Letters to the Editor
Molly Pitcher was real Molly Pitcher did exist ("What's in a name," Saturday). I know this because she is buried in my hometown of Carlisle, Pa., and, as a Brownie, I used to carry flowers to put on her grave after that town's Memorial Day parade.
Molly Pitcher was real
Molly Pitcher did exist ("What's in a name," Saturday). I know this because she is buried in my hometown of Carlisle, Pa., and, as a Brownie, I used to carry flowers to put on her grave after that town's Memorial Day parade.
Molly Pitcher was Mary Ludwig Hays McCauly. She came from Carlisle and was married to John Hays, a sergeant of the Pennsylvania artillery who fought at the Battle of Monmouth, in the Revolutionary War. She is said to have carried water to the soldiers on the battlefield and to have taken up the ramrod of her husband's cannon when he was wounded. She and her husband returned to live in Carlisle after the war, where he soon died and she married John McCauly.
Mary McCauly was granted a yearly pension by the Pennsylvania legislature in 1822 in recognition of her services. She died in Carlisle in January 1832. A large monument showing her holding a ramrod was erected next to her grave by the citizens of Cumberland County.
Diane Bridi
Horsham
Muslim organizer has terrorist past
If David Duke launched health clinics for low-income Americans, you could be sure that reporters covering the story would not fail to mention that Duke is a leading white supremacist.
Why should it be any different when health clinics are launched by a leading Islamic supremacist?
In a March 25 article, "Alliance of U.S. Muslims moves to assist its own," you decline to inform readers that Siraj Wahhaj, head of the organization sponsoring a new medical network that will target "underserved Muslim communities," happens to be one of the most radical imams in America.
Wahhaj was listed among the "unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators" in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and plots to destroy other Manhattan landmarks.
In addition, he has promoted polygamy, excused stoning, and voiced a desire to see the Constitution replaced with Islamic law, predicting that the United States will fall unless it "accepts the Islamic agenda."
David J. Rusin
Director, Islamist Watch
Middle East Forum
Philadelphia
No limits on U.S. nuclear response
In Monday's "Folding America's umbrella," Charles Krauthammer implies that the Obama nuclear policy (better known to the rest of the world as the New START treaty) would prevent us from a nuclear response to an Iranian or North Korean attack. He adds that "the naivete is stunning."
More stunning is Krauthammer's ignorance of the facts.
North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and Iran has been declared in noncompliance. Therefore, the United States is not bound in any way in its response to either nation.
Christopher Lupone
Kennett Square
Who benefits from charter schools?
My friend, a dedicated, enthusiastic, and highly regarded guidance counselor for 15 years in the Philadelphia School District, has decided to look for a new job. Her school, which she loves, is becoming a charter school. Why in the midst of revelations of mismanagement and fraud is the city establishing at least nine more charter schools and displacing up to 200 teachers, and why does my friend want no part of it?
Charter school staff earn less than comparable staff in public schools. Could these be the real reason that the government is pushing charter schools? Yes, charter schools have the ability to exclude troublesome students and to insist on parental participation. If traditional public schools could exclude students and mandate parent involvement, then they, too, might see improved standardized test scores.
As we funnel money away from traditional public schools to charter schools, we leave our most vulnerable students behind, and see quality teachers fleeing. I ask, who is really benefiting?
Sylvia Goldstein Salvat
Merion
War's cost affects us all
Thanks for the excellent editorial Tuesday "Price of war too high." Progressive leaders and peace organizations have for years published such statistics as you cite, but these were often ignored until the economic downturn.
War is extremely costly, not only in tax dollars spent, but jobs at home not created, innovations and improvements not explored, driving up of deficits and national debt, and material destroyed and lives wounded or killed. Suffering of course cannot even be calculated.
There are better, more effective ways of dealing with dangers or threats.
David W. Long
West Chester