Philly.com Letters | EXACTLY WHERE IS IRAN BREAKING THE LAW?

Philly.com
Apr. 07, 2006

HERE'S WHAT I want to know:

What law has Iran broken concerning nuclear - well, anything? What part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which they signed and Israel did not, was violated? If Iran announces tomorrow that they are going to acquire nuclear weapons, the United States and other countries say "No!" and Iran asks, "Why not?" what would we all say?

The "wipe Israel off the map" remark was just words. Iran's leaders know that if they attacked any country with a nuclear weapon, the United States and others would turn Iran into the world's largest radioactive-glass-paved parking lot, innocent Iranians be damned. And what say could the United States have in this at all as the only country in recorded history to have actually used nuclear weapons on two civilian populations?

Mark F. Walker, Philadelphia

Real cost of a voter's ID

Letter-writer Stuart Caesar simply doesn't understand the economics of being poor - where the $36 for a driver's license or state ID, which is never used, simply puts the act of voting out of reach.

An ID is useful for the middle class because the fees involved are not important compared with monthly income. When you're trying to feed a family on a limited income, $36 might be a week's groceries.

Surely Caesar cannot seriously think that election judges are so dishonest or so blind that they cannot recognize the signatures in their precinct books.

Ben Burrows, Elkins Park

An ironic tragedy

After reading Michael Smerconish's self-promoting screed on his new book, I'm moved to suggest a few new definitions to the Webster's people for their upcoming editions.

Irony (i'·ro·ny) A man with a drive-time radio show, newspaper column, Internet presence and frequent cable appearances who writes a book put out by a major publisher in which he claims to be "muzzled."

Tragedy (trag'·e·dy) The fact there are actually people in America who are muzzled, people who have no voice, and for purposes of the national discourse, do not exist.

Michael Smerconish is certainly not one of them. For him pretending to be a victim is simply a marketing strategy.

John Haughey, Jenkintown

Muggings & the race factor

Re the St. Joseph's student muggings:

I think these are not normal, the city has become a war zone. It's a toss-up whether we have more killed in Iraq than we do on the streets of Philadelphia.

I just witnessed a TV interview with a man whose goal was to raise $10 million to study racism and why there are so many murders in Philadelphia. Did he include racism because he thought if he did he could raise the money easier, or is it to try to place the blame on everyone else other than where the blame lies?

Ted Anderson, Havertown

Chairman Charlie

I think Charlie Manuel might have taken this Phillies "Red" theme a little too far Monday when he started managing with some sort of communist ideology. It's great to watch each "Fightin' " on the field have a hit but to let every starting Card cross the plate while sharing 13 runs and plowing through the Phils' pitching was... un-American. Hopefully, Chair-Man Uel will take a more monopolistic approach for the remainder of the season.

Chip Maylie, Marlton, N.J.