Online-Only Letters

Protest backlash

Kerry showed his true colors

Editor, The Times:

Surely the decision by one of the University of Florida campus police to use a Taser to subdue student Andrew Meyer, the out-of-control student at the John Kerry speaking engagement, will be debated -- and rightfully so "Fla. university student Tasered at Kerry event" [News, Sept. 18].

The little-discussed but important part of this story were the actions, or should I say inactions, of John Kerry. Kerry said "That's all right, let me answer his question."

But what is not showing up in any coverage on the incident is his comment that followed -- while Meyer was being held to the floor by the police -- "I'll answer his question, but unfortunately he's not available to come up here and swear me in as president."

Am I the only one to notice Kerry making a joke of the incident? Am I the only one who sees that by making that second statement he nullifies any sincerity of his first comment? In one short video seen around the world, Kerry showed how much of a phony he really is.

-- David Glenn, Renton

The real Internet star

The Tasered Florida student gets national headlines for being an Internet "star," yet Congressman Ron Paul, R-Texas, has been "The President of the Internet" for months without headlines [ "Tasered Florida student now a Web star" News, Sept. 19].

What is it about the message of freedom and liberty that scares Americans? Paul is popular on the Internet because people -- who do their own research away from the mainstream media -- realize he's the best candidate for president. I encourage The Times to bring the real "star" to the headlines.

-- Tor Barstad, Corvallis, Ore.

Time to get back to basics

I couldn't believe my eyes when I watched the horribly cruel treatment by the police of the student asking John Kerry why he didn't fight harder in contesting his loss to George Bush. The student was obviously a supporter of Kerry, and was expressing his concerns about irregularities in vote counting.

As he asked his question, out of the blue he was grabbed by the local campus police and manhandled while he screamed for help. He was then knocked down and Tasered by the police while he begged them to tell him why they were doing this.

When several bystanders started to demand the police stop hurting him, they were very roughly told to "Shut up!"

The entire event was clearly filmed by several individuals and news crew, and many of those tapes are available for watching on the Internet. I was most shocked by the reaction of both the Democratic and Republican speakers.

While this was happening, Kerry was trying to get the attention back to him and away from the commotion. Have we totally forgotten the events at Kent State and earlier at the 1968 Democratic Convention, where enforcers lost track of their morals and started beating people?

Curious enough, even as a Republican, the most appropriate response that I heard came from KIRO's Dori Monson, who labeled this incident as a clear abuse of power. He further commented that if this had been a John McCain rally, McCain would have probably jumped in and demanded the police stop using torture on the poor kid.

About the time I think I've figured out who's good and who's bad, things like this occur and turn everything upside down. Let's just hope the country gets back to its basic rights.

-- Paul Hutton, Issaquah

A hiker's plea

Keep your dogs on leash

As Anthony Blasioli found out, unleashed dogs and bears do not get along [ ".'It was life or death' for man attacked by bear on park trail" Sept. 18].

But this is just a small part of a much-larger problem; it's loose dogs on all trails in King County. Every year, more and more people go hiking, be it to Tiger Mountain or the Cascades, and every year, more and more people bring a dog or two.

Unfortunately, the majority of people believe it's OK to let Fido run free up a trail. They think, this is the woods, there're no cars, it's a pain to hike and manage a dog on a leash, we'll just let it run.

Well, I'd like to speak for members of the hiking community who do not bring their dogs hiking, or when they do, they leash them. I want dog owners to know that we hikers resent your arrogance to choose to let Fido run free up a trail, growl at us, force us to stop, create anxious minutes, even force us to protect ourselves.

We resent having our wilderness experience spoiled by an encounter with your loose dog. We resent your selfishness. Come on dog owners, have some respect for others. Put Fido on a leash or leave the dog home. Read the signs at all trailheads and you'll see that King County has an ordinance that requires that your dog be leashed. You need to know that a violation of this ordinance entails a $150 fine. This ordinance was put in place for good reason; for our protection and the protection of your dog. You need to become a responsible dog owner and abide by this ordinance. Show some courtesy to your fellow hikers.

-- Paul Heins, Redmond

Caring for the Earth

Unveil the real issues

In response to "TV ads tout roads, rail tax plan" [Local News, Sept. 18], it fails to ask one of the most important questions our city, our county, and hopefully eventually everyone in our country will ask -- What about global warming?

At a recent debate on the issue, I did not hear one proponent of the package adequately address whether greenhouse-gas emissions were analyzed in this package. I've also read that the Sierra Club has lost its case to contribute their view to the "con" portion of our Voters' Guides.

I am troubled that the large amount of money pushing for this package is covering up the coverage of real issues that I know matter to voters in this region. The roads portion of this package will cost more than just dollars and cents to voters, and these trade-offs must be examined. There is no mention of global warming in any of the ads running to date, and I haven't seen it in the dialogue of the press either. Here is to hoping for some revealing look at this issue before the vote.

-- Jen Watkins, Seattle

So much more we can do

I am writing this e-mail to address "Arctic ice cap to melt faster than feared, scientists say"[News, Sept. 7].

I believe that Americans in particular are not taking enough initiative to prevent global warming. We could be doing so much more: driving hybrid cars instead of big SUV's, buying energy-saving light bulbs instead of regular light bulbs, or using solar-powered technology. America does not have a concrete plan to address global warming, and with the Arctic ice cap rapidly disappearing, it's crucial we have one.

Global warming will affect many different things. Seals and polar bears are being threatened to extinction because there is no place for them to live. It's our fault if they become extinct.

It's very scary that scientists had predicted the ice would melt by 2100, but have now moved that timeline up to 2050, or possibly even 2030. This is not due to natural causes. The burning of fossil fuels is to blame, and we are the ones burning the fossil fuels.

It's our fault, now it's time for us to fix it.

-- Victoria Varyu, Redmond

Justice delayed

Finally, some redemption

The most hated and vilified celebrity in America, O.J. Simpson, in a Las Vegas, Nev., jail after he and several cronies allegedly attempted to take back some of his personal souvenirs from an antique dealer in a hotel room at gunpoint [ "No special treatment for O.J." News, Sept. 18].

Simpson faces several counts of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon, which means that if convicted by a jury, he might not see the outside of prison walls for 30 years.

Perhaps the Nevada police and prosecutor's office won't be like L.A.'s finest the last time Simpson appeared before the bar of justice. Some conspiracy theorists will say that Simpson was set up, the victim of a police "sting" operation, or say it was "entrapment."

Whatever the case may be, when Simpson goes to trial this time, there will be no "dream team" defense attorneys, no Judge Lance Ito, no botched forensics or reappearing and disappearing evidence.

To the friends, family and loved ones of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, it is not justice denied, but rather justice delayed. Perhaps the Brown and Goldman families can at long last -- after a trial, conviction, sentencing and Simpson finally wearing a prison jumpsuit -- gain a measure of satisfaction and closure in this heart-wrenching and emotionally draining drama that has shattered their world.

-- Robert Randle, Tacoma

Headline heat

Liberal lean

In response to "Greenspan skewers Bush, lavishes praise on Clinton" [News, Sept. 15], this unbelievably partisan headline proves the liberal bias of The Times.

Certainly with respect to Greenspan's critique of those Republicans lately in power, he was absolutely on the mark. But only because they abandoned what the Republican party is supposed to stand for: conservative economic principles.

The Democrats, on the other hand, have always promoted spending, higher taxes on the "rich" and income redistribution. What should be clear is that there is a government class that transcends political parties. They all do whatever they can -- with our money -- to be re-elected. It failed for the Republicans. Perhaps it will fail for the Democrats' "tax and earmark" philosophy.

-- Theodore Wight, Seattle

Dumbing down for Democrats

Your the headline "Greenspan skewers Bush, lavishes praise on Clinton" oversimplifies the issue, dumbing down and obscuring the conservative fiscal principles Greenspan stands for. If The Times wants to avoid being regarded as a pro-Democrat newspaper, you need a more neutral headline, such as:

"Greenspan critiques Bush and Clinton, restraint and spending," -- we'll still read it.

-- Scott Green, Seattle

Turn off the TV

And other ways to combat obesity

Regarding "High blood pressure growing among kids" [News, Sept. 11], it is my opinion that the reason blood pressure is rising is because of the growing rate of obesity in children.

High blood pressure is caused mainly by inadequate exercise, a diet high in salt and stress.

One of the favorite activities of children and adolescents is watching television. This leads to a lack of exercise because children and teenagers have a growing repertoire of programs and performances all at the click of a button. They only have to get up when they get hungry, which leads us into the problem of improper nutrition.

Many young people get home from school, grab a bag of chips, plop down on the couch, and watch TV for hours. They do this every day! And, as a result, many put their homework off until late at night, forcing them to stay up longer, and also building stress if they don't have time to finish it.

Perhaps if we limited TV time, everything would get better.

-- Cammie Maddox, Redmond