Letters Good Americans Thanks to Joe Baker Jr.'s letter (Local 12-23, "Bush-bashing must end"), we now know the real problem with the U.S. -- the 56 million people who voted for Kerry are not "good Americans." Quoting Mr. Baker, "I support the president because of his values and because he is a good American, something that I could not say about Senator Kerry ..." So now we have it, and let us repent, all of us bad Americans, for our unpatriotic sins: Thou shalt support your leader (Bush) no matter what direction he takes us! This is your country right or wrong! (Forget the idea that when our country is wrong we should speak out to make it right.) Women's right to choose? Good Americans should pray for Bush appointments to the Supreme Court to overthrow Roe v. Wade. Right to marry a loved one of your choice? Good Americans will support the Bush proposed amendment to our Constitution that would outlaw same-sex marriage. And if you are opposed to our crusade in Iraq, and if you want to bring our troops home safely, now, shame on you, you bad Americans. So thanks, Mr. Baker, for revealing the truth about us bad Americans. Let's just be thankful that we have a Bill of Rights that encourages everyone to speak his or her mind, especially when opposed to the policies of those in power. If Mr. Baker gets his wish that "Bush-bashing must end," we can kiss our democracy good-bye. Marvin Thall Local volunteer will be missed I was sorry to read in the Dec.16 Local that Terri Bythrow died recently. Terri volunteered many hours for the Local, clipping articles from past issues so that reporters and editors could review previous articles when they were working on a story. This was particularly important in the years before the Local was able to save many past articles on its computer system. Terri was a loyal, caring Chestnut Hill resident. Katie Worrall Lovely tribute On Sunday, Dec. 5, I joined Wissahickon Hospice and the members of the Chestnut Hill community in honoring and remembering our neighbors, friends and loved ones during the Light Up a Life ceremony at the Chestnut Hill Free Library and Fountain Park Plaza. This tree-lighting event provides a way for the community to come together during the holiday season and show support for Wissahickon Hospice. As a member of the Chestnut Hill community, this event was especially moving for me. Many Chestnut Hill businesses and individuals contributed their services to make the event a lovely tribute that will last the winter season: Margaret Brunton & Lynne Haase of the Chestnut Hill Library, who assisted with planning; Ms. Haase, who opened the library and donated her time; Sr. Kathleen McCloskey, SSJ & The Chestnut Hill College Chamber Singers who provided music; Susan Pizzanno of Fountain Plaza Park board of trustees, who secured the park as the location for the event; Joe Ascenzi & Laurel Hill Gardens, who donated the evergreen tree for lighting; John & Hope McGettigan, who continued their tradition of donating the lights and putting them up on the trees at Fountain Park Plaza; Robertson's Flowers, who provided six poinsettias; Paul Roller of Roller's Market, who donated refreshments; and Stanley Ropski, who did an outstanding job putting the lights on the Laurel Hill Gardens tree. I thank them all sincerely for their hard work and the part it played in our celebration. I would also like to thank the Chestnut Hill Community for their continued support of Wissahickon Hospice. I would like to invite all of you to stop by Fountain Park to see the beautiful trees, and I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Joan M. Doyle Letters policy Editor's note: The following comes in response to a letter written last week criticizing the Local's letter policy. Every publication should have an editor responsible for its content with the authority to edit. Should he or she abdicate that responsibility the owner should find a new one. W. W. Keen Butcher Criticism needed The president of the United States either lied or bungled his way into a poorly planned and ineptly executed war -- and our children are paying for his administration's blunders with their lives in hellholes like Fallujah and Mosul. His incompetence probably does not rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors" -- catastrophic stupidity is not a crime -- but if any president is worthy of widespread condemnation, this one is. My criticism of the president and his policies has nothing to do with sour grapes, or who won the election. John Kerry ran a campaign at least as inexpertly managed as Mr. Bush's administration of the Iraq debacle. Kerry was my candidate, I supported him with my donations, voted for him, and in the end he richly deserved to lose. The election is over, at least for me. But a citizen's rights and obligations do not end on Election Day. Many of us are firmly resolved that George W. Bush is a dangerous, polarizing president, and we are going to continue to say so. Nothing could be more in accord with the finest traditions of American democracy than for us to continue to point out this President's tragic flaws. Jeff Meade Crossing Germantown With all the concern for traffic lights and stop signs, there is no mention of the hazardous light at Bethlehem Pike and Germantown Avenues. It takes forever to get a walk signal and then you must be a winged Mercury to make it safely across. I have recently been in Washington, D.C. and there are crossing lights at most intersections. The intersections also have an audible signal and an indication of crossing time left. Certainly Chestnut Hill can improve its lone crossing! Sanford P. Sher Purge arrogance If the Democrats are ever to win another national election, they must purge themselves of the kind of intellectual arrogance displayed by Ralph West in his opinion piece, "The dumbing down of America" (Local, 12/16). I yield to no man in my respect for a rigorous formal education -- but academic skills are not the only measure of the worth of a human being. A person who writes poorly is not necessarily such a mental defective that he can only vote -- Oh the Horror! -- Republican. Good officers have respect for their men, and the country rewards them. Think of General Eisenhower. Officers who sneer at their men get shot in the back. Richard K. Stevens Jr. |
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