Troops, then and now, truly are heroes

TO THE EDITOR:

In regard to the letter ("Lynch and POWs aren't real heroes," April 22), as a teen in the '60s, I remember Vietnam well; I am now a 53-year-old grandmother. I totally understand the writer's point of view.

If the writer has a way of getting in touch with retired Air Force Gen. Robbie Risner, tell him I said, "Thank you." But, as far as the current POWs and the troops stationed in harm's way, I think they do need to be viewed as heroes.

During Vietnam, we didn't say, "Thank you." We didn't regard them as heroes. We were wrong and made a mistake because, regardless of whether the United States should have or should not have been in Vietnam, our young men and women were in harm's way because it was their duty, and they were following orders. They did not deserve to be treated the way they were when they came home. I thought that then, and I think that now. I knew lots of young boys who went to Vietnam; some came home men, and some didn't come home at all.

I think that is why Jessica and the rest are being hailed as heroes, because we don't want to repeat the mistakes from Vietnam. Yes, the POWs from the '60s should have been regarded as heroes, but so should the troops currently in harm's way. If we don't learn from our mistakes, we are bound to repeat them. It's not the POWs' fault if Hollywood is desperate for new movie ideas.

Many years long overdue, I thank all of the men and women who served in Vietnam, and I thank all of the men and women who are serving today in the U.S. military.

Donna K. Tumbleson
Felicity

Congress gave power to U.S. carriers over DHL

My thanks to the Enquirer and reporter James Pilcher for the April 19 articles concerning DHL Airways. These articles established the background for this letter expressing my disappointment in Congress after they singled out DHL Airways when passing the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act.

The claims brought before Congress by DHL's competitors, FedEx and UPS, have been reviewed and dismissed many times before by the Department of Transportation. These megacarriers, who control nearly 80 percent of the overnight market, did not stop when the DOT overruled their claims. They went to the legislators. Despite opposition from President Bush, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, and respected senators and representatives, they were successful in getting this provision into the bill at the last minute.

As a result, our American company of more than 1,000 people now has its citizenship under constant review and cannot get contracts with the Department of Defense. The continued review will be used by the competition to deter customers from using our services and to continue their stranglehold on our industry.

Steve Strieter
Florence

Downtown already lost, so skip makeover

I kept shaking my head as I read the article, ("Experts, boosters agree: It's time for a makeover," April 23). All I kept thinking was how fun downtown and Fountain Square used to be. I remember concerts, rallies, festivals and lunches. I remember in 1990, my partner and I driving into downtown from Columbia Tusculum late one night when the Reds swept the A's in the World Series. There were thousands of people on Fountain Square to celebrate. Fountain Square and downtown was a place of distinction and destination.

As a person who works and plays in downtown, I find the comments of the experts off base. I use to live in the Phelps Townhouse on East Fourth Street (1985-1986) and at 815 Elm St. (1999-2001). Friends and family used to love to visit, as we would walk the skywalks, shop, eat and drink downtown. The skywalk system is a very valuable and intricate part of downtown that people love. There used to be so many neat stores and restaurants on the skywalk. So much has been torn down, and businesses have closed or relocated (outside of downtown) because of the experts. Now look at downtown - Tower Place Mall (except the food court), Fountain Place and Saks where no one shops, restaurants where few can afford to eat, and the Aronoff where tickets are too expensive. Is this all for the rich?

The vast majority of Cincinnatians are not rich, so that leads us out of downtown. The boycott isn't destroying downtown. The experts and politicians have already destroyed downtown. And now they are at it again. Goodbye, downtown, it was nice knowing you. I am headed to Newport on the Levee. And, yes, I will pay to park in Kentucky.

Victor P. Fabro
East Price Hill

Mayor Luken defends city's arts spending

Cincinnati City Council recently completed a round of funding for art's organization, and The Enquirer took us to task for that in an editorial ("Cincinnati/City's arts funding boost: Private support still best," April 24). Unfortunately, it seems the Enquirer does not understand either the importance of council's action or the implications for the future of our city.

Council should be congratulated for recognizing the critical role a healthy arts community plays in neighborhood development. Without our investment, things like the relocation of the Art Academy will not happen. The Art Academy relocation promises to bring about two hundred artists to the area of Over-the-Rhine, to work, and, we hope, to live.

Without our investment, a new theater breathing life into the Covedale business district would be impossible.

And without our investment, the exhibitions at the Museum Center that will bring more than a half million people to the city would not happen.

Our support of major arts organizations also makes great economic sense. By supporting the Taft Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Opera, and others, we demonstrate understanding that we must be partners in developing a thriving arts community that will generate visitors, tax base, and neighborhood development.

Many of these arts organizations fall right in the heart of the so-called Empowerment Zone, inner city neighborhoods where we are working to bring new jobs and residents. Our support of the arts is part of our growing commitment to these neighborhoods. In fact, the creation of mixed neighborhoods, racially and economically, can only be enhanced by a healthy arts community.

The development of a healthy arts community is vital to our vision for the future of our great city. It is a great investment and a bargain considering the return on our investment.

Charlie Luken
Mayor of Cincinnati

Greenhills project destructive sprawl

I opened my Enquirer on Earth Day (April 22) to find a familiar story about over growth in Green Township. It is appalling enough to witness the devastation of the landscape in the name of development. But, to read that it is not being sensitively planned is insulting.

I don't know what the township's Economic Development Director, Adam Goetzman, means by saying it isn't overly glamorous but reflects Westside values except possibly the developers don't recognize our love for our neighborhoods and beautiful green hills. I am a board member of Western Wildlife Corridor, Inc., that is in its 11th year of working to preserve the gorgeous if not overly glamorous hillsides of part of Cincinnati. We support our neighbors to the north in their efforts to protect and preserve what is left of the natural beauty which makes Cincinnati distinctive. Let's recognize this development for what it is, destructive sprawl.

Delia Sizler
Delhi Township

Other issues aren't mentioned in CPS plan

Whenever we see a story in the media about the Cincinnati school levy and the present condition of the buildings, we see pictures of peeling paint and plaster problems, etc. What isn't talked about as much is air conditioning. It appears that this is the principal reason they want to tear down so many buildings and is by far the single most costly item. The plan calls for the demolition of 35 out of 66 buildings. Almost all school buildings have steam or hot water heat and therefore were built without ductwork. According to the CPS's Web site, many relatively new buildings don't have enough ceiling height to accommodate the new ductwork.

The classrooms are empty when it's hot. The schools my kids and I attended were uncomfortable for about five or six days during the school year for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and summer school classes were held in the morning. Few, if any, of the private schools had air-conditioned classrooms.

Why do public schools need to be torn down and private schools of the same age are just fine? Apparently, the state came in and largely dictated the plan, requiring that we do things in accordance with their rules and standards in order to receive their money. It seems as though we are giving up a lot of local control when the state is paying only about 20 percent of the bill. If you were planning to build a new house and the government offered to pay 20 percent of the cost but you would have to use their design and their budget, would you accept the offer?

Cincinnati schools already have $290 million in the bank from the stadium tax and other sources that is designated for building construction and repairs. This is plenty of money to repair leaky roofs, peeling paint, etc., and to replace a few of the worst schools. On May 6, we will vote on whether to proceed with the largest construction project in Cincinnati's history. This has received remarkably little attention. It seems that the strategy of the pro-levy group is to quietly work behind the scenes to get out their voters.

Steve Bertke
Covedale

U.S. Steel deserves praise for saving jobs

I was glad to see that U.S Bankruptcy Judge John Squires allowed the sale of National Steel to U.S. Steel. This action helped to preserve jobs for 22,000 steelworkers and insurance for 100,000 retirees. If A.K Steel had gotten its way, it would have eliminated the insurance for the retirees along with the labor agreement covering the steelworkers who worked at the steel mill. U.S Steel did the right thing by preserving the jobs. It should be applauded and respected for this action, because in today's world there are not many who would have chosen the path they did.

There is one other side to this story that has only recently come to light. PNC Bank was also backing A.K Steel in its attempted coup. Just try to imagine A.K Steel getting the bid and eliminating thousands of jobs and retirees' benefits. I wonder how many of those steelworkers and retirees would have had to file bankruptcies of their own if they had lost their jobs or benefits due to A.K Steel's greed. Imagine if some of these steelworkers and retirees had their homes mortgaged through PNC Bank. That's right: PNC Bank would have been partially responsible for the workers and retirees losing their homes due to A.K Steel's greed.

God bless Judge John Squires for doing the right thing.

Michael Eggie
Melbourne, Ky.
President, United Steelworkers of America, Local 14340