TO THE EDITOR:

We read with interest your opinion on the proposal by Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Conn., to require restaurants to provide nutritional information on their menus ["Hot corner/Nipping at the heels of the newsmakers," Nov. 16]. We would concur that it might be too much to have on the menus, but as parents of a 10-year-old Type 1 diabetic, we would greatly appreciate having that information available at restaurants. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The key to controlling diabetes is accurate carbohydrate counting.

Most fast-food restaurants provide that information on the Internet - the key word is most, and often it is only on the Web. We have found that most sit-down restaurants do not provide that information anywhere. We carry many nutritional guides, but it would be nice to be able to stop on a whim and eat somewhere knowing that we would have access to the information that is vital in helping our son maintain control of this disease. It would also allow him to be a regular kid who can have an impromptu meal out with anyone.

"Nuisance, intrusive, punish" - words you used to describe the proposal - also describe diabetes' harsh impact on our lives. Until there's a cure, we need all the support resources available.

Gregg and Cindi Dietrich, Anderson Township

Bravo for coverage of symphony in Japan

Kudos to Janelle Gelfand and The Cincinnati Enquirer for the excellent coverage of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Japan tour. The orchestra is always pleased to play for appreciative audiences, and we're happy that our concerts were shared with Cincinnati via the Enquirer.

This tour was very complicated, and the public should also know that much of its success was due mainly to the efforts of the CSO touring staff and crew. When you hear about a great performance occurring on tour or in Music Hall, keep in mind that it not only comes from the musicians on stage, but also extends back and through all of the CSO management.

The orchestra makes the music; the staff makes it possible. Thank you, Enquirer, for telling about it.

Ron Bozicevich , Bass, CSO, Anderson Township

Bengals' Warrick deserves the glory

I could not help but notice the many well-deserved pictures of Bengals receiver Peter Warrick - finally, after three years. There were almost as many pictures of him in the Enquirer on Nov. 17 as there were number of times he carried the ball all of last season.

Finally, the man has been given a chance. Let's hear it for him and for the coaching staff that finally put him to work.

Roger G. Hehman, Woodlawn, Ky.

Colerain also has a Latin program

It may interest you to know that Colerain High School not only has a fine football team but an excellent language department. One of the languages taught is Latin. There was no mention of this in the article "Semper fidelis: Latin teacher in 63rd year" [Nov. 19].

Jean G. Michaels, Latin teacher, Colerain High School

No reason to stop gay marriages

No doubt the Massachusetts Supreme Court's ruling in favor of gay marriage will produce howls of outrage locally from conservative groups and clergy who wish to co-opt and restrict the meaning of "family values" ["Ruling on marriage of gays sweeping," Nov. 19].

But bray as they might about history and tradition and (carefully selected) Bible passages, their arguments are hollow. They never can cite a tangible, practical reason why extending marriage benefits to all would hurt a soul. They hide behind past practice as if the world has never found a single reason to redress past wrongs.

Bottom line, the only reason they have is that they find gay marriage personally distasteful. This is no basis for administering justice.

The Massachusetts court has reasons, real reasons, why we must advance beyond this prejudice and discrimination. This powerful reasoning scares the pants off the conservatives, thus provoking their cries.

John C. Brennan, Clifton

Compare gays' case to polygamy in Utah

The Massachusetts Supreme Court has concluded that their state constitution allows for the right to a so-called gay marriage ["Ruling on marriage of gays sweeping," Nov. 19].

If that becomes law in Massachusetts, the federal government must choose among three options: Do nothing and allow the full faith and credit clause to force the other 49 states to accept gay marriage; pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman; or expel Massachusetts from the union and remove a star from our flag. My vote is for the constitutional amendment.

The third possibility (expelling Massachusetts from the union) cannot be dismissed out of hand. A parallel can be drawn between Massachusetts' situation today and Utah's in the late 1800s. After repeated attempts, the territory of Utah was unable to join the union until it outlawed polygamy.

If Massachusetts can create the right to so-called gay marriage, then why can't Utah create the right to polygamy and force those marriages to be recognized by the other 49 states?

John E. Becker, Eastgate

Medicare drug idea is bad deal for seniors

The outline of the Medicare drug benefits, as currently being debated, in my opinion would be a loss for most seniors who already enjoy drug benefits ["Congress/Medicare Rx coverage," Nov. 19].

First, each senior must pay $35 per month, then they must pay a $275 deductible; then they must pay 25 percent of the next $1,925 for the first $2,200 of the yearly drug cost.

So, out of the first $2,200 of drug cost per year, each senior will pay $1,176, more than half of the total. Then it gets worse. For the next $1,400 of drug expenses, the senior pays 100 percent. So if your total drug bill for the year reached $3,600, you will have paid out of your pocket $2,576 and the government will have picked up $1,024. After the drug expense passes $3,600, then the government begins to pick up a greater percentage of the cost on some as-yet undisclosed scale.

I cannot understand the AARP supporting this bad piece of legislation. For us seniors who already enjoy drug benefits, this is a real downer. I believe that there will be a real groundswell of senior opposition to this bill. I am definitely letting my congressman know my feelings.

Truman Faulkner, Mason

Elected officials should listen to public

The article "Regional Report/Pair don't like Compass direction" [Nov. 18] reports that County Commissioner Phil Heimlich and County Auditor Dusty Rhodes oppose what they label as the plan of the Community Compass two-year process. They apparently fear that it might take policy responsibility away from elected officials and turn it over to activists. They are wrong.

Compass has produced two documents: The Vision for Hamilton County's Future and the Initiatives and Strategies. They are expressions of what some 3,000 local citizens would like to see in this county, covering a wide variety of issues, expressed in very general terms, and intended for the guidance of elected officials.

It seems to me that officials ought to read, listen to, and consider the desires of those taxpayers. Instead, these two politicians seem to want to dictate to citizens what they are going to get. The purpose of our democratic system is to serve the citizens, not preserve the power of elected officials.

David Black, Price Hill,
chairman, Citizens for Civic Renewal

Dissent is essence of healthy democracy

I disagree with the letters "Anti-war talk plays into hands of terrorists" [Nov. 14] and "Anti-war talk hurts America" [Nov. 18]. The letter writers act as if anti-war talk in our nation today is a threat to America. In fact, I believe that anti-war talk is a sign that our democracy is healthy. Living in a democracy means having the right to think critically, ask questions, and have the freedom to do so without oppression.

The Nov. 18 letter writer suggests that we should just "keep the faith and support our president and commander in chief." Yet this scenario of "follow the leader" was also popular in Nazi Germany and oppressive Communist nations. Instead, we should embrace the freedoms that we have in this nation and ask the questions that need to be asked. We are not a nation of mindless robots, and the day that everyone in our nation starts talking and thinking the same is the day that we should become seriously worried.

Democracy - it's not a game of follow the leader, it's about asking questions.

Kelly Siegert, Fairfield