As for the "flip-flop epidemic," is it a safety issue? If so, are there no safety guidelines in the public schools? If there are none, someone had better be asking for a tax increase to cover the lawsuits that are sure to come.

Beth Schnell

Covington

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Respect fights crime better than money

In light of all the ongoing trouble in our city related to crime, there has been a rash of people calling for more cops, more money, more, more, more. Has anyone noticed that no one mentions parents, responsibility, respect and such? I hate to break the news, but more cops and more money is never going to solve the crime problem.

They say Over-the-Rhine is getting better. This may be, but look at Price Hill. What is happening? All the bad people are moving up the hill. Without some sort of decent parenting, you will always have this problem. The shooting of a 17-year-old senior is a prime example ("Elder student remembered as peacemaker," Sept. 28). Respect for life cannot be bought. It is taught.

Paul Jones

Green Township

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We're African-Americans, not blacks

The article "Aviation group helps put blacks in cockpit" (Sept. 30) sounds like the most offensive racist piece of propaganda I have ever seen written without being obvious. I won't even read the article. We are not blacks as if to say "dogs" or "cockroaches." How dare you in this day and age allow such disrespect in your paper?

I am disgusted to constantly hear people referred to as objects as if we have know dignity. I submit this is one of the reasons Cincinnati is so racially divided today. We are, true to our heritage, called African-American and entitled to as much respect as any other American. Please consider this fact when reviewing future articles.

Karen White

Independence

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Campbell attorney right to charge cop

Congratulations to Campbell County Attorney Justin Verst for doing the job he is obligated to do in charging Newport police officer Mark Crank with drunken driving ("Newport officer charged in DUI stop," Sept. 29). It's encouraging to see an elected official that is not afraid to create "a political storm in a hornet's nest."

William Burkart

Fort Thomas

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Smoking death stats often overstated

As the Wings song "Live and Let Die" says, "In this ever-changing world in which we live in." My thanks to the Enquirer editorial staff for presenting legitimate statistics in the editorial "Quit line for tobacco users" (Sept. 27).

The realistic statistic of 18,900 tobacco-related deaths a year in Ohio is a breath of fresh air after hearing Stand.org claim 50,000 deaths a year. Exaggerations such as this are bound to be called out sooner or later. These claims are constantly flying in the face of news reports of famous smokers dying at ages past the life expectancy of average Americans.

Young people need to know they are not being lied to. If this ever does become an issue, make sure you teach your children to be critical, but not cynical. Live and let die.

Curt Parrott

Maineville

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Doc shone light in emergency medicine

Those of us in the practice of emergency medicine know what a great loss Daniel Storer was to our community, but perhaps you don't ("Dr. Storer: loss of a hero of healing," Sept. 24). All you have to do is dial 911 or stop at any firehouse or rescue squad, and chances are the EMT/paramedic was trained at some time by Storer. Stop in any emergency department in the area, and some of the physicians and nurses will have benefited from his passion for education.

He was to emergency medicine education in this area what Edison was for electricity. He taught us to start a heart that had stopped, deliver a baby in an ambulance and smile the entire time. Despite his many honors, his greatest legacy is that the emergency medical technicians, physicians and nurses that care for you in an emergency are better, smarter and kinder because of Dan Storer. How appropriate that some of his last moments were spent teaching EMTs.

Dr. Phillip F. Oblinger

What I wanted in candidate debate

In the first presidential debate, I was hoping to hear two things:

First, I wanted to hear John Kerry lay out his plans for Iraq and for winning the war on terror. I wasn't disappointed. Kerry staked out a strong plan to bring peace to Iraq and to refocus our efforts to fight terrorists around the world.

Second, I wanted to hear President Bush tell the truth about Iraq, but he refused. , Bush still presents a version of Iraq seen through rose-colored glasses. Instead of acknowledging his mistakes, a sign of a true leader, Bush clings stubbornly to his mythical version of the "facts," as if by repeating them over and over, he can make them come true.

Farrell Goodman

Fairfield

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Kerry was the one who talked straight

I watched the presidential debate and was reminded of my family's recent efforts to fix a leak in our home. We talked with a number of contractors, and we finally hired the one who told us in a straightforward and direct way what our problem was, why he could fix it, and, most importantly, how he was going to do so.

After watching the debate, I've become very convinced that only one candidate is willing to be straight with me about what needs to be done and how to do it, and so I'll be voting for John Kerry.

Jeff Sommers

Symmes Township

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Band would've seen Bush even without buses

Letters and attitudes like the one from the writer "Would Lakota bus student to see Kerry" (Sept. 30) would be a lot easier to countenance if they weren't so obviously the product of spite and jealousy.

Has the writer considered that the board and/or school administration, in their official capacity, viewed the visit as a unique out-of-the-classroom educational opportunity and acted accordingly?

Even if transportation were withheld, does the writer not think that the band, or at least large groups of students, would still attend the visit?

Philip B. Morris

Formerly of Deerfield Township

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Bunning's campaign attacks are 'unsavory'

I was appalled to read the quote by David Young, Jim Bunning's campaign manager " . . . if he (Dr. Mongiardo) can't handle the facts just once in a lighthearted contrast ad . . ." This partial quote, speaks volumes for the unsavory character of the Bunning campaign.

These are serious times that require those who want to represent us at the highest levels of government service to deal with the issues rather than unjust character assassination.

Here is my suggestion to the Bunning campaign: Spend your money on telling us Bunning's position on the war, the economy, the healthcare crisis and education rather than sinful character assassination of a good man.

John Dunn

Wilder

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Has Pepper ever been to Price Hill?

In response to his comment that Price Hill and the area surrounding the Elder/Seton campuses is not declining, I have to wonder if David Pepper has ever set foot in this neighborhood. If he were to speak with people from the area about the difference today compared to 20(or even 10 ) years ago, I think he would get quite an education.

My son started his first year at Elder about four weeks ago. Since that time he has come home with stories about a member of his cross country team being jumped (unprovoked), while running with the entire team on Glenway Ave., an attempted robbery of a group leaving a dance recently, a young boy with a knife approaching a group of students waiting for rides at the school, and now the murder of a student across the street.

I wonder if the class of 1985 came home with the same stories in the same number and frequency as the class of 2005? The area is in a dramatic downward spiral, and comments like that made by Pepper only show that our city leaders are oblivious to their surroundings.

Mike Woeste

Western Hills

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Procter praised for supporting repeal

Regarding the letter "P&G stance makes no business sense" (Sept. 30): Why would P&G be involved with the repeal of Article XII? Because P&G cares for the rights of their employees, including their gay, lesbian and bisexual employees. Speaking as a business major, that's how you keep your best and brightest. In today's economy, the bottom line isn't everything. It's innovation and people power. Kudos to Procter & Gamble for realizing that.

Douglas Meredith

Southgate, KY

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Procter right on repealing Article XII

P&G does not need me to defend them on their interest in Cincinnati. Taking a stance is what is needed by more people and organizations.

We are swept up in "political correctness" and non-controversy. That is not how we make progress and debate controversial ideas. Procter explained its reasons. It thought the repeal of Article 12 was in the best interest of all Cincinnati. I would rather have Procter and others take a stand than "crawfish" on issues.

Joseph W Hirschhorn

Mount Lookout

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State should send cash to grandparents

Regarding the article "State hasn't decided how to spend $431M for the poor" (Sept. 30): We are grandparents raising four; I just finished reading about the $431M the federal government gave the state for the poor and needy. It seems to me that it would be a great idea to spend a chunk of it on grandparents, who are not mentioned

enough when it comes to grants and etc.

It is a fact that there are a lot of those getting help who don't want to get a job and are happy living off the system.

God gave us these kids for a reason. And any help we get along the way sure makes life a little easier.

Joyce Ventura

Norwood

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Blackwell may turn Ohio into Florida

With the policies that Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has been implementing, Ohio could be the Florida of the 2004 election. Blackwell is going about the process of disenfranchising certain voters. He has instructed that provisional ballots not be given to voters who appear at the wrong precinct on Election Day. This discriminates against voters in poorer neighborhoods, especially against first-time voters, who are more likely to use provisional ballots and vote Democratic. I would hate to see Ohio's electoral votes awarded to the wrong candidate because of Blackwell's policies.

Matt Barnes

Western Hills

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Blames Dems for Ky. teacher problems

I was vice chairman of the Kentucky Kare Health Insurance Authority until its demise in 1999. I understand why this mess with Kentucky's teachers happened. The teachers' concern about their insurance cost is understandable. But, unfortunately, the Kentucky Education Association has turned the issue into a partisan political battle making teachers look like union goons. Going to legislator's homes went way over the top.

It was a Democrat governor and a Democrat dominated state legislature that created HB 250 in 1994. It was former Gov. Brereton Jones' attempt to bring Hillary Clinton's health care program to Kentucky. It was a disaster. HB 250's restrictions and rules drove almost all health care indemnity insurers out of the state and contributed greatly to the demise of the Kentucky Care Health plan which covered teachers, state employees and people in the gap between retirement and Medicare.

Edward L. Smith, Jr.

Park Hills