Jim Borgman's editorial cartoon Aug. 24 demeans all National Guard personnel. Does Borgman believe that it dishonorable to serve in the National Guard? Borgman owes an apology to every person who is in the National Guard or any person that has ever served in the National Guard.

Dennis Long, West Chester Township

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Where was pro-veteran cartoon in 1996?

I noted with interest Jim Borgman's Aug. 24 cartoon, juxtaposing "party guy" George Bush with "war hero" John Kerry. I presume that he is positing that a war-wounded veteran would make a better president than a candidate who did not serve. Funny, I don't recall seeing a similar cartoon in 1996.

Mark Poole, Mason

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Look for more criticism of Kerry

The Vietnam swift boat ads are anything but dubious ("Attack ads anything but swift," Aug. 24). Vietnam veterans are going to continue to expose John Kerry. It is unfortunate, but if the media would do their job, Vietnam vets would not have to resort to these tactics. Stay tuned, folks.

Arthur Smith, Loveland

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Bush, Kerry records both likely right

Regarding the editorial "Attack ads anything but swift" (Aug. 24): It seems to me that the service records of President Bush and John Kerry probably are fair and reasonably accurate accounts of their military services.

I disagree with Bush regarding the 527 ads. I believe that they serve an important function and are fully within the spirit of our political traditions and of our freedoms of expression.

Kerry, and other war protesters, did not betray our military service people. It was our lack of information and our silence that betrayed them.

Berry Baker, Peebles

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Boycott isn't just about money for city

Regarding the Peter Bronson column on the boycott ("VFW sounded taps for silly boycott of city," Aug. 24), as usual he made money the big issue in the boycotters' stance. The issue isn't whether out-of-town guests get to eat at the fine restaurants of Cincinnati or enjoy the hotels and attractions. The issue is whether the residents of the city are entitled to justice when they are wronged. Unfortunately, boycott was the only bargaining chip the community had.

Although I don't support the boycott, I believe that putting economic stimulus over my right to justice is greatly misguided, and it is the major reason this city hasn't made much progress in the last 30 years, let alone the last 36-plus months.

Eric McDaniel, Silverton

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State school funding hurting students

For seven years the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the funding mechanisms for schools in Ohio are unconstitutional. For seven years, our state leadership has buried its head in the sand because creating a fair, balanced system is a very complex issue. Please let those individuals at the state level, who represent us, know that it is their responsibility to create a model that is fair to all of our young people and citizens.

I urge each citizen to find common ground relative to the passage of a local school levy and assist the young people in our community receive a quality education by voting yes in November. The Fairfield Board of Education has listened and made every effort to accommodate the concerns that have been expressed. The future of our great city relies upon a quality educational program being made available to each of our young people.

Please remember that someone supported each of us as we went through school. We must continue to do the same thing. If not us, then who? At the same time, passing a levy is only a temporary solution. We must demand of the state that they create a fair and equitable system for all of us.

Erick Cook, mayor, city of Fairfield

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Schools play games with fancy names

After reading the Enquirer's back-to-school special section Aug. 17, I noticed how many Cincinnati Public Schools have changed their names over the years to include such words as academy, university, design tech, info tech and even entrepreneurship. Do these names make them feel more academic? Maybe they should change their names to "Budget Spending Correctly High" or maybe "Higher Proficiency Test Results Tech" or even "Get Out of Academic Emergency Academy."

You can call a farmer's milk cow "Seattle Slew" all you want, but that does not make it a thoroughbred; it is still a cow. We all know the real truth.

Richard A. Johnson, White Oak