Schools should not censor plays, especially at CAPA
Recently Pittsburgh school board member Mark Brentley, Director of Secondary Schools Cassandra Kemp and Principal Michael Thorsen from Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts decided that, because of a complaint from a mother concerning two musicals at CAPA, both Mr. Thorsen and Dr. Kemp's office must review all scripts that are to be performed. Post-Gazette Drama Editor Chris Rawson mentioned the development in his June 12 column ("CAPA Faces Dilemma").

I was shocked and dismayed over this new censorship ruling and disappointed in the lack of support that the administration of CAPA offered their professional theater instructor, Mindy Rossi-Stabler.

It seemed that a parent felt uncomfortable with the subject matter -- racism and its harmful effects on society ("Ragtime" was performed by CAPA over a year ago and "Parade" done recently). Uncomfortable? But this is why we have art -- to cause us to think and consider important social and cultural events and then provoke public discourse. I guess the parent and these public school representatives felt that if we don't deal with these issues they won't exist.

I urge all parents and taxpayers to write the school board and let their voices be heard that censorship does not belong in our school system, especially at CAPA, the arts high school flagship of the region. "Ragtime" deals with racism and "Parade" with anti-Semitism. Wow, let me think ... have you ever heard of "Othello" and "Merchant of Venice"? I guess Dr. Kemp, Mr. Brentley and Mr. Thorsen will have to sharpen their scissors and exorcise the racism and anti-Semitism from these two classics.

STEPHEN PELLEGRINO
Oakland

Sentence too lenient
The headline "Ex-City Aide's Jail Term Called Too Light" (June 11) is an understatement. Here we have a drug dealer who was a supervisor in the City-County Building, selling drugs on the job. He deserves 20 years and a minimum $200,000 fine. (He received three to six years and a fine of $80,000.) This must be discrimination and politics as usual in Pittsburgh.

LORRAINE LAU
Kennedy

Parenting is tough
I am writing in response to the June 8 letter "Stroller Etiquette." First of all, the only "ignorant and rude" person is you, Nicole Mullen. Strollers should be banned from all city events? Are you for real? Oh my, you have had to walk "on a curb" or "stepped on nice grass" -- give me a break. I have carried my kids in backpacks and put them in strollers and they have never hit anybody nor have I ever run anybody over.

Parenting is the hardest but most rewarding job in the world. It is the best job I have ever had, and I try to do my best every day. Someone who has no idea what they are talking about should not be commenting on parenting or children.

ERIN HUMPHREY
Pine

Drivers are polite
In a recent visit to Pittsburgh (which I have visited many times), I was told by no fewer than two people that Pittsburgh drivers are too polite. I found this hard to believe. But when I was allowed to shift lanes on the Fort Pitt bridge by courteous drivers, I began to become a believer. It would not take much for a city to have more polite drivers than the city where I live: Mesa, Ariz. I am convinced that the most inconsiderate drivers in the United States are in the Phoenix-Mesa metro area, but then I have never driven in Los Angeles.

My complaint with Pittsburgh is not its drivers, but its street patterns and nothing can be done about that. It is my belief that the early settlers of Pittsburgh turned their cows out to pasture in the morning and the trails which the cows pioneered became Pittsburgh's streets. Of course the problem is the three rivers and the hilly terrain, and there is no remedy for that. So, Pittsburgh drivers, ignore the charge that you are too polite: Keep up the good work.

CARL M. FRANK
Mesa, Ariz.

No fan of Santorum
I've written to condemn Sen. Rick Santorum, not to praise him. While Sara Amundson of the Doris Day Animal League ("Sen. Santorum Deserves Praise for His Animal Welfare Bill," June 12 letter) finds it laudable that our elitist senator need only introduce a bill about animal abuse -- and not to pass it -- I find it reprehensible that Sen. Santorum has favored bills against the citizens of Pennsylvania and our nation that have become law.

It's deplorable that Sen. Santorum told flood-ravaged Pittsburghers last September that "the federal government doesn't have money for this type of relief," while Florida residents were being showered with billions in relief. Sen. Santorum also insulted every citizen by voting to reduce Medicare/Medicaid payments to seniors while enjoying the best medical care and retirement plans in the nation.

And, as corporations walked away from pension plan obligations to their employees, Sen. Santorum ignored Pennsylvanians by being in lockstep with Bush's statement of no help for pensioned steelworkers. Santorum also needs to be denounced for exploiting the suffering of the Schiavo family while his real purpose for being in Florida was political fund-raisers.

Why hasn't this functionary of the animal league explained to us how grateful we should be to Sen. Santorum for these Senate actions and votes? Instead, she reaches to the animal kingdom to find a semblance of praise for this absentee senator. As Sen. Santorum sits comfortably in his suburban Virginia home and tells Pennsylvanians "that it's good to struggle," it's significantly noteworthy to ask why he is against animal abuse, but favors people abuse.

THOMAS R. ZENI
Washington, Pa.

Good works
Congratulations to Candycia Thompson, Angela Fowler, Jana'a Washington and Catherine Moore, the four young ladies graduating from the Neighborhood Academy ("Tiny School, Huge Dreams: Academy's Program Reshapes Four Seniors' Lives and Launches Them Toward College," May 31).

And congratulations and thank you to the Rev. Tom Johnson and his staff for their dedication, determination and love of young people for helping their students get a fair chance at life. Tom Johnson, the former pastor of Allegheny United Church of Christ and a former teacher at Shady Side Academy and Community College of Allegheny County, could have succeeded in life as a pastor or in a regular teaching job, but he has chosen to give 12-hour days to young people who otherwise may not have had the will or opportunity to succeed. Thank you, Tom Johnson. May the Lord be with you as you continue your work at the Neighborhood Academy.

JOAN WALDSCHMIDT
North Side
Editor's note: The writer is a member of the Allegheny United Church of Christ.

You can be part of the solution to homelessness
The May 26 article "Beggars Need a Change, Not Coins: Ad Campaign Seeks Support for Programs, Not for Individuals," brings to the forefront the issue of panhandlers and homelessness. It's unfortunate that so many residents of Pittsburgh find themselves in a position where they feel the need to beg. It's certainly not attractive to see people begging and/or residing on the streets, but it is a real reflection of the problems we face as poverty, joblessness and homelessness are sure to increase.

Local service providers have helped hundreds of people transition from the streets to permanent housing, but funding streams are drying up due to cuts at the federal, state and local levels. Access to needed medical, behavioral health and housing services will become even more difficult for these vulnerable and impoverished members of our society.

Homeless persons are the true victims here. Not only are they exposed to the weather and the criminal element, but also they are victims of our own prejudices, scorn and fears, as the photograph by John Beale in the article so poignantly depicts.

Most of us want to see the problem go away. It doesn't make us feel good when we see another person's dignity being stripped away in the form of homelessness or begging.

We can manage these painful feelings in a number of ways: We may resort to blaming or criminalizing the victim, we may ignore them and the problems they represent, or we can work together to do what we can to help solve these problems. Our hope is that we will choose the latter. We want the problem to be solved and the people helped.

As we consider the plight of that person we see begging on the street, let us also consider how we can be part of the solution. To see how you can get involved, visit Allegheny County's plan to end homelessness at www.county.allegheny.pa.us/dhs/CS/homeless10yrplan.html.

Here's something to ponder: If we did not see the beggars and the homeless, would we be moved to help?

CHRISTOPHER LAEMMLE
Squirrel Hill
DIANE JOHNSON
McKees Rocks
Editor's note: The writers are members of the Homeless Outreach and Coordinating Committee of Allegheny County. This letter was signed by nine other members.