Body scanners and pat-down searches at airports; extending the Bush tax cuts; Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects

Search for security

Re “Man shuns body scan, prompting TSA flap,” Nov. 16

Those who sought to defeat us through the 9/11 attacks are having the last laugh, and it is surely a hearty one.

In a cockamamie effort to make the flying public believe that air travel is safe, we give passengers a choice of a revealing body scan or the opportunity to be groped by a Transportation Security Administration employee. The opportunity for the new security measures to be abused and to spawn costly lawsuits is extraordinary.

We like to proclaim that we will not acquiesce to those who seek to use violence or its threat to alter our way of life, but the cold, hard, ugly fact is that we have.

Oren M. Spiegler

Upper Saint Clair, Pa.

I hate to break it to John Tyner and any other misguided liberty-proclaiming folks out there, but you do not have a right to fly, with or without being screened. And though flight crewmembers may have valid concerns about exposure to multiple screenings, regular travelers do not appear to.

If that bothers some people, they should take a train, a bus or rent a car. And maybe airlines should follow the lead of other businesses and post signs that read, “We reserve the right to refuse service to you.”

Lon M. Burns

Manhattan Beach

I too shun the X-ray body scan. I’ve already had too much radiation from medically required scans.

I accept the hands-on body search only because the TSA has the authority to prevent me from boarding my plane. However, the hands-on body search is extremely humiliating.

Why not explosives-detecting dogs? They are apparently far more efficient, and far less expensive, than ridiculous TSA employees on massive power trips.

Barbara Mehlman

Los Angeles

Soldiers are dying in Afghanistan and billions of dollars are being spent to combat terrorism, and some people regard this guy as a hero because he refuses to do what we all have to do to keep each other safe? Put him on the no-fly list and move on.

Terrell Roberts

Northridge

How do drugs, weapons and even cellphones get into “super-guarded” prisons?

These procedures will only disturb and violate innocent folks while the terrorists find simple ways around these naive and perverted procedures by the TSA.

Serafin Quintanar

Fresno

Taxes, or jobs, or both

Re “Signs hint at end to tax cut impasse,” Nov. 16

If it is true that extending tax cuts to high-income Americans will produce jobs, why not tie the extension to actual job growth? Extend the Bush tax cuts for those who make more than $250,000 only for each year that whatever goal the government sets is achieved.

Instead of wrangling in the halls of Congress, there would be bickering by interlocking corporate board members. It would be better for America if the CEO of Wal-Mart is yelling at the CEO of Verizon, “You aren’t hiring your share of new workers, so you’re costing me my tax cut.”

Tim Willoughby

Crowley Lake, Calif.

The issue of whether to extend or end the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans is not a fiscal or economic issue; it is a moral one. The Bush tax cuts were made just before America launched two wars. Instead of paying for the wars, we gave the top 2% earners a tax cut.

Do what the bumper sticker says: “Support our troops” — pay a few percentage points more and be proud you did.

Al Fabiano

Laguna Niguel

Come on, President Obama, is this yet another promise not kept? If these tax cuts are extended temporarily, then we risk that Republicans will extend them forever.

Keep your commitment. Taxes should be cut when we can afford it, and the wealthiest need to get to the back of the line.

Grace Shammas

Alhambra

Colleges for Californians

Re “Schools recruit out of state,” Nov. 15

If the University of California system is looking to boost revenue by recruiting out of state, then it ought to forgo California tax revenues.

Instead of looking to increase revenues, UC should be looking to cut costs. Get rid of tenure, hire new doctorate recipients who are willing to accept lower salaries to get a first break in academia, and concentrate on excellent instruction instead of research.

Undergraduates should be going to college to learn a skill that will get them a job or prepare them for professional school. New, untenured professors are more than capable of providing this education.

The UC system should not be a country club for high-priced academics who delegate most of their teaching duties to graduate students.

Steve Stillman

Redondo Beach

The UC system, which was founded to serve the students in California, is hoping to increase out-of-state enrollment.

UC San Diego professor Daniel Widener appears to have the right perspective on the issue. He believes that UC’s “recruiting effort would be better aimed at trying to find talented Californians, especially from low-income and minority families.”

Will the UC decision-makers listen?

Beverly E. Adair

Palm Springs

Peace isn’t the problem

Re “Does Israel really want peace?” Opinion, Nov. 15

Of course Israel wants peace. Since 1948, when I was 18 years old, Israel offered peace, but the Palestinians turned it down because they thought the surrounding Arab nations would drive the Israelis into the sea.

Israel eventually made peace with Egypt.

How can the Israelis make peace with a people whose terrorist leaders send rockets into Israel, killing innocent people? Arab citizens live in peace in Israel. Jewish people don’t live in peace in Muslim countries.

Robert A. Greene

West Hollywood

Hanan Ashrawi inadvertently gave away the whole problem between Israel and the Palestinians when he said, “In 1988, the Palestine National Council passed a binding resolution agreeing to an independent Palestinian state on just 22% of historic Palestine.”

FOR THE RECORD:
Ashrawi: A Nov. 18 letter to the editor misidentified Hanan Ashrawi, an official with the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Legislative Council, as a man. Ashrawi is a woman. —

He failed to mention that this 22% represents all of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel, the other 78% of historic Palestine having already been given to Jordan. The Palestinians and other Mideast Muslims want peace; they just don’t want peaceful coexistence with Israel.

Gil Cohen

Malibu

China’s way

Re “China’s short fuse,” Opinion, Nov. 12

China doesn’t and will never emulate Germany, either the Germany of Kaiser Wilhelm or of Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck unified Germany with three wars, while China is now working hard to push Taiwan toward reunification in peace.

China is emulating the United States of 100 years ago, which rose to superpower status by developing its economy, science and technology step by step, not by waging war. Chinese leaders have apparently taken enough lessons from history and made the correct decision.

Huiyu Jin

Los Angeles

Ask Jesus

Re “A surprising pick to lead U.S. Catholic bishops,” Nov. 17

With dinosaurs like Timothy Dolan now returning American Catholic social relevance to pre-Inquisition days, one needs to ask what would Jesus do. His answer: “What have I wrought?”

Werfner Haas

West Hollywood