History is replete with instances of war as the only just course
There are good reasons for both supporting and opposing a war in Iraq, but I do not believe it is necessary to insult your opponents, as Tony Norman did in his Jan. 24 column ("Marching for Peace Is a Walk in the Right Direction").
In 1861 the same American character traits he appears to despise led most citizens of the North to oppose the peace party then known as the Copperheads. The result was the preservation of the union and the end of slavery. The cost in lives and treasure was heavy, but who doubts that the "war party" was right?
Again in 1941 our country took up the cause of war when concessions would have placated the enemy. In fact, history is replete with instances where war is the only just and proper course to take.
I am not saying this is necessarily true of Iraq, but Mr. Norman should take great care before maligning those who choose to fight for the freedom of an oppressed people. There are pacifists who believe all wars are unjust, but if most Americans believed this, then a large part of the world would be living in subjugation and our own freedom would be in peril.
You can have civil debate about when to fight, but demonizing either side is worse than futile. Mr. Norman serves no purpose with his invidious comments on behalf of the "peace party."
DAVE BUCHANAN
Wilkins
Better battles to fight
Kudos to Tony Norman for his insightful Jan. 24 column ("Marching for Peace Is a Walk in the Right Direction"). War is caused by political leaders in corporate pockets stirring up patriotism and nationalism in the masses of us who have to pledge our sons, daughters and selves to satisfy their face-saving and pocket-filling.
Too bad they can't stir us up for saving AIDS victims in developing countries, equalizing the world's wealth so that there are not half of the world's people living on $1 a day or controlling our rampant consumption of resources to the detriment of our environment and the eventual destruction of the Earth.
CATHY HOROWITZ
Squirrel Hill
Proud of peace events
The first event I attended after returning to Pittsburgh last year from three years living in Vermont was the St. Patrick's Day Parade, which I wandered into accidentally. The spectacle of hundreds of drunken, disorderly people Downtown made me wonder what kind of city I had come back to.
Last weekend, however, was decidedly different. I attended the Parade for Peace on the South Side and the rally in Oakland on Sunday. Thousands of concerned, caring people braved the cold and snow to express their opposition to war with Iraq. The events were clearly a success.
Thank you to the Thomas Merton Center, Pittsburgh Organizing Group, and the Pittsburgh police for showing restraint and tolerance. But, most of all, thank you to the people of Pittsburgh, and everyone else who attended, for being willing to stand up and be counted. We've done this city proud.
GEORGE KANAKIS
Point Breeze
No arrests of anarchists?
I am a native of Pittsburgh but still proud to call it my home. I read Monday's article "Anarchists Branch Out From Anti-War March" (Jan. 27). My opinion is simple: The fact that this group was not immediately dispersed and arrested by the Pittsburgh police sickens me with disbelief.
These individuals have the right to peacefully assemble -- a right we provide them. They forfeited that right the minute their "message" entailed throwing a brick through a Marines Corps recruiting office in Oakland, exposing their ignorance toward authority, democracy and humanity.
These individuals are nothing more than punks who are exploring the developing intellect of their youth and compensating for their lack of true understanding with mob mentality. They should be exposed as such.
These delinquents have and are using a window of opportunity, in a time when our country questions its justification for war, to pursue their own immature agenda. I wish I could have been there, but more importantly, I wish the true patriots of Pittsburgh would have been there for me.
2ND LT. PHIL KIDD
U.S. Army
Dahlonega, Ga.
Headline off the mark
I was compelled to write this letter after reading the article "Police Are Training to Use Deadly Force" (Jan. 19). I would begin by saying the article itself, by Joe Smydo, was very well-written. He did a fine job in reporting that police today are better trained than they ever were, not only in the use of deadly force, but in the use of any force at all.
Capt. Bill Bryker of the Washington County Sheriff's Department stated it best in the article when he said a weapon "weighs less than 3 pounds, but the weight of the responsibility is heavy." Officers are well aware of the responsibility they bear each time they are confronted with a use-of-force situation. But, unfortunately, as the article so articulately demonstrates, oftentimes an officer is left with no choice but to use force.
So, my complaint is not with the article itself -- it is with the editor who attached such an irresponsible headline to it. I believe that the way this headline was written implies that we, as a profession, have just begun to train our officers in the use of force, and it further implies that through this training, we are encouraging our officers to use deadly force. If this were an ad, it would be construed as "deceptive advertising."
The headline was improper and irresponsible, and could serve to incite the emotions of someone who would choose to read only the headline and not the full article. Through this headline, the editor did not do justice to the writer, to the police as a profession or to the community, which deserves to know that their police are better trained than ever in the performance of their duties.
CATHERINE R. McNEILLY
Brookline
Editor's note: The writer is a Pittsburgh police commander currently on sick leave.
Roddey the reformer
Four years ago, Allegheny County elected Jim Roddey to lead our new form of government. I am one of the many Democrats who voted for Mr. Roddey in that election. While the Roddey administration has not been perfect, Jim Roddey has worked hard to balance our budget, control spending and promote our region.
It amazes me that my fellow Democrats, especially those on County Council, have fought Mr. Roddey's effort to bring the same sense of fiscal discipline to our county row officers. Now they are doing every thing they can to block the Roddey reforms in an effort to improve their chances of taking back the courthouse.
I am one voter who is glad that Mr. Roddey is seeking another term as county chief executive ("Roddey Starts Re-election Bid Amid Fanfare: He Defends Record on Taxes, Spending," Jan. 28). Allegheny County still has many problems, and Jim Roddey is the only person committed to bringing much-needed reforms to county government.
BILL HOUSTON
Blawnox
Insulting jurors is no solution to malpractice costs
President Bush, speaking in Scranton recently, referred to those who may suffer the consequences of "a lousy jury and a lousy verdict" ("Bush Blames Lawsuits for High Malpractice Cost," Jan. 17). I believe he owes the citizens of this state an apology.
Who are jurors anyway? Jurors are voters. Jurors are taxpayers. Jurors are the citizens who make up the government of the people, for the people and by the people.
Why would Mr. Bush insult jurors who have heard evidence and made decisions in cases just because he doesn't like the result? He implies, with his comments, that jurors who award damages to injured patients are bad. Presumably, jurors who decide in favor of doctors and hospitals must be good juries in his book. I would remind all, including President Bush, that our jury system is the best the world ever created.
The president apparently wants us to ignore the facts and evidence. It is easier, that way, to side with the wealthy special interests who support the president. The president should know that, nevertheless:
1) Between 1997 and 2001 in Pennsylvania, malpractice payments for settlements and jury awards have risen only 8 percent per year. This is less than the increase in the medical rate of inflation for the same period and significantly lower than the increase in doctors' insurance premiums.
2) There were only 22 awards in 2002 for $1 million dollars or more, which is down by 50 percent over the two preceding years.
3) Almost 100,000 patients die in this nation from preventable medical errors. With a population of 12 million or so in Pennsylvania, roughly 3,000 of these deaths could be occurring in Pennsylvania. Of these 3,000 deaths, 22 individuals could have had legitimate cases.
I believe that President Bush should have suggested solutions, not offer insults to jurors, injured patients and their families. If he is worried about only legitimate cases getting into court, he should have endorsed Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to adopt certificates of merit. This would assure that before any case was filed, it would be reviewed by a medical professional who is willing to certify that the case is legitimate.
I hope that the next time Mr. Bush comes to Pennsylvania, he offers us solutions, not insults.
RICHARD J. SCHUBERT
President-elect
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
Downtown
Thursday, January 30, 2003
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