 
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tuesday, March 13, 2001
Sharon wants peace but will not negotiate amid violence
I am writing in response to the March 5 commentary by Robert Hazo ("Ariel Sharon, Fuel on the Fire"). The reference to "an unscrupulous zealot, something of a megalomaniac consumed with personal ambition as well as a ruthless warmonger, and, yes, even as a war criminal" should have been a reference to Yasser Arafat and not to the newly elected prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon.
The old refrain of giving "peace a chance" should, in my humble opinion, also be transferred to the newly elected prime minister of Israel. It is interesting that Mr. Hazo cannot deny the fact that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. In no Arab country has there been an election that has democratically chosen a leader. But the leader chosen by Israel does not meet Mr. Hazo's expectations.
Mr. Hazo needs to remember that it was none other than Yasser Arafat who was offered more by Prime Minister Ehud Barak at the negotiations at Camp David than any other prime minister would have offered. The offer to give parts of Jerusalem as well as extensive parts of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority was roundly rejected by Arafat. Arafat immediately went on a trip of the European nations, where even France told him that he had made a mistake. He then returned to the Middle East and immediately unleashed the children to attack Israeli soldiers, many of whom were older teen-agers themselves.
When Sharon made a visit to the Temple Mount, which was clearly his right to do as a member of Parliament and an Israeli citizen, stones had already been stockpiled on the sides, ready to be thrown over into the Jewish-administered Western Wall. Sharon's visit was then seen as the spark that launched the intifada, which has resulted in needless deaths.
Sharon has clearly indicated he would not be establishing new settlements. He also has indicated that there should be no peace talks as long as the Palestinians continue their violence. This seems to me to be quite reasonable. Mr. Hazo feels that Israel should negotiate at the same time that it is being attacked. That is ludicrous.
Just as Nixon was the one to go to China, it might take Sharon to bring peace to the Middle East. Certainly with attitudes such as those reflected by Mr. Hazo, this may never be possible.
RABBI ALVIN K. BERKUN
Peace is a two-way street
Robert Hazo's March 5 column on the Israeli/Arab situation is one-sided and oversimplified for the "complicated and agonizing struggles" he describes ("Ariel Sharon, Fuel on the Fire"). It is not only Israel that is responsible for making peace; a just peace must involve efforts by and benefits to both contending parties.
Mr. Hazo misunderstands Israel's mission to be a light unto the nations. Has not Israel demonstrated the way to create a nation? Has not Israel built the infrastructure of a modern state, cultivated fruit in the desert, improved the health and education of its inhabitants and assisted refugees in reconstructing their lives? Has not Israel demonstrated to the world the way to create a nation? And has not Israel made its methods and techniques available to other young nations?
However, Arab nations have shunned this model. It is not Israel that has denied the Palestinians hope by restricting their residence to refugee camps for more than 50 years. It is not Israel that operates the Palestinian territory to the gain of government officials rather than the populace. Is it a wonder that the Palestinians need hope?
Let us admit the shared nature of responsibility for peace in the Middle East. Let the peace process be a race to enlarge opportunity and prosperity, not a contest for hate, revenge and victimhood.
ANNETTE FRANK FISCH
They want no Israel
In reply to Robert Hazo's March 5 attacks on Ariel Sharon ("Ariel Sharon, Fuel on the Fire"), no Israeli prime minister has ever met with Arab approval. Sharon has been a dedicated soldier fighting successfully to defend Israel each time the Arab/Muslim armies invaded. His bravery and ingenuity in 1948, 1967 and 1973 helped prevent another Holocaust. He is a hero.
When Hazo writes about the "right of return" of refugees, he also should mention the 750,000 Jews who fled the Arab world in 1948. Most were absorbed by Israel, and Hazo should talk to the many huge Arab countries about absorbing its Arab refugees just as Jordan has done.
Hazo writes about unemployment in Gaza and Judea/Samaria (West Bank). Yes, the economy is bad there, but the Arabs and their intifada are responsible. Israel cannot allow these guest workers to return until the suicide bombing and Arab terror cease. Peace will come when the Muslim/Arab world decides to end its 53-year-old war with Israel.
Hazo talks about a "truncated, dwarfish entity" as a Palestinian state. Barak offered part of Jerusalem, Gaza and 95 percent of the West Bank, but Arafat turned it down. What they really want is Tel Aviv and the end of Israel.
RICHARD MOTTSMAN
A tribute to the fallen
One hundred years ago, in 1901, Allegheny Steel was founded in the Alle-Kiski Valley -- 100 years of a proud tradition of making the finest specialty steel in the world. Five generations of steel workers and their families have given literally their blood, sweat and tears to this company. And sometimes, on those occasional black days, those dark days, some have given their lives.
For years, men and women have toiled in our mill -- some men for as long as 50 years. They did this so that they could raise their families and provide them with a better home and opportunities for a better education. They did it for the simple dignity that is earned by an honest day of hard work.
There have been so many years of struggle -- the struggle of labor to form a local and become a part of the United Steelworkers of America and all the joys and hope that come as a result of the fruit of our labor.
But in this year, in our 100th year, we are going to pause. Our union, our company, our families and friends, our community -- we are going to join together to remember, to honor and to give our respects to those who have been killed on the job at this plant. To do this we need the public's help.
USWA, Local 1196, along with Allegheny Ludlum, is planning to erect a monument in front of the union hall. This monument will be dedicated to the memory of union brothers and sisters killed on the job at the Brackenridge and Natrona plants.
We are trying to research names and dates of our fallen workers. This is where we are asking for help. If you know of anyone who was killed on the job at Allegheny Ludlum -- friend, family member or co-worker -- please call the union hall at 724-224-9000 to make sure the name is recorded.
CARL POLISANO
DARYLL SMITH
School board members represent the people and should have significant input
A recent Midweek Perspectives column by Clarke Thomas contained some interesting observations ("Getting the City Schools Back on Track," Feb. 21). Unfortunately, some of them were extremely inaccurate.
He stated that some schools in white neighborhoods had resisted magnets. Magnets were placed in schools where space was available, either by relocating the student body or because enrollment was very low. Carmalt is a whole-school magnet, and Overbrook housed a Spanish magnet along with a feeder pattern population when it was a K-5 school. They are both in "white" neighborhoods, and no one said anything about the color of the students. That is just one example; there are others in other areas of the city.
Also, there is no "thin" population in our small neighborhood schools. We do have excess capacity, but it is mainly in very large schools. Westinghouse, Peabody, Gladstone and Greenway are all very large schools that are half-empty. There was a plan to move the Homewood Montessori Magnet Program to Reizenstein, where there is plenty of space.
We could use the Homewood school for the neighborhood children, which, along with an addition to Lincoln Elementary School, would solve the overcrowding problem in the Homewood area. However, that idea was put aside, and plans are being made to take 91 properties off the tax rolls, and a new school in the Homewood community is going to be built. What sense does this make? Will someone please tell me why we are closing 11 schools and building a new school that we don't need and can't afford? The old plan still makes sense!
Does the board micromanage? Does this board or any school board expect to have input? I certainly do! My constituents expect me to be their voice on this board.
Every superintendent, from Jerry Olsen on, had discussed his or her plans and vision for the district with the board. Dick Wallace had some very innovative ideas, but he knew the changes they caused would impact budget, staffing, building use, etc. So, he talked to the board, he talked to the union and he built a case for why we should go with his ideas. For the most part, we did, because we were part of the process. He also liked Pittsburgh and became part of the fabric of this city.
Superintendent John Thompson, however, seems to have disdain for Pittsburgh. He dislikes the idea that we are a city of neighborhoods and seems to feel we should abandon neighborhoods because he doesn't like it. He talks about studies that have been done that say we have excess capacity, yet he does not discuss with the board how we should address that issue.
The small schools he wants to close are full. They are small by design. They fit the topography of Pittsburgh. They eliminate the need for transportation. And, the newest national research says small schools are good -- something we knew all along! We have never had a discussion about the excess capacity in the large schools, but are expected to close the small, high-achieving ones without looking at alternatives.
I don't follow people on blind faith. Inclusion of the whole board has always been the norm here. However, it appears as though we have had a paradigm shift. If the board is now to be rubber-stamp mushrooms, then I shall insist on being a portabello.
JEAN FINK
Editor's note: The writer is a member of the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education, representing District 7.
Tree of Life Congregation
Squirrel Hill
Squirrel Hill
Mt. Lebanon
Outside Guard
Head Trustee
Local 1196
United Steelworkers of America
Brackenridge
Carrick