The Fords have inspired many to seek help

President Ford's passing has prompted many to again debate the merits of his decision to grant former President Nixon a pardon in connection with his involvement in the Watergate scandal. President Ford's passing also has renewed discussion about his personal problems, specifically his wife's struggle with alcoholism.

While historians may forever debate the merits of President Ford's decision to grant Nixon a pardon, I think everyone will agree that President Ford made the right decision when he publicly announced his support for his wife in her efforts to obtain professional treatment for her alcohol addiction.

Alcoholism is a disease. It strikes countless American families, regardless of their place or stature in society. And it's even more pervasive today than it was three decades ago, when President Ford shocked the nation with his public remarks about his wife's struggle with alcoholism.

The good news is that both public and private treatment options are available. The only thing that alcoholics really need to conquer their addictions, aside from a personal willingness to do so, is the love and support of their family members.

President Ford was courageous to publicly acknowledge the problems that his family suffered as a result of his wife's alcoholism. He was also a role model for publicly supporting her through her recovery efforts. One can only hope that other American families who suffer from alcoholism will continue to be inspired by his example.

BETH STETAR
Delmont

The writer works for A Better Tomorrow, a drug and alcohol treatment facility based in Murrieta, Calif.

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Ford's big mistake

It's time to turn down the volume on Gerald Ford's funeral rites.

President Ford's pardon of Richard M. Nixon helped to reposition the presidency, in the perception of many, above the rule of law, disabling the nascent prosecution of citizen Nixon.

That prosecution could have forced the disgraced Nixon to face the people's justice and would have chastened presidents to follow.

Instead, a shield of deference that had previously levitated Oval Office occupants above other citizens, high in the ether of invulnerability, was re-established by the pardon -- a shield that later would help to discourage criticism of the current occupant (G.W. Bush) as he marched us into the fiasco known as the Iraq war.

Gerry Ford wasn't as smart as he was nice.

JOHN KICHI
Sewickley Hills

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Not our alma mater

We were both lucky enough to attend North Catholic High School in its "glory days." Unfortunately, those days are long gone. The world has changed and we must be willing to accept those changes -- as distasteful as they may be.

If North Catholic is dying -- and apparently it is -- let us thank God for the 65-plus years that it served the city and the Diocese of Pittsburgh with great honor and allow it to die with dignity. Let us be proud of all the distinguished alumni that it has produced: Dan Rooney, Bishop Bosco, Dan Onorato, Luke Ravenstahl and Gen. Mike Hayden to name a few.

But, please, do not build a new school in another county and then try to convince us that this is our alma mater ("2 Big Gifts for Moving Lift Spirits of North Catholic," Dec. 29). After all, we graduated from North Catholic. We are too smart to fall for that.

North Catholic was founded to educate the Catholic youth of the North Side. It has served that mission well since 1939. Let us remember it for what it was and for what it did.

If there is a need for a Catholic high school in Butler County -- and if the people of that area are willing to commit to sending their sons and daughters there -- then, by all means, try to build one. I am sure if this is done, they will be well educated in the Catholic faith. But they will not be the North Catholic Trojans!

JUDE POHL
Class of 1963
Chartiers Township
ROBERT POHL
Class of 1949
Canonsburg

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Now help Troy Hill

Kudos to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and North Catholic High School for the school's anticipated move to Cranberry because the diocese "determined the ... high school cannot survive unless it relocates" ("2 Big Gifts for Moving Lift Spirits of North Catholic," Dec. 29).

As a resident of Troy Hill, I do not share the enthusiasm. Donors, will you also offer to find a new tenant for the high school, in addition to your offers of 20 acres and excavation services, so our neighborhood won't have to absorb the repercussions of suburban sprawl?

Troy Hill has been a good neighbor to North Catholic High School and doesn't deserve another blighted empty building.

KATHLEEN CROFT
Troy Hill

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Look at both sides

I am writing in response to the Dec. 10 article "Carter Stands by His Provocative Book: Ex-President Defends His Critique of Israel's Role in Occupied Lands": It may come as a surprise to Abraham H. Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, but Jews make up only 2 percent of the population in this country and not all Jews think the way he thinks.

There are two sides to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and evidently Mr. Foxman has never taken the time to hear the Palestinian side and, unfortunately, neither have most Americans. I would suggest that we all could benefit from reading Mr. Carter's book. Let's not forget that it was President Carter who brought about peace between Israel and Egypt.

Mr. Foxman has expanded the meaning of anti-Semitic to include not only those who are critical of Israel but also those who disagree with him.

I don't want Israel or the Israeli lobby to determine the foreign policy of the United States with regard to the Middle East. The neocons are not satisfied with getting us into the Iraq fiasco; they also want us to attack Iran and Syria.

As an American, I have a right to be critical of Israel or any other foreign power, and it has nothing to do with anti-Semitism.

PAUL WAGNER
South Fayette

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'Illegal' says it all

The Dec. 31 editorial dealing with illegal immigrants ("Foreign Solution: Congress Must Find a Middle Path on Immigration") speaks of the liberal leanings of the editorial staff at the Post-Gazette. The word illegal should alert your staff as to the true situation now being dealt with (or the lack thereof) by our representatives in Congress.

Immigration into this country from many nations should be fairly administered without favoritism being shown to just one nation due to its sharing a common border with us. If amnesty is granted to one, then why isn't it granted to all? Maybe because this country, no matter how large or great, does not have the capacity to handle the ills of all nations, but rather should help those nations with needs care for their populations in their own lands.

Let us not confuse immigration with illegal immigration, no matter what the liberal leanings of individuals writing editorials.

DALE B. LARSON
Peters

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1,400-year-old hostilities won't be resolved by U.S. fighters

While reading daily of the continuing violence and confusion in Iraq and the dithering of our government, I realized I didn't really know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites. So I consulted the Encyclopedia Britannica.

If I understand the explanations correctly, both follow the preaching and Quran of Mohammed who lived around 600 A.D. The split of Islam leadership into Sunnis and Shiites apparently occurred among family members following Mohammed's death and has persisted ever since.

In today's world Sunnis outnumber Shiites about 10 to 1. Shiites predominate in Iran, Iraq and one or two of the smaller Mideast countries. Sunnis predominate in Indonesia, Africa and other Mideast countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria.

Where does this leave us? Trying to end this 1,400-year-old conflict in Iraq and refusing communication with Iran (Shiite) and Syria (Sunni). Clearly the current course of events is not satisfactory. A change of direction is needed. We apparently do not have the forces to assume the overwhelming strength of control to pacify the Shiite/Sunni conflict, so controlled withdrawal appears to be the only real alternative. A variety of other actions can certainly accompany this, but a fundamental decision needs to be made.

I cannot understand how a predominantly Christian United States can rightly assume responsibility for ending the current version of this 1,400-year- old conflict. Long ago, wave after wave of Holy Crusaders tried to bring Christianity to the Middle East. Today, we seek to bring democracy with our soldiers and modern weapons. We may well fail, and miserably, as did the crusaders.

Have we really lost the ability to negotiate instead of fight?

RICHARD S. JEVON
McCandless

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