When you visit the Freedom Center, you will hear Oprah Winfrey introducing educational films using the word black, not African-American. It's an age thing.

Dottie Soper

Maineville

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We're all unhyphenated Americans

Regarding the letter "We're African-American, not blacks," (Oct. 3) the writer won't read the article, "Aviation group helps put blacks in cockpit" (Sept. 30), but calls the use of "black" in the title racist.

The writer cites use of the term "black" as a reason Cincinnati and the country are racially divided. Don't you think this kind of hyphenated Americanism is even more divisive? Martin Luther King Jr. himself once said to his constituents in a speech, "We know nothing of Africa." Using the term black is no more racist than using the term white. We should be called Americans, period.

Steven Reisiger

Colerain Township

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Give Ky. leaders earful on health care

I recently moved to Kentucky in part because of its educational opportunities for my son. After examining the proposed health care plan for Kentucky state employees, I am appalled at the rate increases being proposed. It is time that the public voice its outrage at the increasing cost of medical care. It is also time that the public speak out on behalf of the educators who work so hard to teach our children the skills necessary to compete in today's world.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher has stated he does not believe the voters will support the teachers in their efforts to have the current health care plan reinstated next year. It is the voters' job to prove him wrong. As a voter in Kentucky, I urge you to write letters to the governor's office and/or sign petitions indicating your support for our teachers and other state employees who are facing health care increases. Fletcher and the legislators will then have to think carefully before instituting a health care plan that places our children in jeopardy.

Wendy Perkins

Erlanger

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$87 billion bill for Iraq had 2 versions

Regarding the letter "One-liner can't erase Kerry's record" (Oct. 2), some simple research reveals the truth about that record: There were two versions of the $87 billion for troop armor. One, which John Kerry voted for, would have used a tax rollback on wealthy Americans to pay for it. The version that passed - and the Bush administration pushed - had no plan to pay for that armor.

Even your own household budget must be adjusted to account for an unplanned need. Bush has failed to do that with our national budget - and squandered the surplus left to him in the process.

John Cummings

Kenwood

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Columnist too quick to forgive Rather

"A lot went wrong in the reporting and producing of that 60 Minutes II piece.... It is the inevitable price of aggressive journalism." With that conclusion, syndicated columnist Richard Cohen sweeps under the rug a mountain of facts that suggest aggressive journalism had little to do with the story ("Now more than ever, reporting matters," Sept. 26).

Dan Rather had more to do with the presentation of information than being a "talking head." He decided to present to the public documents that experts had forewarned him were not credible. He directed the conversation of the "expose" to manipulate our impression of the president based on facts that never existed.

This is the person Cohen suggests we should forgive for a little overzealousness? I find there to be a difference between responsible journalism and Rather's latest "scoop."

John Lewis

Mount Lookout

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Try this to keep candy from kids: No

I had to respond when I read the letter "Don't shop at stores selling junk to kids" (Oct. 2). The letter suggests that we stop shopping at stores that sell candy and chips at the checkout counter. I need to know, what is wrong with saying no to our children when they ask for junk at the checkout? We can shop at these places and teach our kids a lesson that consumers need to use their own discretion. Children need to learn to control their sweet teeth, and saying no at the checkout might be the perfect place to start.

Julie Strotman

Sharonville