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Letters: More surveillance? is this still a free country?

IN A RECENT article regarding the beating death of 23-year-old Kevin Kless, a Philadelphia police homicide investigator assigned to the case bemoaned a lack of surveillance cameras in Old City. "Maybe one of our governors or senators could put in quality recording devices in [Old City]," he said. "How about [U.S. Rep.] Bob Brady? Get some solid recording devices out there. That would be a big plus."

IN A RECENT article regarding the beating death of 23-year-old Kevin Kless, a Philadelphia police homicide investigator assigned to the case bemoaned a lack of surveillance cameras in Old City. "Maybe one of our governors or senators could put in quality recording devices in [Old City]," he said. "How about [U.S. Rep.] Bob Brady? Get some solid recording devices out there. That would be a big plus."

Installing public surveillance cameras and recording devices would be a "big plus"? Seriously? In that case, Mr. Homicide Investigator, why don't we also tap everybody's phone, monitor their Internet use and install tracking devices on all motor vehicles? And while we're at it, why don't we mandate that every single American citizen submit his (or her) fingerprints and a sample of their DNA "for safekeeping" in the FBI database?

We live in a free society. Surveillance cameras and recording devices have absolutely no place in a free society. And anybody who is unable to grasp this very, very basic concept is a flat-out knucklehead!

Rob Boyden

Drexel Hill

'Horrible' meat-ing

How distasteful and heartbreaking to put a picture on the food page of a pig about to be cut up. There are plenty of animal lovers in this world who are vegetarians and find this picture very distasteful and upsetting.

Couldn't the article have been done without such a horrible picture being printed?

Renee McKee

Stratford, N.J.

Charter 'scapegoats'

The impact of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's decision to close 49 of its schools will be deeply felt by students, parents, teachers and staff. We recognize how painful this decision is for affected parents and students, and realize the critical role that parochial schools have played in shaping the lives of countless children in Philadelphia for generations.

We are, however, disheartened that some individuals have used this news to scapegoat the emergence and growth of Philadelphia's public charter schools as the primary culprit for the Archdiocese's decision. It is likely that the decline in parochial-school enrollment in Philadelphia can be attributed to multiple factors, including a migration to public and public charter schools, families moving out of the city to the suburbs and for various other reasons. We believe that parents should have the opportunity to choose the schools best-suited to meet their children's needs - whether they are traditional district, charter, parochial or other models.

The Archdiocese's decision also underscores the need for more and improved collaboration between Philadelphia district, charter and parochial schools to determine new ways to best serve the needs of our future leaders. We should also learn from the success of one another and replicate best practices. Our collective mission should be to create and support successful Philadelphia schools that - regardless of structure - have outstanding academic results, exemplary safety records, enriching programs and near-perfect attendance and graduation rates.

Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker

President

Jurate Krokys

Vice President

Philadelphia Charters for Excellence

WTF, U moron?

This goes to the young girl who was texting while driving on Jan. 17, between 2:30 and 3 p.m., at 19th and Oregon Avenue. You are an idiot, whoever you are. You almost killed my sister, who had the right of way to cross the street. If you had been looking up instead of looking down and texting, you might have noticed people crossing the street. The startled look on your face when you finally looked up tells it all. My sister was too upset to remember your license plate. What is so important other than your ignorance and selfishness? Wake up, because next time you just might hit someone. Stupidity is no excuse. Be responsible!

Madalin Bocchino Zajko

Glenolden

Fightin' Archbishop

One of the things that Catholics like most about Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput is that he possesses the exact attribute this newspaper fears - he has a fighting edge. He is right to complain that parents who pay for their children to be educated in Catholic schools are being discriminated against for having to pay twice for education. Just ask those in the African-American community (most of whom are not Catholic) who sacrifice to send their kids to Catholic schools, and you will really incur the wrath of people with a legitimate fighting edge.

Bill Donohue

President

Catholic League for Religious

and Civil Rights

New York City