The story behind the story

The story behind the story
EDITOR:
I have conflicting thoughts about last Sunday's front page article regarding the convicted rapist who says he was beaten by the deputy sheriff who has been indicted on other charges of prisoner abuse.
Being jailed is not in itself a determination of guilt. Anyone is subject to arrest on probable cause and may be incarcerated for days or months for inability to post bond, then later be found completely innocent of any wrongdoing. Even when people plead guilty or are found guilty, our justice system does not sentence them to corporal punishment. Just as the government has the legal and moral obligation to protect society from criminals, it also has the obligation to provide criminals with safe, humane treatment while in custody.
However, while reading Sunday's article I thought about the rapist's victim who also suffered terror and brutality at the hands of someone more powerful than she and then also experienced the fear that she may not have been believed. I don't know if her attack and abuse at the hands of the convicted rapist were reported in a front page story.
Without excusing the deputy or relieving the county of any responsibility, I propose that the headline for that article should have been, & quot;What goes around, comes around. & quot;
MARY JO DeLUCIA
Youngstown
Fear breeds division; time has come to be reunited
EDITOR:
I believe the steady diet of fear that Americans were fed throughout the presidential campaign helped to re-elect President George W. Bush, and is partly to blame for the division facing our country today.
It's understandable that the 9/11 attack would cause people to have fear of future terrorist attacks. While fear can be used as a weapon in making us aware to possible dangers, it can also drain us of emotional and physical strength.
I'm proud to have supported Sen. John Kerry in his bid for the presidency, and should he decide to run for the presidency in the coming years I would be proud to support him again.
The plans Sen. Kerry had in moving our country forward, and the use of intelligence in dealing with terrorists make me feel as if we are twins of the mind.
Not only do I feel the same way about the war in Iraq, as does Sen. Kerry, I will always consider the war in Iraq to be "an unfounded rush to judgment war."
My powers of reasoning question why it is that the human mind that has the skill and intelligence to create and make weapons that are used to fight wars, can't use that intelligence to outsmart, capture, and conquer our enemies.
Because war is so humanly destructive it should be engaged in only as a last resort. Our war with Iraq is a war I will always believe was preventable.
The conditions in our country today have put the lives of many Americans in turmoil sadly causing our country to become divided.
Americans still live in the greatest country in the world, and only when we set aside our dislikes, and disappointments and stand united will our country be able to move forward and prosper.
My prayers for President Bush will continue. As Americans it's important that our leaders, be they national or local, be blessed in making wise and intelligent decisions to benefit those they were elected to represent.
Then, and only then, I will believe that Americans can, and will enjoy the blessing of peace, and attain the luxury of having peace of mind.
MARY LOU JURINA
Youngstown