Dear Editor,

From reading their letters and hearing their comments before the BOS, it seems like those who want to “Save Kelseyville” believe that their town is in danger of being destroyed. Are they imagining that vicious interlopers will burn the buildings to the ground, and that the people of the village will be enslaved, raped and murdered?

In truth, members of local tribes, who suffered those very crimes, have not suggested that the town be destroyed and its people exterminated or displaced. They simply want to change a name that honors the two most notorious members of the Kelsey family, men who are well-known to have committed terrible crimes.

The name is actually a blight on a rather nice place. We have no towns named for Capone, Dahmer or Manson, even though they are very famous. Why name a town for the Kelsey brothers?

There are many historic figures who did both good and bad things, but their good acts are historically important, so they are justifiably honored despite their bad actions. Their names are not forgotten. Every society needs to weigh the merits against the errors or crimes of important figures. Hitler invented the Volkswagen, but towns in Austria are not named for him. Stalingrad was quickly returned to being called Volgograd when Stalin was dead.

It seems like the writer who doesn't want history to be “erased” is trying to say that keeping the name will prevent others from repeating bigoted and ignorant acts in the future. However the sentiments publicly expressed by the “Save Kelseyville” group effectively disprove that. In fact, honoring two hard-hearted men seems to encourage similar negative and unfeeling attitudes towards local tribe members among those so inclined.

Renaming the town Konocti will not cause it to vanish! A vote for Measure U is a vote for respect and reconciliation.

Roberta Actor lives in Lakeport, California.