A shameful prosecution of written, fictional thought

I've got a major problem with the way Mary Beth Buchanan, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, interprets the law as stated in the Sept. 28 article "Woman Charged Over 'Vile' Web Stories." She was quoted as saying, "I can't imagine why anyone would want to write or read stories involving the rape and torture of children." To tell the truth, neither can I. I don't even watch "ER" on TV anymore because of too many children being hurt in the story line. Be that as it may, that's not the question. Mary Beth Buchanan has absolutely no right to question what people read.

With all of our civil liberties being sucked away by the Bush League, Mary Beth is doing her best to move up in the church-inspired Republican party.

A Pitt law instructor was quoted, "The worry is that people will be aroused and do awful things based on obscene work." I think this is the root of the problem. Our country has turned from an ideology of "innocent until proven guilty" to a "rip their hearts out in the name of God if they think bad thoughts." If there is a god, I think he or she would be pretty peeved about how people like to pervert society to their own way of thinking. Like the accused writer, Ms. Buchanan has the right to think the way she does; she just shouldn't use her authority to push her personal view on others.

I do not in any way like the subject of the accused's ramblings, but they are still just written thought. There were no photos, no child manipulation, no crime. Our First Amendment rights seem to have gone the way of our civil liberties and American identity. President Bush and those who followed have led this country down a path from which I do not believe we will find a way home. The American Experiment is over.

TOM TOMKINS
Bethel Park

---

Bring on the new

Rich Lord's Oct. 2 article, "City Hall Lacks Old Hands, Has Fresh Faces," touched on the apprehensions many area residents have over "new faces" in government. The concern focused mainly on the youthful mayor of Pittsburgh, but certainly extends to the county and state as well.

Let me suggest a sports analogy. What if the Steelers in 1969, based on the "experience criteria," had chosen another "old war horse" coach instead of Chuck Noll, or later, for the same reason had bypassed a young Bill Cowher?

Conversely, can you imagine our rivals the Cleveland Browns saying, "Let's bring back all of our old coaches and players from the past few years, and we'll surely have a run at the Super Bowl."

Experience is good if it's good experience. Good performance and results are the objective measure of effort, not mere time on the treadmill.

Pittsburgh is in dire straits and has suffered from decades of inept leaders who have failed to come to grips with the fundamental realities of a shrinking base of population and industry.

I fail to see the superiority of the many old hacks, re-packaged and re-positioned over the years, over anyone, anyone who can break from the old order. And I am continually astounded by the electorate which elects, again and again, those who deliver such mediocre results.

ALBERT F. LUTZ JR.
Sewickley

---

Thinking pink

We applaud the Post-Gazette and Mackenzie Carpenter for the Oct. 1 story "Thinking Twice About Pink."

During October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, consumers will be inundated with opportunities to purchase pink items in support of breast cancer research, prevention and treatment. While no one can deny that these promotions have raised millions, those wanting to help fight breast cancer should do their homework and choose products that share the greatest percentage of their profits with breast cancer organizations.

A great way to "go pink" and know that your money is being spent on breast cancer screening right here in Western Pennsylvania is to support Hot Pink Pittsburgh. This event which brings together the best of Pittsburgh's musicians, singers and dancers will take place on Oct. 10 at the Byham Theater. Proceeds benefit breast and cervical cancer screening for uninsured women in Western Pennsylvania. Now in its sixth year, profits from Hot Pink Pittsburgh ticket sales, sponsorships, raffle and auctions supplement funding from the state Department of Health's HealthyWoman program to provide essential screening services as well as equipment, training and education.

Currently one in seven Pennsylvania women has no insurance. Every year we receive letters from women who relay stories of finding cervical or breast cancer in its early and most treatable stages through a mammogram or pap test that we provided. Almost all of them say that due to a lack of insurance or money, they would not otherwise have had the tests.

So go ahead, Pittsburgh and think pink -- Hot Pink. For details, visit hotpinkpittsburgh.org.

LOU ANN WEIL
Director
Statewide Cancer Screening Services
Adagio Health
Downtown

---

Mercy's future

My classmates and I are deeply saddened to read of the Mercy merger with UPMC. I was at Allegheny General Hospital during the time of its parent organization's bankruptcy which resulted in the closing of my unit, and the hospital's subsequent merger with West Penn.

With this in mind, I do know how difficult the last few months have been for the Mercy staff. However, having been involved professionally and personally in all three systems -- Mercy, West Penn-Allegheny and UPMC -- I believe that the West Penn-Allegheny system would have been more in line with Mercy's mission and philosophy.

The board member from Mercy speaks of the loss of anesthesiologists to West Penn. He did not speak of the loss of doctors to UPMC, including general surgeons and a renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon.

These are the doctors who bring the patients to the hospitals. No one picks a hospital based on who is in the anesthesia department.

Make no mistake, Mercy will change -- maybe not immediately. We have seen the change at St. Margaret, Shadyside and North Hills Passavant. It will truly be devastating if we see a sign at Mercy that says UPMC-Mercy.

We were all sad to see St Francis close. This merger is nothing less than heartbreaking.

M. CATHERINE GREISINGER, R.N.
Bakerstown

---

Smelly deal

In a congressional backroom deal, opponents of Internet gambling have added language to a port security bill that would prohibit online wagering ("Internet Gambling Bill," Oct. 1 National Briefs). This last-minute deal reeks of political gamesmanship.

The American people should be outraged that Congress has hijacked a vital security bill with a poker prohibition bill that nearly three-fourths of the country opposes. Allowing this bill to become law would run contrary to public opinion and would damage an already fractured relationship between the government and the people. (It's already causing resentment, particularly with the younger generation.)

Congress has an opportunity to regulate and tax online poker leading to potentially billions of dollars in annual revenue for the fed and the states. Prohibition won't work and will push the game underground creating online speakeasies which will provide no protection for the players, no services for the problem gambler, and leave it unregulated unlike the current major respected legitimate sites.

President Bush and his delusional cohorts are doing more and more harm to this country every day. They are stealing our freedoms and hiding it inside anti-terrorism legislation, as well as attempting to legislate values. The millions of people who enjoy online poker and value personal freedoms will have the last word come Election Day.

STEVEN SURMA
Lower Burrell

---

Handicapped parking spaces are for people like me. (Care to trade places?)

I am writing to complain about non-handicapped people abusing the handicapped parking system.

My leg is paralyzed; I walk with forearm crutches, wear a foot brace and use a scooter to get around stores. I need this parking space for the extra width. I need to open the door wide and I also need it for my scooter.

I have seen so many senior citizens and young people walk to and from their cars without so much as a limp or visible problem. These people take the space and then walk the entire mall. One time I saw a woman take a handicapped spot, she walked fine until she saw me, then she started limping.

Two weeks ago we drove twice around South Hills Village before we found a space. My opinion is that you should have to use some kind of device to get around or use oxygen to have a placard. If you can shop without using a device, a few more steps to the car will not hurt you.

If it was possible, I would like to make a deal with these people. I'll give them my handicapped parking but they have to take my handicap. Then I get to be free and not have a handicap, and I promise I won't ever park in a handicap space.

I am of the opinion that if you use a placard and are not handicapped, you are no better than a thief.

GAIL BOUVY
Greenfield