Sanctions against Iraq are only hurting Iraqi people

Sanctions against Iraq are only hurting Iraqi people
EDITOR:
I am writing to urge an end to the economic sanctions against Iraq.
The United Nations and United States sanctions against Iraq are unprecedented in their scope and effect. After more than a decade of sanctions, Saddam Hussein appears no closer to be removed from power.
Yet according to United Nations figures and other humanitarian agencies, as many as 5,000 children under 5 years of age die every month as a result of the sanctions.
More than 11 years after the invasion of Kuwait, we are still at war -- a war that continues today in the form of sanctions on the Iraqi people.
The thousands of deaths each month caused by the sanctions are no mistake. It is a preventable slaughter that can be stopped by lifting the embargo against non military items.
I support the Campaign of Conscience, a national campaign begun by the American Friends Service Committee and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, two of the oldest, largest and most prestigious peace organizations in the United States.
The campaign is based on the understanding that our most deeply held religious and moral beliefs and international law prohibit the destruction of innocent civilians, even during war. We are working to lift the sanctions. Iraq must be allowed to rebuild its civilian infrastructure, such as the potable water systems and electrical grid, so that schools, hospitals and food production can be restored.
I encourage people to communicate with their local and national representatives to call for an end to the non-military sanctions against Iraq for the sake of the Iraqi people.
Rev. RICHARD M. JUDY Jr.
Youngstown
X The Rev. Mr. Judy is a minister in the Church of God (Anderson).
Family shocked by police inaction and attitude
EDITOR:
Recently, my two sons and their friend were driving through the Southern Park Mall parking lot behind Jillian's at 2 a.m. Two men in their 20s standing on the sidewalk kept staring at my sons and their friend. My boys yelled and asked what they were staring at. The next thing they know, one guy gets into the trunk of a white car, reaches in, pulls out a gun and shoots at them twice.
My sons and their buddy realize what is happening, floor it out of the parking lot and try to find the cops. They finally find one and tell him what happened. He tells them if they want to file a report or press charges, to let them know.
They then went to where my husband works nights at a bakery in Struthers. Hearing the story, my husband tells them they should file a report and press charges if possible.
They went back to the mall parking lot, and drove around where it happened, trying to find the police officer. Right where the white car was parked, they find two spent shells. So they scoop them up and take them to the police.
Here is what is sickening. They spend almost three hours with the police, and the entire time, Sergeant Lambert is accusing my sons and their friend of making this all up and saying that they went home and fired the gun and brought the shells to them just for attention!
A Sergeant Lambert claims he spent a long time searching the parking lot, and with all his years of experience he wouldn't have missed the casings. But the police never even took my sons back to the scene, so how would the sergeant even know where to be looking?
What does a person have to do to try to protect people from this happening again?
We teach our sons to do the right thing all their lives, and the police department turns around and in a matter of hours make them wonder why they even bothered to report shootings in the mall parking lot.
DEBBY WARD
New Middletown
New tobacco product a danger to area children
EDITOR:
I am not surprised that the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. chose Youngstown as its "testing grounds" for the new product called REVEL. Have we already forgotten that Self Magazine recently chose Youngstown as the second runner-up for its residents having the unhealthiest lifestyles? Walk into any bar on a weekend and you will surely find over half of its patrons smoking cigarettes.
I am sure that U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. did its homework and found that it could easily create an instant market here in our unhealthy Valley.
This city and its public officials seem to turn a cold shoulder to blatant warnings regarding the lifestyles of Valley residents. The sad fact is, that without early prevention, REVEL may soon be the hottest product for area teens. With 27 percent of Ohio teens having tried tobacco prior to the age of 13, we have a real reason to worry about this company's true motives for choosing our city.
ELIZABETH J. NOHRA
Youngstown
Students are teachers, too
EDITOR:
On Feb. 21, five students came from Boardman High School to demonstrate their Rube Goldberg Machines: Brad Bees, Brian Zorman, Mark Gutheridge, Jeff Tedrow and Ashley Ulrich. Mr. Rucci, the principal at Boardman High School, and Mr. Land, B.H.S. physics teacher, allowed students to come teach the Robinwood 4th grade.
I learned a lot about simple machines. This was a good review because there are questions on the proficiency test on simple machines.
These machines were so interesting and I'm sure the students spent a lot of time planning and constructing them. I appreciate their efforts. We all learned so much and had a lot of fun learning. I think they learned some things from us, too.
KEVIN JOHNSON
Boardman
X Kevin is a fourth grader at Robinwood Elementary School. His teacher is Becky Endsley.
No rage in these machines
EDITOR:
A few weeks ago five students from Boardman High School came to Robinwood Lane. Their principal, Mr. Rucci, allowed them to present their Rube Goldberg Simple Machines.
They brought with them handmade gumball machines, pretzel choppers, catapults and two light switches experiments machines.
Grades two, three and four got to see the simple machines. Every Goldberg presentation included one of the six simple machine parts: like wheels and axles, wedges, screws, inclined planes, pulleys and levers.
The physics department impressed many students. These machines were outstanding. Thank you for your hard work Boardman High School.
JULIA BECK
Boardman
X Julia is a fourth grader in the class of Jan Zorman at Robinwood Elementary School.