The Mon-Fayette Expressway will hurt, not help, small towns
I have been interested for many years in the planning and construction of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, since it was a work assignment to ascertain the potential impacts on my employer in West Mifflin. I've attended many meetings, both formal and informational, on the status of this endeavor. Recently I took my first drive on the road from Route 51 to California and back. I was very unimpressed -- not only at how this project attempts to accomplish its goals, but also at the route in general.
As I passed by all of the towns that were supposed to benefit from this project, I wondered who, except for inhabitants, would be exiting to these towns. Instead of the old route through the towns, on which I might purchase lottery tickets, bread, liquor, food and gas, I blew right by them to another venue for me to do the same. I could imagine all of the commuters, truckers and tourists who would do the same, pass by without visiting these towns.
So I focused my attention on what the connection of Interstates 68 and 70 to Pittsburgh would mean. Except for a fast way to get there, what am I missing? If you take into account how long it took to get this far, it's a fast way to get part way, but I anticipate a long haul in finishing the last segments. I figure that I will be retired by the time this expressway will be ready in its entirety. Then, I will use it to leave the state more expeditiously on the way south to my future. Will there be many others left to establish business ventures that this was supposed to open? I saw no trucks on my trip.
On a purely entertainment note, I was dually disappointed. The bridges are more spectacular from below -- there is rarely a great view available from atop. The most noticeable scenery was of people's property that should have been shielded from view (come on, seven abandoned vehicles in the back yard?). I fought with the winds while inserting the paper version of the tolls into the collection machine. I encountered a speed trap within three miles of entry. I wondered when the first driver would dive over the hill upon exiting north on Route 51 while failing to negotiate the 90- degree left turn. I saw a dead deer on the berm. I was virtually alone at rush hour. When I did encounter another vehicle, its driver was delaying me by fishing for change.
The April 12 dedication ceremony for the expressway's new portion was attended by protesters, too. I understand what message the protesters were sending. I only hope that the people and politicians up on this end take such an active part in re-evaluating the impact of what I feel will be even more of an exodus from the city to suburbia.
D.G. ROJOHN
West Mifflin
Vive la difference
Mark Bowden's essay "We Are Not the World" (April 14 Forum) begins with the important observation that the American ideal of secular capitalist democracy is not universally shared. But instead of examining the deeper reasons for resistance, he then uses poor examples, such as Bosnia and Somalia, to illustrate his point. To make matters worse, he then suggests that we pursue our values on the global stage with missionary zeal.
A century ago, William James recommended that we apply our precepts of tolerance internationally. He thought that we were obliged to make an effort to understand why other countries prefer to organize themselves upon principles which are not identical to our own. We need to follow James' advice and enter more fully into the dynamics of difference.
There are reasonable dissimilarities, which include the subordination of economics to values thought to be more conducive to civilization and the choice of what a particular culture believes to be a better balance between freedom and authority than what obtains in the United States.
Modern Spain provides a relevant example. It has achieved a considerable degree of material prosperity without allowing that form of well-being to become the exclusive standard of the good life. It also has a constitutional regime that accommodates monarchy with parliamentary government. And it does not exclude religious values from the formation of public policy. Only an ideologue would say that this is not a progressive society.
CORNELIUS F. MURPHY JR.
Uptown
Hate does not help
I am writing with great disappointment in reply to Jack Kelly's April 21 column ("Peace Has a Chance: Israeli Power Crushes Unrealistic Palestinian Hopes"). The column was no more than a pile of paragraphs tied to each other by only one theme: Palestinian and Arab hate!
In his incoherent column, Kelly did not hide his joy for the brutal assault on Palestinian civilians by the heavily armed Israeli forces. In this wave of Israeli incursions into the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel went after suicide bombers but innocent civilians were not spared. Kelly did not write a single word about that.
Furthermore, Israel went into the territories with heavy tanks, F-16s, Apache helicopter gunships and other heavy ordinance that is paid for by American taxpayer money: $3 billion a year in direct aid to Israel. That is $14 million per day!
Kelly states that "the collapse of the Soviet Union . . . deprived radical Muslims of their superpower sponsor." He can't be further from truth. Islamic militias never had any connection to communist Russia. Their superpower sponsor was England (e.g. Muslim Brothers in Egypt) and the United States (e.g. Mujahiddin in Afghanistan).
I am not an Islamist nor am I a Palestinian. I am a pacifist Arab American who has friends in both camps, Israelis and Palestinian. I hope that all future columns by Mr. Kelly will have a more responsible tone to help us all push for peace in the Middle East.
BURHAN GHARAIBEH
Squirrel Hill
Israel must defend itself
It's troubling to see that individuals, including some liberal Jewish Americans, are eager to speak up to support the Palestinian behavior ("West Bank's Agony Reaches Into Local Family," April 16). Just because there are two sides to a conflict does not mean that both sides are morally equivalent. They are not. The Israelis are justified and the Palestinians are not.
There should be more outrage against the savage Palestinian homicide bombings of innocent civilians in Israel. Arafat is shrewd, pathetic and destructive. He deserves no sympathy. Americans need to stop bending over backwards making apologies and rationalizations. Political correctness is only going to prolong the conflict and give our enemies a false sense of moral justification.
Israelis are fighting for their nation's very existence. We have a responsibility to support them and apply the painful lessons learned from Sept. 11, because their fight is no different than ours.
TOM DiPASQUALE
Scott
Praise today's priests
Donn Adams compared today's priests with Navy chaplains he knew in Korea and remarked, "Those guys were fine men -- something I can't say of the current crop" ("We Should Be Given Banned Priests' Names," April 21 letters).
Statements that generalize show a blatant lack or disregard of facts and therefore stand out as merely a Catholic-bashing opinion. I feel sorry for those who haven't had the good fortune to work with and really know today's priests, the vast majority being concerned, dedicated, caring individuals. I was a young boy 50 years ago and remember a lot of fine priests from that time. But when it comes to the issues of human understanding and relating to the true spiritual and material needs of the people, I'll take the "current crop" in a heartbeat.
MIKE WOSHNER
Carrick
We all have bad habits
Concerning Kenneth A. Perkins' letter about increasing the cigarette tax in Pennsylvania ("A Win-Win Increase," April 14): Of course his words seem so logical that one would find me arguing with him to be absurd, but I must. Unfortunately, anymore our world has become about money and not the common good of personkind.
People were never put on Earth to live forever. The world is a tough place, and as humans we often pick up questionable practices. While one may not wish to encourage people to smoke, one can see it is simply just another habit we humans lean on.
To encourage people to take better care of themselves seems most noble, but again we live in a tough world. I am sure if I looked closely at Mr. Perkins' life I could find some habit or nuisance to tax. It is very sad when we pick on any one bad or questionable habit.
STEPHEN LIPCHACK
Highland Park
Traffic stress is making Pittsburghers mean
I grew up in Pittsburgh and have always been proud to say so. While away from the city for five years, I was constantly bragging about the kindness of people in this city to my friends and always quickly defended Pittsburgh if someone had a negative thing to say. After what I saw in Downtown recently, I'm not so sure of the Pittsburgh spirit anymore.
I was waiting for my ride outside Point Park College when I saw a man in his SUV threaten to get out and punch a woman in the face. The woman had pulled into an intersection; then the traffic stopped moving and she was blocking where the man wanted to go. The woman was obviously frazzled when she realized her mistake, but there was nothing she could do.
When I heard this man yelling, I began to wonder: Have Pittsburghers let all the construction take the friendliness out of them? I hope the answer is no. Sure, the detours and the stop-and-go are frustrating, but yelling and honking aren't going to change a red light to green or make the traffic cop favor your lane.
I hope the next time people find themselves stressed in the Downtown rush hour, they take a deep breath and realize everyone else is stressed also. Keep Pittsburgh the friendly city it has always been.
SARA-SUMMER WOLF
Mt. Lebanon
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