TO THE EDITOR: The boycott of Cincinnati by local area residents and by a variety of artists and organizations continues because of the city's failure to deal with racism, police brutality, economic apartheid and Article 12, which denies gay citizens equal rights. The supporters of this boycott, both here and throughout the nation, come from churches, community organizations and from people of different races and faiths.

Cincinnati Progressive Action was formed by former members of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati (CJC) who left that group because of its unfortunate association with anti-Semitism, which we vehemently repudiate. Those of us in Cincinnati Progressive Action, an organization that includes Catholics, Protestants, Jews and secular humanists, support the boycott as the only apparent means to get the attention of the corporations and the political powers-that-be in Cincinnati. We continue to insist that the city meet and negotiate with the various boycott organizations, and that it begin meaningful change of our city's policies.

The Enquirer and City Councilman John Cranley's suggestion that author Barbara Ehrenreich had given in to "anti-Semites" represents a cynical attempt to characterize a broad movement of many human rights organizations on the basis of a few misguided individuals. By asking the Woman's City Club to change the venue of her lecture, Ehrenreich has identified herself with a movement for social justice, one that repudiates racism and anti-Semitism, as well as discrimination based on sexual orientation. She should be congratulated for doing so.

Dan La Botz and Sherry Baron, Clifton, members of Cincinnati Progressive Action

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Big difference in civil, criminal law

A March 14 letter ("Trust juries to award damages) discusses President Bush's opinions on trusting juries to do the right thing in meting out the death penalty but wanting to cap "pain and suffering" awards. As a master of the obvious, I'd like to point out that one is punishment for murdering a person and the other is economic compensation for what is almost always an accidental or unintended situation.

Jury award caps are opposed by attorneys and those people who think the money comes from a mysterious source that isn't connected to higher costs and premiums for everyone who pays medical bills or buys insurance.

Daniel Wagner, West Chester

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Xavier U. is on road to perdition

This is regarding Kristina Goetz' article on March 13 about the Vagina Monologues. The play represents only the latest step Xavier University has taken along the road to perdition.

In 1999, XU was the only campus in the Cincinnati area to refuse to host the pro-life group Genocide Awareness Project, XU theology teachers won't sign the Vatican's pledge to teach only authentic Catholic doctrine and the Rev. Mike Graham refuses to demand they do.

If Graham demonstrated real Catholic leadership, there would be no controversy - the thought of having such a scurrilous play on campus would never have come up. The archbishop should remove the Catholic designation from the university. Then naive parents who now believe their child attends a Catholic school won't be surprised when Johnny looses his faith, and I won't have to be ashamed of XU in front of my protestant brothers and sisters.

Joe Brinck, White Oak

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Peace requires more than brie, wine

Whatever moral ascendancy the Europeans claim, in my opinion, was lost with their inability to keep their side of the street clean. The United States took the initiative to police and administer the peace in both Bosnia and Serbia. But wait, this is in their backyard. Why send young Frenchmen to die when the United States is so willing to send young Americans?

I don't expect any gratitude from the French. As far as I'm concerned, we wiped our Revolutionary War debts clean by dying for them in the thousands. I do, however, resent their moral posturing. It's their right to make decisions but don't count on us in the future. It may not be long before another crisis evolves in one of the many newly formed Eastern European states that threatens European stability. It takes a lot more than brie, wine and rhetoric to maintain peace.

Bob Gill, Union Township

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House anti-'French' move embarrassing

There really should be some kind of intelligence test before people are allowed to represent us in Congress. The stupidity of Ohio Republican Robert Ney and Rep. Waltern Jones, R-N.C., in ordering the elimination of the word "French" from the French fries in their respective cafeterias is beyond belief. This form of malicious jingoism is just the type of thing that makes the rest of the world view us as arrogant fools.

I know people who have recently come back from France. When asked if the people there were resentful of the Americans, they replied that the French were intelligent enough to know the difference between the American people and the policies of the American government. It's too bad that some people here can't use the same kind of judgment. Instead they insist upon embarrassing me and every other intelligent American.

As a person of French origin, I take extreme offense at these actions and the ugly French-bashing that people seem to feel free to exercise now. Come on, America, let's show some maturity and dignity in these stressful times.

Viviane Hartz, Loveland

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U.S. is part of world community

I am writing to express my disappointment and dismay about the current anti-French sentiment that has taken hold in our country and seems to be promoted by the Enquirer. Many seem to feel that the French government ought to support our government's intentions toward Iraq, because the United States fought for France's freedom during earlier wars. I respectfully disagree. What did we fight for if it was not the right of the French people and their government to follow their convictions and consciences? If this is not true, then what we were fighting for was not freedom, it was for the right to manipulate, control and bully. This is the very attitude of arrogance that has led to the surge in anti-American sentiment throughout the world, and has increased our vulnerability to terrorist attacks. Our government and our people must learn that we are a part of a larger world community, not apart from it.

Rita Reichert, East Walnut Hills

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Bush administration mustn't drill in ANWR

The Bush administration is not only waging war against Iraq, but also against the environment. In an effort to help his friends in the oil industry, Bush is trying to drill in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). ANWR is one of America's last true wild places, and drilling would be detrimental to both the habitat and the wildlife. It is the last 5 percent of Alaska's Arctic Slope that is not already open to drilling. ANWR is home to a 130,000-member caribou herd and is one of the very few places in North America where grizzly, polar and black bears coexist, along with many other animals like wolves, musk ox, and millions of migratory birds from four continents.

Last year, the proposal to drill in ANWR was defeated. Afraid that could happen again, the administration is trying to sneak the proposal into the Federal Budget Bill for the 2004 fiscal year. They are also using the possible war with Iraq as a reason to retrieve oil from ANWR. However, scientific evidence proves that any oil extracted would be sufficient for a maximum of six months and the oil would not be available for at least another ten years, which is long after it would be useful in the war.

If the oil industry is allowed to drill in ANWR, there will also be several other negative consequences accompanying them. Spills are inevitable. The oil companies would also create roads, pipelines, production facilities, and gravel mines; all of which should not be found in one of our national parks or refuges.

Like all of our other national parks and refuges, ANWR needs to be protected from the powerful special interests that rule the Bush administration.

Adam Centner, Montgomery, Junior, Moeller High School

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Smut bust belongs in comics section

Thank you, Enquirer for the short and indiscreet article "Retailer indicted on smut charges." However, I only wish you would have put it in the comic section as a reflection of the fact that this issue is such a joke. Since 2001 and most likely earlier Assistant Prosecutor Steve Tolbert and Prosecutor Robin Piper's obscenity prosecution unit has been working to crack a ridiculous non-issue of selling sexual videotapes. I guess one of the job perks is that they get to purchase and review these tapes for two years to figure out if they can find one they don't like.

Let's be honest here, human beings and all creatures are born with sexual desires. If it weren't for that fact, our race would be extinct. Who cares if an adult wants to buy a video tape showing nude people and view it at home or in private?

Michael Gerard, Maineville

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Drivers will shun talk of light rail

The articles about commuting into Cincinnati confirm what we all know; the situation is bad and getting worse. Proponents of light rail point out that rail could be used to help alleviate congestion on the roads, but the price to pay for what is essentially a redundant system to the roads doesn't make economic sense to the driving public.

Rail made sense before the age of the auto when homes were clustered around rail stations, and you could walk to stores, schools and sports venues. Our homes aren't clustered around anything anymore, so even the most effective rail leaves you with a long walk to your home.

People are obviously willing to spend whatever time or money it takes in traffic to live in the 'burbs. Expanding and maintaining additional roadways to handle the increased traffic will make light rail seem like a bargain, and the core cities, with declining tax bases, won't be able to afford it. Let's not kid ourselves; it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

Sean Johnson, Madisonville

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West Chester is vested in Butler

This is in respond to a letter "West Chester benefits without helping out" (Feb. 28). The writer says that West Chester takes advantage of Butler County and neighboring communities. Obviously, if this were true, the county and the other communities must have allowed it to happen.

West Chester Township is experiencing its growth due to the foresight of a number of those who have been vested with decision making and the millions of dollars put into the roads and streets in this area, and the excellent Lakota School district.

It's kind of interesting that the letter writer's side of the county is trying its very best to stretch a path to Union Center Blvd, off I-75, to where the township development is helping to contribute to the Butler County coffers via guess what? Taxes.

Patricia Williams, Clerk/Treasurer, West Chester Township