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Friday, December 20, 2002

The GOP must seize this chance to embrace all Americans

Trent Lott should be relieved from his position as Senate Republican leader. I say this as a proud, card-carrying Republican who actively supports President Bush and most of the Republican agenda.

The issue here is for the Republican leadership of this country to hold itself to the same standard that it set when President Clinton was under fire. We Republicans were outraged at the blind defense of Clinton in the face of undeniable dishonesty.

While Lott's offense does not quite rise to the level of lying under oath, it certainly reopens wide the terrible wounds of racism.

I personally believe that Lott just got carried away while celebrating the human accomplishment of Sen. Strom Thurmond's reaching 100 years of age. But the damage was done. Lott's statement, and all the baggage that goes with it, is just not acceptable, especially for a party leader.

President Bush has done an excellent job of making his Cabinet and advisers look more like America. The Republican Party now has a duty to further this goal by policing its own and replacing Lott. An opportunity is presenting itself here. There is now a chance to truly demonstrate the desire to create a comfortable place under the Republican umbrella for every American.

BERNARD D. NEWMAN
Fox Chapel

It's all about the brain

It was a "mistake of the head, not of the heart." Thus spake Republican Sen. Trent Lott ("Lott Tries to Stem Political Damage as Right Grumbles," Dec. 12). Will crosses and Mississippi ever stop burning?

Wait a cotton-picking moment, Lott! Most of us have been taught that the center of thinking is the brain and not in the blood pump in one's chest. From Lott's brain high above his heart came the words of praise for that gasping Southern segregationist Strom Thurmond.

Do Republicans who think they are "conservative" really have brains that are kept alive by their hearts? Or do they have something otherly inward that mangles that brainwork?

Check out Sen. Don Nickles of Oklahoma, also. He's a classic far-right "dittohead."

SAM MINNITTE
Monaca

True to GOP principles

It is amusing to see Republicans like Post-Gazette columnist Jack Kelly ("Trent Lott Must Go," Dec. 13 and "Give It Up, Trent," Dec. 18) turn on one of their leaders for being untrue to the principles of the Republican Party.

It seems to me that Lott was being all too true to Republican principles when he expressed nostalgia for segregation. After all, he was speaking to a gathering of Republican leaders and certainly knew his audience's prejudices. Why didn't anyone present object right then and there?

There is a reason that roughly nine out of 10 African Americans do not vote for Republicans and no amount of outrage over Lott's "idiocy" (for showing his party's true colors?) can change that.

GARY SCHAUB JR.
Mount Washington

Our future in the balance

As a lifetime citizen of Western Pennsylvania, let me begin by saying that I love this state and this city. I wish them only the best. But lately I'm beginning to doubt that we will live up to our full potential.

Recently I read an article indicating the deplorable state of our public education system ("Tests Show Achievement Gaps Statewide," Dec. 5). I was outraged to read that many poor or disadvantaged children in public schools scored significantly below other students on the state assessment test.

We have to do something -- and fast! So, does that mean that we put them in remedial math and reading classes leading to overcrowded classrooms? No! We have to make sure that our legislators understand that all schools need adequate funds to provide children with a quality education.

We have to come up with better solutions to address their educational needs. Pennsylvania needs to take a more proactive stance in the education of her future wage earners and leaders. We cannot continue to fail our children.

Think about it: if they can barely read and do math, how are they going to fare in the workplace? More often than not, these students will end up in low-wage jobs. And I didn't even mention college.

Pennsylvania is working hard to be one of the biotech and technological leaders in the country; that means we will need to have an educated work force. Do the math; if students aren't scoring well on the state assessment tests in high school, how are they going to compete successfully in college and the work force?

Gov.-elect Ed Rendell said he will work to increase school funding and make funds more equitable across the state. Please hold him to his word; our future is at stake.

PEGGY DONALDSON
Oakland

Glad Coyne is gone

U.S. Rep. Bill Coyne is retiring from the halls of Congress after 22 years representing the city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. In my opinion, Rep. Coyne was a shadowy figure with a lackluster political agenda.

He did little, if anything, in the past 22 years to stimulate the economic growth of the Pittsburgh area. I would like to know how much bacon he brought home to the 14th Congressional District.

In the Nov. 30 article "Coyne Touts Liberal Credentials as He Says Farewell to Congress," Coyne states that "you get to a point where you don't want to do something any longer." This is an understatement for Mr. Coyne. What did he do in the first place?

His political claim to fame, unfortunately, was to help legislate a woman's right to choose.

This is one union Democrat who is glad to see him go.

JERRY DONOVAN
Penn Hills

Our real business

Cheers to John Fagan of Shaler for his Dec. 12 letter "Clinton Got Our Nation in Good Shape, While Bush Is Ruining Us."

What President Clinton did as president was our business. What he did as a husband was Hillary's business. Enough said.

We all know where the wonderful tax breaks and refunds are going. Certainly not to the people who need it most. Look around; are we better off now than we were two years ago? I think not.

We need a president who puts our country first, then let him help the world. President Bush is not a peacemaker. Sadly, we may all pay the consequences.

NORMA GIOVENGO
Avalon

What's to debate?

I am tired of hearing the Catholic Church debate what its policy should be toward priests who abuse children. It seems to me that in the United States all citizens are created equal under the law. Since child abuse is a crime, it should simply be reported to the authorities for investigation.

The courts should decide the guilt or innocence of the accused and also mete out punishment for those who are found guilty. If a man is found guilty, then after he serves a sentence, the church should decide what it should do as far as the man's priesthood is concerned. It is just that simple.

ANN G. BIHARY
Monroeville

Americans' obesity is too complex for this blame game

I take strong offense at the shortsighted opinion piece by Ellen Ruppel Shell (" 'Big Food' Likes Obese Consumers," Dec. 4 Midweek Perspectives). Blaming the restaurant and food industries for obesity among some Americans is naive and simplistic and ignores the multifaceted factors related to this complex issue.

Health experts everywhere agree that all foods can be part of a healthy diet. Government studies clearly prove that food cannot be, and is not, the sole culprit of the increasing rate of obesity. Encouraging regular exercise and nutrition education are initiatives supported not only by the restaurant industry, but also by Congress and President Bush. Initiatives such as these should be at the heart of obesity prevention.

Seventy-six percent of all meals are eaten at home. Yet when Americans eat out, recent research shows that 95 percent of individuals feel they are qualified to make their own dietary choices, and more than two out of three say they are tired of the "food police" telling them what is good and what is bad when it comes to food.

The restaurant industry is an industry of choice, and customers want options and flexibility in the foods they eat. For this reason, restaurants have always offered consumers a wide variety of venues, menu items and portion sizes. The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is through physical activity and balancing a variety of food choices. And those food choices are on the menus in restaurants everywhere.

STEVEN C. ANDERSON
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Restaurant Association
Washington, D.C.