Student embarrassed the GOP and his university

To gain insight into the moral compasses guiding a growing portion of the GOP's base, one need look no further than a recent event staged by the Young Republicans of Allegheny County. Their sponsorship of a Howard Dean Scream-Off July 19 outside the Church Brew Works restaurant attracted one young man identified only as a Duquesne University student named Dan, whose participation in the event consisted entirely of shouting "Howard Dean is gay!"

With his rant this young man embarrassed himself. I'm sure his family is thankful that his cowardice in not providing his surname exempted them from humiliation also.

By claiming to be a Duquesne University student, he embarrassed his school which -- according to its student handbook -- expects its students to appreciate diversity and open-mindedness and develop relationships by appreciating oneself and respecting others.

Lastly, he embarrassed the Republican Party.

However, dealing with embarrassment is something the party of Karl Rove, Rick Santorum and Jeff Habay is learning to do with alarming frequency.

This young Republican would probably be surprised to learn that the "G" in GOP stands for "Grand" not "Gay-bashing."

DAN SPARVERO
Fox Chapel

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Silly pursuit

I am fascinated to read in that Congress is seriously considering extending daylight-savings time from early March to early November ("Congress Set to Lengthen Daylight-Saving," July 23). I am baffled by the fact that this is expected to save 100,000 barrels of oil a day. How is the figure calculated?

For incomprehensible reasons, the legislators overlook the fact that the Earth's periodic rotation around the sun has been and will continue to be fixed for eons. We can do whatever we want to with our clocks, but there will always be a certain amount of darkness and a certain amount of daylight. If we try to gain more daylight in the evening, then we will have more darkness in the morning. What energy we might save by using less electric lighting late in the day we will expend by needing more lighting in the morning.

To make a real savings in energy use, how about decreasing the number of night sports games by, say 20 percent? Eliminate the flood and decorative lighting on buildings. Cut down on hours of operation and ever the number of electricity-hungry sign boards. Think of this in terms of Times Square and the Las Vegas Strip.

I know this will never happen -- it's too good an idea -- and politicians don't want to think in terms of good but difficult-to-carry-out ideas.

L. ARTHUR LASSMAN
O'Hara

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Keep him away

This letter is in regard to "Tee-Ball Coach Charged in Assault," July 16. A person who would encourage one child to perpetrate an act of violence against another child should be treated as a child molester. If found guilty, he should spend time in jail and never be allowed to coach, teach or otherwise have contact with children ever again.

The fact that the victim of this violence was allegedly targeted because of his disability is not only sickening but also evidence of a hate crime, in my opinion.

ELLEN CICCONI
North Strabane

Editor's note: The writer has two sons, one of whom has been diagnosed as autistic.

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Warm advice

A few weeks ago, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, wrote to three reputable climate scientists and asked for the facts underlying their global warming theories. Let me tell you, asking questions is not without consequence.

The most common suggestion we've generated is this one: Forget the facts and get on with the spending. U.S. Reps. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., and Henry Waxman, D-Calif., share that position and have warmly advised us to butt out. That's a view the Post-Gazette seems to recommend, too ("The Politics of Climate," July 25 editorial).

Fortunately, scientists who get public funding are almost uniformly proud of their work and downright eager to explain it to the people who pay for it. It looks like the three climatologists are no different, and in the end, Rep. Barton hopes their facts will speak for themselves.

The alternative is the don't-ask/don't-listen approach. If you have excess money and no questions, that's the one for you.

LARRY NEAL
Deputy Staff Director
House Energy and Commerce Committee
Washington, D.C.

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The logic of benefits

Is anyone else confounded by the logic of the state in considering whether to grant health benefits to heterosexual partners of unmarried state employees? I can certainly understand extending benefits to same-sex partners since the state has yet to recognize or sanction legal unions between them. ("Same-Sex Benefits for State Workers Under Study," July 22.)

When unmarried, cohabiting, heterosexual partners are given benefits, an advantage of marriage is eliminated. Doesn't government serve to maintain the rule of law, and sustain society's institutions?

The solution is to legalize marriage between consenting adults without regard to sex or sexual orientation. Then married partners of employees are entitled to benefits in accordance with established law. Throwing hard-earned tax dollars at legally undefined lifestyles creates a gray area that can only lead to legal and bureaucratic nightmares. How many new state employees do you suppose it would take to record, and re-record the domestic partner of the month?

Should logic ultimately lose out to current government trends and anything goes, I'd like my dog's health care subsidized. We're in a committed relationship.

CLAUDIA CARECCIA
Monroeville

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Hospital infection

I was interesting in reading about hospitals and infections ("Alarms Raised on Hospital Infections," July 13). My husband went into one of the large hospitals in the Pittsburgh area for a heart catheterization and was told he needed open heart surgery. I spoke with the surgeon after the operation and was told that the operation was a success.

After about four days of intensive care, I saw a new bag hanging beside the bed and asked why and what for. I was told he had an infection and needed an antibiotic.

I asked how did he get an infection. The reply was "Everyone thinks that hospitals are the cleanest places in the world, but they are not."

My husband died on the 12th day in the intensive care unit.

Remember the old saying, "The operation was a success, but the patient died"? How true.

ELINOR ROGERS McGINN
Churchill

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Heritage forsaken

I grew up in Pittsburgh in the '40s and '50s and returned this summer after retiring. I feel like a newcomer, especially after reading some of the negative attitudes in the July 21 article "In Beechview, a Latino Community Takes Hold."

As a child here in America's true melting pot, I recall that the grandparents of all my friends spoke foreign languages: Russian, Italian, Spanish and many other European languages. Tables were set in strange and wonderful ways. Together, we were a hardworking, frugal, trusting, independent thinking, kind and generous community. Many homes took in strangers or teens who had lost their parents. I loved that Pittsburgh.

What has happened? How have we come to be so frightened, so hateful and so greedy?

Is it fair to blame our unquenchable consumerism, corporate profits, outrageous waste, loss of family values, the wicked media and lack of respect for education, or is it just us?

DIANNE BURNHAM
Churchill

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Limited parking discourages trips to the Cultural District

Welcome to Downtown Pittsburgh. Bring your own parking space.

It was on a recent Friday night. My granddaughter and I dressed up and wanted to attend the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She is 8 years old and was very excited. It would have been her first experience at the symphony.

We searched over an hour for a parking space Downtown. The parking garages had cones blocking the entrances unless one had a lease. The independent lots were all full. The parking spaces with meters on the streets had yellow signs on each meter stating "No Parking After 4 p.m." We all know that the city will tow your car if you park in an unauthorized space.

A baseball stadium was built directly across from the Cultural District. The city blocks an entire bridge for pedestrians who have parked their cars Downtown to walk across to the stadium. Where are the people who attend Cultural District events supposed to park?

So you say, why not public transportation? Sure, but it's Friday night and Port Authority has discontinued many routes on off hours. We might have been able to get into town, but I don't think we could have gotten out. As we drove out of Downtown, my granddaughter was in tears. It was very distressing.

Until I can provide my own parking space, I know I will not be going Downtown for future events.

CAROLE McGURK
Brookline