Poll: Public split on peace pole issue

Respondents to this week’s Argus-Courier online poll were split nearly equally on whether the Petaluma Service Alliance should be allowed to install plaques on the new peace pole in Walnut Park that spell out the word “peace” phonetically in many foreign languages.

Forty-four percent felt that the city should allow the plaques, while 42 percent disagreed. Here are some of the comments:

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“The word ‘peace’ should be written in each language’s own alphabet, not some bastardized English mash-up. What’s the point of transliterating foreign languages to English letters? Does that mean anything to anyone? The phonetic spelling using English characters is stupid and disrespectful of other cultures, nations and history. The Peace Pole is not a cartoon.”

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“Why are they spelled phonetically, and not correctly? Is this an example of how English-speaking Americans are too stupid to learn words in other languages? I think the phonetic spelling of the words is a much bigger issue than where they will be placed.”

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“It’s absurd to post ‘phonetic’ words of peace … crummy way to teach diversity - and peace!”

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“What genius allowed that monument in our park? It looks so out of place. The Vietnam War Memorial is classy and thoughtful, the peace pole has a good message but looks like an ancient Egyptian funeral monument … and stands out like a sore mummy.”

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“I prefer the word be spelled in the actual languages text/symbols.”

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“I don’t think a “Peace Pole” should be there period.”

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“Not the first time there has been a disagreement about peace poles here in town!”

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“I would need to know what the languages are and see the actual plaques and the phonetics used before making judgment.”

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“Instead, let’s call our town ‘The Petaluma Commune.’ Since that is what the aging west side ‘wannabe’ or ‘use to’ be hippies would like. Good grief lets start real topical conversations about desalinization plants, open government, transparent police department and traffic.”

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“No, one language will unify people. English is the one language that brought this country together. Stop dividing people with different languages.”