Letters to the Editor :: Philadelphia City Paper. 25 Years of Independent Journalism.

Food Stuff

The local buying movement is, indeed, picking up steam [Cover, "There's No Plate Like Home," Elisa Ludwig, Aug. 10, 2006]. Telling its story is one of the most important things we can do to encourage people to consider the environment, economy and quality of life when making purchases.

Ennis Carter

Founder and Director, Design for Social Impact

When I was raising my children, we were on food stamps a few times and it was very difficult, but at this point in my life, my children are grown and I manage four food pantries in three counties. I do not know how most of my clients make it from one day or month to the next, especially if they are on a fixed income, or making minimum wage [News, "Dietary Restrictions," Doron Taussig, Aug. 10, 2006].

Our elected officials need to take the plunge and live as a low-income family or individual for a month; I believe their decisions would be different than what they are at present.

Norma Jurado

Roosevelt, Utah

Whatever happened to beggars can't be choosers? The last time I checked, fruits, vegetables and bread weren't all that expensive. Granted, it doesn't make for a glamorous meal but it does make for a nutritious one.

Ed Vassallo

Northeast Philadelphia

Great article on eating local [Cover, "There's No Plate Like Home," Elisa Ludwig, Aug. 10, 2006]. I also recently adopted an "eat local" diet (although not quite so restrictive as the 100-Mile Diet) that has me feeling better, both physically and mentally.

Nicole Wolverton

Center City

I used to work as a case worker in a homeless shelter, and now I work in Nutritional Education for low-income families. People who have not had to experience this have a hard time understanding the "bottom of the PB jar" two weeks before the next check is due [News, "Dietary Restrictions," Doron Taussig, Aug. 10, 2006]. We aren't an overweight nation by choice. In many instances, for survival, you eat what fills.

Wendy Holsberger

Lancaster County

Special K bars for breakfast? PB&J for lunch? Scrambled egg dinners? Seriously? Are you that uncreative to assume those items are your only options on a shared $46 a week diet? Perhaps you have never heard of wheat berries, cabbage, quinoa, potatoes, tofu, barley, oats, sunflower seeds, kale and anything other than that bullshit you tried to eat for a week. Your article just goes show to how indolent even left-swinging folks can be. And no, you don't need to go to school for nutrition, cooking, or economics or have hippie parents to realize there's such things as farmers markets, the Italian market and even local bulk departments. I am unable to afford a car. I ride a bike five miles to work every day and anywhere I need to go. I can shop at any grocery store or market in the city and fit enough groceries for a week in my bag. Even if the average food stamp budget was $46 per day, I am sure that most people, including yourself, would still not know what the hell do except "buy" crab legs, steaks, deli slices, barbecue chips and Tang.

Lindsey Baker

Kensington

Faris Heel

It was upsetting, yet understandable, to read [Slant, "Blank Check," David Faris, Aug 10, 2006]. Upsetting because as a journalist, you would think that [Faris] had knowledge of the facts; understandable because Israel critics, such as himself, are loathe to admit that what Hezbollah did was a supreme declaration of war. ... I challenge Faris to read of the regular rocket attacks and roadside shootings in Israel that have gone on for the last several years. Surely he is unaware and also unaware of Israel's "taking it" as its citizens have been murdered. But this time, the attackers didn't hide in a bush to shoot and kill a family in a car; they decided to dismiss a U.N.-recognized world border and just slip over, kidnap and kill. No biggy, right?

Shelly Chasan

Huntingdon Valley

If those on the anti-Israel left wish to understand why most Americans view them with the kind of suspicion previously reserved for members of the Communist Party U.S.A. during the Cold War, simply read Faris' commentary. His anti-Israel diatribe is completely at odds with the views of most Americans, who naturally — especially after 9/11 — fear Hezbollah's brand of militant Islamic fundamentalism, anti-Americanism, and virulent anti-Semitism. Like most Americans, I'm forever thankful that our government — in both Democratic and Republican administrations — rejects the argument that the West should respond to mortal threats against it with moral self-flagellation or diplomatic appeasement and, instead, chooses to align itself with nations that share our values, and, like us, are brave enough to fight to defend them.

Adam Levick

South Philadelphia

I wonder which takes precedence: your hatred of Israel and America or your irresponsibleand untrue slant of the facts?

Israel's "brutal aggression" is nothing more than a measured response to ridding itself of the threat from Hezbollah that has to date rained more than 3,000 rockets into northern Israel. Why do you think Hezbollah has a projected 9,000-plus rockets inits arsenal in southern Lebanon?To protect Lebanon from"Israeli aggression" or to destroy the Jewish state? Israel continuesits struggle to find a way to make peace with her enemies. If shedoesn't respond to the violence against her, she is seen to be weak and then she is attacked again. If she responds to the violence against her, critics such as yourself label her "brutally aggressive," and then she is attacked again. What would you have herdoto survive securely amidst her sworn enemies?

For many years, Lebanon condoned themilitaristic buildup of Hezbollah in its south. Why?Because Hezbollah provides the citizens withbetter social services than its own government?Because she has no power torid her ofher weapons,in accordance with the UnitedNations resolution?Because she too isasworn enemy of Israel?Whatever the reason, the Lebanese do not deserve a sovereign country because they haveallowed an illegal terrorist regime to bring this war upon themselves. Lebanon is not "innocent" because they have willingly or unwillingly given Hezbollah a home to arm itself to destroy Israel. Lebanon is not innocent because without Hezbollah, she would be enjoying peace with her southern neighbor instead of involved in this tragic war. ... The first comment I heard from an Israeli when the war began was, "Now we will have to bomb those poor people in response towhat Hezbollah has done!" This is representative of howIsraelis feel about war: They despise it and care deeply for those who suffer on all sides. ... Your slant cries out forthe Arabs and Palestinians and irresponsibly ignores the plight of Israel which is 58 years oldand counting.

Israel has been more than willing to negotiate a peaceful homeland in the Middle East. Time and time again,too much of the Arab world has refused Israel her right to exist. She exists today because she has built a strong nationthat has been called to defend itself in too many wars. Does Hezbollah want to"easily negotiate with Israel,"the sworn Zionist enemy she vows to destroy? Does Iran, Hezbollah'scowardly backer, want to "easily negotiate with Israel," after her president has repeatedly called for Israel's destructionbefore the world? If negotiationswere that"easy",the Middle East would be a peaceful region.

Don't thinkfor a second that peace would come to the Middle East if Israel was destroyed. The Arabs have a longstanding practice of killing each other by thethousands (Iraq vs. Iran, Shiitesvs. Sunnis) and could have easily resolved the Palestinian question long ago, with Israel'sassistance, ifshe wanted to.

This war is a warbetween cultures, between people who embrace freedom and those who embrace fundamentalism and intolerance; between those who love life and those who are willing to kill and die in the name of religious zealotry. Thefuture of the entire world is at stake.

I would hope that future "slants" from you would be less slanted and more balanced, fair and productive!

Rabbi Saul I. Grife

Via e-mail

We're Not Dead Yet

"Frank DiCicco, Joan Krajewski, Russell Nigro and Jonathan Saidel were all Republicans once," said Meehan [Political Notebook, "A Two-Party Town by '08," Mary Patel, Aug. 10, 2006]. I'm not sure if I was Mike Meehan that I'd consider this a bragging point. My question to this would be why they left the Republican side to begin with.

The answer is exactly the point that Kevin Kelly is making: No leadership and no apparatus to have even a chance at getting elected. I have been hearing Meehan use the same excuse the past dozen years that "it takes time." My ears are starting to bleed! Meehan knocks Kevin Kelly for having "wine and cheese" parties when, if he ever attended them, he would realize it's beer (cold) and wings (hot) and filled with young, earnest, like-minded Republicans interested in making a difference.

Kevin Cauley

Center City

One Down, Too Cross

That little bit on Ellsworth Kelly's paintings was an insult to both his work and crossword puzzles [Arts Agenda, "Last Chance," Ellen Minsavage, Aug, 10, 2006]. Ya think they look like crossword puzzles?Sounds like something a Wyeth fan would say.

John Lee

Via E-mail

Somebody's Watching Me

"Imagine walking down any street in town, day or night, and never being able to enjoy a single moment that wasn't 'observed, studied or recorded.'" What ghost town are you walking in [Editor's Letter, "Just Watch Me," Duane Swierczynski, Aug. 10, 2006]? In Philadelphia, eyes are almost always on you when you are walking down the street.

Whether they are looking out a window or looking though a camera, they are there. So what, if they record me kissing my girlfriend on the street, or picking my nose, or if I'm looking particularly fat that day. Honestly, what is there for law-abiding people to be afraid of, other then the paranoia that this will lead to the government putting cameras in their brain?

Ed Vassallo

Northeast Philadelphia

Love is in the Air

I have to tell you, Jews like yourself never cease to amaze me [Loose Canon, "Of Arms and Angry Young Men," Bruce Schimmel, Aug. 10, 2006]. Now you are so worried about black-on-black crime? I guess black-on-white-Christian crime is acceptable.

When is the Jew media going to stop stirring the race pot? Your kind is always starting race wars, why the fuck can't you just be quiet? How long are you going to use the blacks to keep the world from knowing how lousy your people really are? Don't worry, the blacks are onto your kind. Your fucking kind control the media, everything we are forced [to] see, hear and read is controlled by your scum kind. You were up in arms about a few Arab companies controlling some U.S. interests, but in the same token, Tenet, an Israel Jew outfit, controls hospitals here and all those Russian Jews. They are not pure Russian they are Jews and in the Jewish Mob ruining this city.

I guess you love killing all those innocent Lebanese; they are Christian Catholics so you Jews love it. It's a fucking shame Israel has to be our 51st state and we have to wipe your lousy ass every time you get in trouble over there. Our innocent civilians have to suffer, pay high gas prices and are in constant danger because of your kind. Now print this fucking article you damn rotten lousy Jew. I never saw one Jew in poverty here or suffering but yet you always are crying foul.

Randy Sullivan

Via e-mail

Ed: The e-mail address provided by Sullivan matches that of infamous South Philly letter-writer "Irish" Jimmy Sullivan [Letters, "Onward Christian Solider," Jan. 26, 2006].

On the Skids

Philadelphia is not the only city where Big Entertainment wants to plant its upscale casinos [News, "Next Stop, Skid Row," J.F. Pirro, Aug. 3, 2006]. In addition to increasing gambling addictions, these casino-mall-restaurant concentrations, wherever they are, will sharpen the difference between the rich and the poor. The service and custodial jobs will not include benefits and will not pay enough to allow the workers to advance themselves. Those who have no other choice will take them to continue on the sour treadmill they find themselves walking. The people with enough money to visit the casino complexes, a staple of the 21st-century "Tourist Cities," will rub shoulders with people not of their class and income level only when they see them serving food, cleaning floors, collecting chips and working as croupiers. And it is the working class who see their homes and neighborhoods destroyed to build these Trumposities.

Jay A. Gertzman

Center City

A Modest, Yet Logical Proposal

Re: Philly Blunt, "This Time It's Personal," Brian Hickey, July 27, 2006]: Why not put tamper-proof GPS chips in each weapon? Simple solution? I think it's a simple idea that will get caught up in legalities, civil rights, etc.

Harry L. Brown

South Philadelphia

Aging Grace

I think that [Morjorie Newlin] is an inspiration not just to elderly people, but to young people as well [Naked City, "Flex Appeal," Tasha Ho-Sang, Aug. 3, 2006]. She lets us know that just because we get old does not mean that we have to not be in shape, healthy and looking our personal best. She makes me feel that it is all right to get older and still enjoy life and all that life has to offer.

Shannon Churchwell

Upper Darby

North and South, in Perfect Harmony

This is a wonderful, vivid account of America [Cover, "The Long March," Trey Popp, July 27, 2006]. All lawn and no kid. Indeed, Philadelphia did take the Brits. Blame it on the maidens.

John Cooper

Columbia, SC