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step make everyone happy? Absolutely not. But as Commissioner Halkiotis said at a <br />recent meeting, the writing is on the wall. The people have spoken loud and clear and <br />they da not want merger. Absolutely. Da some want merger? Of course they do. Are <br />they the majority of even the district they claim to advocate for? I think not. <br />Commissioner Carey and merger advocates have spoken many times about the need <br />for you to take that brave step and to do the right thing for all of the children of Orange <br />County. I would contend that that right step is to end this discussion, for now, and allow <br />the deep wounds of divisiveness to begin to heal. I would contend that the right step <br />would be to move forward with the task force that Commissioners Jacobs and Gordon <br />have proposed. I would ask that that committee be a fair representation of the diversity <br />of our County, and furthermore, that it not include the leading voices who are either for <br />or against merger. If you choose to take the bold step to end this debate, will the merger <br />debate be over forever? Absolutely not. It is, however, my belief that if adequate time is <br />devoted to in-depth research and analysis of our two districts, we can meet around the <br />table with what is really best for all of Orange County's children. <br />Bruce Capehart: Good evening Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to <br />speak tonight. It is a pleasure to be here, and I appreciate and wholly support all of the <br />many great comments made by the opponents to merger tonight. The last time I spoke <br />to a crowd this size, it was in Afghanistan, where two months ago I was stationed as a <br />soldier, as a medical officer providing psychiatric care for soldiers stationed overseas. I <br />had a great speech outlined to give tonight, but too many people have said too many <br />good things, and frankly, I'm just going to look dumb trying to repeat them because they <br />have had more time to do their homework on this than I have. So instead, I thought I'd <br />mention that this isn't the first time I've been on television as a result of the school <br />merger. Twenty-five years ago today, I was standing an a street corner in Woodland <br />Hills, California when a helicopter flew overhead and I was looking at my watch thinking, <br />"Where the heck is that school bus, this is the first day of school." It was the first day of <br />forced bussing in the Los Angeles school district, and I was out on a street corner for a <br />couple of hours until a white van pulled up, unmarked van. The door opened. My first <br />12-year old thought is, "Damn, that's a kidnapper, I better run." So I ran down the street. <br />And I heard some guy yelling, "Hey, kid come back." Naw I knew I was doomed, sa I <br />kept running faster. And then my friend yelled, "Hey, he's gat a camera." So I turned <br />around and looked. And it turned out it was a TV crew from the NBC affiliate. Lang <br />story short, my grandma saw me on the Today show the next day. That wasn't for a <br />particularly great reason because my family packed up its bags and we were out of Las <br />Angeles within six months. It did my younger brother and myself no good to be on a bus <br />for two hours each way going to and from school. And after that time one of my <br />resolutions was, "If I ever have kids, I want to make sure something like this doesn't <br />happen again down the road." <br />So, a few years ago when my wife and I moved here from Evanston, Illinois, we decided <br />to pick a school district that we knew would have great schools and no danger of a <br />similar kind of thing happening to our kids in the future. We are fortunate to be in the <br />Chapel Hill school district. Actually, our oldest little munchkin is still a couple of years <br />away from being in school, so it's kind of premature forme to be here tonight. But I'm <br />trying to take along-term view on this whole situation. I'd like my little Virginia and <br />Chamille to go the school in their own neighborhood and not have to ride on the bus for <br />a long time. That gets me around to the second thing of Afghanistan. It may not seem <br />like it has very much to da with Orange County. But you lank around and the first thing <br />you see is grass. There's no grass in Afghanistan. And you see pine trees. And there <br />