Years ago voters cared about separation of church, state

Years ago voters cared about separation of church, state
EDITOR:
Isn't it just fascinating to recall the days of the Kennedy-Nixon campaign when Americans were concerned about Kennedy's Catholicism, Kennedy's & quot;allegiance & quot; to the (then moderate) Catholic Church and the doubts that were expressed about his ability to lead the nation free of undue influence from the Vatican? Few would doubt that it was a time when Americans really cared about issues like the political integrity of our leaders and separation of church and state.
My, how things have changed. Today, we're witnessing a president who is quite proud to align himself with all sorts of religious extremists and, in fact, goes out of his way to solicit their political and financial support, even if doing so violates Federal law. People like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Don Wildmon, James Dobson, Gary Bauer and Alan Keyes are just a few of the religious extremists who meet with George Bush regularly to & quot;pray, & quot; affirm their mutual support and express their mutual admiration for each other!
What's even more fascinating is the reaction of the American public to Bush's willingness to publicly align himself with known, certified fanatics. And despite George Bush's utter contempt for the American public at large AND the First Amendment, legions of Americans are more than eager to enter a voting booth and pull that lever next to his name!
My, oh my, how things have indeed changed.
AL BLAZO
Youngstown
Struthers should do more so kids can stay closer to home
EDITOR:
I'm a senior at Struthers High school. I practically grew up in Struthers and although some complain about it, it's not that bad of a place.
Struthers is the type of city where everyone knows and helps one another, whether it be in time of crisis or time of celebrating. With a community tightly bonded one might ask, "What can be done for improvement?" I have a suggestion.
When people are asked where they are going to have fun, the repetitive response is Boardman, Hubbard or Liberty, sometimes Girard. The best thing to come to Struthers was the Trapt concert last March and the circus. Why n***ot have places to go every day?
I believe that the city would benefit by constructing a skate park, movie theater and add on to the 5th Street Plaza by making an indoor-sports arena, like Boardman. By making these places, it can do more good than harm. Concerts in Hubbard, Liberty and Girard end around midnight or 1 a.m. Wouldn't it be nice to have children home in time for curfew, without cutting out their leisure time, of course?
It only gets better. New jobs will be formed and more people would move into the city.
Skate parks bring in money, fun and a place where kids can skate/bmx safely and legally. It's time that our city unites for more benefits and job opportunities. Struthers needs to become more aware, more spontaneous and more open to ideas that not only bonds everyone in the community, but also ensure fun in a safe atmosphere known as Struthers.
ALEXIS PERRY
Struthers
Tax relief encouragesalcohol, tobacco addiction
EDITOR:
In the July 12 issue of Time magazine there is a short article saying that the House of Representatives has passed a bill giving tax relief to tobacco farmers in the amount of $9.6 billion and rum production in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico $154 million.
Where is the intelligence of the House of Representatives when the government in turn spends billions of dollars taking care of tobacco addicts and alcoholics?
This is an absurd bill. The government gives money to increase addiction and thus spending money to cure it.
Write to your congressman to protest.
LELAND E. HOWARD
Poland