December 23-29, 2004

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

What About the Iraqis?

Your article ["Soldier's Heart," Dec. 16, 2004] on treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among soldiers returning from the Iraq war stopped too short.

If a third of the troops face mental ailments after they come home from the war, what about the 24 million people whose home is the war? They don't receive honorable discharges from living amid gunfire and explosions in a wrecked society. They don't get therapy at VA hospitals. Not one American I've read about has mentioned PTSD when considering whether our invasion will be good for the Iraqi people. Is it really wise to do things known to boost suicide rates [in] a society where the preferred suicide method is car bomb?

During Vietnam there was a poster, "War is unhealthy for children and other living things." It's true. And the war boosters should remember that unhealthy Islamic societies breed America's worst threats.
Alan M. MacRobert
Bedford, Mass.

Conspiracy in Ohio

Yes, those of us in Ohio are on the front lines [City Beat, "Outside Story," Dec. 9, 2004], and it feels like we are defending the Alamo. People all over the country who are tracking what's happening want to help and who feel helpless, frustrated and sorry for us in Ohio are offering good wishes and words of encourgement. And believe me, we appreciate the encouragement.

But we here in Ohio need more than a "You can do it" pat on the back. Ohio is screaming the truth at the top of its lungs, literally, and no one hears us because of all the noise of the media silence. If you want to help, please turn over every rock to find someone big who can get the media's attention who is willing to speak up for us. We need that. And we need it now.
Gary Polvinale
Sandusky, Ohio

While it is possible that some of the many thousands of complaints of fraud in key states may be groundless, it is unlikely that all of these complaints are without merit. It seems unlikely that even a thorough investigation will change the result of the election of 2004, but it is important to investigate all reports of vote fraud and protect the integrity of our electoral process. Ballot-box stuffing and similar practices are probably as old as voting itself but this does not mean we should look the other way, especially now that high-tech innovations make manipulation of votes and vote tallying easier to do and harder to uncover.

Every vote must be counted, every voter should be permitted to vote without obstruction, and every eligible individual wishing to vote should be allowed to register without interference.
Steven J. Gallop
Broomall, Pa.

Curses, Foiled Again

What a pleasure it was today to read the movie reviews without the usual expletives. You remembered there are intelligent people out there who read City Paper.

Deborah Komins
Center City

Correction

In last week's [Naked City, "That Ol' Black Magic," Cory Frolik, Dec. 16, 2004], it was reported that Voodoo loas do not demand sacrifices. Voodoo priests do perform required animal sacrifices and do so in a manner compliant with SPCA guidelines.