PUBLIC FORUM.

The wrong man

Re ``Arnold: Get tough on sex offenders'' (Aug. 17):

I have only one question: Do gropers count as sex offenders?

Arnold seems to expound on issues which are expeditious and not clearly thought out. He is the wrong man to bring up these issues.

- Ira Kaplan

Woodland Hills

Anti-science views

Thanks for Tom Toles' editorial cartoon on Thursday ribbing creationists and ``intelligent design'' proponents in the classroom. I respect their right to their beliefs, but it is frightening how religious extremists are trying to force their backward, anti-science views into secular public schools across the country.

If they succeed, it will result in the United States becoming decreasingly competitive in the world, especially in the fields of science, biology and medicine. If creationists and IDers want to dumb down their own children, they should keep it in the parochial schools.

But as a soon-to-be father, they'll have holy hell to pay if they try to do it to my kid in a public school.

- Mike Laskavy

Oak Park

MYOB 

Re ``Psst: Gossip is good'' (Aug. 16):

I was surprised to read the article supporting the notion that gossip and gossiping can actually be good. Gossip tends to become altered each time it is repeated. People's feelings, reputations, family life, friendships and jobs can be damaged by such stories. If someone wants you to know something about them, it's best if you let them tell you themselves. If not, it's none of your business.

- Terri Andrews

Castaic

Question for Sheehan

A question to Cindy Sheehan and her supporters: Where were your protests when Sadam Hussein slaughtered his own people, when he gassed innocent men, women and children? Where was your outrage and public denunciation when terrorists slaughtered and maimed innocent civilians?

Yes, these victims also had sons, daughters, parents, close relatives and friends who are mourning their sudden loss. Your son died honorably fighting for his country. He and these victims never a chance to pursue happiness, peace and happiness.

Not once did you mention the tragedy of terror that tore thousands of people apart, burdened them with mental despair and sorrow. By your inconsiderate action, you negated the heroic devotion of your son and divided our nation.

- Vernon L. Rusheen

Woodland Hills

Bush tongue-tied

The truth is George W. Bush will not meet with Cindy Sheehan - or anybody else who has a real, unscripted question to ask - because he is unable to articulate a complete sentence addressing whatever issue is at hand.

- Boris Menart

Sunland

Complete federal failure

Re ``Arnold weighs border action'' (Aug. 18):

With the governors of New Mexico and Arizona declaring a state of emergency over illegal immigration and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger thinking about it, it appears that the states will be soon filling in where the federal government is a complete failure.

Can we soon look forward to having our own army, navy and air force?

- Hal Gold

Woodland Hills

The price of greed

There's been a lot of whining about high gas prices. Every time you buy at Wal-Mart or any other discounter, look at where the merchandise was made.

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, that item will be made in China.

China is bidding up oil in order to produce those cheap products. Stop bellyaching. It's only going to get more expensive and you only have your greedy selves to blame.

- Darene Sutherland

Reseda

Taken to cleaners

Re ``Universal health care?'' (Aug. 14):

Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl wants universal health care insurance to force us to pay insurance premiums into a government-run agency and force us to accept whatever service that agency deems sufficient. I can see some of the headlines now: ``Patients wait days to get appointments scheduled,'' ``Sick patients can't get needed surgery in timely manner,'' and ``Billions lost as insurance fraud takes 40 percent of Medi-Cal annual budget.''

Citizens of California, beware. We are being taken to the cleaners again.

- Meli Calkins

Granada Hills