Letters to the Editor
Palin will stand up for America Sarah Palin sat in the hotel ballroom in Nashville, Tenn. She fired out her comments like a well-oiled machine. Never taking a pause, her answers came out methodically and rigorously ("Palin says she would not rule out presidential run," Monday)
Palin will stand
up for America
Sarah Palin sat in the hotel ballroom in Nashville, Tenn. She fired out her comments like a well-oiled machine. Never taking a pause, her answers came out methodically and rigorously ("Palin says she would not rule out presidential run," Monday). The "Tea Party" movement is now a classic piece of history that the American people formed to show the American way. A president was elected because he was going to make "change." After a year in office, we are in chaos.
The Tea Party movement will strike a chord in American hearts. This is where Palin fits in. She is a no-nonsense type of rebel who will stand up for the American people. The ghost of Ronald Reagan was in the room when she spoke.
George J. Walton
Upper Darby
Our country
has evolved
An editorial Monday ("Don't ask, let them tell") says, quite correctly, that "it makes little sense to dismiss brave men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line."
Take a look at our country's history. In early days only white, male property-holders could vote. After the Civil War and the 13th and 15th Amendments, blacks were freed and became citizens, and males were given the right to vote. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. In the closing days of World War II, our armed services were racially integrated. In 1945, I entered boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill. Some of the old hands were shocked that Camp Robert Smalls was no longer for blacks only.
Some day our citizens will look back on this issue and wonder what the controversy was.
Ed Rosen
Bryn Mawr
Nothing wrong with
military tribunals
Your stressing that the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his cohorts be held in a civilian federal court manages to ignore the inherent problems with doing so ("So change the venue," Saturday). You insist on "rules that provide for due process." Why? They are not U.S. citizens, and they are not military combatants. In fact, it could be argued that they are not even citizens of the world.
You reference the president's "appropriate plan to provide for a fair tribunal." Is that to imply that a military tribunal would not? Ultimately, your reasoning is that it will "restore the nation's stature as a democracy that sticks to its core values." Again, how would a military tribunal stray from "our core values"? It's the appropriate venue and has been used numerous times under many commanders in chief.
You conclude by suggesting Newburgh, N.Y., as a suitable replacement for Manhattan. Its mayor, certainly with the best interests of the United States in mind, offered his town because he heard how much money was on the table. He said that his town could use it, and that people from all over the world would come to cover it. P.T. Barnum would be pleased.
Stephen Hanover
Parker Ford
Thanks, Philly,
for plowing
First, I'd like to send out a big "thank you" to the city of Philadelphia for the weekend snow removal. My small street in the Port Richmond section was plowed at least three times, two times before the worst of last weekend's storm.
Now, I'd like to make a suggestion: Fine all property owners who don't shovel their pavements or don't use the city recycling system. Most people respect the law; maybe if people were fined, they would think twice about not shoveling or not recycling.
Deborah MacKenzie
Philadelphia
A new tone
in DA's office
New District Attorney Seth Williams sent a clear message ("Murder charge against Tepper," Tuesday) to all Philadelphia police officers when he brought criminal charges against a former cop who killed a 21-year-old in November 2009 after a neighborhood melee outside the police officer's home.
Williams is a stark contrast to former District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, who seemed to protect those types of police officers who would brazenly and vigorously violate Philadelphians' civil liberties. And when Abraham exonerated multiple police officers who participated in the nationally televised beating of three men suspected in the murder of a police officer, citizens were outraged. The three men were innocent, but Abraham ruled that the beatings were justifiable, and no charges were filed.
Williams is perhaps the breath of fresh air that the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office needs after years of complicity by the former district attorney.
Anthony P. Johnson
Philadelphia