Reader to Reader

Patricia Hogan suggests that what kids today need is more heroes such as those portrayed in “The Patriot” (Saturday Letters, July 15). I suggest the reason people lament the lack of heroes today is that our leaders are being compared with the statues we’ve made of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, et al.

The principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence and codified in the Bill of Rights are accepted as true, and have led to the creation of a society that today is much more egalitarian (though far from perfect) than the one that created these documents. That is the legacy of the founding fathers. The fact that these imperfect, slave-holding, class-conscious, philandering men created this legacy is central to the story.

If these flawed individuals can be recognized as heroes for the good things they did, perhaps we can produce generations of students who are less cynical and self-centered, and less likely to look to gun-toting, hatchet-wielding, revenge-obsessed psychotics for their role models.

JAMES REPKA

Laguna Beach

Carrick Bartle’s letter is ridiculous and completely inaccurate. Continental rifle companies didn’t turn their heads away and shoot. They were unbelievably accurate. In “The Book of the Continental Soldier” by Harold Peterson, it is recorded that every member of one American rifle company could hit a 7-inch target at 250 yards. Most people can’t do this with a modern rifle, especially with their heads turned away.

RON ROBERTSON

Corona

Charlton Heston feels that Spike Lee may try to shoot him for his views. Well, if Lee does shoot Heston, I hope that he will find it in his heart as head of the NRA to forgive Lee for exercising his constitutional right.

GERSTEN SCHACHNE

Northridge