Media reveal too much about national security

Media reveal too much about national security
EDITOR:
I heard recently that NASA was concerned about a terrorist attack on the July launch of the space shuttle. They are concerned because one of the astronauts is an Israeli. My question is this. If NASA is so concerned about safety, why release the information in the first place? Why let the people, especially the bad guys know what's going on? Why not just say, "We have five guys going up", instead of four guys and one Israeli going and oh, by the way, please don't blow us up." Why not keep it a secret?
I saw a news story on television last week about military drills being conducted at the Pentagon. They showed basic rescue procedures and other scenarios. I thought that was interesting. Then the reporter proceeded to explain about all the new security measures, scanning, video, etc., being added to the Pentagon. Why? What reason do the people of the world have to know about the types of security a particular place has? Nobody really cares about specifics -- except the bad guys.
I watched a program about national landmarks in the United States. It was an interesting series. They showed the making and/or planning of some of the greatest monuments in this country. Then they showed secret chambers and areas and explained exactly what type of security each place has. Hello! Why does the general public need to know how many surveillance cameras are stationed around Mt. Rushmore and where there are?
Why does the media have to go so far in reporting the news? I know that there are times when I don't want to know what's going on. If telling me I am going to blow up soon is not going to save my life, don't tell me. What does the average man need with information about military maneuvers? Why do the people need to know all the details about security? The way things are going, we might as well send the bad guys the blue prints directly, and skip the media middleman.
I am proud to be an American. I am not saying that the public does not have a right to know what's going on in politics. The budget, the taxes, government programs are all important things that the average person needs to know about. But when it comes to the safety and security of this country, I don't want to know exactly what they're doing. Only that they're doing it, and it's working -- because I'm still here.
TOMMY MORGAN
Lake Milton
X The writer is a student at Jackson Milton High School.
Post office overcharges for phone calls and copies
EDITOR:
The postal service is getting another rate increase this summer to 37 cents for a first class letter from the current 34 cents. This comes out to a 9 percent increase.
Has anyone else noticed the cost of making a local phone call from the lobby of the main post office in downtown Youngstown? The cost is 50 cents. Anywhere else I've had occasion to use a pay phone in Youngstown or outside Youngstown it has been usually 25 cents and on rare instances 35 cents. Charging 50 cents is 100 percent higher for the same call.
Further, the copying machine in the lobby charges 15 cents a sheet, when throughout the area, Youngstown and beyond, the going rate is 5 cents or 10 cents a copy -- so the post office charges 50 percent to 200 percent higher than in the private sector.
Because of their fiduciary position as a monopoly, I think we should expect the lowest possible rates on these services -- something we're not getting.
If they are unable to make decisions in the public's interest on the items of copying machines and phone rates, perhaps the postal rate increase should be inspected a bit more carefully.
JOHN E. SAKAS, Jr.
Newton Falls
Caring priest worth noting
EDITOR:
There have been so many negative articles about the Catholic Church. I would like to write something positive.
I am a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Austintown. We have an energetic, caring young pastor, who has given our parish a breath of fresh air.
At one time the only thing we had for youth was CCD classes. Now we have sports they can take part in. There are winter and spring fests, barbecues and hayrides, and they are well attended.
Even though he has pastoral and diocesan duties he still has time for us seniors. His sermons are short and to the point. We are so fortunate to have him as our pastor -- and his name is Father Stephen Popovich.
BETTY THOMPSON
Austintown
New state cigarette tax is unfair to smokers
EDITOR:
I am upset at our state reps, they have been entrusted to do a job and have messed it up. The state is in a deficit because of their spending practices. Now they want the smokers of this fine state to pay to get it out of debt.
They want to raise the tax on cigarettes by 31 cents per pack. I wouldn't mind paying this additional tax if it was for health care or education but it isn't. I am not sure how much a representative makes, but why not take a pay cut instead of raising taxes on a select group of people?
What about the non-smokers? How are they going to help reduce this debt? They probably aren't. It is my opinion that once again smokers are being discriminated against (Surprise!)
We have very few, if any, fast-food restaurants or regular restaurants that permit smoking, and we get dirty looks when we are out. People complain that we don't use the ashtrays outside stores. But if you look at those ashtrays, the reason why we can't use them is that the nonsmokers have filled them up with trash when they are too lazy to put the trash in the can right below the ashtrays.
To me this basically boils down to selective taxation, so the reps. don't upset everybody -- just the minority.
When are they going to really start thinking about what they are doing? Is this tax constitutional?
KEN EVERSON
Youngstown
Berrigan forgot the most important consideration
EDITOR:
When Daniel Berrigan spoke recently at Villa Maria, he was asked how we should maintain hope when so many things go wrong.
His reply was to turn "to Scripture and to one another." Really? How about God, Mr. Berrigan?
And maybe even prayer?
CATHERINE A. SWAN
Warren