The Founding Fathers would be proud

I have to disagree with Tony Norman's July Fourth column "Our Founders Would Be Revolted."

If our Founding Fathers would see us today, I think that they would be extremely proud of what their sacrifices have accomplished.

The Bush administration is one of the worst (if not the worst) administrations ever. But this is just a bump in the road. It will take years and a new president, but our democracy ship will be righted once again, just as the Founding Fathers had planned.

Mr. Norman writes that Washington and Jefferson would be appalled by the absurdity of our politics. Politics will always be absurd. It was that way back in the beginning of our country and always will be. In fact, while Thomas Jefferson was vice president in the Adams administration, he was scheming against Adams the whole four years. He even paid to have untrue rumors printed about Mr. Adams. Is that not absurd or what? As long as people are in politics, things will be absurd.

I think our Founding Fathers would be proud -- and would want to celebrate by attending that outdoor barbecue and enjoying some fireworks.

RICH CAMPBELL
Coraopolis

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About forced labor

One can only draw a disturbing implication from Daniel Kovalik's lament in "Our Original Sin: Slavery in America Keeps Taking on New Guises" (July 4). Americans benefit from our high imprisonment rate because the 13th Amendment forbids forced labor except when used as punishment for criminal offenses. That is the thesis of his argument put into cause-and-effect relationships.

This problem will significantly change only when both our moral sensibilities and this legal loophole are modified. Although Mr. Kovalik is mainly concerned with racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, I can also foresee an Orwellian-like prison society considered as owing a debt to the larger society for all maintenance costs, and therefore quite logically being expected to work off that debt. Although this is an outrageous conceptual model, I think this actually depicts some of the underlying motivation for using work as a punishment in the 13th Amendment.

JAMES R. JOHNSON
Brentwood

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With the passing of Sen. Jesse A. Helms ("A Beacon for the Right Wing, a Lightning Rod for the Left," July 5 news obituary), America has lost a great warrior. He was a champion for the truth. He was the greatest senator in my lifetime; I am 79 years old. No doubt, one of the greatest senators ever. He was elected to five terms in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. Helms was for freedom-loving people. He was a great crusader against communism. He was a champion for traditional family and religious values. He supported prayer in public schools and decency, honor and spiritual and moral cleanliness in America.

The expression "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" applies to Mr. Helms. He was not ashamed to take on popular stands of the liberals. He opposed homosexuality, affirmative action, liberalism, abortion, court-ordered busing to desegregate schools and the so-called "civil rights movement."

I have been corresponding with Mr. Helms for many years. Whenever I needed some information, he always sent it to me. The U.S. senators from Pennsylvania never answered my letters. I prize his letters to me and his autographed pictures. He had invited me to visit his library at Wingate Junior College.

You could write a book on the good that Mr. Helms has done and tried to do. He was a true conservative. He was a great asset to America. He is a wonderful example for us to stand up for the truth and what is right. He will be greatly missed.

RAY F. DIVELY
Baden

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Pathetic legacy

Regarding Sen. Jesse Helms, 1921-2008 ("A Beacon for the Right Wing, a Lightning Rod for the Left," July 5 news obituary):

Praise the Lord -- 30 years in Congress and not a single act with his name on it to benefit any American except those willing to gamble with cancer, thanks to the American tobacco industry.

World population when he was born, about 2 billion; today, more than 6 billion, but then Sen. Helms always did his best to prevent any kind of funding for worldwide family planning and health.

The devil in Sen. Helms' life was Fidel Castro. Fidel is still here, Jesse is not. Racism and hatred were just little sidelines he liked to play at election time.

And now, in death, I am sure he has been welcomed to the Lord's table with the words, "Jesse, a life well-lived."

M. MARINO
Oakland

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Rebellion's end

In response to the political cartoon "Brewed on Grant" (July 7), which said George Washington quelled the Whiskey Rebellion by threatening to raise property taxes: I beg to differ.

According to the history that I have been able to research of the first Whiskey Rebellion, it was put down by an army of 13,000 soldiers, supposedly commanded by Washington, but actually commanded by "Light Horse Harry" Lee.

When the Army under Gen. Lee reached this area, the rebels were nowhere to be found. However, to exert federal authority, they rounded up 20 suspects and imprisoned them. One died in prison, and all but two were later released. Two were sentenced to hang but were later pardoned by Washington because one was a "simpleton" and the other was insane.

Later, under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, the whiskey tax was finally repealed.

CHARLES E. KELLY
West Mifflin

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Lifestyle choices

Cristina Rouvalis writes in the July 2 Post-Gazette that: "Every harried mother and father knows the logistical headaches and sheer exhaustion of taking their children to assorted soccer practices, gymnastics class, day camps and on and on" (Web Site Putting Kids in Carpools").

This is just the latest riff in an unceasing chorus of reports from everywhere about hectic schedules, frazzled parents and -- as Ms. Rouvalis says -- "on and on."

When did our children become such baggage and burden? Don't you love your children? Didn't you choose to have them? Aren't they the most important people in your life? Sure, there's lots going on today, but can't we try to do better for the children than "fit them in" our self-absorbed lifestyles?

WILLIAM McCLOSKEY
Regent Square

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Web of destruction?

I am a faithful reader of your newspaper. Lately I have been noticing that you keep referring me to your Web site. You want me to put down the paper and log on to see this or that exclusive Web content.

Post-Gazette, I am one of the last of the newspaper readers; one of the ones who still pay for the tactile experience of newsprint over coffee. Why are you directing me away from the paper? Don't you want me anymore?

Your paper gets thinner and more anemic by the day, while your Web site becomes bloated with multimedia content. Post-Gazette, please come back.

REBECCA SYLVESTER
Cranberry

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Froggy Morris knew how to make people feel welcome

I got that little jolt we get more frequently as we get older when I saw Steve "Froggy" Morris' obituary in the July 3 Post-Gazette ("Raspy-Voiced Restaurateur, Owner of Legendary Market Street Bar"). The jolts always come in layers now.

The first was that such a luminous persona has passed and that there would be no more Froggy establishments and that he was only 62 years old. He seemed too worldly and paternal/avuncular/fraternal to be that young. He could have been 62 when I met him 35 years ago.

After the jolt, I considered what the obituary and the buddies who were quoted had to say. All of it was true, of course. He did make everyone feel like a regular, like Norm on "Cheers." What I've always felt so strongly when I think of him wasn't expressed. That's why this letter.

I first met him at one of the Bimbo's restaurants he had -- probably the one in Oakland. I talked with him two or three minutes that evening. I next saw him three or four years later at a tavern in Greensburg. He remembered my name! He remembered everyone's name! That was his secret to making all welcome.

Sometimes I would ponder the old innkeepers from the 18th and 19th centuries who would welcome and remember the travelers in those days -- sometimes generals and future presidents -- but also whoever else may have been on the road. I would think they were all gone except for Froggy.

Farewell, Steve.

STEVE ALM
Greensburg

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