Letters to the Editor

Schooling generations in song

As a college student in 1959, I had the honor of meeting and singing along with Pete Seeger at Oberlin College. We all joined him in a hootenanny after his concert performance, singing into the wee hours ("A giant of music and activism," Jan. 29). Through the years, when I taught vocal music to elementary school children in the Philadelphia public schools, I included many songs that Seeger wrote or cowrote. I explained the songs' historical context, and how songs can be used to speak out for peace and justice, or in protest. Seeger's music and his sing-alongs inspired and gave joy to people from all walks of life and all ages. I was happy to have him accompany me down the road of my life for as long as he did.

Judy Rubin, Philadelphia

Starry night's songs recalled

At Cornell in 1971, Pete Seeger appeared in a Greek revival building with a wide portico (A giant of music and activism," Jan. 29). His concert had hardly gotten underway when the fire marshal determined the hall was filled beyond capacity. Without hesitation, Seeger announced above the groans of the audience that the concert would continue outside. We sat cross-legged in the plaza in front of the steps, while Seeger stood above in the portico and gave a magical concert under the stars of that clear September night.

Al DeLucia, Philadelphia

Read study, call in the morning

While Americans are still debating the merits of the Affordable Care Act, there is another government initiative known as academic detailing that deserves examination. Under this program, government contractors visit physicians' offices and recommend medications they should be giving patients based on research on what works best. The contractors also promote U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations that have been controversial, such as recommendations that some screenings for breast and colon cancer are unnecessary. Physicians must have good information, but academic detailers cannot replace doctors and patients in health-care decisions.

Jennifer Murphy, Haddonfield

Spartan solution to Mideast woes

Trudy Rubin contradicts herself when she praises the president for "rejecting more Mideast wars," while calling for military "muscle" to further our ends in that region, and she's still urging the arming of Syrian rebels ("What Obama left out of speech," Jan. 30). It seems to me that arms and troops constitute war. Of course, President Obama raised false expectations by claiming in his State of the Union that the war in Afghanistan is ending. But that's standard political talk. If Rubin were president, I'm afraid we'd be a modern Sparta.

James Miles, Collingdale

Well's running dry for wagerers

With five Philadelphia casino sites under consideration, I'd like to know where this revenue will come from ("Another lousy bet," Jan. 30). There are only so many gamblers, and most are spending all their available (and unavailable) income already. Tourists are mostly day trippers and, unless you are opening casinos at Pat's or Geno's, they're not a viable source. How about convention attendees? That's not likely, either, since conventions seem to be a dying breed around here. That leaves residents, who are probably already maxed out on gambling. So to expect gambling to be a revenue panacea is shortsighted and foolish.

Joe Orenstein, Philadelphia, joe4189@verizon.net

Green light to city of charters?

Karen Heller asserts that School Reform Commission nominee Bill Green's claim to fame, and Gov. Corbett's support for him, is due to Green's past support for vouchers and charters ("Difficult man for a difficult job," Jan. 22). Further, she notes that Green is impatient and arrogant, hardly great qualities for a job requiring negotiation. So if Green is confirmed, the commission may have one more leader whose presumed goal could be the traditional public schools' demise.

Ron Stoloff, Blue Bell, rstoloff@comcast.net

Flying up the down staircase

Returning recently from a trip via Toronto on US Airways Express to Terminal F at Philadelphia International Airport, I was delighted to find my suitcase waiting for me in the baggage claim area. I called my friend in the cellphone lot and told her I was there. Then I waited, and waited, and waited until she called to ask where I was. It was then that I found out that the baggage claim area for Terminal F is on the departures side of the terminal. No place like home - especially when it is Philadelphia International Airport.

I. Milton Karabell, Philadelphia