Letters
Nazi art exhibits are more helpful than hurtful
Regarding "Art about Nazis: insight, buzz, hurtfulness" (March 6): I can understand the painful reminders this exhibit on the Holocaust may have for those who suffered, but there must be a way to refresh the knowledge of those horrors for those who will only hear of them through second and third generations. The world should not be allowed to forget the brutality of the Nazis and the Third Reich. Although the survivors feel pain in being reminded, there are those who still must learn of the brutality suffered under the Nazi regime.
Today, some organizations and scholars deny that there ever was a Holocaust. For this reason, the memory of the Holocaust must never be allowed to fade away. It serves to show future generations that there are those in this world who live to hate. It existed with the Nazis. It exists today.
The Holocaust should never be forgotten. We must be reminded of it, regularly and often.
Lee Dimin
Albany, N.Y.
Regarding "Why American troops are needed in Georgia" (March 4, Opinion): The war on terrorism does require US leadership.
However, I must take issue with US involvement being needed "to protect the Caspian petroleum route" and "to freeze current rivals, such as Russia and China, out of the Caspian competition." This may well be true, but naive. Bombing guerrillas and villagers from the air is one thing. Trying to construct something, like a pipeline and maintaining it on the ground in an area of conflict such as Georgia, is another.
The real danger of US involvement in this area is the certainty of unforeseeable side- effects. Previous US interference in Afghan-istan helped to create Al Qaeda. What will it help to create this time? And speaking as a European, it will reinforce for me the impression that wars and crusades are planned with the sole aim of providing Americans with cheap oil.
Mario Formosa
London
Regarding "Homeless haven rethinks tolerance" (March 5): To measure a person's plight by the degree to which middle- and upper-middle class urbanites "tolerate" it is not progressive. A civilized society should never tolerate inadequate treatment of mental or physical health problems, lack of employment opportunities, or social isolation of any of its citizens - the combination of which is "homelessness." Sincere and innovative approaches, to remedy what is only partly an affordable-housing issue, are needed and should be seriously considered, whether "housed" people can tolerate those living on the streets or not.
Annie Stixrood
Seattle
Regarding "Clock is ticking for remedial students" (March 5, Learning): I have spent 30 years as a teacher, diagnostician, and tutor in the field of learning disabilities. And I have tested dyslexic college students, including medical and law students, who have been able to succeed in their college programs and passed medical and bar exams with a small amount of extra help such as extra time on tests.
I know colleges are faced with a mix of students with complex learning profiles: ESL training, learning disabilities, and general low-ability students. But students who can complete college courses aren't dumb. Shame on any college or school program that won't delve further into the cause of the problem and provide accommodations to help students who may be successfully passing courses, but have writing problems.
Trudy Stegelman
Topeka, Kan.
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