Letters to the editor
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Deplorable things happen after years of war
I feel that someone needs to defend the armed forces for the supposedly deplorable things the Marines did in Afghanistan. My experience in World War II showed that you cannot send troops into active combat many times over a period of 10 years without something like this happening.
After so many overseas trips, they lose respect for their country and feel that death might be their only way out. After being overseas 24 months and in three combat zones, my buddy and I felt that we would not see the end of the war, so we volunteered for the infantry officer candidate school in France.
I do not respect what the Marines supposedly did, but we need to look ourselves in the mirror to see the futility that is in their eyes.
I don't see where those condemning the Marines have their family members overseas for two or three combat trips. Do they have anyone in their immediate families in the armed services?
Let us begin to realize that you cannot fight a war for 10 years without bringing in fresh troops or having troops doing things that are deplorable.
RALPH M. FISHER
Oakland
The real culprits
Regarding the government's outrage over the photo of the four Marines urinating on the dead Afghans: What does anyone expect from a bunch of post-adolescent brainwashed grunt Marines? They are programmed intensely physically and mentally in boot camp to be professional killers of the country's enemies. They leave boot camp believing they are the super guardians of the country and are taught to not question orders.
When their commander in chief sent them off to battle the "Axis of Evil," which was routinely demonized and characterized as beneath contempt by the politicians and a compliant media, does anyone expect them to treat a dead enemy with respect?
The people who should be looking at jail time are people who sent these kids to fight unnecessary and illegitimate wars.
GERALD SCHILLER
Penn Hills
PSU trustees fail
At first, the media angered this observer, and now it's the Penn State board of trustees' mea culpa tour. It's my feeling that Penn State will rue the day it dismissed Joe Paterno in the manner it chose and with the incomplete evidence it had at hand. It will rue the day because the scandal should have been centered on Jerry Sandusky from the start, not Mr. Paterno.
By dismissing Joe Paterno in the poor manner of their choosing, all that the Penn State trustees accomplished was to weaken the university. The trustees couldn't handle the mounting pressure of the various media, and mostly ESPN, which treats college football as big-time entertainment, proving the adage of "The bigger they are the harder they fall" and the better our ratings.
Rather than taking an honorable stand against the relentless barrage of conjecture and proceed with due diligence to assess the coaching staff's involvement, the Penn State board of trustees caved to the pressure of commentators' dire interpretations and Joe Paterno's picture across the ESPN screen with the word "Scandal" beneath it. The only time in history that I can recall a scorched-earth policy working was when Russia defeated Napoleon. Otherwise, burning down your house to ward off evil is no way to approach an ongoing investigation.
Joe Paterno was not only a contributor to Penn State, he was the very essence of Penn State. The university and town grew largely on the legacy of the football team he built, and the way he built it. Penn State continues to pay him, but that is little recompense for burning a man's character and lifelong reputation. This has sorely shown that Penn State bows to the almighty media pressure over the man who built the legacy on which the university has thrived.
TOM ZENI
South Strabane
Occupy's good cause
In his Jan. 2 letter "National Cancer," Dave Majernik is missing some facts concerning the Occupy crowd. He asked: "Why do so many able-bodied adults believe they are entitled to someone else's money?"
Several weeks ago a Mellon Green occupier wrote a letter to the Post-Gazette stating the reason why the occupiers exist. The letter concerned the inequities involving the 99 percent middle class; the millions of seniors who lost their life savings after the fall of Wall Street to the unscrupulous investment bankers, and some insurance companies; the dishonest and the greedy in government and corporations of the 1 percent who created large inequities between the 99 percent middle class and poor vs. the top 1 percent; the people losing their homes due to the mortgage debacle.
I believe the occupiers would agree with Mr. Majernik's statement, "When government starts deciding who should get money they didn't earn and who should give up their money, then we are no longer free but oppressed." Can you imagine the feelings of the millions of seniors who had their life savings stolen from them?
About two months ago I spent some time among the occupiers at Mellon Green and was somewhat amazed at how congenial and how real these people were in their cause. I found most were well-educated and college people of various ages. There were some workers with regular jobs, and some who had lost their jobs, and, yes, there were a few homeless, unshaven and unkempt, but they too are human beings.
I commend and thank the occupiers for bringing attention to the cause of the 99 percent, many of whom are struggling.
JOE BARTEK
Ross
Proud of Bucs, too
I take exception to the letter "Help the City Put Its Best Foot Forward in 2012" (Jan. 5). In my opinion, there was one glaring omission: the Pittsburgh Pirates ... Let's Go Bucs!
We're very fortunate to have three major sports teams in our city.
PATRICIA JOHNSON
Scott
UPMC's charges
I read your story about the struggle between UPMC and Highmark. The data about UPMC having very high prices compared to other hospitals ( "UPMC's Out-of-Network Charges Are High," Jan. 12), in my opinion, speaks to the nature of the argument. Highmark does have a strong share of the market, but it does keep the prices down.
And UPMC wants a 40 percent increase from Highmark? That will drive the prices up even more.
This is about what is best for the consumer, and UPMC loses that argument by a wide margin. And I do not believe that UPMC will pass on its profits to the physicians, as it contends.
THOMAS VINCA
Erie
Sizing it all up
There is an interesting parallel between the current real estate assessment in Allegheny County and the Republican presidential primary. A company is assessing real estate; voters are assessing candidates. Both processes seem to have some level of drama and controversy.
Eventually, the real estate values will be set and the Republican presidential nominee will be selected. Those who are not completely satisfied with the results can appeal -- one through the real estate assessment appeal process; the other through the ballot box.
C.J. STEVENSON
Mt. Lebanon
Why are many Christians advocating threats to other humans?
Jesus Christ commanded his students to love one another, even to love their enemies. This central Christian teaching seems to be lost among many public figures who specifically advertise their Christianity, as the specter of nationalism once again looms over the country.
Both the Republican and the Democratic parties have made it their respective pastimes to threaten the lives of human beings in Iran. Jesus Christ loves the people of America, and He also loves the people of Iran. Human beings living in Iran were made in the image of God, just like all other people.
Christianity and nationalism are different religions. The cross and the flag are different.
JEFFREY MEYER
Squirrel Hill
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First Published January 18, 2012 12:00 am
