Casey's support for troops helps their enemies

Six days after Veterans Day, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. expressed his confidence in our troops by saying they are fighting violence "they cannot possibly resolve." Mr. Casey seems to be competing with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, to see who can provide greater support, encouragement and morale boosts to our enemies.

Sen. Reid has told us "the war is lost," and Rep. Murtha accused Marines in Haditha of being cold-blooded killers. One of the Marines who was under investigation in the Haditha case is suing Rep. Murtha for defamation, and most accounts say the surge is working despite the best attempts of the Defeatocrats and Bush-haters to leave Iraq by running instead of winning.

I have called Sen. Casey's office on more than one occasion to ask his stand on various issues. His positions usually seem murky at best; but now it seems he has taken a firm stand on his opinion of our troops' mission, capabilities and level of competence.

I wonder what our senator thinks of Iran. Should we launch a preventive attack or would he rather deal with a country with nuclear weapons, which has pledged to destroy Israel and the United States?

ROY J. WHIPPLE
Freedom

---

The people's history

Congratulations to the Post-Gazette for Charles McCollester's aptly titled "A People's History of Pittsburgh" (The Next Page, Nov. 25), with illustrations that matched the grace and style of the writer.

Mr. McCollester's choice for these local reformer/revolutionaries were appropriate: a Native American leader, a black journalist, an ethnic artist, an itinerant environmentalist, a workplace safety advocate and a union leader of striking steel and mine workers. Half of them were women, reflecting the lost and stolen history of the past two centuries.

It was appropriate that the same PG issue had a review of the new biography of Helen Clay Frick, daughter of Henry Clay Frick, one of Pittsburgh's "great men." He built his fortune upon the backs of the men who labored 12-hour days in his mills, mines and coke pits, yet would bring in hired mercenaries to shoot them down (seven in Homestead, 11 in Morewood, Westmoreland County) rather than recognize their union.

The author of this biography talks of the family's "painful history" but does not reflect upon the times she went to court in pathetic and foolish efforts to suppress the work of historians who recorded her father as the first modern union-buster.

Helen never entered the real world after "coming out" into it: To her last years, the "help" at Clayton were instructed never to meet her eyes, but always look at their shoes.

That may be the difference between the people's history selection and the others.

RUSSELL GIBBONS
Fox Chapel

---

Milk labels inform

The state Department of Agriculture's proposed standards for labeling milk are not only offensive but also antiquated ("State Clamps Down on Dairy Labeling," Nov. 14). Fortunately, Gov. Ed Rendell delayed the rule change, pending a review ("Pa. Dairy Label Rule Shelved," Nov. 28).

Banning the labeling of milk as "rBGH-free" appears to be against the best interest of consumers and puts farmers who pledge not to use the artificial growth hormone at a competitive disadvantage.

Farmers who take this pledge are supplying conscious consumers with an option -- milk that is free of artificial growth hormones. As local organic farmer Don Kretschmann referenced in his letter to the editor ("This Decision Is Wrong for Dairy Farmers and Consumers," Nov. 22), being able to communicate this aspect facilitates distinction, something that will help keep local family farms prospering.

At Turner Dairy Farms we are pleased that the local family dairy farmers who supply us with milk have pledged not to use rBGH. Fortunately, we don't have the same complicated logistics as the larger milk companies that bottle store-brand milk. Our farmers' commitment to not using artificial growth hormones is the best option for them and their cows (their livelihood), Turner Dairy Farms and ultimately consumers.

As Don Kretschmann said, consumers have the right to know if the milk they choose was produced using artificial growth hormones or not. Turner's is committed to offering our consumers the best "rBGH-free" milk available. We will continue to explore innovative ways to communicate this to our consumers should the PDA's new label law go through.

NICHOLAS YON
Turner Dairy Farms, Inc.
Penn Hills

---

Age is an asset

As a 50-something baby boomer, I'd like to see Allegheny County adopt the motto "Everything old is new again," based on the facts that this area is rich in history. Allegheny County is the second-oldest county in terms of senior population. What a rich natural resource.

It's with sadness that I listen to the news of the coming demolition of the Civic Arena. I loved the idea put forth in your paper by architect Rob Pfaffmann about making the Civic Arena a park and tourist attraction ("A New Life for That Silver Dome on the Hill," The Next Page, Feb. 11). I felt sad about the businesses being forced out of Downtown: Candy-Rama and The Headgear hat shop, longtime successful businesses being eliminated.

The senior population in the county is ignored. I'd like to see AARP serve as consultants to businesses in the county around embracing us as dependable, reliable and hard-working employees. Our "party" days are behind us, as are maternity leaves and honeymoons.

We are a vital bunch of eager workers, with high emotional intelligence, because we have "been around the block" many times and know how to deal with the difficulties of life without the self-centeredness of the younger generations. We have a greater appreciation of life because we know our days are numbered.

As AARP has championed: "60 is the new 30." Using "Everything old is new again" would be a strength-based approach to highlight Allegheny County: there's much of the old to help support the new.

I'd like to see a change in attitude about aging people, places and things. After all, nothing stays young forever. We can model "Grow Old With Me, the Best is Yet to Be" for the entire country.

CARMELLA PUCCI
Duquesne

---

China's Steelers

I was looking forward to collecting the 34 medallions, promoted in the Post-Gazette, as one of the Steelers Nation fans for over 50 years. We fans have backed the Steelers through the good and bad years.

Most Steelers fans are working-class people who love their country. I cannot believe that the Post-Gazette and the Steelers organization would have let these medallions for the 75th anniversary to be made in China. What is wrong with American companies and workers?

Try to picture one of your children or grandchildren in a sweatshop in China making them for the PG and the Steelers organization for pennies. Shame on you. I will not be collecting them. You should be making these medallions in the good old U.S.A.

FRANCIS VITH
McKees Rocks

---

Grotesque photos

At a time when municipalities and the state Game Commission allow hunters to come into places like Mt. Lebanon to shoot deer in parks and on some private properties, risking the safety of residents, your paper takes an even lower step by printing grotesque and gratuitous pictures of hunted deer ("Weather Douses Deer Hunt First Day," Nov. 27).

What is the value added of including evidence of the inhumane manner in which our wildlife is treated? I just don't get it and, thankfully, I never will.

SANDRALUZ LARA-CINISOMO
Mt. Lebanon

---

Remember the neighborhood food pantry

As the holidays approach, we should give thanks for all the things we have in our wonderful country. For a number of years, I've been a weekly volunteer for an inner-city food pantry supported by a neighborhood church. We exist on kind donations of money, groceries and even paper and plastic grocery bags.

Each week finds new people at our door. They are all ages and races. There's the teenage mother asking for diapers and formula, as well as the senior citizens struggling on small pensions and Social Security.

We see countless tired grandparents raising their grandchildren for a variety of reasons. We see young people who have lost their jobs with no unemployment compensation. We serve older people who have lost their jobs when the employer moved overseas, leaving them with no severance pay.

Please remember these unfortunate people who do not have the basic items on hand -- items that we take for granted. We are here if you need us. The neighborhood food pantry is the quiet, unsung yet constant presence in your neighborhood.

If you have an extra dollar, a non-perishable item or even an extra prayer, please remember us. Perhaps a local politician will even have a few dollars left over from the big campaign contributions and could donate as well.

ELAINE B. GRUBBS
Lawrenceville

The writer works at the food pantry at 37th & Butler streets. It is affiliated with Our Lady of the Angels Church in Lawrenceville.