Paul's food chain

Your meat-oriented restaurant reviews do not reflect the health concerns and social consciousness of this community.

And your recent comments that, being at the top of the food chain, we should be comfortable with violent treatment of other beings, as "there is no other way," is both wrong and harmful [Without Reservations, 6/16/04]. You and your newspaper should know better than this.

Michael Brant via e-mail

The Democrat's nightmare

Both Richard Marracq's and John Pearce's respective letter ("Nader Nightmare," 6/23/04) and op-ed article ("How Nader Helps Bush," 6/9/04) assailing Ralph Nader's independent presidential campaign ignore or omit one inconvenient fact regarding the Democratic Party: approximately eight million registered Democratic Party members nationwide voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election.

Moreover, 250,000 Florida Democratic Party members voted for Bush in 2000. I repeat – 250,000 Florida Democrats voted for Bush!

Obviously, Nader is not the Democratic Party's "nightmare" – the party's own registered members are.

Where is the national Democratic Party's internal crisis task force to confront and address what can only be described as an appalling, self-destructive voter tendency? Democrats: look in the mirror!

Chris Kavanagh, Green Party of Alameda County
Berkeley

Stop war profiteers

I commend Senators Boxer and Feinstein for recently voting in favor of the war profiteering prevention amendment proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), which was defeated along party lines. If passed, this measure would have subjected contractors working abroad to stiff penalties if they overcharged or cheated the U.S. government. In a time when America is spending billions of dollars in Iraq, this amendment would have put in place much needed taxpayer protections.

In light of recent news that companies such as Halliburton have continuously overcharged the government, contractors could have been held to new criminal penalties under the proposed amendment. This amendment should not have been about party politics, but about holding accountable the contractors who are spending American's tax dollars.

While I am disappointed the Senate did not pass the amendment and hope it will be reconsidered, I thank Senators Boxer and Feinstein for their votes and hope they continue to raise their voices against war profiteering.

Darla Anelli
San Jose

Praise the Lord!

Thanks for having the gumption to publish ads for the "Baby-Jesus Butt Plugs"! A friend is working on a four-way version for nuns, who are, after all, the Brides of Christ.

Mary J. Beasley via e-mail

Moore is patriotic

I am shocked that many critics have denounced Michael Moore's new movie, Fahrenheit 9/11, as unpatriotic and anti-soldier. For me, the movie served as a powerful (and painful) reminder of the costs of war – and of my obligation as a citizen to hold our leaders accountable for making wise decisions about when to send our troops into combat.

Fahrenheit 9/11 highlights crucial questions about the "necessity" of the war in Iraq. Engaging these questions and holding our leaders accountable for their decisions to go to war is the best way we can support our troops.

Hiroko Nakano via e-mail

Soldiers' voices

Since seeing Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, I have read many criticisms of it. While I agree with some of the issues raised, I want to remind everyone that the most important point is that we are all suffering in this war. It is not Moore's voice but the voices of the ordinary Americans he interviews that have continued to haunt me since I left the theater.

I hear the words of Michael Pedersen, who wondered – in the last letter he wrote home before his helicopter was shot down – whether there was any purpose at all to his presence there. I remember the soldier who, unable to look at the camera, said that a part of him died each time he killed someone. And I think about the Marine who, having served in Iraq already, said he would do anything not to return.

Hearing the voice of the mother who supported her family to the best of her ability, encouraged her children to join the military as an honorable career, and then lost her son in this unneeded and unjustified war completely broke my heart.

In discussions about the movie, I have yet to hear anyone suggest a response to these people. It is devastating to imagine our American soldiers risking their lives without understanding why. How will we help soldiers recover? What does it mean if soldiers are willing to risk court martial not to return to this war? What can we tell the families of the 852 soldiers who have lost their lives? These are the questions I'd like to hear answered.

Jehanna Gelbart

San Leandro