New York legalizes same-sex marriage; Supreme Court rules on generic drugs; torture is torture

Hats off to N.Y.

Re “N.Y. legalizes gay marriage,” June 25

It’s bittersweet, but mainly sweet, seeing the great state of New York post a milestone in human rights. It’s bitter in that my state, California, should have and could have been the first among the big states to do it instead of succumbing to the idiotic bigotry of Propositions 22 and 8.

Poor California, which used to be the vanguard in so many ways, has been reduced to the vanguard of budget crises and little else. Truly sad.

Alex Murray

Altadena

While the politicians congratulate themselves, all I can think about is the last 50 years of my life that were robbed from me by these same people.

I chose to stand up as a gay man 31 years ago. Friends, family, church members and co-workers — all turned their backs on me. I’ve paid a heavy price over the decades in lost jobs, opportunities and relationships.

Marriage? Great! But where is the apology? Not only from the straight people who betrayed equality, not only from all the closeted gays who betrayed equality, but also from all the drag queens and leather boys who cast the overwhelming majority of gay Americans as freaks, thus setting back gay equality decades.

I know I won’t get one, but I’ll keep waiting.

Ray Shelton

Glendale

The recent approval of same-sex marriage (still an oxymoron in my book) in New York gave rise to statements such as “brings marriage equality to a new plane,” “a new level of social justice” and “doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality.”

All the talk, including by The Times, seems to apply only to same-sex couples and never explains why these arguments shouldn’t apply also to multiple persons wishing for a common marriage or to siblings wishing for a formal relationship.

I won’t hold my breath expecting these consequences to be addressed.

Mel Wolf

Burbank

Brand-name drugs vs. generics

Re “Justices shield generic drug makers from lawsuits,” June 24

That the Supreme Court would rule in favor of generic drug makers whose products caused irreparable damage is unbelievable.

Justice Clarence Thomas believes that warning labels are the responsibility only of the brand-name drug makers and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not generic drug makers. That’s like saying that generic cigarette makers are exempt from warning labels on packages. If a drug, generic or not, is harmful, then patients deserve to be warned.

It is difficult enough for patients to get drugs that actually work without serious side effects. It’s just as hard to sift through outrageous claims by supplement makers promising cures with the little disclaimers saying that their supplement will not diagnose or cure a disease.

The public needs reliable and truthful information on all drugs and supplements, whether they are brand name or not.

Richard Bent

Laguna Niguel

The public has been dealt another blow by the Supreme Court. And the ruling sets a precedent.

Makers of generic drugs — 75% of prescriptions — do not have to warn patients of newly revealed dangers. According to Thomas, makers of generics can’t be sued for inadequate warnings if those warning didn’t exist on the original.

So let the buyers of generics beware.

Better yet, try and be as healthy as possible to avoid having to take any drugs, even the FDA-approved ones that eventually may be found to cause health complications.

Joan Forman

Redondo Beach

It’s still just torture

Re “Petraeus talks torture,” June 24

Army Gen. David A. Petraeus favors, as The Times put it, “special interrogation techniques when a detainee is withholding information that is immediately needed to save lives.” Let’s not mince words: Petraeus favors torture.

It starts with “a ticking time bomb.” First, it has to be nuclear. Then any kind of bomb. Then you just want to save lives. Next thing you know, you’ve got an illegal prison in Guantanamo, a torture palace at Abu Ghraib, black sites in Eastern Europe and a program of illegally kidnapping people (“extraordinary rendition”) to get them there.

Petraeus should not be confirmed as CIA director, and Bush (and Obama) administration officials found to have designed or implemented programs of torture should be prosecuted as war criminals.

Jon Krampner

Los Angeles

I am so sick of hearing about the “ticking time-bomb” scenario that is a staple in hour-long TV dramas. I have yet to hear a single apologist for so-called enhanced interrogations give a single example of this occurring in real life.

In practical terms, if I were a terrorist with a ticking time bomb, I could lie and mislead long enough for it to go off.

But what really matters is this: There is no excuse for torture. Period.

Diane Lefer

Los Angeles

Oil talk

Re “U.S., allies to tap into oil reserves,” June 24

The administration’s decision to tap into our strategic petroleum reserves does not represent a response to an actual emergency but a response to a political emergency for President Obama’s reelection hopes.

Releasing our strategic reserves, meant to be used only to protect us in the case of a severe energy disruption, allows Obama to avoid addressing the fundamental problems of American energy policy. The moratorium on offshore drilling, costly environmental regulations on refiners and the administration’s determination to consistently deny Americans access to domestic oil supplies — all are helping drive the high prices at the pumps.

Releasing our emergency reserves is just an attempt to win some political goodwill.

Robinson O’Brien-Bours

North Hollywood

On Peter Falk

Re “Actor known for ‘Columbo,’ ” Obituary, June 25

Several years ago my husband, who has retired from the Los Angeles Police Department, and I were at a restaurant in Westwood. Peter Falk walked in and sat at the bar near us. My husband pulled out his LAPD badge and ID card, approached Falk, flashed his badge at him and said, “Lt. Columbo, Officer Flores, retired LAPD.” Falk couldn’t stop laughing.

Falk was cordial and sincere. And “just one more thing” — he was a fine actor and truly a gentleman.

Fern Flores

Running Springs

‘Free’ art

Re “Madonna finds no sanctuary,” June 24

Of course, artist Mark Patterson’s Surfing Madonna had to go. Tiny, dull Encinitas can’t allow “free” art to just bloom anywhere, un-permitted, un-city counciled, un-planning commissioned, un-art-league approved, un-voter initiated and for free.

Before you know it, free art would blossom all over town. Dull Encinitas wouldn’t be dull anymore. So Surfing Madonna, surfboard at your feet, where’s your next location? Tell us and we’ll tweet.

Jerry Collamer

San Clemente

Fee issues

Re “BofA customer hit with insurance fees,” Business, June 24

Bank of America’s action in allowing Level AD Insurance to deduct monthly fees from customers’ checking accounts without written authorization sounds like a situation ripe for a class-action suit. I think a sharp lawyer could make a bundle in winning redress for this situation.

It’s hard to believe that in a country of laws, a purported phone call is enough to authorize account deductions.

Clive Makinson-Sanders

San Clemente