PUBLIC FORUM.

Not what they seem

Before more ignorant people try to claim that the current cold weather back east disproves global warming, I thought I'd try to set the record straight. If these people would put aside their National Enquirer tabloids, or whatever they consider intellectual reading, long enough to do some basic research, they would find out that cold weather in the temperate zones actually proves global warming, rather than the other way around.

Things are not always as they seem. The research is easy. Simply read a few articles on global warming to the end before you put on another sports show, smug in your superior reasoning abilities.

-- Eric Obermeit

Sun Valley

Hollywood hypocrites

As I watched the Oscars, it occurred to me what a privileged and wealthy crowd I saw -- almost obscenely wealthy in some cases. They arrived in large, comfortable limos, from houses that are much larger than mine, requiring way more energy to power and heat. As a group they are among the most -- if not the most -- profligate users of private jet aircraft.

Elegant, but totally ungreen.

Yet there they were, standing and applauding Al Gore, nodding solemnly and seriously as he praised them for being such good disciples and spreading the word on global warming. Feeling so good about themselves, patting each other on the back.

And so utterly clueless to their total and complete hypocrisy.

-- Mike Gorman 

Glendale

Where are the heroes?

In World War II, military heroes were publicly celebrated. Yet, just as with the dead of this war, the Bush administration silences and hides its military heroes. There is no Audie Murphy of Iraq II, even though Iraq II has lasted longer than World War II. Why?

Is it that a personal perspective would raise too much penetrating discussion -- asking how the mission the soldier was asked to be ready to die for has really helped democracy in the Middle East?

-- Martin Kotowski

Sherman Oaks

The privileged few

Did anyone else feel a sense of outrage and frustration while watching the Oscars? I was particularly offended by the privileged few pointing their fingers at the average American as the major part of the global-warming problem.

The average person does not live in a 10,000-square-foot mansion that sucks up more energy than any six or more normal homes. And if he is lucky enough to travel, the average American flies commercial and coach, not in a private jet that uses more fossil fuel than most of us will use in a lifetime.

We owe it to the planet to do our part, but that means everybody -- including the Hollywood elite who use this issue to promote their secular progressive agenda.

-- Barbara Lindemann

Chatsworth

One more thing ...

Re "trading places" (Viewpoint, Feb. 25):

Jonathan Dobrer's article was exceptionally good in pointing out the "oversimplified certainties" that fuel the "moral imperatives" of liberals and conservatives on international politics. But Dobrer should have added another paragraph noting that the "game" has now changed due to three new factors, so that situations for America (and the world) are no longer academic exercises but international threats: 1. nuclear bombs in the hands of rogue Islamic nations; 2. an abundance of suicidal Islamo-fascist killers; 3. an impotent United Nations.

-- Aaron L. Kolom

Los Angeles