TO THE EDITOR:

The letter writer ("Trust the experience of adoption workers," Nov. 3) stated that Hamilton County adoption workers "have a profound wish for a better life for the children we ... have placed in their care." While many county adoption workers are dedicated and compassionate, both the federal government and the Office of Civil Rights found that, due to the county's consideration of race as a primary consideration, the placement of African Americans into any home was significantly delayed. This has resulted in black children languishing in foster care until they became essentially non-adoptable.

While identifying with one's roots may be valuable, it is not in any way nearly as important as having the love and stability of a permanent set of parents, no matter whether they are Irish, Asian or African-American.

We saw no other parents of any race stepping up to adopt our son. Yet county workers sought to keep him from us, solely on the basis of our race. That does not sound like acting in the best interests of the child to me.

Michael Zaret, Anderson Township

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Use common sense in environmental opinions

After reading the syndicated columnist Rowland Nethaway's column in The Enquirer ("We're trading old pollution for new," Nov. 2), I'm forced to ask the question: What would he propose for clean, non-polluting power sources for the future of this country?

Nethaway finds the sight of these wind generator towers aesthetically unpleasing. What is his stand on natural gas (an ever-diminishing commodity if you listen to the media), coal industry (which also gets blasted by environmentalists) fossil fuel (which the environmentalist crowd doesn't want tapped into any longer) and nuclear power (that really causes an uproar)?

I am at a loss to find a source for the future that anyone will accept and get behind. If Nethaway's only argument is that the towers ruin the view of nature's beauty, then I would propose perhaps he is splitting hairs on an issue of much larger ramifications than his uninterrupted view of sunset.

I am from the West. I understand the natural beauty that God built into this planet. But, I also accept that in his infinite wisdom he gave us an unending supply of moving air, that if used with the gift of knowledge that he endowed us with for technology, invention and design, that we can have power for many years.

Unless you live in the very center of a wind generator farm, then turn your sight a few degrees in either direction and take in the grandeur of God's creation, it's the same there as it is in the line of sight of this fantastic technology that leaves no byproduct behind but clean power, low maintenance and the future of a cleaner sky, a healthier planet, and a break on our environment and natural resources.

Dave Miller, Trenton, Ohio

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Why punish for using marijuana if it helps?

This is in regards to the article, ("Man says pot was medicine," Oct 30). When study after study finds cancer chemotherapy patients demonstrate a positive response to marijuana, how can we punish a suffering individual for trying to help him or herself feel better?

Sandy Cote, Toledo

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Government paints over truth about Iraq

Shame on Steve Chabot!

There was no link between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein. Everyone admits this fact up through President Bush. War against Iraq was neither punishment for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 nor part of our fight against al-Qaida. We attacked because we believed Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and wasn't afraid to use them. This isn't my opinion; it is fact. Look it up. But you better look for a source published before our embarrassing inability to find weapons of mass destruction in postwar Iraq.

Now, reminiscent of Orwell's 1984, the government is painting over history. How can they retain popularity as the casualties and cost of war mount and the reasons used to justify the war dwindle? Simple. Just change those reasons and hope that the American people are dumb enough to buy it.

Chabot's statement that removing Hussein was an essential part of our fight against terrorism ("Defenders, dissenters clash on the home front," Nov. 1) is a misstatement and an insult to our intelligence. We must hold our politicians accountable to speak the truth. How can we trust their decisions when we know they are lying to us?

Patricia Foster, Indian Hill

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Health care CEOs are overcompensated

On Nov. 2, article titled "Insurers adjust health plans" quoted Larry Savage, president and CEO of Humana Health Plan of Ohio Inc.: "The fact is, many people are over insured," he said.

The fact is that a few people are overcompensated.

In recent years, the CEOs and management of health care companies have received ridiculous bonuses on top of their salaries. The CEO for Humana Health Plan of Ohio Inc. received a $17 million bonus. The CEO of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield received a $15 million bonus and is reportedly going to receive a $22 million bonus for 2003.

No wonder there is a health care crisis, because the objectives of the health care industry and pharmaceutical industry are all wrong.

Society needs to become more proactive and vocal about the increasing cost of health care associated with the questionable practices of the health care insurance industry. Otherwise, we are going to continue to pay more for health care and receive fewer benefits and the doctors will also continue to receive smaller reimbursements for our patient care.

Dennis M. Luken, Mount Washington

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Not pleasant but Iraq coverage is reality

My experience in 1945 Germany fills me with complete astonishment at the political and media surprise and anguish over the post-war situation in Iraq.

As the shooting died down when we reached the Elbe, my field artillery battalion was detailed for perimeter security at Camp Schwarzenborn, a First Army Collection Center. Military and civilian prisoners were daily crowded through for interrogation, classification, and transmission to the next appropriate station.

In Iraq, a brilliant whirlwind campaign avoided thousands of combat deaths, but resulted in the bulk of the Iraqi Army simply melting away as civilians, fully armed. In 1945, all arms were collected at the point of surrender.

Just after the May 7 Armistice, my battery was assigned to govern six towns near Kassel. Every person ages 12 to 80 was interrogated and thumb printed. Copies went to police authorities; one copy had to be retained by the person as his passport. Each prisoner or civilian was thereby accounted for. As the only American who spoke any German, and being half way through law school, I got the job.

The Nazi Party resisted fiercely at first, ordering all people to say they could not understand me. To show they were still in power, they ordered a man, under threat of death, to leave their 2-year-old boy in the woods for the wild animals to eat. I placed the leaders in jail on bread and water, without the bread. After three days they broke and stopped spitting on the jailer. We had no more trouble. I even made a few friends. They said I was fair.

On Oct. 3, we went to Berlin as its garrison. One night on a trip to the opera, I sat next to the chief nurse (a major) at the U.S. Hospital. She warned me to be very careful; not a night passed without one or more American GIs being brought dead to the hospital. We never went out with less than four armed buddies. The streets were perilous.

I saw the bunker where Hitler and Goebbels committed suicide; I saw many prisoners. In Iraq, they did not die or surrender, they went underground for a terror campaign.

I am not insensitive to the situation of our troops. I have been fired upon many times, during and after combat, as late as October in Berlin. I was hit once. I had to run for my life from a mob of armed, drunken Russians whom we had just liberated from slave labor.

I feel empathy and high esteem for our troops, but I do not feel surprise or criticism. The nightly television coverage of the campaign may have spoiled us. But this is reality, not a show where you can mute the unpleasant spots.

James W. Hengelbrok, Mount Airy

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Voting is such a wonderful privilege

After voting Tuesday, which is my civic responsibility and honor, I started to tell my 2 1/2- year-old daughter what I had just participated in was a privilege because we live in this great country. As I was talking to her, my eyes tear up to think of all the young men and women defending our country, especially now while we are at war. They stand for everything that is good in this country.

Meanwhile, less than half of the registered voters won't take five minutes of their day to participate in the very democracy they defend. We are all busy, but it takes 30 minutes one evening to determine how you plan to vote and only five minutes to actually cast your vote. These 35 minutes is the least any citizen of this country can do.

I challenge Greater Cincinnati this time next November to sit back and think about how great our life is compared to the rest of the world and take the time to exercise your privilege to vote!

Jennifer Umberg, West Chester

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U.S. policy for decades bred anti-Americanism

In the front-page article ("Defenders, dissenters clash on the home front," Nov. 1), Sam Arnold stated, "We are fighting a war we have to fight against a people who hate us because we are free." This concept that we are loathed by another group of people because of our freedom is the biggest fallacy to come out of the 9-11 tragedy.

The anger, hate, and aggression stems from events and United States policies that have occurred over the past 30 or so years that have led to serious strains on U.S. relations with the Arab world. The U.S. government's blind support of Israel and their oppression of the Palestinian people is a major source of anger and resentment.

To say that the war on anti-American sentiment is due to jealousy of our freedom is erroneous, arrogant, and completely shortsighted. Until we expose the real roots of anti-American sentiment we will continue to be a target of aggression and anger.

Amy Stephens, Norwood

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Watch first before judging Reagan series

Concerning the letter of ("'Reagans' miniseries should upset everyone," Nov. 1): Does the word "hypocrisy" have any meaning to conservatives? Since the writer has not yet seen the show in question how does he presume to know its content? He claims it is being "built around lies and distortions." I would suggest that the writer first watch the program and then judge if the story told, warts and all, is a fair picture.

Since the letter writer is so concerned about "lies and distortions about a living past president of this great nation," I am sure he would join with me in denouncing the venomous nonsense daily issued from the likes of Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michael Reagan, Rush Limbaugh, etc., about Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. That would be fair, wouldn't it?

I would rather watch the show and think for myself and maybe learn something than sheepishly follow the party line.

This concept, and the concept of hypocrisy, is usually beyond the grasp of conservatives.

James J. Mignerey, Hamilton