Regarding the series "Touching Evil" (Dec. 16-18) including the story "Serial Killer's Need to Control Shows in Letters" (Dec. 17): This series is very disturbing and enlightening at the same time. What is enlightening about it? Now I know why this country does not put these evil people to death. It is not because of cruel and unusual punishment, it is so psychiatrists, forensic students, law students, etc., can study them.
In my opinion they have been studying these people for years and have not made a dent in preventing them from murdering. As for cruel and unusual punishment, what is so cruel compared to what he did to his victims?
The death penalty may not deter these killers from murdering, but why is taxpayer money used to keep them alive? If they are put to death, that is money the state is saving. But, oh, I forgot -- when it is taxpayer money being used, let it flow.
LORRAINE LAU
Kennedy
The article on the Duquesne University forensic students included a quote indicating that the victims of most serial killers are prostitutes ("Serial Killer's Need to Control Shows in Letters," Dec. 17).
That simply is not true. Though many of the victims of the Green River Killer and other high-profile serial killers may have been prostitutes, there are many serial killers like Ted Bundy, the Hillside Stranglers and the BTK Killer, who killed random people who were just ordinary girls or boys who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
To imply that most such victims are prostitutes denigrates the victims and their families.
KENNETH L. ZIMMERMAN
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee likes to use Jesus in a cute and superficial manner. During one of the debates he said that Jesus was too smart to run for public office (which begs the question why Mr. Huckabee is running). The ensuing laughter helped Mr. Huckabee avoid answering a serious question about the death penalty.
Now he compares his recent rise in popularity to a biblical miracle ("Religion Should Have No Privileged Status in American Public Life," Dec. 15 Charles Krauthammer column). I feel disgusted by all of this pandering (his and other candidates') to sincere believers.
We have seen this use of religion in the past. It was called the divine right of kings. It was arrogant then and it is now.
REV. GREGORY C. SWIDERSKI
McCandless
I write to speak against the Forum piece by Ernest Sternglass ("Trade Nukes for Gas," Dec. 16).
In the scientific community, Dr. Sternglass is not so much considered an expert on radiation as he is an anti-nuclear agitator. If Dr. Sternglass has a problem with the nuclear power plant in Beaver County, he also must have a problem with the sun. The sun is nuclear and background low-level radiation from its cosmic rays exists everywhere.
Radiation from all commercial nuclear power plants in the United States accounts for about one-tenth of 1 percent of the radiation to which we are exposed annually.
Dr. Sternglass has helped prejudice the public against the facts by his "radiation hysteria." By overstating radiation risks, patients refuse lifesaving nuclear medical procedures, research is constrained by limited availability of radioisotopes, food poisoning continues to kill people who do not get irradiated food, and we give credibility to terrorists by making a minor radiation release sound like a life-endangering need for panic.
An enormous body of scientific data on radiation effects demonstrates that radiation, like nearly every other assault on living organisms, can be deadly at high levels but harmless and usually beneficial at low levels. This is true for chemicals, "nutrients," bacteria, sunshine, exercise, wind and virtually everything else.
Furthermore, expert and advisory and regulatory bodies concede that there is no evidence that low-dose radiation is harmful and that "the rates of cancer in most populations exposed to low-level radiation have not been found to be detectably increased and in most cases the rates have appeared to be decreased" ("National Council on Radiation Protection-136," Page 6).
It's time to get real.
LARRY FOULKE
Pleasant Hills
The writer is director of nuclear programs at the University of Pittsburgh.
The story about the lady from New England who brought some of her husband's ashes to Heinz Field was interesting ("Even in Death, Loyal Fan Makes It to Game," Dec. 17). However, the moral of the story should be "life is for the living." If you have a passion, goal, desire, get it done.
I am an Indianapolis Colts fan. Every year my beloved wife and I drive to Indy for a weekend. We hit the sports bars and go to the RCA Dome to watch Peyton, Marlin and our boys play.
There are no guarantees in life. Go kayak the Snake River, watch the polar bears in Canada and go to that Steelers game. Life is not a dress rehearsal. "Just do it."
RAYMOND FABIAN
Sharon
Thanks to Brian O'Neill for my first laugh of the day last Sunday. His column on Dr. Cyril Wecht's poison pen letters ("Nutty, But Not Dangerous," Dec. 16) reminds me of the wonderfully witty missives sent eons ago by Groucho Marx to the head of Warner Bros.
Clearly Dr. Wecht has an advanced sense of humor, and I'm impressed that one of his targets, Keith Sueker, thought enough to frame the letter he received and to chime in on Dr. Wecht's current trial judge as being "a little chicken." I'm afraid, though, that my glee has stopped when I consider just what a mess your judiciary is in if a judge is allowed to seat an anonymous jury. How can this possibly be fair to any defendant?
I have great regard for Pittsburgh and its people. Surely they will rectify this situation at once. In fact, if they are as wise as I've always known them to be, they will drop all the charges against this man who, at worst, owes his former office for some phone calls and fax paper. The country is watching, Pittsburgh! The phrase "Don't make a federal case out of it" has never been more apt.
BETTY CORDELL
Los Angeles, Calif.
The recent flurry of stories about state House staffers being paid with taxpayer money for campaign work (most recently, "Bonus Pay Spread Over Party Lines," Dec. 17 front page) really makes me disgusted with our politicians. Do none of them have the guts or the morality to say, "Wait -- this is wrong! And illegal!"
I used to go to the polls armed with a list of people to vote for. In the last election my wife says I voted the "straight Post-Gazette ticket." But I won't need that list the next time. No more voting for -- just give me a list of incumbents.
DENNIS LYNCH
Indiana Township
What caused the previous ice ages and subsequent global cooling?
What caused the end of the earlier ice ages, which resulted in global warming?
None of these documented events occurred as a result of auto emissions, factories, industry or many human beings.
Is this, perhaps, "an inconvenient truth"?
Think about it -- conservation is always paramount, but sensationalism that does not address the well-documented, previous climate changes is irresponsible.
DAVID CROSS
Economy
I'm not shocked, but truly heartbroken, that funding has once again passed to continue blowing up and rebuilding Iraq ("Senate Passes Spending Bill, War Funds," Dec. 19).
We sent the Democrats to Congress to stop the "war," and we have more troops there than when they took control of Congress. We are trying to spread democracy around the world, when we no longer have it in our own country.
The suicide rate among veterans of the Iraq war is frightening, and many veterans are homeless. I guess those yellow "Support the Troops" magnets aren't working so well. By the way, who doesn't support the troops? It's this damned invasion we don't support. Remember, Congress?
China owns us, and if it decides to pull its money out of this country and invest in euros, you can just stick a fork in us.
Look what's happening locally: A corporation from Spain is buying Kennywood, and an Australian company just bought The Meadows.
Does the term "Third World country" sound a bit scary?
I am thankful for one thing this Christmas: Santa has those reindeer, because with the price of gas, he could never afford to make that trip this year.
Well, the Bush administration has been pushing fear on us for years, and I am finally scared. Mission accomplished, Mr. Bush.
REBECCA C. HALFHILL
Scottdale
We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.
First Published: December 23, 2007, 5:00 a.m.
