PUBLIC FORUM.

Move on

With regard to Karl Rove, I request that the president of the United States move from ``fair and balanced'' to ``reveal and disclose.''

- Robert Donin

Los Angeles

Not business as usual

Re ``Double life stuns Murphy's friends'' (July 16):

After reading about the arrest of Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, it was a shock to hear of some of the allegations with which she has been charged.

Perhaps even more shocking was the quote by Burbank City Manager Mary Alvord that it would be ``business as usual'' for the city of Burbank.

As a resident of Burbank for over 47 years, I feel that Murphy should be excluded from the city's business until she is either cleared or convicted. I feel her integrity has been compromised.

- Jim Bogle 

Burbank

Out of their minds

Re ``Hold your fire'' (Your Opinions, July 18):

Was Tim Bennett being sarcastic in his letter? If police are to stand still, leave their weapons holstered and become sitting targets for every crazy person with a gun, as Bennett's letter seems to suggest, we will need to raise the salaries of law-enforcement officers.

Perhaps not passing mental-wellness tests should be required of law enforcement officers, also. No one in his or her right mind would take such a job.

- Marilyn Dalrymple

Lancaster

Misplaced anger

Re ``In line of fire'' (Our Opinions, July 15):

Thank you for sticking up for the Los Angeles Police Department in the teeth of yet another overeager attorney ready to make a bundle suing the Police Department for the death of a baby.

As a mother, I think this mother's anger is misdirected. She should be angry at the baby's father. But, of course, a lawyer showed up to suggest she blame the police even before the child's body had been removed from the scene.

- Terri Andrews

Castaic

Promises kept

Re ``Questions begin as Bratton defends shooting'' (July 12):

As a police officer, I have been shot at, beaten and spat upon, exposed to who knows what kind of dirt, disease, disrespect, and the harsh reality of what one human can do to another. I have done my best, always placing life above property, settlement above a fight, and rectification of a situation rather than increase it.

I was hired to ``protect and serve,'' and I will to the best of my ability. On more than one occasion I have placed my life in danger to save others. On the other hand, I have a family to whom long ago I made a promise that all law-enforcement officers make, and that is to go home safe at the end of each shift.

It doesn't mean placing yourself in reckless danger and possibly becoming useless to the situation once wounded or killed. I promised the citizens I would be a hard-working and honest officer. I didn't promise to become a sacrificial lamb and leave my family without a father, husband or grandfather.

To those who think our job is easy, that I can shoot like ``Dirty Harry'' Callahan, or for that matter, perform like a ``movie, make believe cop,'' try walking in our shoes. It might open a few eyes.

You can be sure there are many cops saddened and grieving due to the tragic loss of that baby. I know many involved, and I know how professional they are. They, too, have families. I'm proud of the people I work with and the job they do.

- Loren Farell

Castaic

Good idea

Re ``Antonio to appoint top LAUSD officials?'' (July 16):

Having the mayor appoint the school superintendent and members of the school board is a good idea. As it stands now, the people who are electing these officials aren't the ones the officials are supposed to be serving.

That's like allowing people in other countries to vote for president of the United States.

- Josh Rivetz

Northridge

Preferred minorities

So charlatan Al Sharpton has decided to stick his overlong nose into the shooting of a Latino toddler by the Los Angeles Police Department. I wonder: If the child had been Jewish, would Sharpton be bringing his ``activism'' to Los Angeles? Jews are - after all - a minority, constituting about 2.5 percent of the U.S. population.

Or is is only certain ``preferred'' minorities which merit Sharpton's ``calming'' presence?

- James F. Glass

Chatsworth

High time

Isn't it time to revise the thinking about lifetime appointments for our United States Supreme Court justices? Justice Sandra Day O'Connor knew when enough was enough.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist appears to be hanging on just to spite his critics. He is unquestionably a brilliant jurist and has served our country well. He should give somebody else a chance, though. He should go enjoy whatever time he has left and tend to his health. His place in history has already been cemented.

Even airline pilots have mandatory retirement at 60 years of age, and most of them are certainly still more than qualified to fly a plane.

- Dr. Alan Forrest

Tarzana

What goes around

Re ``What is isn't'' (Your Opinions, July 18):

Paul Goldman's letter confirms the fact that millions of Americans are simply uneducated when it comes to the Middle East. Goldman says: ``We weren't in Iraq when they attacked our African Embassy, the USS Cole, the first World Trade Center bombing, or 9-11. What should we have done?''

The truth is that we have been meddling and manipulating governments in the Middle East for decades, and it is coming back to bite us.

Instead of using the Truman Doctrine, which Ronald Reagan helmed with world cooperation to finally bring down the Soviet Union, we have for 15 years been actively using force to ``build democracy.'' (Code for getting oil.)

I do not advocate pulling out of Iraq now because the resulting civil war would be horrendous, but listening to right-wing Chicken Hawk propaganda, I am reminded daily of the phrase, ``live by the sword, die by the sword.''

- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Reality check

Re ``LAUSD on wrong track with one-path system'' (Their Opinions, July 18):

As for the A-G college requirements, I agree with Jon Lauritzen in that ``we must make sure more technical and vocational classes qualify for these requirements.'' However, he fails to mention that some such classes no longer exist at many high school campuses.

I have seen sewing, auto and metal shop, as well as photo, art and music classes cut at one Valley high school. This is not an isolated occurrence.

Lauritzen's commentary reads well as theory, but the reality reads otherwise. Until the reality changes, nothing else will.

- Jeanine D'Elia

Granada Hills

The U.S. problem

It is time to deal with the problem in Iraq. The big problem is the continued U.S. presence and the taking of Iraqi assets and resources by U.S. corporations. The U.S. is, in fact, the primary destabilizing problem in Iraq.

Just as many attribute the actions of 9-11 to the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia and U.S. foreign policy related to Israel, the current problems are likely to continue until the U.S. withdraws its military from Iraq and gives up Iraqi assets obtained through the invasion. We must not leave Iraq because of the insurgents. We must leave now because that is the right thing to do.

- Roger Hull

Torrance

The flag as property

No one is ``pro-flag burning.'' However, to me, the issue of flag burning is not a matter of free speech but of property rights. If someone purchases an American flag, the purchaser has the freedom to decide what to do with his or her own property. If flag burning is outlawed, what is to stop the amendment from banning American flag lapel pins or other ``misuses'' of our national symbol? After all, wearing the flag is not considered to be proper flag etiquette.

- Patrick Owens

Woodland Hills