Societal structures would benefit from openness

As a practicing Episcopalian in Pittsburgh, I would like to point out that no one contacted me about the recent decision in Pittsburgh of the diocese to leave the U.S. church -- there was no vote among "the people" of our churches ("Episcopal Diocese Chooses to Secede," Oct. 5; "Minority Recognized as 'True' Episcopal Diocese," Oct. 10).

My jaw is still in my lap as to how this decision was made at the boardroom level and voices of "the people" were not completely considered.

I am afraid that in Pittsburgh this top-down thinking has been institutionalized at other places. Several groups that wield enormous influence over our lives have boardrooms that are not open, nor would I imagine that they tolerate ideas that run counter to their agenda.

The Allegheny Conference -- a group designed to promote economic development for all -- is one group that comes to mind. The mayor, who raised over a million dollars to get elected, promising new ideas and, one would think, transparency and openness, looks like he might have fallen into the "old boys network." (Now there is no end in sight because he recently vetoed campaign reform.)

I know many will say this is somehow different, but the leadership of the churches here in Pittsburgh are made up of people -- just like other places. Could it be that the problem here "goes beyond the immediate circle of the faithful" to borrow a line from a recent editorial in your paper ("A Church Divided," Oct. 7)?

With more openness and transparency going forward, however, this might be an opportunity to build a stronger church -- and community.

JOHN HORCHNER
Friendship

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A bin Laden bluff

I want to comment on a remark by Sen. John McCain during the debate last week regarding Osama bin Laden. The senator said he would "get" bin Laden, that he knows how to "get" bin Laden.

If Sen. McCain knows how to "get" him, why doesn't he do it? Or, at the very least, tell the current president how to accomplish it. Is Sen. McCain going to keep secret how to "get" him unless he is elected president? If that is the case, it seems very selfish to keep the "getting" of the man responsible for 9/11 to himself.

It seems to me as if Sen. McCain is simply talking tough. If he truly knows how to do it, he owes it to everyone to either do it himself or tell the proper authorities how to do it. I trust most voters will not be fooled by this irresponsible rhetoric.

HOWARD BARAKAT
Dormont

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His time has passed

Barack Obama won the second, so-called debate hands down. Unfortunately the format was flawed and this was probably to John McCain's disadvantage. Nonetheless, it was clear that Mr. McCain is out of touch.

He comes across as old, crotchety and mean-spirited. His proposals are clearly aimed at perpetuating the Bush upper-class support philosophy. He went from not looking at Mr. Obama in the first debate to glaring at him and calling him "that one" in the second. He has one more chance, and I strongly doubt that he can improve. He is running scared at this point and resorting to extreme negative tactics to save the election.

How many times did Mr. McCain say he knows how to do something but, mysteriously, never explains how he will do it? He knows how to find Osama bin Laden. If so, why hasn't he told someone? He knows, but Barack Obama doesn't understand. I think Mr. Obama understands quite well. We all understand.

Mr. McCain is an anachronism. He missed his window of opportunity eight years ago. He doesn't have the composure or the energy to effectively compete, let alone serve four years as president. So what would we have should he win and be unable to complete his term? We would have Gov. Sarah Palin.

DAVID TURNER
Mt. Lebanon

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About that 'projector'

I am a physics professor at the University of Pittsburgh. I came to Pittsburgh after a stint at the University of Chicago. On the odd occasion when politicians discuss my science, I am often shocked by the gross misrepresentations. The second presidential debate was such an occasion.

John McCain referred to Barack Obama's vote to spend $3 million on an "overhead projector." Mr. Obama sought the funding, it was an earmark, but it was never voted on. More important, in referring to the project in this way, Mr. McCain strives to conjure images of rusty, old objects in outdated classrooms and offices. McCain's "overhead" is an immersive planetarium system called Sky Theater at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, similar in performance and cost to the Buhl Digital Dome at our Carnegie Science Center.

The Sky Theater uses enormous computing power, software and electronics to render vast amounts of astronomical data. The projection faithfully represents rich astronomical science on a hemispherical dome and is extremely challenging. Mr. McCain is either ignorant of this or aims to deceive.

Adler's mission is to "... inspire the next generation of explorers and scientists." Sky Theater educates thousands of people daily, including the schoolchildren of Greater Chicago. Sky Theater represents a tangible investment in scientific education. This is an area in which our country lags despite urgent needs (such as the energy crisis). Sky Theater is an investment in our economic well-being and our leadership as a nation. It is exactly what we need. Mr. Obama should proudly support this "overhead projector."

ANDREW R. ZENTNER
Mt. Lebanon

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It works both ways

In response to Eric Reichbaum's letter ("In Voting, Let's Advance Beyond Racism," Oct. 8), which was a response to Tony Norman's Sept. 23 column ("Democrats and Race: They've Come a Long Way, Folks"):

There are two sides to bigotry in this country and in this election. According to a recent Franklin & Marshall College/Philadelphia Daily News poll, in Pennsylvania the white vote is almost evenly split: 43 percent for John McCain and 40 percent for Barack Obama. Among nonwhites, however, 84 percent plan to vote for Mr. Obama while only 5 percent plan to vote for Mr. McCain.

It is sad that many blacks and other minorities are voting for Mr. Obama simply because he is black or a minority, or simply because Mr. McCain is white.

PATRICK TKOCS
Regent Square

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In need of a thinker

The current rant that Sen. Barack Obama is too professorial is absurd. The office requires a thinker. And then there is the rubbish that he needs to stand in an unemployment line to understand the problems of the middle class. As a community activist, he more than fulfilled that requirement.

HERBERT SKOLNICK
Monroeville

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