PUBLIC FORUM WHERE'S THE JUSTICE?

In today's newspaper pages you read about clemencies and pardons for the rich and well-connected. Meanwhile, Native American community worker Leonard Peltier lingers in prison. He, along with many of us in this country and abroad, was poised for release on clemency. So far he has spent almost 30 years there for a crime he very likely did not commit, as he steadfastly maintains his innocence.

Compare this with those monied personalities who served either little or no time and were given pardons or clemency. I don't wish incarceration on anyone - but where is justice? In 2001, this is what democracy looks like.

- Andrew Kay Liberman

Los Angeles 

Predatory pair

That the Hugh Rodham ``Payoff for Pardon'' scandal has now hit the press certainly comes as no surprise to those of us who have suffered eight years of the moral bankruptcy and corruption of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

After all, the family that preys together, strays together.

- Anthony G. Bajada

Granada Hills

Friend of Bill

If they say so, it must be true? Do the media powers honestly believe if they continue slinging enough mud at the Clintons, we'll forget they were the same talking heads who appointed Bush as president of the United States, by erroneously calling the election in his favor on worldwide television? Careful now, look what happened during the ad nauseam flow of negativity that was supposed to end with the impeachment. The old adage I'm a friend of Bill took on a whole new significance.

- Sharon Anderson Kanan

Encino

A simple test

Why have we not heard from Bill, Hillary, Hugh, baby brother, Lindsey, etc., etc., that they would be more than willing to take lie detector tests? It would save millions of dollars.

- Don Schendel

Mission Hills

Just do it

Regarding the impeachment and Senate trial, what the ``vast right-wing conspiracy'' did to President Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea and the entire country was 1,000 times worse than anything the Clintons have ever done.

The battle cry then was ``It's not about sex, it's about lying under oath.'' I am certain that at least part of the rationale behind Clinton granting a pardon to Marc Rich was ``flipping off'' those Republicans/Conservatives/Clinton haters. So now let's return the favor. Forget ethics. Forget influence. Forget quid pro quo. If President Clinton broke any laws in granting the pardon - investigate him. If he didn't - leave him alone. It's not nice to hate.

- David M. Galfond

Palmdale

Hal's constituents

Re ``20-home Chatsworth development approved'' (Feb. 23):

City Councilman Hal Bernson has it his way - the neighbors be damned. He recently wholeheartedly approved, against the General Plan, two commercial horse boarding and training facilities on our residential street. Now, he approved, against the General Plan, 20 homes, just around the block, with lots not even large enough for each of the owners to keep one horse. Who is Bernson representing? Certainly not the people who live in this neighborhood.

- Charlene T. Vincent

Chatsworth

Traitors

I believe it's time to send a clear message to would-be traitors. If suspected Russian spy Robert Philip Hanssen is found guilty, he should be executed for treason - and I don't mean by lethal injection but put up a against a wall and shot. The crime of treason is so loathsome it demands this. If it was good enough for the Rosenbergs it's good enough for Hanssen, whose treason equals theirs.

- L.A. Calabro

Northridge

Laughing at it

You've gotta laugh. Eminem and his ``controversial'' lyrics grab all the attention while Steely Dan quietly wins the most trophies.

Doesn't anyone remember where Steely Dan got their name? I do.

- Bob Anabell

Chatsworth

Rigidly religious

Re ``Moral relativism,'' by Gary Inbinder, Public Forum (Feb. 13):

``The cure for moral relativism and its corrupting influence on civilization is religion, says Gary Inbinder. I hope Inbinder agrees that rigidly religious Islamic Iran and Afghanistan are not what we consider civilized.

Atheists do not need religion to know that it is wrong to lie, cheat, steal and kill. While these rules should be absolutes under normal circumstances, they are contextual and do not apply under all conditions. For example, should I find myself in Europe during Hitler's rule, hiding Jews in my attic, I lie like hell when Nazis knock on my door and ask: ``Are there any Jews here?'' Here, telling the truth would not be moral or civilized.

- Ernst Ghermann

Winnetka

Excellent job

Recently, our ill, 15-year-old son turned up missing. We turned to the LAPD for help. There were two officers in particular who realized how serious the situation was and immediately came to our aid. I want to publicly acknowledge Officer E. Yepes and Officer G. Smith from the Foothill Division for their help in searching for our son.

With all the negative publicity we've recently read about the LAPD, please don't forget that the majority of our officers are really doing an excellent job and have a sincere desire to make a difference.

- Abbi Witty

Tujunga

Great presidents

I was quite surprised at the recent poll to determine who was the greatest president. How can one compare Reagan with Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, both Roosevelts and even Harry Truman? Reagan was the ``Great Communicator'' but had neither the intelligence nor the decisive power of the others.

And what great feats did he accomplish compared with FDR, who brought us out of a great depression; or Jefferson, who was instrumental in creating the United States democracy; or Lincoln, who saved the Union; and especially Washington, who fought the war of independence? Can it be that the schools of today are not teaching the true history of these great men, or was the poll taken among those who are familiar only with current presidents and don't recognize the great ones of the past?

- Earl D. Horwitz

North Hills

Voter values

Bob Dole and Al Gore are both war veterans. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are both war evaders. Clinton went to college overseas to avoid the draft. Bush went into the National Guard to avoid Vietnam. In addition, Clinton and Bush both used illegal drugs in their youth, and Bush even had an alcoholic problem. Nevertheless, Clinton and Bush each became president of the United States. Dole and Gore did not.

Are we voting for the right person to be president of the United States? That depends on the voters' values.

- Juan J. Avila

Newbury Park

Just stop

I have come to a conclusion after reading the different viewpoints regarding the use of the ``n-word.'' As simplistic as it may sound, it is always wrong to use the word. However, it must be all inclusive. To say that it is acceptable for some African-Americans to use in the company of their own race or for rappers to use in their lyrics is a cop-out.

If society as a whole is to recognize this word as an insensitive, cruel, racist term, then the regular use of it, whether in conversation or to sell music, must stop. Young people of all races listen to and purchase rap music CDs and videos. The rampant use of the n-word in this media only helps to perpetuate it. Just stop using it.

- James L. Rahm

Chatsworth

School reform

Are California school reforms improving our children's education? I don't see any proof yet. Last fall Gov. Davis diverted millions, perhaps billions, more dollars into public education and initiated legislation for testing teachers. This week, newspapers everywhere are reporting recommendations that students no longer be tested with the statewide SAT tests. Test teachers and not the pupils?

Who is running the insane asylum? The problem today is class size and parent commitment. And never forget that the most important person responsible, with final authority for educating children, is the parent. Parents are responsible for encouraging, leading and assisting their children in good study habits and learning.

- Ray Holm

Thousand Oaks