Our soldiers and veterans deserve better care

The Nov. 30 "As Others See It" editorial by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ("A Troubled Soldier's Troubling Treatment") should raise major concerns for all of us as to why the men and women in service are not receiving needed and ongoing care. It may be the same red flags that should have been seen by Army leadership when a dangerous psychiatrist was allowed access to soldiers about to be again deployed to military action, only to die at the hands of this man.

I have lived through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and now Iraq and Afghanistan. Most likely in all these wars our soldiers suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and many died of suicide. But we now recognize PTSD as a diagnosis suffered by soldiers in battle and we also know it is a treatable disorder.

Current statistics report, as stated in the editorial, that 140 soldiers completed suicide in 2008 and 129 so far this year. This does not include the number that may have this illness and complete suicide as they are receiving private treatment.

It is appalling to see the many homeless veterans on the streets of Pittsburgh, many of whom reveal signs of PTSD. Their care is being provided by our churches, soup kitchens and shelters. But, as the editorial states, "we owe soldiers more than this."

LILLIAN L. MEYERS, Ph.D
Licensed Psychologist
Bethel Park

A demeaning pledge

Regarding "Christian Leaders Vow to Resist Gay Marriage, Abortion" (Nov. 27): I had a Christian upbringing that taught me family values, inclusiveness and tolerance. No declaration by a group of self-designated "Christian leaders" will change that. If such a group wants to challenge our laws with civil disobedience, so be it. I am pleased that they have that right in this country. Traditionally, though, civil disobedience has been an effective tool against oppression and intolerance.

Regardless of whether this group's prejudice against marriage of individuals of the same gender is justified, there is a growing number of tens of thousands of families in which children - who have no say in the matter - are being raised in this country in families headed by two adults of the same gender. Those children deserve the same dignities and legal protections that are accorded to other children who happen to be born into families that are acceptable to the signers of this "declaration." So do the adults who raise them.

An attempt by certain groups under color of religion to compel the state to limit the rights of a class of individuals not only contravenes our Constitution; it also demeans the Christian doctrine with which they have been entrusted.

BRUCE L. WILDER
Oakland

What about war?

It is heartening to see our local Christian leaders bravely confront their twin nemesis, abortion and gay marriage, to the point of civil disobedience and prison if necessary. ("Christian Leaders Vow to Resist Gay Marriage, Abortion," Nov. 27). Particularly impressive was the inclusion of James Towey, president of St. Vincent College, and Archbishop Donald Wuerl, formerly of Pittsburgh. Is this the same James Towey who courageously commanded George W. Bush's White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives that proved to be a fiasco and partisan front to promote Republican candidates?

And is this the same Bishop Wuerl, who, contrary to strong anti-war Vatican statements, caved to George W. Bush and all but absolved him of any moral responsibility for entering upon a bloody and illegal, preventive war in Iraq? He virtually forbade any post-invasion debate of the administration's decision, disdaining the long-held Catholic tradition of applying just war principles after the undeclared war was launched (see the Pittsburgh Catholic editorial of March 28, 2003).

I don't know where Bishop Zubik and the others stood on the aforementioned issues since their silence had been deafening. And I don't particularly like myself for taking this sarcastic tone, but how better to confront their hypocrisy?

ROBERT JEDRZEJEWSKI
Tarentum

Daily give and take

Regarding Lindsay Williams Weissberg's letter "Blocked By Smokers" (Nov. 24), there is a give and take in everything in life. I am a smoker, and while I have made the unhealthy choice, there are many things in our daily lives that are harmful to me and with which we all have to live. Whether another driver texting or applying makeup while driving, or a sick co-worker coughing and sneezing all over the office, or loud motorcycles driving by at midnight, we all have inconveniences to deal with.

While the 10-second trip arriving or leaving a restaurant and smelling smoke may be bothersome to you, it is no more unhealthy to you or your unborn child than breathing our air on a daily basis.

So until we can all live in our own bubbles, safe from the dangers that others pose to us, please learn to compromise with the choices that other people make.

We've already taken the decision from restaurant and bar owners with the smoking ban; let's not let the government make the evil smokers go a block down the road to enjoy a butt.

DANIEL SCHUMACHER
South Park

For emergencies

In a recent "Off Q" on WQED-TV, a conservative commentator said that the uninsured can go to the emergency room to get care if needed. Well, you can't.

Now if you're hit by a car, or maybe you're shot, or if you break a leg and you have no insurance, yes, they will treat you. If you have a hospital with an emergency room, I believe it's federally mandated that they do just that. But if you show up at one of the big Pittsburgh hospitals because you need chemotherapy or you need an operation and you don't have insurance, you are out of luck because they will refuse to treat you.

They treat emergencies. I guess you could impoverish yourself and shed all assets and cut family ties, and then you would qualify for Medicaid. I'm no lawyer, but that sounds like fraud to me.

Think about this. As premiums rise faster than inflation, at what point will your premiums become unbearable to your employer or yourself? I know conservatives want President Barack Obama's reforms stopped. And if they get their wish, health reform won't happen until Medicare collapses. Do conservatives think their firms or companies are going to continue to shell out health insurance contributions doubling every few years?

NICHOLAS BALANDIAT
Baldwin Borough

Illogical tax target

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's stated justification for the tuition tax, echoed by Councilman Jim Motznik, is that the college students should be taxed because the nonprofits aren't contributing their fair share to the city. Their logic escapes me. What is the moral justice in coercing somebody to pay a debt you believe somebody else owes you?

FRANK KERNAN
Mt. Lebanon

The judicial ideal will not be achieved with partisan elections

We agree with Justice Debra Todd ("Lady Justice Is Nonpartisan," Nov. 23 Perspectives) that partisan politics should have no place in a court of justice. We trust, as does Justice Todd, that most judges are able to maintain impartiality in their decisions. Yet while we share her dismay that the focus during the recent election was on the political balance of the bench, we think it has much to do with the way we select judges in our state.

If we expect our highest judicial officers to completely separate their political affiliation from their judicial decision-making, why do we elect them in hotly contested, extravagantly funded partisan elections? One can't blame the public and the media for assuming the court is a political institution while we continue to select judges in partisan elections.

Nor should we be surprised that Pennsylvanians "conflate[ ] the election of justices ... with the role of service as a justice." Why else would political parties spend millions on getting their candidates into office? In fact, both parties emphasized the importance of the Supreme Court election to party members because of the upcoming reapportionment of legislative districts.

"Lady Justice" is certainly neither a Republican nor a Democrat. But we highly doubt that she got her particular spot on the pantheon of gods in a partisan election. Short of a divine intervention, we think merit selection of appellate judges is a far better alternative to partisan elections if we seek Justice Todd's ideal of a truly nonpartisan court.

DAVID CAROLINE
Associate
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
Philadelphia

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