How can Bush sleep while so many suffer?

As a teacher and counselor for most of my adult life, I've done my best to somehow make the world a better place for my having lived.

I am appalled at the amount of suffering and pain that the current administration, led by President Bush, has caused since it decided to attack Iraq. The mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers, sisters and friends who have had their lives torn apart by grief because of this war is a horrendous and disgusting legacy of the current administration.

George W. Bush says he has no trouble sleeping at night, while countless thousands of human beings must desperately yearn for one good night's sleep that doesn't return them to the nightmare of their grief when they awaken. There is no talk of peace or brotherhood or healing coming from the powers in Washington, only talk of killers and revenge and "victory."

Those in this administration will certainly leave a sadder, more broken-hearted world than the one they were entrusted to care for and make better for their having lived.

DICK MARSHALL
Crafton

---

Transit posturing

The headline on the article "Private Firm Ready to Offer Airport Bus Service" (Jan. 19) should have read "Pittsburgh Transportation Group Calls the Port Authority's Bluff on Service Cuts" because that's exactly what happened.

All we've heard -- 'til now -- from the Port Authority is that it's not posturing or positioning itself with these proposed cuts, but that the changes are serious and were carefully considered.

Then someone steps up to fill a need and the Port Authority plays the "public hearing" trump card. The Port Authority is being manipulative and dishonest. Obviously Port Authority officials tossed a few high-demand routes into the mix so it can look good after the hearings. What else will be restored? The 500 maybe?

DAN MARTIN
Highland Park

---

Stem cell hypocrisy

I have suffered with ALS for seven years. I support embryonic stem cell research. The argument of the opponents is that one life cannot be sacrificed to benefit another.

I watched a hypocritical president use his first veto on embryonic stem cell research surrounded by "snowflake babies." How many embryos are destroyed to create that "snowflake baby"? Why does this president support and encourage this scientific procedure to create "snowflake babies" that results in the destruction of so many embryos? There will be many more embryos destroyed attempting to create that snowflake baby than will ever be destroyed attempting to save my life. Why does this president value that snowflake baby more than me? An important reality is embryonic stem cell research will give an embryo's cells the opportunity to live in me.

If the president really believes that one life cannot be sacrificed to benefit another, how does he explain his position on war and capital punishment?

THOMAS J. ROTH
Pine

---

'Anti-life' resistance

I am so weary of the misguided reasoning of "pro-life" advocates such as Susan Rauscher ("About Stem Cells," Jan. 12 letters). She states that because cures have not yet been found for diseases, embryonic stem cell research should be abandoned.

Research can take many, many years and if you have any knowledge, you know that scientists are just scratching the surface in this unbelievably complex field. We do know, however, that adult stem cells, while they can do tremendous good in many diseases, have no helpful effect in others. I wish people would take the time to understand this fact, and not just recite the same, tired misinformation.

The current discussion about expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research refers only to embryos that would otherwise be thrown in the garbage can in fertility clinics. If you or someone close to you suffers from a condition that may benefit from this research, this is the most immoral, "anti-life" thing you can imagine.

DEBBIE McTIERNAN
Sewickley

---

These are humans

Julie Rhine ("Learn the Facts About Stem Cells," Jan. 16 letters) attempts to call Susan Rauscher to task for being "ignorant" about embryonic stem cell research. After stating that Ms. Rauscher doesn't know her facts, Ms. Rhine herself makes several inaccurate claims.

She states that embryonic stem cells were discovered in 1998. That is false. Research on embryonic stem cells has been ongoing since 1981; 1998 was the year that human embryonic stem cells were first cultured. That is not the year they were "discovered."

The truth is that multiple billions of dollars have been spent on embryonic stem cell research. Not a single treatment for any disease, not even one human trial, has resulted from it. Adult stem cell research, which does not require the unethical destruction of innocent human beings, has already led to treatments for 72 different diseases and disorders worldwide.

Ms. Rhine claims that embryos that aren't used for research will be thrown away. In truth, thousands of embryos have already been adopted by couples, who are now raising the children as their own.

All people begin in the embryonic stage of development. If the embryo, which Ms. Rhine was, had been destroyed for research, she wouldn't be alive today to write a letter to the Post-Gazette. She would have been destroyed long ago.

Because a human being is in the embryonic stage of development doesn't make them inhuman, and it shouldn't make them fair game for scientific manipulation and destruction.

BRYCE C. McMINN
Bethel Park

---

Parking frustration

As a mom who must frequent Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, I have become extremely disgusted and aggravated by the parking situation in Oakland. While Children's is a wonderful hospital, the parking, frankly, stinks.

My daughter has speech therapy sessions twice weekly at Children's, and her therapist is just wonderful. But because of the parking problems, I have to make the decision of possibly switching to someone else, and that irritates me because I shouldn't have to do that. At this point, though, it's the only thing to do to keep my sanity intact.

There were days I would have to drive around for a half hour to find a parking spot. Now I have to wait in a long line of cars until people leave the garage. I think that Children's Hospital should be paying me to park in its garage at this point.

VIDA BURNELIS
Crescent

---

We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.

---