Letters to the editor
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I applaud the Feb. 27 article on the mayor of Braddock, John Fetterman, and the actions he is taking to bring attention to a socially, economically and financially depressed area ("Mayor Takes Needy Braddock's Story Nationwide").
You hear and read a great deal about the progressive actions of the East End, South Side and outlying communities and how they are striving to rebuild and resolve their issues, but for the Mon Valley the news is never positive. If the individual who says the mayor is wrong for being proactive would take a look around, he might rethink his position.
Having been born and raised in Rankin (another depressed community), I think it is about time someone seeks the necessary assistance to get the powers that be to notice what is really going on in this city and this nation. There is never any hesitation about emphasizing the killings and devastation that affect small communities; why shouldn't there be media attention on the good things that someone is willing to stand up for?
The Mon Valley (Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, North Braddock and our neighbors across the bridge) used to be a thriving, working-class area in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh; now we hold records for murder, drugs and other negative aspects of humanity that have plagued our communities.
Thank you, Mr. Fetterman; keep on keeping on. I pray that your enthusiasm will catch on with other politicos in the area. Revitalization is necessary for our communities to survive!
DEBORAH M. WILLIAMS
Rankin
Irreversible error
I applaud Ruth Ann Dailey for pointing out some of the flaws within our justice system, particularly with regard to the death penalty ("When Monsters Emerge from Judges' Robes," Feb. 16).
The instance of juveniles being sentenced to detention centers for a judge's financial gain is a perfect example of the human error that exists within the criminal justice system.
Definitive sentences, such as the death penalty, are a dangerous move for a flawed system. It seems to me that innocent individuals are at risk of being sentenced to death within a system as flawed as ours.
It is impossible to rectify such a mistake once a life has been taken.
MAUREEN FISHER
Castle Shannon
Abhorrent testing
The recent approval by the Food and Drug Administration of testing human embryo stem cells on people ("Embryo Tests on Humans OK'd," Jan. 24) marks a new, sad chapter in medical research. For the promise of curing illness, this research involves the taking of human lives by destruction of embryos. Because these individuals are so tiny, we have chosen as a society to ignore that this research is really analogous to the horrific human experiments of World War II.
There is no proof that alternative research not involving the taking of human life, such as adult stem-cell research in general, umbilical cord stem-cell research and bone marrow stem-cell research, would not be just as effective in finding cures. But stem-cell research using human embryos is more practical and cheaper and, of course, the human embryos cannot object.
The obvious moral issues aside, it is pathetic that we have simply allowed the high-profile proponents of embryonic stem-cell research to corral our leaders into accepting it on very dubious grounds.
ROBERT C. WEHNER
Upper St. Clair
Measures that kill
In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama said: "For those who seek to advance their aims by ... slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you." Tragically, the innocents President Obama was referring to were not the innocent, defenseless children in the wombs of their mothers.
No sooner had the echoes of President Obama's inaugural address faded on the National Mall than he overturned the "Mexico City policy." This will use our taxpayer money to fund groups overseas that engage in killing or promoting the killing of the innocent child in the womb of the mother.
In continuing his so-called "hope" and "change" mantra, he is expected to lift the ban on using our federal taxes to pay researchers to kill living human embryos to extract their stem cells for immoral, ineffective and wasteful research -- this despite the fact that perfectly moral adult stem-cell research and therapies have led to real cures for patients suffering from debilitating diseases and injuries.
When President Obama takes money out of taxpayers' pockets to kill children, he can no longer claim with any legitimacy that he wants to reduce the number of children killed by abortion. Forcing Americans to pay for the killing of the innocent will not bring us together; there can be no common ground when the ground is soaked with innocent blood.
DAVID POLIZIANI
Crafton Heights
Congress as career
On Feb. 26 you published a letter from Sen. Russ Feingold explaining the 17th Amendment ("More Democracy Is the Best Way to Fill Senate Seats"). I find his comments to be out of touch, much like most of our congressional leaders.
If Mr. Feingold really wants to help the people of this great republic, he will lead a charge to broaden another amendment to our Constitution, the 22nd.
I have stated before and I will continue to point out that in 1951, our esteemed Congress decided to ratify an amendment that limited the president to two elected terms of office. I strongly urge Mr. Feingold and his fellow members of Congress to limit their own terms to two elected terms.
No congressional office was ever intended to be a career position of power.
NICK LIBERTO
Blawnox
All-around respect
I commend letter writer Helen Gerhardt for working with the two students of Gateway High School who wore the kaffiyehs to school ("It's All-American," March 3), and I agree that kaffiyehs, just as yarmulkes and crosses, for example, are part of one's cultural identity and civil rights.
However, I sincerely hope that Ms. Gerhardt also mentioned to these students that wearing T-shirts that read "RIP Israel" to school is inappropriate and offensive to members of the Gateway student body.
As a community we need to teach our youth to respect and appreciate one another's cultures, so that in the future kaffiyehs are not equated with hatred and terrorism.
KAREN KANTZ
Squirrel Hill
Let's see more of such input on education
I wholeheartedly concur with Kathryn Fine in her Feb. 25 Perspectives piece ("You Call This Reform?"). The Pittsburgh Public Schools administration has too often inadequately engaged the public prior to making decisions. The most unfortunate examples are in circumstances where controversy is likely to ensue, such as in school closings, relocations or reconfigurations.
One notable exception is the recent decision of the board to adopt a comprehensive sex education curriculum. A committee that included staff, other experts and community members came up with a proposal. A notice was sent home to parents to solicit their feedback. Dozens of people testified. I commend the board and administration for the way this issue was handled.
However, one avenue for informing and engaging the public is lacking. School board meetings and agenda review sessions are televised on the city cable channel. Public testimony also should be aired, just as is done for City Council and for County Council. Experts in sexuality education testified at several recent school board meetings, and their knowledge could have been more readily available to the public. We Pittsburghers can learn quite a bit from our fellow citizens.
DEBBIE LEVY McKENNEY
Squirrel Hill
First Published March 6, 2009 12:00 am
