My prayers are for the fallen agent and his family

How revolting to see the foolish few who stood on Monday in support of Christina Korbe, charged with second-degree murder for killing an FBI agent ("Two Sides of FBI Agent's Accused Killer," Dec. 16).

The fact that one has made it through the stringent and rigorous training to become a police officer merits our utmost respect and support. One must be, as Special Agent Samuel Hicks was, of impeccable character, unparalleled integrity and above reproach. In addition to these qualifications, as if they alone weren't enough, he died on our behalf.

It turned my stomach to hear Mrs. Korbe refer to Special Agent Hicks as "the one that died," as if he fell over of natural causes and she had no hand in his death. Because of her, a child lost his father, a wife her husband, his brother and sister lost their beloved sibling and his parents lost a child. How many people are now suffering the most traumatic loss of their lives?

So while Christina Korbe is engaged in jailhouse bragging and making threats and her supporters stand with their signs of prayers for her, I'll save my prayers for the family of Samuel Hicks. God bless the family of Samuel Hicks and thank God there are men like him willing to put on a uniform every day and keep our children safe.

KELLY C. PRILLA
Pine

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Guns in parks

The U.S. Interior Department recently decided to start honoring state-issued pistol permits in national parks. This sensible and long-overdue rule change means, for example, that Pennsylvanians visiting or passing through national park areas will maintain the same right to the means of self-defense that they enjoy elsewhere in the state. The Post-Gazette, preferring as always that law-abiding citizens be held defenseless against dangerous predators (human or otherwise), wants the incoming Obama administration to undo the Interior Department's decision ("Gun Play: A Departing Administration Shoots Holes in Serenity," Dec. 12).

And perhaps it will. As Mr. Obama backtracks on previous anti-war commitments, he may feel the need to mollify his left-wing political base, and an attack on gun owners might serve that purpose. On the other hand, the president-elect achieved only a modest vote margin over a lackluster Republican candidate after two terms of an extremely unpopular Republican administration -- unpopular because of the Iraq war. The country as a whole is not motivated by anti-gun hysteria, and many Democrats recently elected to Congress support the right to bear arms.

America has made significant progress in restoring and protecting its long-neglected Second Amendment rights. Let Mr. Obama seek to undo that progress, and it may well be the start of his own political undoing.

ALLAN WALSTAD
Johnstown

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Shame on the UAW

Bail me out, but I won't make any effort to make things better. Can the arrogance of the United Auto Workers be any worse? With cost factors 65 percent above the competition, the UAW refuses to consider any concessions to correct its ridiculous benefit packages prior to demanding taxpayer bailout money.

Is the UAW solely to blame for the failures of the auto industry? No, it is not. Are the cost factors created by the UAW a major contributor to this problem? Absolutely! Some form of concession needs to be tied to the use of taxpayer dollars. And shame on President Bush if he decides to use the backdoor on this mess without requiring some level of concession from the greedy giant that created most of the problem to begin with.

I have purchased nothing but American-made cars throughout my life and felt a sense of American pride in doing so -- and almost guilt if I considered otherwise (six GM vehicles and one Chrysler). However, after last week's display by the UAW, the guilt will be gone next year when I purchase my new vehicle. For the first time in my life I will look at purchasing a foreign-brand automotive. If they don't care, then why should I?

ENRICO T. BRUSCHI
North Fayette

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Strange playbook

I'd like to congratulate Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Richard Shelby and their Republican colleagues for scuttling the auto bailout bill. It's reassuring to know that with the economic stability of the nation at stake, Senate Republicans will opt for ideological purity over pragmatic, nonpartisan politics every time!

In their fervor to go on the offensive against organized labor before the Obama administration takes office, McConnell, Shelby and the GOP leadership demand that the Big Three be bailed out on the backs of the United Auto Workers members and especially retirees.

A study recently published by the Center for Automotive Research estimates that a collapse of the auto industry would eliminate 3 million jobs in just the first year, as well as $21.1 billion in Social Security receipts and $24.7 billion in federal income tax payments. Sounds straight out of the GOP playbook; shrink the size of government, right? Heaven help us all if the auto industry collapses!

ROBERT M. GOETZ
Wilkinsburg

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Why tolerated now?

It seems that political correctness has its boundaries, after all. And telling Polish jokes is clearly in bounds. Had U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter recounted a tasteless, incendiary joke concerning African Americans, Hispanics, members of GLAAD or any other group, including, most ironically, his own religious/ethnic group, the Jewish people, Mr. Specter's ouster would seem to be imminent ("Specter's Ethnic Jokes Lay an Egg," Dec. 17).

Even as far back as 1976, American politics did not tolerate such tasteless jokes. We need not go any further than the infamous story of Earl Butz and his resignation as secretary of agriculture due to such a social faux pas. Today, sadly, a U.S. senator not only has the temerity to tell such a joke in an inappropriate setting, but perhaps most hurtfully, even harbors such thoughts.

CHESTER DUDZINSKI
Upper St. Clair

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The real damage

I am an American of Polish heritage. My sense of humor is sufficient that I am not "offended" by Sen. Arlen Specter's recent jokes at the expense of the Polish nationality ("Specter's Ethnic Jokes Lay an Egg," Dec. 17).

That said, as an instructor of Central European politics, I have witnessed that Polish jokes, or any ethnic joke for that matter, have the ability to do damage beyond the hurt feelings of those targeted.

Many students unquestioningly accept the premise of Polish jokes that Poles are weak or dumb. These same students are surprised or even resistant to learn that Poland contains some of the oldest and best universities in the world. Many have zero idea that Poland fought the Nazis then the Communists with a passion and competence unmatched by any other European state or nationality.

Anyone who still believes that Poles were dumb enough to charge Nazi tanks on horseback needs to read some accounts of Polish dissidents between 1939 and 1989. The history of the Warsaw Uprising alone is enough to change the opinion of nearly anyone who believes Poles are weak or dumb.

MATTHEW STELMACK
McMurray

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The games are not to blame

The Nov. 23 "Soccer Wars" article stirred up a bit of dialogue. The schools and WPIAL were taken to task for lack of institutional control, and Fred Harlan's letter ("Soccer Culture," Dec. 8) attempted to discredit the sport as a foreign plot against the civility of the United States.

The common denominator in behavioral issues in all sports seems to be parents. New Castle midget football coaches (parent volunteers) were arrested after a dispute with officials. A basketball referee was body slammed in an incident when an overzealous mom disagreed with a call against her son. A federal judge ruled for reinstatement of a Keystone Oaks volleyball player following his dismissal for breaking team rules; Mom and Dad chose court instead of teaching a "life lesson" about being a good teammate, citizen and school representative.

Times have changed. Today parents live vicariously through their children and often invest heavily in their child's athletic success. If parents don't like Junior's playing time or handling, they pressure the coach, athletic director or school board. A coach won't bench a player unless he knows the school district has his back. The number of people running for school board so they can fire the (insert sport) coach is appalling.

Spectators at high school games behave like they're at a pro game and the kids feed off the negative atmosphere. The difference between scholastic and pro sports is vast; let's recognize the difference and act accordingly. Remember, high school athletics are an extension of the classroom. We were a civil society. Blame TV, the commercialization/proliferation of pro sports and poor parenting, but don't blame soccer or any other game.

TIM McCOY
Director of Member Services
PA West Soccer Association
Monroeville

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