Letters:

Value of history

The poll question included with Tuesday's article "Valley Forge museum hearing turns angry" was difficult to answer with a simple yes or no. The question - "Should the American Revolutionary Museum be built at Valley Forge?" - is too broad to elicit an accurate reading of the current dispute.

Few would argue that a museum to tell the story of the American Revolution near or at Valley Forge National Historical Park is a good idea. However, it must be built at a location and in a manner that is consistent with the historic landscape of Valley Forge.

If built as currently proposed, the outsize museum/conference center development will pave over the very history it strives to interpret.

We remain open to working with all stakeholders to find a solution that is in the best interest of the park. In a hundred years, the historic character of Valley Forge will be more valuable than any building that could be built there today.

Cinda M. Waldbuesser

Pennsylvania Senior Program Manager

National Parks Conservation Assn.

Philadelphia

» READ MORE: cwaldbuesser@npca.org

Religious rationales

You missed the boat with your Thursday editorial "Going to Church." I argued that the presidential forum at Saddleback Church in California was a bad idea because it was an attempt by Pastor Rick Warren to pressure Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama into justifying their policy positions with religious rationales.

You seem to believe the forum was of value because of the information imparted by the candidates. Yet we've heard it all before. Did anyone need this forum to learn that Obama is pro-choice and McCain is not?

Presidents lead a government that is supposed to be neutral on theological matters, neither advocating nor denigrating any faith and not criticizing those who choose not to believe.

In light of that, I think we'd all be better off if voters would make their decision based not on where the candidates go to church or how they read the Bible, but where they want to take this nation.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn

Executive director

Americans United for Separation

of Church and State

Washington

Saddleback revealed

Regarding Sens. Barack Obama's and John McCain's appearances at Saddleback Church, we learned something about the church as well as about the candidates.

The congregation/audience gave a more robust endorsement (via applause) not to Obama's suggestion that America's greatest moral failing was neglecting to take care of the least among us (and citing Scripture while he said it), but to McCain's boast that he wants everyone to get rich.

I wonder when Jesus would have applauded?

Mark Eyerly

Downingtown

» READ MORE: meyerly@comcast.net

Military might

George Bush is again leading the United States down a dangerous path with the signing of a missile treaty with Poland.

Poland has every right to be concerned about its powerful neighbor. What Warsaw must consider is what path they should take to avoid Russian intervention.

An alliance with America appears to offer protection, but Poles who are old enough will remember such promises were made to Warsaw by two world-class powers - Britain and France - in the 1930s and 1940s, but they found themselves alone against Hitler and Stalin.

Would any American leader risk a nuclear attack in defense of Poland?

As with so much of our recent foreign policy, Washington has replaced diplomacy with military might. A tactful resolution with Russia over issues such as South Ossetia, Georgia, or Poland would be far less costly to American taxpayers and, potentially, hold less loss of American lives.

Joseph Elias

Wilkes-Barre

» READ MORE: dmaak@msn.com

Colin Powell?

Despite all the talk about the Democrats, John McCain is the one with the opportunity to put together a dream ticket. If McCain could persuade Colin Powell to be his vice presidential candidate, it would turn the election on its head.

The race issue would be neutralized. Powell has tremendous respect across party lines, with the military, and with heads of state. And after having resigned the Bush administration early, Powell also represents conscience and change. It would be a groundbreaking choice.

Tom Zuraw

Wayne

» READ MORE: tomzuraw@gmail.com