PUBLIC FORUM.

We are all Londoners

This morning I, like many Californians, awoke to the horrible news of the terrorist attacks in London. The images on the screen evoked the memories of Sept. 11.

In the hours and days after those attacks, the people of London supported an America on its knees. As a New Yorker, those actions touched me personally. I have no doubts that America will return the favor now that England is in its hour of need. We are all Londoners today.

The thoughts and prayers of myself and my family go out to the people of London.

- Jim Alger

Porter Ranch

Bus station worry

In light of the London bombings, it seems strange that we allow the Los Angeles Greyhound Bus station at 7th and Alameda streets to operate totally open and unprotected.

There are no metal detectors, no inspection of passengers and no luggage inspections. The security guards on duty seem only interested in talking or telling people they can't smoke near the buses.

Meantime, buses arrive from all over, including Mexico, with absolutely no inspection of large boxes, packages, bed rolls and backpacks. These unidentified items are dragged through the station past a couple hundred passengers and right out to the streets without so much as a second look by anyone.

- Jim Rowe 

Chatsworth

Feds need to cough up

How many wake-up calls will it take before government officials become proactive rather than reactive in their efforts to thwart terror attacks?

Thursday morning's press conference with Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Sheriff Lee Baca was a blatant example of reaction to the London bombings, not prevention.

Now they will focus all their attention on public transportation, while neglecting other targets. It is criminally neglectful that extra patrols and bomb-sniffing dogs aren't in place already. We've known since the Madrid transit bombing just how vulnerable mass transit is.

It is long past time to put extreme pressure on the federal government to secure our borders and give cities the funds they need to protect their citizens.

- Sandy Sand

West Hills

Colorblind Mexico

Re ``Unrecognized racism'' (Their Opinions, July 6):

It's hard to cure an illness that doesn't exist. In Mexico, there's no racial tension. How can one recognize racism when one has never experienced it? The term negrito is so endearing to us, it's what wives call their husbands. I grew up reading Memin Pinguin. The stories are about friendship, betterment and equality. I learned to be unconditional to my friends.

I now realize Memin's image is exaggerated, but it's only because of my exposure to racism in the U.S.

Unfortunately in the United States, racism will be a cloud blocking half the sky forever. Let's not spread it south of the border.

Next time in Mexico, Mr. Hutchinson, stay with my sister and her compadres who are black. They party hardy!

- J. Antonio Varela

San Fernando

She's no saint

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's decision to resign shocked this country. How can one be critical of the first female associate justice of the Supreme Court with a clean record of dedicated service? Well, I can.

Her swing vote concerning the Florida votes in the 2000 election brought on the coup d'etat by George W. Bush and has ultimately contributed to the morass in Iraq and to the disastrous domestic and foreign deterioration of the United States.

- David Pine

Northridge

Fireworks fear

Re ``Illegal pyrotechnics keep L.A. firefighters scrambling'' (July 5):

Better enforcement of the laws banning illegal fireworks is needed. For three terror-filled nights, it seemed that I was living next to a target range with fireworks going off in all directions for several hours.

As a nurse and a burn victim, I know too well what the outcome can be of illegal fireworks. Unfortunately, some of the victims who are injured are innocent bystanders or homeowners, not the idiot thrill-seekers who are lighting the fireworks.

Some schools of thought say serial killers start off by starting fires, torturing animals and wetting the bed. Although it will be quiet tonight, I still won't sleep wondering who around me may be a future serial killer.

- Kathy M. Wolf

Van Nuys

Blame Bush?

I didn't realize that President George W. Bush was now a justice on the Supreme Court.

These liberals are so desperate to come up with something to bash President Bush with that they can't even admit that the decision on eminent domain was handed down by their own left-leaning court.

Let's just blame Bush for anything and everything.

- Pete Scanlin

Granada Hills

Credit's too easy

With identity theft on the rise, you'd think credit card companies might want to do all they could to make it harder for thieves. Guess not.

Every article and news report I've seen on the issue notes that crooks often get the necessary information from pre-approved credit card applications (sent without the addressee's request) and balance transfer checks (also sent without request).

Companies will send these out to anyone who breathes, and many who don't. My deceased grandfather is apparently eligible for a credit card. They don't check for current address information, either. I received applications in my name. One company consistently sent an application every two weeks.

They've made it too easy for anyone to get credit - including people pretending to be someone else.

- Kelly Moran

Northridge

Strange juxtaposition

Re ``Veterans' stories tell why today is so special'' (July 4):

The front page article by Dennis McCarthy honoring five World War II veterans was so moving. In the photo, pilot Phyllis Capelle was lovingly holding the flag across her body.

I turned to the editorial page and was struck by the demeaning cartoon of a flag-draped character surrounded by words clearly meant to demoralize our troops.

- Carol Milton

Woodland Hills

Give Arnold a chance

As a Democrat who didn't vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger, I would like the unions to give him a chance to correct the financial mess this state is in.

If the teachers union would use the money they spend for TV ads attacking the governor, they would have the money the schools need.

Give the governor a chance to turn things around. He didn't create the financial mess we're in.

- Donald Joliff

Van Nuys

Money talks

Re ``Firefighters' holiday in ashes'' (July 6):

Here's an idea for next year's Fourth of July: Instead of wasting time handing out warnings on illegal fireworks, then admitting there is no way to enforce the law with arrests and jail time, simply impose huge fines on those who refuse to obey the law and endanger others.

Fine with a vengeance and give the proceeds to the Fire Department. Just follow the noise of the fireworks; no arrests required. The thing about money is that it ``talks'' when given, and when taken away.

- Monica Mauro

Toluca Lake

Kill LAUSD!

The only solution to an out-of-control school district such as the Los Angeles Unified School District is to kill it. You kill it by issuing vouchers to the parents of children in LAUSD schools to charter schools and private schools.

- George Arnold

West Hills