[Image] [Image] Letters, faxes, and e-mail 11/05/01 Media becomes terrorists' weapon: [Image] Just as our national media were Ho Chi Minh's strongest weapon, without which he could have never driven our forces from Vietnam, the media have become Osama bin Laden's strongest weapon. He's continually provided with our tactics, battle plans, shortcomings and psychological state (as we speak, chaotic). He's also provided a medium of communication with terrorist cells and the worldwide Muslim community. Since World War II, media have operated with unquestioned license, piously preaching First Amendment rights and journalistic neutrality. They bravely espoused these "rights" knowing the country was never under threat of defeat, and they could always look forward to safety in America. With this war, however, the media will eventually realize that the war is here and their safety cannot be guaranteed. Many wonder at what point the national media might begin to realize that First Amendment rights are not guaranteed by al-Qaida. Hopefully, the media will come to their senses before their doors are kicked down. Armond "Si" Simmons Pell City Stantis cartoon captures truth: In his Oct. 30 editorial cartoon "Are we there yet?" Scott Stantis once again captured the prevailing mood of the United States. Stantis sees what the average Joe does: Many media representatives are acting childish, self-absorbed and frightened, while the citizens themselves are girding for a very real and prolonged war. Could it be that one of the only groups opposed to or fearful of a vigorous, sustained and thorough U.S. response to the acts of war against us (outside of the People's Republic of Berkeley) is the chattering class? John Earnest Hoover U.S. jumps gun in terrorism war: I think the United States should have waited a while before attacking the terrorists, because Osama bin Laden has more ideas than the United States does. Bin Laden's people don't care about killing, hurting people or dying. The United States shouldn't have let them in this country; then we wouldn't be at war. The United States needs to work on attacking and use ideas that bin Laden wouldn't even think of because he is already hiding in a cave where we can't find him. Tara Grayson Fairfield U.S. retaliation justified, timely: America has finally struck back and sent thousands of troops to begin the war. It is all because of Osama bin Laden and his helpers that we had to begin this war. Many more lives will be taken, but we are fighting for a good reason to destroy those who destroyed so many American lives and to show them that good will prevail over evil. After this war is over, I hope nothing happens like this again because enough damage has been done already. We need to focus on getting our lives back to normal and our country back at peace. Crystal Smith Woodlawn One man's junk is another's jewel: A recent letter suggested that the U.S. Postal Service should only be delivering important mail and curtail all the junk mail. How do we decide what is junk mail? Many people look for sale papers of businesses that they shop with on a weekly basis. Many working people shop through catalogues due to time constraints. Elderly people who can't get around shop by mail for convenience. Bulk business mailers do get discounts due to volume, but they must prepare their mail according to strict guidelines that allow the Postal Service to process bulk mail with minimal handling. Bulk business mailers subsidize first-class mail. The anthrax danger up to this point has involved not bulk, but first-class mail, the type most people would consider to be the important mail. What is referred to as junk mail by many people is bread and butter to much more than the Postal Service. Debra Howard Wilsonville Florida example good for Alabama: I have the solution to the state's school-funding shortfall. I read in The Birmingham News that Florida's lawmakers cut their salaries to make up a billion-dollar shortage in their state budget. The News should challenge Alabama's lawmakers and also our judges the highest paid in the United States to cut their salaries. No more proration. Arthur G. Finch Jr. Aliceville Education leaders foster division: What brilliant lights in the state Department of Education. At a time when Americans are coming together in a demonstration of unity, in recognition of our strength and common bonds, the State Board of Education wants to begin a program of dividing us. Board members want teachers to classify and report on their students based on physical characteristics, such as race and sex. Because we all know there are differences, don't we? We must be able to separate the superior from the inferior, right? Yes, teachers need to stay focused on the differences, lest they start seeing all of the students as equally capable individuals. Can't have that, can we? I am sure if the state officials will look back about 70 or 80 years they will find a government form already set up to classify students based on physical characteristics. How handy. Our great leaders distinguish themselves once again. Tommy Payne Pell City Stanford testing gets poor grades: An article in The News Oct. 21 said state education officials will recommend the results of the next Stanford Achievement Test not be used to hold schools accountable for their overall performance. The article also mentioned that the state school board will consider suspending the Stanford Achievement Test. It is about time. It is completely unnecessary for students to take these tests every year. They waste valuable class time that could be used to teach something important. I applaud the education officials who want to suspend the tests and phase in a new accountability system. I hope that the members of the board agree to these proposals and a better testing system will be used in the future. Jennifer Reid Hoover Copyright 2001 al.com. All Rights Reserved.