Letters to the Editor

Necessary, but possible?

Although I generally applaud the efforts of President Bush to push back the forces of darkness by liberating Iraq, I am concerned about whether democracy can take root in a culture swathed in one of the more virulent strains of Islam (“Democracy ’necessary’ in Iraq,” Page 1, Wednesday). There is nothing in the shadows of Wahhabism to suggest that it can sustain a democracy, let alone the freedoms we take for granted. All peoples may yearn for freedom, but not every culture can provide it. In fact, Islam and freedom may be mutually exclusive — as incompatible as fire and ice.

While this might shock multiculturalists, being politically correct is no match against religious zealots who are willing to blow themselves up in service to their God. Exporting democracy to the Middle East may prove an expensive failure for the United States, but at least it can serve as a warning of what the West will become if we continue to welcome to our shores immigrants who practice the more militant strains of Islam.

THOMAS M. BEATTIE

Mount Vernon

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In your Page One story “Democracy ’necessary’ in Iraq,” President Bush is quoted as saying that democracy is “necessary.” Certainly, democracy is desirable, but how many countries in the world are capable of achieving this highest form of government in the near future or ever?

Today, perhaps two dozen countries enjoy the blessings of liberty as we Americans do, safeguarded by a system of checks and balances, a universal franchise and an independent judiciary.

The best we can reasonably expect in Iraq for the foreseeable future is a legitimate and reasonably stable government that does not crush legitimate dissent, harbor terrorists or prey on neighboring states. Such legitimacy can be rooted in a constitutional monarchy, a council representing major factions and a reasonably independent judicial system.

Of course, times have changed. America is the sole superpower, with great influence and responsibility. We are not all-powerful, however. Shakespeare said, “O, it is excellent to have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant.”

The late Reinhold Niebuhr frequently urged America to use its great power “with fear and trembling.”

ERNEST W. LEFEVER

Chevy Chase

Wake up to immigration

I’m responding to a letter titled “What a nightmare” (April 15). The writer, Rodney Galles, is correct in stating, “The DREAM Act (Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors) is, in fact, a nightmare.” If this act is passed and laws that prevent states from offering in-state tuition to illegal aliens are struck down, this country may never wake from the nightmare of illegal immigration we are living through right now. We must get tough on illegal aliens, not because we are mean and racist but because America must protect its sovereignty. More important, the number of illegal aliens who could be terrorists should not be underestimated.

I believe we should go a step or two further in the opposite direction of the DREAM Act. English should be made the national language, and illegal aliens should not even be able to attend our schools, much less at a reduced rate. We have helped create this mess by turning our backs too long. The leadership on both sides of the aisle is woefully out of touch with the electorate on this.

Have our lawmakers, in their eagerness to pander to the Hispanic vote, really thought this out? Their misguided sympathy for the innocent children of illegal aliens who broke our laws should be applied to the innocent children of other lawbreakers.

LYNN BEIBER

Bowie

No delays? Yeah, right

Imagine my astonishment at learning that the recent shutdown of a runway at Washington Dulles International Airport would not cause flight delays (“Dulles runway closes for rebuilding,” Metropolitan, Tuesday).

“We’re not expecting to see any major impact,” a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokeswoman told The Washington Times. “This is frankly very similar to the spring-summer construction season you see on the highways.” Well, those words were hardly reassuring to this passenger, who while reading the news item Tuesday evening was sitting on the Dulles tarmac, awaiting a scheduled 6 p.m. departure aboard American Airlines Flight 75 bound for Los Angeles. The cause of what ultimately became a one-hour delay was, according to our pilot, the runway closure.

A runway reconstruction as routine as spring-summer construction on the nation’s highways, huh? Well, Dulles passengers should feel a whole lot better about facing another long, hot summer.

STEVE DUCHESNE

Redondo Beach, Calif.

Focus of rally was funding

In response to an article about the rally organized by the Coalition to Support Public School funding held in Annapolis on Feb. 9 (“Grasmick ends rally probe, holds findings for Ehrlich,” Metropolitan, Thursday), I want to point out an incorrect statement. At no time before, during or after the rally was there a demand for a gubernatorial recount by rally organizers and participants. It was not an official position of rally organizers. If by chance a reporter sighted a sign with such a pronouncement, it was held by a person exercising freedom of speech.

The focus of the rally was to encourage all elected officials in Maryland to fully fund public schools. This was an opportunity for like-minded Marylanders to demonstrate, in a very visible way, their support for the full funding of Maryland’s historic legislation recommended by the Thornton Commission.

It was a grass-roots effort, organized by several advocacy and community groups that have a vested interest in the future of Maryland’s public school children. As a result, there were no elected officials on the platform that night. It was a time to hear the voices of the people who want to see our children have the resources they need and deserve.

It is unfortunate that detractors persist in trying to divert the focus from the real issue of full funding of public education now and in the future.

PATRICIA A. FOERSTER

President

Maryland State Teachers Association

Annapolis

Budget baloney

In your editorial about the Virginia General Assembly and tax increases (“Virginia’s divided Republicans,” Friday) you failed to tell the whole truth.

You mentioned the amount the budget had risen in recent years but for some reason didn’t tell readers that a huge portion of this increase was because of federal mandates and most especially because the state reimburses local governments for the 70 percent of the car tax that residents do not have to pay. In effect, the state needs new sources of revenue (taxes) so that its residents don’t have to pay a different tax. This boondoggle was, in fact, brought to us courtesy of the anti-tax Republicans.

I can only assume you didn’t explain this in your editorial because you wanted your readers to think Virginia has been just throwing money out the window, when the reality is that discretionary spending actually has risen little. In fact, higher-education spending was cut enormously, and state workers went three years without a raise. House Republicans want to freeze their salaries again this year.

RICHARD LOVEGROVE

Roanoke