The Beechview library keeps kids off the streets

What does Beechview have left? We don't have a recreation facility for our youth and now we aren't going to have a library ("Board Votes to Cut Carnegie Library Branches, Hours and Staff," Oct. 6 Web). Drugs are a huge problem with the youth of today, especially in our city. Now we are taking more productive things away from them, so what else is there to do? Stay on the streets and get involved in gangs and drugs?

Don't read a book or get involved in activities at the local library because, well, sorry, kids, it just doesn't exist anymore. Go out on the streets and get addicted to drugs, hang with the wrong crowds, drop out of school. An idle mind leads to negative outcomes.

As a 26-year-old woman who was born and raised in Beechview, I had the library as a staple in my upbringing. I attended functions at the library and spent a majority of my fall/winter days there playing on the computer, reading books or being involved in activities. The library may not seem important to the Carnegie Library board members, but what are they leaving our children with? Buses do not run through Beechview to Brookline, and what child or adolescent is allowed to ride that alone? The library is a safe haven that children or adolescents can walk to while parents are at work or unable to take them.

If the city is looking for a way to make people want to move in instead of move out, the Carnegie Library board is making the wrong decisions. I would never buy or rent a house in Beechview once I have children because what is there for them? Nothing!

DANA VanKIRK-BROWN
Beechview

Creative cooling

I see that the residents of the North Side near East Park are up in arms because Duquesne Light wants to build a cooling station, and they want to have a nice park ("North Side Residents Oppose Duquesne Light Station Proposal," Sept. 29).

That is perfectly understandable.

Years ago, at the northern end of East Park, along Cedar Avenue, there was a large round fountain. I am sure that the citizens would love to see that fountain restored.

In Houston, Texas, back in the 1960s, a noted architect was building a skyscraper, and one of the amenities that was provided was the Houston "water wall." This is now known as the "Williams Water Wall."

This is a great curved wall, 65 feet high, and has a reservoir of 75,000 gallons that comes cascading over the wall. It is a great tourist attraction.

Perhaps Duquesne Light's engineers can come up with a cooling facility that is disguised to look like a really cool fountain, waterfall or something along those lines.

This would be a win-win. Duquesne Light would be able to cool what needs to be cooled, and the neighborhood would have a cool attraction.

JOHN G. ARCH
O'Hara

Fair warning

As a curious Oakland resident, I walked to Schenley Plaza on the Thursday night of the G-20 summit and experienced the crowd and the riot police. While milling about the plaza, I saw protesters taunting police, getting very close and saying some pretty nasty things. I also saw innocent activities with people playing games on the lawn and chatting in groups. I even saw other folks like me -- walking the dog and taking in the sights.

However, unlike the folks arrested that night, I left as soon as the police asked for the group to disperse. I had plenty of time to walk across the plaza, cross Bigelow Boulevard and head home. I was never "herded" anywhere, nor did I get trapped. That is because I did what was asked of me when I was asked to do it rather than expecting police to ponder whether I had good or bad intentions. And, based on sociological research, in a mob situation, even those with good intentions could do bad things. See the account in "Pitt Students Criticize Police Response at Protests" (Sept. 29).

For the students arrested or gassed on Friday and/or Saturday night of the summit week, I might remind you that the university warned you on both nights to stay close to your residence and that the situation was deteriorating at Schenley Plaza. If you chose to ignore that warning, as well as the instructions from the police to disperse, then you also chose to accept the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Be accountable for your own actions, and don't blame the police for doing exactly what they told you they were going to do.

KATE MAURIN
Oakland

Police and liberty

Tony Norman's Sept. 29 column "G-20: A Guest With an Iron Fist" was an astute, moving assessment of the events during the G-20 summit. In my opinion, it is every bit as relevant and a part of the great rhetorical tradition of this country that may, possibly, be traced to the simple statement "Give me liberty, or give me death."

You should be proud to have such a writer in your employ. In the wake of watching thugs shove people half their size and tear-gas students, Mr. Norman has issued a rallying cry so much more true to the American spirit than the "tea party" nonsense of late. The actions of the police state that crushed down on our city are deplorable. Nearly every police department I've ever encountered has "to serve and protect" as part of its motto. These thugs did neither, conveniently wearing uniforms that merely said "police." Where were their badge numbers?

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl chose to laud these villains, masquerading as guardians. His lack of fire and conviction should be plainly obvious to the voting citizens by this date. Let us recall he is up for re-election very soon.

Mr. Norman has been and remains a much more true guardian of our freedoms and liberties. We should all be grateful.

CHRISTOPHER SCHMIDT
Point Breeze

Jewish values

It was an amazingly humanitarian -- but extremely generous as usual -- offer by Israel to exchange 20 Palestinian prisoners for a mere videotape of Israeli Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit to get a hint of his well-being ("Israel, Hamas to Swap Prisoners for Video of Captured Soldier," Oct. 1). This act is a microcosm of the high value that Israel (and Jews everywhere) places on the value of human life as compared to those people, groups, and countries around it that seek to terminate its existence (and the lives of everyone in the most democratic country in that region).

Let this gesture be just one more reminder to Hamas and Hezbollah apologists that those terrorist entities truly do not want peaceful co-existence. Israel has always looked for ways to advance the peace process, just as this action expresses Jewish values as another possible way to end any economic blockades of Gaza. The door is open for the Palestinians to reciprocate with a minor constructive move away from violence and hostage-taking. It is ironic that, while actions speak louder than words, Abbas and his cronies cannot even say that "Israel has a right to exist," let alone back up such a statement with any real proof that they really do not just enjoy killing Jews.

Historically the Palestinian leaders have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. One can only hope that Hamas does not continue to follow in Arafat's appalling footsteps and again emulate his penchant for defiant chest-pounding at the expense of the health and safety of the mainly well-meaning Palestinian people.

JEFF POLLOCK
Squirrel Hill

Did we learn nothing from Vietnam?

Regarding the Sept. 24 editorial "Vietnam Redux?": Having been a college student in the mid-'60s, I was wondering how long it would take the media to realize how similar the situation in Afghanistan is to the situation in Vietnam. In 'Nam, before the United States, there had been the French, who left with their collective tails between their legs. Creating the domino theory, our leaders knew the creep of Communism had to be stopped in Vietnam.

Today, in Afghanistan, we have entered the morass after the Soviets' long struggle. But we are still fighting an indigenous people who control a significant portion of their own land.

And to what purpose? To prop up a weak government that can't even hold countrywide elections?

The Post-Gazette had a front-page story on the passing of Mary Travers ("Mary Travers Never Stopped Voicing Beliefs," Sept. 18). With Peter and Paul, she had been a member of a '60s folk group. One of the songs they made famous was a Pete Seeger anti-war song, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

It is Ms. Travers' haunting voice that is most apparent on the song's final question: "When will they ever learn?"

It is important to change the subject of that question. We need to ask, "When will we ever learn?" Peace.

JODY ROSENBERG
Shadyside

The real violence is perpetrated by the G-20

"Oh where, oh where did our democracy go? Oh where, oh where can it be?" Along with our thousands of jobs, did we also outsource our democracy?

I am appalled at the police state and police brutality during the G-20 summit. No wonder the young people leave this city when they are treated as criminals. I was in the streets along with them Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25, and witnessed mostly peaceful efforts to get the message out that the real violence is coming from the G-20. The G-20 has perpetuated unbelievable violence on this planet and poor people everywhere.

People are appalled at the anarchists wearing masks, but the bankers in their expensive suits, shirts and ties never had to disguise themselves when they robbed us blind last year. Still no regulations or efforts are in place to avoid another heist. We have legalized criminality in this country. People should be grateful to the protesters for having the courage to speak truth to power. A broken window is easily and inexpensively replaced compared with the damage our tax-supported bombs are doing to the innocent in the Middle East.

With respect for all life,

MARY RUTH AULL
Penn Hills

G-20 security is a no-win situation

Regarding Tony Norman's Sept. 29 column ("The G-20: A Guest With an Iron Fist"):

Although it is true that the police efforts during the G-20 were aggressive, civil liberties (in certain cases) were abridged and the abuse of power was evident, minimizing (or failing to acknowledge) the protesters' role in the events surrounding the G-20 is a significant oversight. There are certainly peaceful activists; however, anarchists, nihilists, anti-capitalists and militant environmentalists have proved themselves be instigators of violence and civil unrest. As an example, during the summit, protesters smashed windows in an effort to demand exposure in the media.

If the police presence had been less and there had been a significant incident of civil unrest, property damage or worse, the city would have been blasted for poor security measures. The entire situation surrounding the G-20 is the proverbial "rock and a hard place" that would have been better left for another city to deal with.

BRIAN INGRAM
Chicago, Ill.

The writer is formerly of Pittsburgh.

Police did the best they could

As someone who works in what was the G-20 Red Zone in Downtown, I saw up close and personal, the large military and law enforcement forces performing their dangerous jobs. All of my interactions with them were respectful and expedited in a timely manner. I was required to pass through three checkpoints and my purse was searched and scanned for metal. I was not patted down, but others were. Each and every person I encountered was obviously well trained. Once I arrived at my job, I have never felt safer in my life. I joked with co-workers that we were in the most secure spot on Earth!

Unfortunately, I live in the part of town where the anarchist group chose to stage their unlawful protest. That was on Thursday at about 2:45 p.m. I was watching it live on TV and then I was able to view some of the disturbances by looking out my front window. Scary stuff indeed.

My street was then blocked off to all traffic, except by foot and then at your own risk. A large SWAT team member standing at the end of my street told me to get back in my house. I complied. It was quite an unsettling day. Thankfully, there was no loss of life.

I think the police handled this ugly situation as best they could. It was something to see.

MARI TOTIN
Bloomfield

Authorities revealed their fear

The reprehensible Third-World actions of the Pittsburgh police against the G-20 summit protesters brings disgrace on our democracy: tear gas, breaking up lawful assembly, sound cannons, Macing students. I suspect the police acted at the behest of federal agencies and were only too willing to act as their surrogates to repress the protests. Such brutal tactics mask fear; the authorities were afraid of the protesters and their freedom to dissent.

JOHN TOMLINSON
Barryville, N.Y.

The nightmare behind the dream

After watching clips of the Senate Finance Committee one night last week, I fell into a restive sleep and reprised the hearing in a dream. Like the pols in the movie "Sicko" each member had a balloon over his head with a running total of the money accepted by health-insurance interests.

When Sen. Charles Grassley told his lie that single-payer would eliminate consumer choice, the meter over his head spun wildly. No other member challenged his lie and their meters steadily clicked upward. When Sen. Jay Rockefeller said he wanted a public option because it was what the people needed, for a brief moment the meter above his head stopped. Then when the vote on Rockefeller's amendment came and the members, with their heads down and their voices muffled, said "no," I saw the meters surge forward again.

TOM AMMONS
Hampton

Dangerous for our president

Doesn't anyone see the signs of danger? Are we that naive? Or does any sensible person really want to admit that the president of the United States is in grave danger? Recently Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, and Bob Herbert, a columnist for The New York Times, have alluded to contamination of sensible debate that, in the past, led to assassinations of a president, a presidential candidate, a civil rights leader, a mayor of San Francisco and Harvey Milk, an assemblyman from San Francisco.

The atmosphere is charged with vilification, poison and fear. The framework is already in place: that is, use the same plan that the right has used to kill abortion doctors. The hatemongers on radio, TV and the blogs pounded away with lies and half-truths until a nutcase took up their case.

The stage has been set. I fear that similar poisonous thoughts spread by the gasbags of the air eventually will lead to an attempt on President Barack Obama's life.

And the truly frightening thing is that the leaders of the Republican Party have made no moves to curb these ugly protests.

This opinion does not emanate from the musings of a senior citizen. I believe any sensible person has had this fear for some time. Speaker Pelosi and Mr. Herbert have alluded to this possibility.

Have the Republicans' leaders sold their souls to the devil? It would appear so.

MIKE SCHULTZ
Penn Hills

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