I am a strong advocate of freedom of speech, expression, etc. However, Jim Borgman's cartoon in the Aug.24 Enquirer was particularly offensive.

If his service in Vietnam is Kerry's defining moment, why not compare it with Bush's defining moment? Compare Bush's leadership, compassion, dedication and no-nonsense approach to the safety of America and its citizens with Kerry's waffling, minimal attendance, nonsupportive, self-serving and lackluster record in the Senate.

I hope that the majority of Americans voting this fall will remember the strong and steadfast president who helped us survive the atrocities of Sept. 11.

Jacqueline Garrett
Fairfield

President uses vets to re-fight old war

It's a shame that President Bush has pitted veteran against veteran in this presidential campaign. Every person who set foot in Vietnam, no matter what our job was, deserves the respect of every American especially the president and his supporters. The Vietnam War is consuming our country today almost as much as it did 30-some years ago. Let's move on to the issues of today and have some serious debates.

Robert J. Hartlaub Jr.
Carthage

Ky. governor is man of many talents

Pat Crowley's remarks concerning Gov. Ernie Fletcher's flight in a Chilean Air Force jet "That Fletcher, He's quite the jet setter" (Aug. 22) seemed to make light of Fletcher's skills and talents as a former Air Force jet pilot.

Fletcher's personal achievements as a pilot and a physician place him in the rarefied air of people who have achieved greatness with their talents and abilities. Our state has not seen such stature and ability in the governor's mansion for many years. Criticism for political decisions will always be acceptable, but criticisms downgrading the governor's skills and talents from a previous career can only be seen as petty and harmful to the state's image.

Tom Goeke
Edgewood

Observations on Freedom Center

How ironic that Laura Bush should be invited to speak at the opening ceremonies of the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, when President Bush wouldn't even accept an invitation to speak at the 2004 NAACP Convention. Too bad, too, that the new center seems to skip the entire civil rights era of the 1960s. Why celebrate Mother Teresa but not Martin Luther King Jr.?

Daniel Brown
East Walnut Hills

Allen learned the Clinton lesson well

Bill Clinton did Mike Allen a huge favor. By stonewalling his own infidelity, Clinton magnified a personal family tragedy into a political disaster.

Allen, obviously a quick study, opted to voluntarily fess up, after he knew that a lawsuit was about to be filed, and described the 31/2-year affair as the "worst mistake" of his life. He might have better phrased it as the "worst ongoing series of mistakes" of his life.

The ironic touch was the sensitive reactions of Republican politicians Bill Seitz and Tom Brinkman, who urged compassion for the Allen family and warned the rest of us sinners about casting any stones. I guess it's a matter of whose ox - or elephant or donkey - is being gored.

Hank Berlon
Wyoming

You can't standardize students

I volunteer in the inner-city schools and have seen the frustration of good teachers whose creativity is destroyed by rigidly standardized methods. Regarding the guest columns by Michael Casserly, "Schools need more coherent vision of reform," and Bob Suess, "Teacher quality key to student success" (Aug. 22): These show the difference between a bureaucrat and a teacher.

Casserly, who heads a coalition of public school systems,standardizes and regiments education. The problem is that students cannot be standardized. In order to show progress, "1,001 reforms" are instituted, methods constantly changed giving us the "flavor of the day" approach, wasting enormous amounts of money.

Suess, who is the principal of Hughes Center in the Cincinnati Public Schools, knows his teachers and students. He lets them work together in a creative way, getting results.

Mary Kartal
North Avondale