Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Hip to the Hep

I read your article on hepatitis ["Silent Killer," Helen i-lin Hwang, April 24, 2003]. Very informative for the Asian community.

We need a writer like you to address our concern. Asians, unlike Americans, are soft-spoken, especially immigrants. They need to learn to see a doctor for a routine checkup/screening as preventive care. As our recent Chinese teacher said, "Chinese go to see the doctor only when they are sick." Unfortunately, our people don't have good health insurance or none at all. As a result, they feel hesitant. My sister will be bringing your article to the clinic for everyone who is interested in learning about hepatitis.

Sean Khou
Chinatown

Thanks for writing the article on hepatitis B. Many people will be helped by your article.

Gary L. Euler, Epidemiologist
Centers for Disease Control

Go West, Young Cop

The Safe Streets initiative has had an impact ["Safe Street?", Daryl Gale, Hall Monitor, May 1, 2003]. The police are pretty much doing what they should have been doing all along, keeping the city safe.

A Temple University study reports that the level of crime actually remained the same throughout the city. While North Philly and Kensington were being cleaned up, West Philly and Southwest Philly continued business as usual and the crime rate went up.

I live in Cedar Park; the same drug dealers on the same corners blatantly conduct their business as usual. There has definitely been an increase in gunfire, the usual youths loiter and smoke pot and crack in the usual places. They have no respect for residents or fear of police. When you call 911 the police respond hours later and the perpetrators are gone by then.

I am glad for the long-suffering folks in the northern parts of the city, what about us?

Charles Towsley
Cedar Park/West Philly

Turn Off the Faucet, Farah

Ahhhh! Another story about some half-assed antiwar protester who was allegedly verbally abused by some vicious agent of the imperialist establishment ["Jail House Schlock," Daniel Brook, Warpath, May 1, 2003]. The story of Farah Mokhtareizadeh being picked on by a mean old corrections officer, can you say cliché? It kind of reminds me of the Republican National Convention protesters who were locked up, and then proceeded to call their wealthy parents to help get them out of jail. The reason the whole antiwar movement dissolved during the course of this most recent Iraqi war is that people like Farah Mokhtareizadeh treat a serious issue as if it were some form of entertainment. Poor Farah doesn't want to spend a couple days in jail because that would be inconvenient. Now she's consulting a lawyer so that she can sue Montgomery County and take money that might have gone to the schools or a social program and pad her own bank account. Hey, but don't forget the children!!!

Peter Krimski
Via E-Mail