I returned home disappointed after attending a lecture by Michael Cook, a professor at Cincinnati Hebrew Union College, concerning Mel Gibson's film The Passion of The Christ. Under the guise of academic approach the talk degenerated into a cheap rehash of Jesus seminar techniques color-coding scriptural text by degrees of authenticity, according to Cook, of course.

Then we were treated to a Passion play filmed somewhere in Arkansas. Leftover Hee Haw cast members made up the screaming Jews wanting Jesus crucified. It got worse. Another film clip from Jesus Christ Superstar was shown, the part where the Sanhedrin/temple priest climbs a scaffold with circling vultures overhead. The night ended predictably with softball-loaded written questions from the audience.

Shame on Cook for wasting an excellent window of opportunity to bring real light to the grave matter of anti-Semitism. Instead he chose to fan the fire.

Steven Weigand, Bethel

---

Don't blame Nader for Bush's power

Regarding the open letter to Ralph Nader, "Nader's to blame for Bush's election" (Feb. 24), I would have to disagree with the writer's simplistic accusations that Nader is solely to blame for why we have lost jobs and why our liberty is threatened.

Nader got citizens excited about participating in the Democratic system, again, and we have a much better pool of Democratic candidates - namely Dennis Kucinich - because of his pressures on the Democratic Party to get back to being true Democrats instead of Republicans.

Don't forget, former Vice President Al Gore still won the popular vote, and President Bush was still the one who had to physically enact all the bad legislation that has led this country down to ruin.

Caeli Good, Northside

---

Our soldiers risk lives for country

As I read about Master Sgt. Tina Sunderhaus and her fellow soldiers in the Ohio National Guard leaving for Iraq, my heart is breaking ("The war games are over - this time it's for real," Feb. 19). Master Sgt. Sunderhaus has a husband and three kids waiting for her safe return. As a mother, I can only imagine the courage and dedication it must take to leave a family for a tour of duty that could last a year. d I am thankful that our country has such dedicated service people.

Nicole Gunderman, Clifton

---

Reds' John Allen had been offseason

It appears that Reds operating officer John Allen has not been communicating effectively to Reds chief executive Carl Lindner. Recently, we learned that Lindner was unaware that the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum building would not be ready until 2005. Lindner immediately told Allen to get it done this year.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to get Lindner up to speed on Allen's other activities during a busy off-season. He hired a general manager from the Texas Rangers who went 71-91 last year, we kept our manager Dave Miley and replaced Joe Nuxhall in the booth with Steve Stewart. No wonder we haven't had time to improve the team through free agency - Allen's been dealing with more important issues. I can't wait to see the new-look Reds team for 2004. Only problem is, I'll be looking up into the suites and radio booth and not down on the field.

Steve Koesterman, Montgomery

---

Parents must be held accountable

Last week's series on school expulsions was both enlightening and sobering. Teachers are to be applauded for their ability to teach, despite the disruption of unruly students.

I found it disappointing that parents were largely missing from the discussion about the disruptive behavior of their children. Parents must accept some of the responsibility for how their children behave. Parents must also commit to being part of the resources schools have for addressing the problem. After all, whose child is it anyway?

Schools must hold parents accountable for their child's behavior, just as the parents hold the teachers accountable for educating their child.

Glenn Ray, College Hill

---

Don't force gay marriage upon states

Charles Krauthammer's column on gay marriage titled "Gays started this 'culture war'"(Feb. 27) covered points well taken. Left to the states, the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution will require Ohio to give full legal standing to gay married couples from other states even if it's against the wishes of Ohio.

Gay marriages should not be forced upon one state by the actions of another. Neither should a U.S. constitutional amendment outlaw gay marriage for all states. Instead, an amendment should be considered that exempts marriage from the Full Faith and Credit clause. This would allow the people of each state to decide what applies in their state without impacting any other.

Mel Barbera, Liberty Township