Upon reading the article on Nathaniel Jones on Dec. 7 ("City has matured since '01"), one strong woman presents an important lesson. No matter how opinionated some may be, no person has more right to state her feelings than Jones' grandmother, Bessie Jones. It is in her statement where Cincinnati should find its humility.

Amidst the death of her grandson and the heated controversy that followed, she profoundly spoke words of wisdom to the people of Cincinnati. The simplicity of life is explained in her statement, "God didn't put you here to bicker and fight. He put you here to love one another .... I don't care what color you are. Love me, and I'm going to love you."

Maybe this is precisely what we need: one humbling woman asking us to stop the arguing and fighting and learn to love.

Whitney Gordon, Milford

We're talking humanity here, not race

When the unfortunate death of Nathaniel Jones occurred, I watched Channel 12 and other stations repeatedly reporting this in a sensational manner, so much so that I turned off the news. I've lived in Cincinnati more than 60 years, and I've seen, heard and personally experienced events of black/white life. We're told too much about our differences, and not enough about our similarities.

We all suffer when someone hurts us. We feel the pain of losing someone we love, whether it's an accident, natural causes or deliberate. We all need safe housing for our families, jobs, and places to worship, celebrate happy events. This is not black or white desire; this is humanity.

Gerri Stortz, Covedale

Catechism says gay marriage grave sin

In regards to the Forum article ("Should we ban gay marriage?" Dec. 7), gay marriage is a grave sin as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and canon law. All judges who pass man-made laws encouraging same-sex unions are also guilty of grave sin, because they are promoting it and fostering it.

Same-sex unions are ultimately corrupting and destroy human beings regardless if one can point to positive elements from such unions such as medical and related benefits and caregiving. For guest columnist Scott Knox ("Gay rights no threat to marriage," Dec. 7) to show real love for gays would be to encourage them to turn from a worldly desire of the flesh and instead serve society through Christ.

Steve Markovich, Crescent Springs

Why not prosecute all like archdiocese?

Now that our esteemed prosecutor has nailed the archdiocese with a little-known and seldom-used law that says anyone knowing of a felony and not reporting it is guilty and criminally liable: I would hope that he now pursues with equal vigor the myriad "saw nothing, heard nothing" witnesses of street violence (such as murder, robberies) who continue to hamper the police's efforts to solve these crimes.

Thomas W. Powers, Groesbeck

Morning-after pill takes a human life

The article "Morning-after pill may go over counter" (Nov. 25) was missing one very important word - abortion. The last sentence of the article mentions that if fertilization has occurred, the morning-after pill prevents the egg from implanting. Therefore, the new life that began at fertilization dies because the drug keeps it from implanting into the uterus. This is abortion.

I find it confusing that those federal health officials are even considering putting this drug on the shelves. Why would someone take a drug that alters their normal bodily function and increases their risks to other health factors, like abdominal cramping and menstrual irregularities, because they might be pregnant?

Scott D. Stephens, executive director, Pregnancy Center East

What about democracy in Taiwan?

Does President Bush really support democracy? More than a few of our finest young people have given their lives so Iraqis can experience the joys of democracy, according to our president. Yet when a democratic Taiwan proposes to have a referendum vote on independence from China, our president strongly warns them not to do so. The spin is that we don't need another international crisis and we need to find a way to lower our trade deficit with the Chinese.

The obvious question that must be asked of Bush is what trumps democracy? Is it politics, capitalism or both?

Forrest Buckley, Westwood