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Letters received in past week: 246

Letters published: 63

Hot issues: For the week of Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, the Star received 13 letters opposing the U.S. Postal Service's change from take-a-number to waiting in line (one letter supported the change), 13 letters opposing the policies of President Bush (one letter supported the president), and 10 letters opposing recent comments by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld regarding manipulation of the media (one letter supported Rumsfeld). Nine letters were received opposing the war in Iraq (three letters supported the war).

To read additional letters and tips on how to comment, visit us online at dailystar.com/opinion

My frustrations are growing as Sabino Canyon rangers make no visible progress on any type of reconstruction. I understand that the major areas of damage will take considerable time to repair. It's frustrating to see other areas with minimal damage, like Lower Sabino Road to Bear Canyon, Blackett's Ridge and parts of phone line trail, stay closed.

If my homeowners association can repave a parking area several times larger than the visitor parking area in less than four days, why is the Sabino Canyon lot still being worked on 30-plus days after starting?

Why do we need a new sports park in Tucson when we already have numerous fields scattered around the city that are unused most of the time? A Rainbow Bridge? Why make Tucson look like a giant miniature golf course? Why do we think that the only way to attract tourists and improve the city's image is to build large, expensive projects?

The Old Pueblo is blessed with extraordinary physical beauty. Why not capitalize on it? For starters, we could greatly expand and beautify the river parks. Imagine the paths lined with examples of local landscapers' xeriscape. Imagine Sunday river fests, complete with local artists, musicians and vendors. Imagine being able to walk, jog or bike clear across Tucson. Imagine curiosity seekers, eco-tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts coming to Tucson to see what a dry river is all about and to discover some of the charm of this great city. Isn't this a better vision?

Re: the Aug. 31 article "Democrats critical of Rumsfeld's Nazi-appeasement speech."

It is outrageous that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is now comparing anyone who dares to question the conduct of the war in Iraq to those who wished to appease Nazis before World War II. Those who criticize this war, such as Rep. John Murtha and Sen. Chuck Hagel, have never said we should appease terrorists. These two lawmakers, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, simply recognize that Iraq is not really part of the war on terror, and that fighting an endless war there is a dangerous distraction.

As bad as Saddam Hussein was to his people, invading Iraq when it had nothing to do with the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, took the focus off catching or killing the real architects of those attacks.

On this anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, it is appropriate to comment on the rebuilding that has occurred. Over in Mississippi there has been a lot of progress rebuilding, and other than the sound of reconstruction it has been pretty quiet. People are working diligently, all on their own. Over in Louisiana, especially in New Orleans, the only sounds are from those doing nothing but getting fat sitting on their porches, with hands held out for a handout and a mouthful of gimme. Nobody is doing anything but waiting for someone else to do it.

What is the difference? Mississippi is a Republican state with a lot of wiped-out Republicans practicing the Republican motto: work, succeed, be happy and get it done. Over in New Orleans, the (mostly) Democrats are sitting around doing nothing but waiting for someone else to do it, and practice the Democrat motto: hate, blame, be a victim and let someone else do it.

Re: the Aug. 29 guest opinion "Buffelgrass criticism is misguided; plant's benefits receive short shrift."

Buffelgrass is devastating our Sonoran Desert. It kills native plants by crowding them, taking up their water, and preventing seed germination, converting a rich desert scrub ecosystem to an African savannah or a wasteland.

Buffelgrass and other invasive grasses have also introduced wildfire to our non-fire-adapted desert areas. Finally, buffelgrass eventually depletes soil nutrients and dies, leaving sterile wastelands behind.

No longer confined to roadsides, it is spreading into natural habitats in many parts of its range. We support the efforts of local citizens who have learned to identify and combat the spread of buffelgrass and other invasive plants in Sonoran Desert habitats.

Re: the Aug. 29 guest opinion "Buffelgrass criticism is misguided; plant's benefits receive short shrift."

Whereas I agree with Ann Carr that buffelgrass provides excellent forage grass for cows and is probably here to stay, she dismisses a wealth of scientific literature that documents the negative ecological impacts of invasive grasses and altogether misses the point of why people are concerned.

Invasive grasses have out-competed native plants and increased fire frequency, thus reducing the abundance of species maladapted to fire. Despite Carr's claim to the contrary, buffelgrass does burn readily and grows beyond the edges of roads and areas of additional runoff.

People are concerned because they enjoy the Sonoran Desert for its unique assemblage of plants, many of which will disappear as fires become hotter and more frequent. It may be a Herculean challenge to try and minimize the spread of buffelgrass and other exotic grasses, but for those of us who love the desert, it's a worthwhile fight.  

Patty Weiss claims that her 35 years as a journalist was training for service in Congress. It really isn't. I have worked in the House, Senate, and executive branch. I was press secretary for Vice President Hubert Humphrey and professor of political communications in the Louisiana State University School of Journalism. I have known some of the brightest journalists in my time, including Walter Lippman, Walter Cronkite and Bill Moyers.

They and others would laugh at the idea that what they did prepared them for public office. I have known many members of Congress. The best of them were teachers, lawyers and businessmen, almost all with prior political service. The only journalist among them was Jesse Helms of North Carolina; a TV anchor of experience, but no sense of decency. Weiss may have good qualities that qualify her for public office, but her career is not one of them.