Self-Defense

I congratulate Claudia Luther (“When a Terrible Dream Becomes a Terrible Reality, Raw Instinct Takes Over,” Op-Ed Page, Sept. 13) on being able to scream. Now, how about doing something more effective than relying on others to come to her aid, such as taking a women’s self-defense class? Classes are usually low cost and can be taken in the evenings or on the weekends. For a woman to think she can defend herself merely by screaming is ludicrous, which is why I took a defense class.

Women should not be expected to trust only a scream to suffice, and Ms. Luther’s column, while heartening, stops short of reality.

KAREN MISHKIN

Santa Cruz