Letters: Revved up about abortion message

I AM A BIT HOT under the collar at the Rev. Clenard Childress. Tell you why. First, the best way to prevent abortions is to promote a sound sex-education program in the schools and communities and strongly encourage the use of contraception. Second, instead of putting the burden on women to be more sexually responsible, share the burden with men (and boys) to be more sexually responsible by keeping their zippers zipped. That was the message that both Jesse Jackson and Bill Cosby (his conduct with women notwithstanding) have pushed. I'll bet an Irish coffee the Rev. Childress has done neither. If not, why not?

Neal Bracken

Lansdale, Pa.

The NAACP doesn't get it. But Pastor Clenard Childress does get it. Planned Parenthood was started by Margaret Sanger, a white woman who espoused Adolph Hitler's Satanic ideals and wanted to eliminate the entire black population through abortion. Millions of black babies have been aborted (and white babies, too). When will the black community no longer stand for this? How many more babies need to die because of this racist genocide? Thank you Pastor Childress and God bless you!

Michael Jones

Philadelphia

Our third-rate Fourth

The Fourth of July. is one of my favorite holidays, but I have little interest in inviting family and friends to come to my Fairmount home over on the Fourth to take in the city's festivities. The concert has gone from enjoyable in some years, with headliners like Elton John, to simply mediocre and annoying.

First, they moved the stage from the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. I cannot figure out why.

Second, they now cordon off the entire perimeter of the art museum, fencing everyone around the museum. For a holiday, one would expect to see thousands of people enjoying the museum steps and area during the day. But it's all restricted, making it feel almost abandoned. I tried to take my brother and his family, in from Florida, on a nice bike ride along the river during the day. Couldn't get anywhere close to the museum.

Third, the entertainment, simply put, is horrible and not themed for the day. No patriotism. No family theme. Just horrible rap music and unintelligible lyrics suited for a narrow audience. Why can't there be more Philly Pops (like the wonderful Boston Pops that was televised for so many years), national stars who attract a wide audience, military bands with John Souza and maybe a small portion of the music dedicated to rap if they have it at all. The Pops did a concert the evening before at Independence Hall, and it certainly was more in line with what a wholesome family-oriented holiday concert should be, with people on blankets in the grass celebrating America's heritage on a nice summer evening.

And lastly, the fireworks. Aside from becoming fairly mediocre, why can't they set them off like every other city in America - at around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., just after dusk. This year it was almost July 5 when they started. 11:25 p.m.! I see no reason why the concert can't start earlier and end at 9:30. Everyone wants this, yet it never happens. This is my biggest single complaint. I've had guests over on my deck who are forced to leave because the fireworks never go off at a reasonable time. Every year it's the same thing. Horrible music that goes on and on and mediocre fireworks at almost midnight.

As much as I like the idea of staying in Philadelphia for July Fourth, I almost want to pack up and leave the city.

We are Philadelphia, where it all started. We should have the most spectacular event and fireworks in the country and it should be nationally televised. What we have is third-rate. It was filthy music last year and this year it was no better overall.

Jim Pavlock

Philadelphia