Sen. Evan Bayh won’t run again; the new U.S. push in Afghanistan; building a Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem

A voice of reason

Re “Senate gridlock cited in latest exit,” Feb. 16

The country has lost a great voice for common-sense political discourse with the retirement of Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.

His frustration with the gridlock in Washington is obvious -- specifically the influence of the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, which as a center-left Democrat myself deeply troubles me.

I have been a supporter of Bayh for years, and I always felt he spoke to the issues based on what was good for the country, not for the political empowerment of the Kool-Aid drinkers on both ends of the political spectrum. His voice of reason will be sorely missed.

Pete Araiza
Pasadena

‘Errant’ strikes take a toll

Re “Afghan civilian toll a setback,” Feb. 15

That innocent civilians, among them four children, were killed by “an errant rocket strike” in Marja, Afghanistan, should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed U.S. offensive strikes in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is unconscionable that civilian casualties are the price to be paid for dubious success against the enemy.

The weapons systems used against the “shadowy enemy” are evidently inaccurate and misused.

The tactics employed to fight insurgents and the Taliban should safeguard noncombatants. Why risk the lives of the very people whom the coalition forces are deployed to protect and to save?

Lenore Navarro

Dowling

Los Angeles

Sorting it out at City Hall

Re “City Hall budget fight escalates,” Feb. 13

I’m a member of the silent majority that is watching the battle between the mayor and the City Council regarding our financial crisis.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, it seems to me, wants to cut costs in light of decreasing city revenues. The City Council wants to look into other options.

If there were other options, why has the council waited until a crisis to look into them? This is another example of politicians not working together for the good of our city.

David Radden
Venice

As for cutting city jobs, let’s start with the least useful employee we have: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Harold Watkins
Studio City

Department needs scrutiny

Re “Child death data sealed,” Feb. 13

The director of the Department of Children and Family Services, Trish Ploehn, seems to admit that it is bad publicity -- and not a fear of jeopardizing criminal investigations -- that caused her to clamp down on the release of information regarding children’s deaths.

If she finds that the law is unfairly “denigrating” her department and feels uncomfortable under a “harsh spotlight,” she should resign and find less stressful work.

More transparency and more powerful spotlights are needed in covering the department’s operations.

Andrew Tyszkiewicz
Rancho Palos Verdes

Jerusalem’s museum mess

Re “Site of contention,” Opinion, Feb. 12

Contrary to Rabbi Marvin Hier’s argument, the Simon Wiesenthal Center is planning to build its “Museum of Tolerance” on part of the site of the historic Mamilla Cemetery in Jerusalem.

Some of the graves there date to the 12th century, according to the chief Israeli archaeologist on the project -- not just 400 years ago, per Hier. One of my own ancestors was buried there in 1424.

Hier is also wrong to presume that this Muslim cemetery has been abandoned and lost its sanctity -- the president of the Sharia Court of Appeals in Israel has stated that Muslim cemeteries never lose their sanctity. Does Hier determine what is holy in Islam?

His attempt to link the descendants and other petitioners before the United Nations with Islamic extremists is laughable, especially as objections to the project come from prominent rabbis and many other reputable critics. Advancing mistruth -- much less building on the graves of our ancestors -- is no way to promote tolerance.

Rashid Khalidi
New York
The writer, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University, is among the petitioners before the United Nations seeking to block construction of the Museum of Tolerance.

Though both sides make good arguments, I agree with Hier that when it comes to land in Jerusalem, if we take into consideration preservation of what lies beneath the ground, there is probably not a square inch that hasn’t held something that was holy to someone in the past.

Does Jerusalem sit as is until it totally deteriorates?

Marsha Vandiver
Ventura

Would it not be counter-productive to build a Museum of Tolerance on disputed ground? If the opposing members of the community could choose a site together, would there not be an opportunity to construct an oasis of cooperation in a desert of polarized opinion?

And if the hands that build and the minds that inspire the construction involve all, would not the product rise beyond being a mere museum and become a living symbol of that to which all communities aspire?

Margery Weitkamp
Granada Hills

Cheers for the first lady

Re “A fruits-and-veggies first lady,” Editorial, Feb. 12

Michelle Obama faces a heavyweight opponent in her battle with childhood obesity. The human desire for sugars and fats is hard-wired in our genes and reinforced through advertising. Removing soda vending machines from schools is an important step, but it won’t change kids’ fundamental desire for unhealthy calories.

The sustainable food movement offers one potential alternative: homegrown and locally sourced produce. Delicious produce is a powerful tool for changing our children’s behavior. Though I hated watery store-bought tomatoes as a kid, I couldn’t get enough of my neighbor’s heirlooms.

We can’t expect kids to choose apples over Twinkies if their brown bags contain the waxy and tasteless specimens found in the supermarket.

Our best weapon against Pepsi Throwback might be Victory Gardens 2.0. If the White House vegetable garden is any indication, our first lady gets it.

Sean Williams
Los Angeles
The writer is co-founder of Farmscape, which plants and maintains organic vegetable gardens for customers in the Los Angeles area.

Killing animals is no honor

Re “Taxidermist unable to make an escape from the wildlife,” Feb. 14

Tom Kettles says taxidermy pays the utmost respect to an animal when he states, “It’s dedication to the animal, and you’re trying to honor the animal as much as you can.”

Unfortunately, The Times’ article contained no quotes from any of the animals that had been stuffed and mounted as mementos. I would have liked to have heard how they felt about having such a high honor bestowed on them. There’s no honor in turning an animal into a trophy. You honor an animal by respecting its life, not by taking it away.

Rachel Poliquin, a taxidermy expert, says that hunters are animal lovers: “They just express their love and enjoyment of the animal world in a way that doesn’t necessarily jibe with contemporary society much of the time.” Hunters as animal lovers -- now there’s an oxymoron for you.

Mark Richardson
Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.