PUBLIC FORUM; POPE'S APOLOGY.

Just as instinctively many knew Mother Teresa was a living saint, so we are blessed with another such individual, Pope John Paul II.

John Paul II has set an example with his unprecedented apology. As he nears the end of his life he gives yet another gift, taking responsibility. Thank you, Holy Father.

- Colleen Driscoll Solomon

Tujunga

MISSING THE POINT

Critics of the pope's apology are missing the point.

How reprehensible and unconscionable for the quoted Jewish leaders to fault the pope for not specifically mentioning the Holocaust. When people humble themselves enough to beg forgiveness, no one has the right to play God (not even God would) by saying, in effect, Hey, wait a minute. That apology's not good enough. You forgot to mention that you also did this.

If the Jewish leaders really got the message then maybe they would have said something like, You know what? We have also been guilty of sinful acts on humanity and need to ask for forgiveness.''

- Philip Ginter

Sunland

DEATH PENALTY

Re ``Religion goes Hollywood on the death penalty'' (Viewpoint, March 12):

It seems strange that a minister of the Gospel would advocate the death penalty. The Rev. Larry Zwieg selectively chooses his Bible verse without noting that God forbade the death penalty in the case of the first murder when Cain killed his brother, Abel. Likewise Jesus humbled those who would have applied the death penalty to the woman caught in adultery.

Never mind the Bible verse, ``Vengeance is mine. I will repay,'' says the Lord. Not the state, not the Rev. Zwieg. But most astounding, the minister advocates the death penalty partially on the grounds that it would save money on housing costs for prisoners.

- Sam Platts

Sylmar

JUST THE FACTS

Creationism does not belong in public schools. The U.S. Constitution clearly states that there must be separation of church and state.

Creationism is a religious belief and as such should not be taught in the public school curriculum. On the same note evolution and the big-bang theory should only be taught as a scientific theory.

- Michael Convey

Hollywood

IDIOTS AND POLITICIANS

First God created idiots. That was practice. Then he created politicians. Nowhere is his handiwork more noticeable than in Los Angeles, where the city fathers are once again considering an increase in license fees for unaltered dogs from $10 to $100.

That's their solution to vicious and unprovoked attacks upon citizens by packs of feral dogs. What they so blithely ignore is that only 28 percent of the dogs in the city are licensed in the first place (Daily News, March 7). And you get to guess which dogs are doing the attacking: the 28 percent of licensed dogs or the 72 percent of unlicensed dogs. Yeah, you got it. Unlicensed dogs. And which dogs will the increased fee apply to? You got it again. Licensed dogs.

Watch out; they may pass a law repealing gravity in order to avoid suits from raised sidewalks.

- William O. Felsman

Woodland Hills

IT'S A MOVIE

Re the analysis by Steven Roth of ``American Beauty'' (Public Forum, March 14):

Wake up, Steven - it's a movie. This type of person will believe everything he or she reads in the paper, watches on television or sees in a movie. It would be extremely interesting to see this person's analysis of ``Alice in Wonderland,'' (possible substance abuse) but it was only a cartoon; or how about the other end of the spectrum, ``Natural Born Killers.'' Wasn't that just a remake of a true American classic, ``Bonnie and Clyde''? Oh, I'm sorry, that really happened.

- Warren Lendall

Sherman Oaks

SCARY MOVIE

Re ``American lessons,'' (Public Forum, March 14):

Until now, I thought I might be crazy.

When I saw ``American Beauty'' it scared me. So many of us look to the movies and say, See, it's on the screen. It must be real. Too many people saw it and probably took solace in their depression and irresponsibility.

I thank letter writer Stephen Roth for putting into words exactly what I've been thinking. This movie should not be getting any awards for its contents.

It is hurtful and dangerous.

- Karyn Miller

Northridge

GOOD FOR HER

Mary Louise Rawn-Peterson, the first-year English teacher suspended for showing ``American Beauty'' to her literature class, plans to take the school district to court - good for her.

Having sex with a student or striking a student is one thing, but termination for an error in judgment to me is harsh and uncompromising. Was Peterson given an approved list of films? Was she even given a warning? Probably not.

If the Santa Paula Union High School District expects to attract young, dedicated teachers, this is not the way to do it. It could be very damaging to her career.

The school district should take a hard look at itself.

- Gary Traxler

Oxnard

ROGAN AND IMPEACHMENT 

When I see a headline that says Rep. James Rogan may have trouble because of impeachment association, my radar goes on full alert. The man was demonized and vilified, and still he put his political career on the line.

For what? For doing what he knew was right. That took unbelievable courage. His association with the impeachment hearings gets my utmost support and respect, and the only other thing I can give - my vote. And now I read that we're about to have the first sitting president ever to be disbarred. So guess what? All the king's horses and all the king's men and all of you who marched in lock step with the Democrats' creed should be ashamed.

- Roger Olsen

Burbank

EVERY CLASS UNIQUE

A recent Daily News editorial, ``The motivational factor: teacher merit pay'' (March 8), supported merit pay for teachers. You mistakenly believe that all classrooms are equal. All classrooms are totally different. If you have one or two disruptive students in your class, you can teach. If you have seven or eight disruptive students in your class, your class is shut down.

The district does nothing to disruptive students. If the principal loads your class with problem students, your scores will be low. Principals use this as a weapon to control teachers. Teaching is easy. Getting 35 kids to sit down and be quiet and pay attention is hard. Try it sometime. Merit pay? How can you judge my merit when every class on earth is a unique situation.

- Thomas Squires

Sylmar

BIBLE PREDICTS SCIENCE

I read with interest the article by Don Malvin (``The Bible led writer away from God'' Viewpoint, March 12). Although Malvin was educated in a Jewish school, it is obvious he does not know enough about the Bible. In fact, the Bible predicted many scientific facts unknown to science until the scientific age.

For example, Job 26:7 states that ``He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.'' It clearly predicts the expansion of the universe over 3,000 years ago, and that the earth hangs in space as a globe. Christopher Columbus knew that the earth was round, so that he could reach India, which is east of Spain, by traveling west on the ocean. The Bible told him this knowledge.

- Christopher Chui

Canoga Park

MEANING OF LIFE

Rabbi Michael Gottlieb (Viewpoint, March 12) seems to be saying that he believes that God exists because ``He'' is needed.

Without ``the notion of God,'' he says, life is ``ultimately meaningless.'' His key word is ``ultimately.'' That is a fancy word that means ``in the end.'' The problem with this is that it creates a problem where none exists. We do not live our lives to make them meaningful as they come to an end; we live them within the meanings of our day-to-day and year-to-year existences. We find our meanings within families and social groups, in making livings of occupations, daily work, being economically sufficient; of planning ahead for leisure time and vacations; of creating and being humans.

Certain of us, however, have been caught up in preparing for life after death, for being with God in heaven after they die. This is what people such as the rabbi mean when they speak of ultimate concerns. This, though, is not meaningfulness of life; it is meaningfulness of death.

- Kenneth H. Bonnell

Eagle Rock