TO THE EDITOR: I am bursting with pride for our troops and the valor and professionalism they are demonstrating in Iraq. Their determination to avoid civilian casualties, even at the risk of their lives is most impressive. As more of the Iraqi people are coming forward to welcome our troops and celebrate their liberation, as their fear of Saddam is removed, I'm wondering what are the protesters protesting?
Sallie Smith, Edgewood
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Time to make war on economic terror
As a 30-year veteran of the Financial Services industry I have watched with amazement the complete lack of interest in our economy by our "leaders" in Washington.
The absurd recent reaction of the stock market to the latest news from Iraq is pure stupidity. If Saddam Hussein and his sons threw up their hands, surrendered, and stepped out of the ring tomorrow, what bearing would it have on the U.S. economy? We would still have unacceptably high unemployment, non-existent capital spending and excess factory capacity. We need to get our attention squarely on reviving our economy now.
I have a very simple message for Washington: Let's declare war on economic terror and pursue it with the same fervor we have brought to hunting Saddam Hussein and his henchmen. Economic terror is the very real fear of you or your spouse losing your job when you are in your '50s or '60s. It's lying awake at night wondering how you can possibly afford to have two kids in college at the same time.
We don't need a Director of Homeland Security nearly as much as a Director of Jobs Security for American workers. This must be addressed immediately with all the resources we have available. Anything less and Osama bin Laden will have truly accomplished his objective of bringing our great nation to its knees.
Ed Finke, Symmes Township
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Spay and neuter pets if you care for them
According to the American partnership for pets, an estimated 10 million dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are taken in by U.S. shelters and rescue groups each year and that of these, an estimated 4 to 5 million are killed. Not for being sick, but for being born.
And these are the lucky ones. No figures exist for the ones that are dumped - left to fend for themselves - and you don't want to read about the horror stories about what happens to many of them.
The answer is found in three little words: spay and neuter.
Statistics show that one unaltered cat and her unaltered offspring can produce 16,000 more cats in a few years. Everyone who is involved with rescue is inundated with unwanted animals, and yet more phone calls. It's one thing to read about millions of puppies and cats being killed. It's quite another to have to hold them with their trusting little faces looking up at you, while they are being killed.
I would like to encourage readers to visit: www.americanpartnershipforpets.org and educate yourself so that you don't add to the truly sad situation of pet overpopulation.
Jayn Meinhardt, Board member, Animal Rights Community of Cincinnati
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TV Bush bashers now are anguished
You can see the pain in their faces. Their voices reveal the suffering they have endured and their anguished opinions are everywhere. The images crowd the newspapers and television of a people suffering under an oppressive regime, with faint hope that the future will bring regime change.
These people are not the Iraqis. They are those columnists and TV people who hate the president, Democratic political hopefuls, the French and German governments (the Russians have their own problems) and all the high school graduates who found jobs in Hollywood. My condolences to all of you. We should have given dictatorship a chance.
Matthew T. MacLeid, Attorney at Law, Walnut Hills
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Boondocks' expands reader's horizons
I am writing in response to the letters published about Boondocks. It's making me a little nervous to say the least, and I want you to know I am one white person who enjoys reading this intelligent, provocative and controversial cartoon.
This cartoon has stretched the tolerance in me to the racial as well as political issues of our country. It helps me go outside the box in my thinking.
Sheri Deane, Mason
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Marketing slogan offers nothing 'new'
Did somebody really get paid to come up with "New York. New Orleans. New Cincinnati?"
It will surely bring smiles to faces of those who hear it - the kind of smiles that accompany tolerance of game but totally unsuccessful attempts to do something right (puppy peeing on the floor just as he gets to the door, little kid throwing the ball to first base when the runner is already at second, etc).
I do realize that the number of word choices beginning with "Cin" and the sound "sin" and "syn" are limited. "Cinnamon, sin tax, Cincinnati" wouldn't do.
But - hey - how about this: "Poughkeepsie, Schenectady, Cincinnati."
With a look of resignation on your face, you smiled - didn't you?
Stu Mahlin, Hyde Park
