Letters to the Editor

Pious pandering

The pious pandering of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama to neo-con evangelist preacher Rick Warren and his mega-congregation in California should be offensive to the citizens who deem it important to maintain strict separation of church and state.

To be intellectually and emotionally conditioned as a mass follower without independent thought may be acceptable for Warren's "flock" and the smiling minions of other TV showmen who have mastered the art of religious propagation, but to have presidential contenders almost kowtow to them for votes is abhorrent.

America is on the verge of a historical precedent if the racial barrier to the nation's highest office is finally overcome. But when will it abandon the restraints of religious control that emphasizes intolerance of political and social views not considered "biblical" or within their parameters of "salvation"?

Gene Muccolini

Eastampton Twp.

» READ MORE: genemucc@comcast.net

Pennypack Park

Pennypack Park unfortunately has gone the way of most urban parks. It has become a haven for criminals and criminal activity. While it was once the jewel of Northeast Philadelphia and a heavily used part of the Fairmount Park system, no one I know ventures into it without someone with them.

It's time to bring the mounted police unit back to the Fairmount Park system, thereby ensuring our safety and security. Let the citizens of Philadelphia re-claim what was once the most beautiful, and still is the largest, park system in the country.

Linda M. Book

Philadelphia

Pennhurst real story

I was appalled at the inaccurate, demeaning language used in the Aug. 16 article "Pennhurst: A forgotten place." Terms such as "state insane asylum" and a reference to caring for the "mentally ill" showed a lack of comprehension of Pennhurst's history.

Pennhurst was founded to care for persons with mental retardation, and never had the mission of treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. It was a product of its time and reflected a philosophy that we now recognize as misguided.

I worked at Pennhurst throughout the 1960s and early '70s. I would welcome a movement to educate the public about the real history of Pennhurst, so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. This article does not accomplish that goal.

Marile R. Marshall

Newtown Square

Cruel cliches

I was stunned by Michael Smerconish's repetition (without any illuminating comment) of Colorado columnist Gary Hubbell's cruel cliches and simple-minded view of the world ("Fishing with the angry everyman," Aug. 17). Can anyone really believe that the world is made up of people who deserve what they have - and the rest, who are sitting on their butts waiting for a handout?

Of course, there are people who take advantage of the system. Some of them engage in criminal activity, too. And guess what? Many of them are middle class - and even rich!

Surely Hubbell must see that his own ability to work and to provide a nurturing environment for his children depends on a chain of lucky accidents, including the family he was born into, others who helped him along the way, the schools he went to, the doctors and dentists who took care of him, the teachers who encouraged him, and the neighborhoods he lived in.

Vivian Rosenberg

Jenkintown

DRPA's good work

Maybe I'm looking at this through rose-colored glasses, and obviously I don't have all the details, but on the surface, it makes sense for the Delaware River Port Authority to participate in the economic development of areas around the bridges with sports and music venues.

By investing in these developments, the DRPA is helping those areas build and expand as more people spend money in and around those venues. In addition, the travel across the bridges to attend these events should increase DRPA revenues.

This is not to say that the DRPA doesn't make questionable expenditures. But as far as participating in local economic development, the DRPA seems to be making a reasonable business decision that's a win-win for them and the local economy.

Has it been demonstrated (or is it just supposition) that there is a direct correlation between the investments and the proposed toll increase? That is, can anyone say with certainty that had DRPA not invested in economic development the tolls would not increase (yet)?

Dana Wickes

Glen Mills