Letters |

I find it both interesting and amusing that Gov. Rendell and Mayor Street are whining about not being informed of the appointment of Col. Thomas M. Brady to be interim chief executive officer of the School District of Philadelphia ("SRC hears from Street, Rendell," May 18).

While serving as mayor of Philadelphia, both Rendell and Street proved incapable of dealing with the many problems of the city's schools. Obviously the state agreed with that assessment when it decided to take over the schools. They should be the last people to complain about the inexperience and leadership capabilities of others.

Brady is a proven leader who, fortunately for Philadelphia, does not bring the baggage of corruption and cronyism with him that an appointment endorsed by Street and Rendell might bring. Besides, Street has his person on the School Reform Commission in Sandra Dungee Glenn, who walked out in a huff claiming she was disrespected.

At a recent SRC meeting, the supposedly independent Dungee-Glenn could be seen whispering in Street's ear. So much for respecting the process. But reform is coming to Philadelphia. Let's hope it reaches the school system.

Joe Eastman
Westmont

I was heartened to read the May 14 article ("Strong guidance kept Blakeley Cooper from failing") highlighting the positive role of mentors in the life of this senior Wyeth IT engineer. Cooper grew up in a rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia without a father and with a mother who had to work nights to support her two children.

Cooper's loving mother and two mentors empowered him to stay out of trouble, graduate from college, and engage in a successful career.

Across Philadelphia there are thousands of children just like the young Blakeley Cooper, full of potential to do great things, but lacking positive, caring and dedicated adults to enable them to overcome the many challenges of life.

I held a Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing in Philadelphia in February to address how best to provide at-risk children with mentors. Big Brothers Big Sisters, which provides support for one-on-one mentoring matches, testified that there were 1,300 children on its waiting list. Some of the neediest children are not even on the list because their mothers don't know to - or don't care to - seek out a mentor.

In particular, the city needs male volunteers from all walks of life to shepherd young boys into productive adulthoods. If any readers are interested in becoming mentors in Philadelphia, please contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania at (215) 701-8100.

Arlen Specter
U.S. senator
Washington

While Jonah Goldberg would like to think conventional wisdom has morphed into his heroic view of John Ashcroft (commentary, Wednesday) many of us aren't so eager to agree.

This attorney general pushed for some of the most intrusive and overreaching provisions of the Patriot Act. He vigorously supported our government's use of torture, and issued "threat" levels that were ill-advised at best. He hung drapes on the "Spirit of Justice" statue to cover its naked breast and probably lied to the 9/11 Commission when he denied having been warned about terrorist threats from al-Qaeda in July 2001.

It makes one wonder just what he found objectionable in the request Andrew Card and Alberto Gonzales made at his sickbed. Ashcroft certainly hadn't shown himself to be an exemplary cabinet official up to that point.

P.J. Walkling
Philadelphia

From Beirut to Baghdad, from Darfur to Gaza, Muslims are killing Muslims in a wide swath of brutality and violence. Iran is feeding the flames, supplying terrorists throughout the region, including those killing our troops in Iraq, and rapidly expanding its own ability to manufacture nuclear weapons.

This internecine mayhem is taking place without Israel's participation, except for unprovoked and lethal rocket attacks on the Israeli town of Sderot and efforts by Israel to stop them. Contrary to the media darlings who blame Israel's policies, if not its existence, for the region's difficulties, the Middle East's vast supply of militants have both the means and the perverse motivation to wreak havoc on each other and their neighbors without any Israeli involvement. Their behavior, not Israel, is the fundamental cause of Middle Eastern instability.

John R. Cohn
Philadelphia