Mailbag:

I must take extreme issue with the column by Geoff West on Wednesday (“City should be forthright about safety,” Sounding Off).

I am astonished at the offhand way he claims special insight as to the motives that drove so many to the shores of Balboa Peninsula for the big waves. Contrary to his insulting and asinine accusations, I was not there to see “another person get pounded to death on the rocks.”

I was there because I am thrilled by the drama of big waves crashing ashore and mystified by the courage or foolhardiness of those willing to venture into such conditions.

I was there when that poor soul died, and contrary to West’s ridiculous contentions, nobody pumped a fist and nobody yelled “That’s what I’m talking about!” when the incident unfolded. Instead, I saw people with mouths covered by trembling hands. I saw tears leak from horrified eyes. I saw hundreds of people signaling in unison in a vain attempt to guide the lifeguards and fellow swimmers to the location of the person in such desperate trouble.

I had never seen another human being die in real time before that day, and not a day has passed since that has not included those haunting images. I hope this was some sort of mistake that happened under the pressure of a deadline, for if West read back his piece and left that accusation in on purpose, then I would say it shows more about the dark view this author takes of his fellow man than it does about the motives of those on the shore that awful day.

JONATHAN HEBBARD

Costa Mesa

Faith is not an issue of country

Here we go again. Will Wendy Leece ever understand that belief in God has absolutely nothing to do with patriotism (“Leece: ‘In God’ is about unity,” Wednesday)? The Bush administration tried to shove that concept down our throats and was met with no success.

Patriotism is one’s love for their country no matter if they are religious, agnostic or an atheist. Let’s try to put this matter to rest once and for all.

RHODA FRIEDMAN

Newport Beach