Consider this solution to Fort Pitt preservation

The conflict between the historic preservationists who wish to maintain the walls of Fort Pitt and those who wish to make use of the grassy area in Point State Park adjacent to Commonwealth Place is easily reconciled ("Some Protest Plan to Fill Point State Park Trench," April 13).

Although most of the original bricks were carted away long ago, the foundations are in the original location and are worth preserving as a treasured part of Pittsburgh's earliest history. Trouble is the number of people with an interest in these walls is relatively small compared to the number who would like an area free of the deep trench currently there.

Pittsburgh could keep its history by constructing a tunnel walkway along side of the wall -- a brick barrel vault with an arched ceiling would be preferable -- which would reveal the wall itself although not the sloping grass above it. The lighted tunnel could then be covered with dirt and a level grassy area achieved.

Access to the tunnel would have to be via steps and a secured access with scheduled tours given by the Point State Park Museum. In the tunnel opposite the wall there would be opportunity for artists' illustrations of the early fort.

All this does not come for free, but the trench is ready-made and lends itself to satisfying everybody concerned.

JOSEPH F. RISHEL
Professor of History
Duquesne University
Uptown

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Harrah's and traffic

It's beginning to look more and more like Harrah's/Forest City is a bad choice for the awarding of a gaming license.

First, they submit revenue projections that appear to be grossly overestimated (their projections for revenue are not only higher than the national average, but are on par or higher than their largest moneymaker in Chicago). Now, according to a traffic engineer, they've underestimated the amount of traffic a casino in Station Square would cause ("Casino Traffic Forecast Faulted: Analyst Says Study by Harrah's 'Woefully' Underestimates Jams," April 14).

The analogy I've been using lately is this: If you own a house and have been fixing/upgrading a certain area to the point where no more needs to be done, but another area of the house is badly in need of renovation, why would you renovate the nice part of the house?

Station Square already has restaurants, night clubs, a comedy club, a Hard Rock Cafe and generally brings in a good amount of business. With Isle of Capri, we have a golden opportunity to begin to fix up the Hill District, and we get a brand new arena using absolutely no tax money, completely paid for without debt financing.

Let's use some common sense and go with the plan that's really going to help this city out.

JASON HARAMIC
Pleasant Hills

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City focal point

Pittsburgh is a city of rivers, and as such I believe it's critical that a destination resort/casino like that proposed by Harrah's be selected as the city's best choice. As a focal point for visitors coming to enjoy the city and entertainment opportunities, it would make Pittsburgh the crown jewel in our region's destination possibilities.

As the general manager of the Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square and a native of Mount Washington, where I currently live and raise a family, I know from firsthand experience the draw of the rivers and the wonderful backdrop they create for all of the businesses in our trader area.

I have no doubt that the Forest City/Harrah's plan for Station Square will provide a new and exciting destination resort with a national appeal that will draw far more people than the other proposals and provide more revenue to the city of Pittsburgh and its schools.

In addition, I'm a fan of the Penguins and want to see them remain in our great city, which is so rich in sports tradition. Our governor's recent Plan B proposal swayed me into believing building the slots casino at Station Square is the right idea.

GARY MARASCO
Mount Washington

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For fans to come

I attended a Penguins/Devils game recently, and though the game ended poorly, it was still nice to look around the arena and see all of the families that were there to see the hockey game.

I heard a quote once that "it is not what you give your kids, but it is where you take them that they will remember the most." If we lose the Pens, then we lose one of those common denominators that many families have had here in Western Pennsylvania for several generations.

I want to continue the tradition of taking my kids to a Pens game. I want to extend that tradition into taking my kids' kids to see the Penguins play. I don't want to explain to the next generation that Pittsburgh was offered a gift from the Isle of Capri that would have kept the Pens here, built us a new arena and helped renovate the section of the Hill District where Mellon Arena is, but instead chose to build a casino in Station Square.

Wow, that would be tough to explain. Another attack on our family values. This time we won't have the media to blame. We'll have our elected officials and the gaming commission, who will forever be known as the ones that traded Sidney Crosby for a building full of one-armed bandits.

I pray we don't get to that point. I pray instead that we have a happy ending, and our state, city and county leaders show us they truly want to do what is best for Pittsburgh --not necessarily for my sake but for the sake of the generations that come after us.

MARK COFFIELD
Mt. Lebanon

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Laws should reflect support for what is best

Would anyone disagree that the ideal nurturing relationship for raising children, our greatest natural resource, is marriage between one man and one woman? After all it is from this union that children are conceived, given birth and belong.

We can also agree that we are far from the ideal in this country with more than 50 percent of marriages today ending in divorce. But laws should always reflect support for the ideal, what is best, otherwise the possibility of obtaining the ideal will never be realized.

Children are not the only ones who benefit from traditional marriage. Married couples build more wealth and enhance economic stability within communities. Marriage also is associated with better physical health, lower injury rates and longer life expectancies for both adults and children.

The Marriage Protection Amendment will give the citizens of Pennsylvania the opportunity to define marriage by placing the issue on the ballot for a vote. It is an essential first step toward strengthening marriage in the commonwealth.

NANCY STAIBLE
Pennsylvania State Director
Concerned Women for America
Zelienople

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See the difference?

If only the world were as black and white as Rep. Daryl Metcalfe seems to believe ("Why We Need a Marriage Protection Amendment," April 12 Midweek Perspectives). What he fails to recognize is the distinction between civil and sacramental marriage.

Our government will never force any church to perform a sacramental marriage that violates the church's beliefs -- and rightly so -- but civil marriage is simply a legal contract, conferring its own protections and benefits. It's no more "sacred" than a driver's license or a mortgage, and denying it to same-sex couples makes just as little sense. Beyond that, having two stable, loving and moral same-sex parents must be far better than growing up in an orphanage.

If we allow heterosexuals to marry for convenience, money, sex, financial aid, a green card or a whim, how can we even consider denying homosexuals the freedom to marry for love -- or for any reason?

If we value freedom of assembly and freedom of religion, as guaranteed by the First Amendment, then the answer is clear; if you have a problem with same-sex marriages, join a church that refuses to perform them. Even stand in the street and preach about the evils of homosexuality, if you like -- that's your constitutional right. But keep your paws off other people's civil liberties.

I've always considered Pennsylvania a forward-looking state. I'd hate to be proved wrong. Whatever your views on marriage, do you really want to help set a precedent that undermines our state and federal constitutions?

JASON FELDSTEIN
Squirrel Hill

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