmont has suffered the biggest damages and known it was not Westmont students, they have not pointed the finger, but instead of gone to help other in the community, even though many have no home and no belongings.
It would be nice for all those who have attacked the college to now step forward on this blog and show their integrity and apologize.
On Westmont Says Its Students Cleared of Tea Fire Wrongdoing
1 of 1 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 19 at 11:47 a.m.
bigsunami44 -
From my earlier post. When your uninformed accusation is proven wrong, will you formally apologize to Westmont and all of us on this blog.
And I am confident that Westmont will apologize if their students were responsible, or if anyone there makes bold uninformed statements, will you big sunami 44?
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1 of 1 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on December 2 at 11:09 p.m.
I want my marriage to my wife to be called a gay union - is that okay?
On Explain Yourself