Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Dog, Daze

(Re: Pretzel Logic, “Independence Pall,” Howard Altman, Sept. 19, 2002)

I read your article about the girl, Sarah, and the pit bull and I have encountered a different person than you describe. I worked night shift for one week and ran into Sarah on several occasions. She never once asked me for money, only a cigarette, which I gave her. What drew my attention was the fact that she had a dog. The dog stopped when she did and sat there as I talked with her for a few moments. He looked tired but healthy as far as I could see. I felt very sorry for the dog and a little sorry for her too. I knew that she was taking something, but I did not know that she used needles.

After my stint on night shift I did not think that I would see Sarah and the nice pit bull. But I turned around looking down Eighth Street towards Filbert, and lo and behold, here comes Sarah and her dog! She stopped to talk to me as she remembered who I was. The dog remembered me too and laid down and rolled over to greet me and let me rub and pet him until I was ready to cry. I gave Sarah $5, four cigarettes and a whole bunch of love to the only friend Sarah had. After I gave her the money and cigarettes, I told her to please get something to eat and to please share her food with the dog. She thanked me and said she would, and then said, "Thank you mommy."

This is the Sarah and the pit bull that you wrote about. In the end, I hope that Sarah will get off the streets and go to rehab, but I also hope that no one takes the dog away from her because I believe the little pit bull is her true friend and comfort on the mean and lonely streets. I hope to read about her again in the future to see if she did get off the streets and turned her and the little pit bull's life around.

Karen Skolnick
Sewell, N.J.

Profiled Like Me

(Re: Letter from Alia N. Rizk, Sept. 12, 2002)

I would just like to say to Alia that she isn't the only victim of the government-led destruction of (Arab) Americans' civil rights in this country since 9/11. My husband flew out to Florida to help his cousin pack up to move and to help him drive back to Philly. At the Philly airport they made him take off his boots and stand there, which made him very uncomfortable. Nobody else was made to take off his shoes. Then when he switched planes in Atlanta he went through security again, and then once he made it to his seat on the plane they came and got him off the plane to take him through the same thing, saying, "Sorry for the inconvenience but the pilot will wait for you."

Needless to say he was totally embarrassed. Unlike you he didn't want to cry; he wanted to beat somebody up. Maybe he just looked like a terrorist? By the way, Alia, we are black.

Tina L. Mann
Feltonville

Correction

The Fall Guide story on Pennsylvania Ballet dancer Tara Keating ("Gearing Up," Sept. 19) gave incorrect dates for the ballet's next production. Balanchine Favorites runs Oct. 16-20 at the Merriam Theater.