MAILBAG:

There have been several letters and editorials insinuating that Mayor Mansoor violated the civil rights of Benito Acosta because he let one of the representatives of the Minutemen speak for 45 seconds longer than Acosta was allowed to speak.

What is hardly mentioned are the prior actions by both the Minutemen and Acosta.

None of the Minutemen asked to be called by any name other than his legal name. Acosta likes to be called by Coyotl Tezcatlipoca (what kind of an adult uses a fake name if they are not in Vegas?).

According to the Aztecs, Coyotl is a coyote that is considered the trickster. The god, Tezcatlipoca, specializes in night, death and temptation. He carries a smoking mirror, which bewilders enemies and confuses the issues, and is happiest when leading people down the garden path to evil. The Aztecs consider him the devil. This is a very interesting choice of nom de plume.

No one from the Minutemen interrupted City Council meetings with chanting, shouting and banging of drums outside the council chambers so no one inside could hear the council proceedings.

No one from the Minutemen intentionally bumped into and jostled people walking down the isles during a City Council meeting, trying to incite a response.

No one from the Minutemen blocked the door to council meetings and called people entering Nazis.

I realize that Acosta is just a child, but there is a time in everyone’s life when they need to learn some hard lessons. You are not only judged by what you do today, but more importantly by what you did yesterday and the day before. You cannot expect to be treated with the same respect as others when your past actions are so repulsive.

Based on his history, I believe there were many people in the audience who assumed he wanted to incite a riot. It had nothing to do with his civil rights, just his past uncouth, uncivil and disruptive behavior.

JUDITH BERRY

Costa Mesa