 
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sunday, July 15, 2001
Columns on Bush are cute but way off the mark
The July 8 columns by Gene Collier ("President Took Oath to Protect Us from People like Himself") and Ann McFeatters ("Mr. Nice Guy") attacking President Bush reminded me of a scene that often appeared in old movies. In the scene a teary young girl would beat her fists against a man's chest in a futile temper tantrum. The man would finally grasp her skinny wrists, smile and say, "You know, you're cute when you're angry."
McFeatters and Collier were cute also, but their columns had all the substance, insight and originality of a high school newspaper editor's attack on the school dress code. If this is the best that the left can throw at President Bush, the Republicans have a bright future indeed.
Of course, they didn't have subjects to write about like credible accusations of rape, illicit sex with young girls in the Oval Office, shady real estate deals, giving missile technology to the Chinese, large financial donations from foreign governments, bombing an aspirin factory in the Sudan, to name just a few. Come to think of it, Collier and McFeatters didn't find much to write about in those subjects either.
Maybe they can concentrate on Collier's contention that a governor of a leading state like Texas is not qualified for the presidency, but a governor of a state like Arkansas is, even though Arkansas ranks at or near the bottom in every social and economic category. Now that's the kind of upside-down logic and reality-twisting that liberal writers have perfected in today's "robust free-thinking press" as Collier misdescribed it
FRANK HALLER
Shocked by photo
As I glanced at the July 6 front-page photo ("A Stunning Upset"), I was sure that there would be an accompanying article describing several children with head injuries and broken limbs. As I read the text, I was shocked to find out that your photographer, Annie O'Neill, could find any redeeming value in photographing these young children in such a precarious situation, let alone that your editors would place this photograph on the front page.
Didn't any of you realize the dangers that existed in this situation: four children, unable to free themselves from this small space, falling from a height of several feet onto hard pavement?
What shocks me more was that the photographer not only stood by the first time, but the accompanying comment indicated that she did nothing to stop these children from placing themselves in this dangerous situation the second time.
Additionally, the comment that the 4-year-old "suffered the only injury, a small bump on his head" should have been enough to impel Ms. O'Neill to take action to inform this child's parent so that he/she could be put on alert to look for potential signs of a head injury, not knowing the impact a "small bump" could have on such a young child.
A responsible adult would have found several opportunities to intervene in this dangerous situation.
If you want to consider redeeming yourselves, you could do some research about the dangers associated with shopping cart injuries and place it in your Health section.
GINA GAROFALO
Editor's note: Editor John G. Craig Jr. discusses the picture in his To the Point column today.
Is this newsworthy?
Does the photographer Annie O'Neill have any maternal sense? Why in the world would anyone even think her July 6 photograph of four boys falling out of a shopping cart, "A Stunning Upset," was something that could make the front page? Is it entertaining? Is it newsworthy? The small child in the seat could have been severely injured. At least the other children had a chance to be able to jump off.
With all the children who are in the hospital with head injuries and various other life-threatening injuries, why in God's name would this be so interesting? I just cannot believe that your newspaper found this picture fascinating enough to have it make the front page.
All I can say is that this must have been a slow news day that you could not find a more interesting picture to use. Next time, if you can't find a picture to "fill in," why don't you just put a scene of our beautiful city?
As a mother, my next question is: "Where were the parents?"
DARLENE BOURAS
Not to be glorified
What's up with your front-page photo, "A Stunning Upset"? I see four unsupervised children in a stolen shopping cart. Are these actions to be glorified?
JANET BREZICKY
Dangerous playthings
I admire and respect Annie O'Neill's photographic skill and expertise. Her photograph on Page 1 of the July 6 Post-Gazette clearly demonstrates her split-second ability to "capture the moment" ("A Stunning Upset"). However, I strongly disagree with the editor's decision to publish a picture which glorifies and makes light of children using an abandoned shopping cart as a toy.
I happen to reside and work in a section of a city neighborhood in which abandoned shopping carts are a nuisance, a safety hazard and children's riding toys. On any given day, one can spot two or three abandoned carts in a local parklet and many others left near intersections and in alleys.
Our local parent group is quite concerned about children using the carts as toys on our hilly terrain. Many residents are working closely and diligently with the local grocery store to encourage prompt pick-up of abandoned carts. If left too long in any one spot, they are used as garbage receptacles and playthings.
I am glad the children featured in the photo were not seriously injured, except for a small bump on the one child's head. Perhaps after Ms. O'Neill shot her photograph and obtained the children's names and parental permission to use the photo, she should have encouraged the children to find a safer activity and called the store owner to come and collect the cart. Instead, I assume she stayed around long enough to watch the children "have another go."
I pray their next ride was as safe.
COLLEEN POWERS
Insulting column
Having read Editor John G. Craig Jr.'s July 1 column, "The Bawl Game," I only have one thing to say: Who does he think he is? He lived on the North Side for 10 years and he thinks that now he's an expert on the area and its people? Give me a break.
I was born and raised in that area. I lived there for most of my life. Let me tell you something: Those people never had much of a say as they watched one public works project after another gut their communities over the last 40 years. The political-corporate power structure on Grant Street saw to that.
Also, unlike John G. Craig Jr., these people have some pride in where they live. Craig's suggestions that those who don't like what is being rammed down their throats by a certain wealthy football family and their political toadies, well, they should all move to Dormont, is insulting.
It just goes to show how out of touch Craig really is with that area and how deep he is in the pockets of his rich masters.
PAUL ALBRIGHT
All for cone
As the eldest of nine children, the July 1 article ("Try 8 or 12") about large families on vacation brought back many happy memories. My parents were very proud of their five daughters and four sons and we traveled together in a 1973 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon.
It was amusing to see the stares of people as one by one we filed out of the car to follow a parent to a restroom or a picnic table. Sometimes my father acknowledged these stares with a quip like, "This is the A group; the B group will join us tomorrow."
Now these "large family" memories provide the perfect stories for my children while my husband and I take them on driving trips.
VICTORIA ASHOFF CARRIGAN
Stone Harbor is a place of sun and suds both
I was flabbergasted by a sentence in the recent Travel article about Stone Harbor, the incomparable family beach town on the Jersey Shore ("Stone Harbor Seems to be One Big Happy Family," June 10). The author, James Walsh of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, reported that "it's a 'dry' town -- no liquor stores within the city limits -- as another nod to its family image."
My family and I have been vacationing in Stone Harbor and neighboring Avalon for 30 years. I have to conclude that Mr. Walsh was blinded by the brilliance of the New Jersey sunshine. But if Mr. Walsh had looked around the neighborhood at all, he would have discovered several purveyors of potables on the main streets of Stone Harbor and an even greater selection in Avalon.
The largest "package store" in Stone Harbor not only sells every brand of liquor and beer known to me but also specializes in selling T-shirts with its logo emblazoned thereon and worn by every child, teen-ager and young adult. These "Fred's Tavern" shirts are pretty difficult to miss on the beach or crowded streets in the evening.
I certainly have no objection to the so-called "family resorts" that ban alcohol, such as Ocean City, N.J. But I have to take exception to any report that might discourage some families from vacationing in Stone Harbor, where some family members enjoy quenching their sun- and surf-driven thirst by being able to quaff a pitcher of ice-cold suds.
I have been to the eastern seashore resorts from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Miami Beach, and none can compare with Stone Harbor and Avalon. The restaurants, bars and liquor stores clearly do not affect the ambience of these delightful family retreats -- and their presence permits many members of the family to enjoy their vacation without bothering anybody.
ROBERT E. DAUER
Editor's note: The writer is senior judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
Scott
Baldwin
Greenfield
Munhall
Lawrenceville
Baldwin Borough
Mt. Lebanon
Shadyside