Letters to the editor

'Fence' cartoon has strong links to Nazi propaganda

Editor, The Times:

I was dismayed to see in Saturday's Times the cartoon that depicted the Star of David as a fence imprisoning Arab civilians (Tony Auth, syndicated cartoonist, Aug. 2). This is an apparent reference to the security fence which Israel has determined is necessary to construct, to prevent terror attacks from the West Bank.

In fact, the fence does not "imprison" Palestinians, it merely secures Israel's eastern boundary with the West Bank. Although the fence restricts some movement, legal Palestinian passage through official gates remains completely free. By ignoring the fence's justification as an anti-terror measure, the cartoon shows an utter lack of context.

Sadly, falsely depicting the Star of David as a prison is neither clever nor innovative. (In an) image of a Third Reich propaganda poster, the Nazis published such images long before The Seattle Times ever did.

In the future, I hope The Times will show better judgment when selecting editorial cartoons for publication.
Stefan Sharkansky, Seattle

Margin for terror

The Seattle Times' choice of editorial cartoon for Saturday is a gross misrepresentation of Israel's security fence. Continuing Palestinian terrorism necessitates Israel's building a fence as a security tool. If the Palestinian Authority had met its obligations to end terrorism — especially during the past three years — Israel would not have needed to build the fence.

Israel is separated from Gaza with a similar defensive physical obstacle. Not one of the 122 homicide bombers, who killed 454 people in Israel during the past three years, infiltrated from Gaza.

The security fence is flexible enough to be moved in order to comply with political agreements and future borders. Even more important, the security fence works — it stops terrorists.

Shame on The Times for publishing Auth's cartoon.
Jill Cohen, Seattle

Gateway to the road map

The fence is a sound negotiating tool for Israel in reaching a final peace agreement with the Palestinians. That is far better than Yasser Arafat's strategy to make terror a part of political negotiation.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas does not have independent authority and is answerable to Arafat and the terror groups. The so-called "road map" (to peace) is supposed to be negotiated with Mahmoud Abbas, not Arafat. This "road map" will go nowhere unless Abbas is able to rein in on the Palestinian terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure.
Josh Basson, Seattle

Right on the walls

Guys, the concept is really simple: The fence is there to keep the bad guys out. If you have a hard time understanding this concept, let me refer you to other forms of national protection, namely, the Great Wall of China, or Hadrian's Wall, a border placed by Romans to keep their portion of the British Isles safe.

Be very careful; your intolerance is beginning to show. There once was a time when some in this country thought only those uninformed folk in the South practiced racism. Apparently this is no longer the case.
John Schneider, San Antonio, Texas

Thick as a brick

I'm not sure what Tony Auth intended his Mogen David fence to mean in connection with the enclosed Palestinians. Did he mean the "security fence" Israel is beginning to construct? Or did he intend to show the "refugee camps" the U.N. is supposed to administer?

In either case, certain figures are conspicuously missing. Where among the women, children and infirm old people (depicted in the cartoon) are the suicide bombers and masked "fedayeen," and, along with canes and crutches, the AK-47s and "homemade" mortars?

Auth's anti-Israel proclivities have long been evident. But does The Times really want to play the part of "Useful Idiots" (Lenin's term for unsuspecting helpers)?
Murray Meld, Seattle

COUNCIL FOLLIES

Blue-nose exposé

Tim Burgess's public call for three Seattle City Council members to return tens of thousands of dollars to a strip-club owner and his associates is little more than puritanical bluster ("Council members should return tainted money," guest commentary, Aug. 5).

If Burgess really cared about campaign contributions that could change votes and sway elections, he'd complain about all the big-developer money that goes to different City Council candidates and the mayor.

He'd complain about how a large amount of money that goes to help incumbents get re-elected comes from lobbyists and city employees trying to curry favor with their bosses. He'd complain about the whole system of legalized bribery that passes for campaign-finance law in this country.

Instead, he singles out three City Council members for taking money from a strip-club owner who wanted to rezone his parking lot.

It's not hard to guess why. Strip-club influence on City Hall strikes puritanical minds as debauchery.

Too bad crusaders like Burgess seem willing to give the green light to just about every other form of influence-peddling going on in this city.
Trevor Griffey, Seattle

A peek behind scenes

Recently, we faced a challenging situation with the Department of Construction and Land Use (DCLU). We turned to Seattle City Council member Judy Nicastro, who is chair of the Land Use Committee. She made every attempt to help us.

Even though our situation was in need of correction (DCLU had made a mistake), Nicastro was unable to exert any influence over DCLU and the permitting process. It turns out the mayor is in charge of the DCLU, and City Council members have no power to influence anyone or any decision made by that entity. The press has incorrectly attempted to make something out of nothing by not understanding the way our city functions.
Duke Moscrip, Duke's Chowder House, Seattle

Get the hook

Seattle used to be a great city with a great way of life. We, as citizens, used to be able to count on the City Council to protect that way of life. Now, we have a council that approves the expansion of strip clubs after receiving shady campaign contributions, a council that decides to tear down the Monorail, one of the very few historical landmarks this city has. What's next, the Space Needle?

Soon, Seattle will have no identity at all and there won't be much reason for people to stay or new people to come. It's time to clean house in the City Council and elect members who really care to protect a very special place to live.
Mary Maltby, Seattle

LITTLE SHOP OF HOARDERS

Cure for the cold economy

Incredibly, scientists, both political and medical, fail to see how the compulsive shopping disorder they are trying to cure via drugs ("Drug shows promise as cure for compulsive shopping," News, Aug. 1), is a solution for a much more widespread ailment — our sagging economy.

Instead of researching a cure, they should isolate the biological strain that causes CSD, if I may coin a new acronym, and prescribe it to the population at large. No more need for tax cuts, advertising supplement junk mail or inventory languishing on shelves. They'll clean out the stores in no time.

I do have one question: Since CSD is undoubtedly a handicap, are people currently affected eligible to park in disabled parking spaces closer to mall entrances so that they can get to the stores more rapidly?
Robert Stern, Seattle