Steelworkers lives ruined by ex-executive Bricker

Steelworkers lives ruined by ex-executive Bricker
EDITOR:
America is still feeling the effects of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. We finally know how vulnerable we are to other nations that want to destroy us.
Osama bin Laden is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people and the injuries of many more, and in doing so, he's made millions of dollars by knowing what was going to happen and using that knowledge in the stock market.
Now an American named William Bricker who was the chief executive officer of LTV Steel made a plan, just like bin Laden, to shut down his steel mills and destroy the lives of 7,500 people who work at LTV Steel in Cleveland, Warren and Youngstown; and then injuring 50,000 pensioners by taking their health benefits and lowering their monthly pay.
All the while Mr. Bricker was doing this, he was getting millions of dollars in bonus pay.
The entire U.S. military is looking for bin Laden. Who is looking for Bricker?
WILLIAM J. HUNTINGTON
Youngstown
Knowledge helps citizens protect natural resources
EDITOR:
I want to thank The Vindicator NIE Program during Geography Awareness Week for helping to make readers aware of the Mahoning Valley's natural water sources. The importance of the public's awareness of local water resources will hopefully make them feel as if they have a stewardship to care for. That protection and enhancement of water quality should be a major concern of everyone.
Those involved in agriculture have been environmental stewards in managing their business by practicing good procedures to improve soil and water quality for years. Through educational and research programs, guidelines and information on conservation and management, techniques are available to the public from the Mahoning County Soil & amp; Water Conservation District.
Protecting our environment is vital to society. Everyone needs to participate in recycling programs and utilize the tools available to protect our land, water and air quality.
THOMAS R. KOCH
Canfield
X The writer is president of the Mahoning County Farm Bureau.
Rights at risk as nation responds to terrorism
EDITOR:
Imagine one day when your freedom gets taken away. Can this happen? Apparently it just did. We take for granted how we dress, look or even the accessories we wear, but imagine if these very things go against who we are or even our identity.
Do we want to live like this? Do we want to be accused of something we're not guilty of because of our appearance? In all these years of being an American citizen, I have never witnessed such wrong-doing. The United States is supposed to be a country of freedom and opportunity, but I'm not sure what is becoming of that.
How would you feel if you were going on vacation and while boarding the plane with your family a guy dressed in a black suit and a police officer came up to you and escorted you off the plane because you looked like a criminal? You were then put in jail until you could prove your innocence.
I don't think anyone would like to live like that; I know I would not.
The tragic events of Sept. 11 brought us closer as a nation. However, we must be careful not to allow fear for our own safety and the safety of our society cause us to react and end up taking away the rights of honest American citizens. Let freedom ring.
LAUREN STRICKLAND
North Jackson
X The writer is a junior at Jackson-Milton High School. Her English teacher is Eric Eye.