Why sleazy Broward pols live charmed lives: I think your article was right on ("A Politician Weeps," Bob Norman, October 5). I have seen many of these issues for myself and cannot believe the arrogance in which the State Attorney's Office turns a blind eye. Why is Broward State Attorney Michael Satz so openly able to abandon his responsibility to the taxpayers of Broward? Why is his office not investigated for sitting on these cases? I too have seen that and do not get how it can happen. Who needs to care before he will investigate and prosecute?
Name withheld by request
Oops-oh Us-oh
We forgot to pay our Comcast bill, and look what happened: Next time you print an article, try checking your facts first. Weeds is on Showtime, not HBO ("Weed Wars," Julia Reischel, October 5).
Good research job — kudos.
Mark Orenstein
Delray Beach
They Done Zach Wrong
Just a fun-loving 300-pounder: What Zachary Carroll did was not exactly a rampage ("Tender Loving Justice," Tailpipe, September 28). He broke a window and a side-view mirror plus an antenna. He faced two armed female police officers holding Mace, metal extension batons, and 9mm semi-automatic handguns. Neither officer used the mace or batons.
Shooting a drunken college kid was dumb and uncalled for. The investigation was a whitewash, and the college overreacted, as did the shooter.
There is no need for campus cops to carry handguns. It is easy enough to call in the Boca Police Department and/or the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office when necessary.
H.L. Goldstock
Via the Internet
Check Your Christian Self Out
The dude in the mirror has blood on his hands: John Warchol's comments on Islam and Muslims ("No raiding merchant caravans in my backyard, please," Letters, September 21) serve as an example of how bigotry blinds one to truth. In his anti-Muslim tirade, he made comments such as, "If a Muslim does not believe in killing non-Muslims, then he/she is not following the Qur'an properly."
It is also quite clear that Warchol does not know his Bible; otherwise, during his hate-filled rant, he would have remembered Deuteronomy 13:6, stopped writing, and taken a long look in the mirror.
His comments on Islam display a degree of ignorance that would be laughable if it were not for the fact that this same degree of ignorance has permeated other segments of our society, including our news coverage, resulting in all of us (including our children) being placed on secret terrorist watch lists.
In addition, he also seems to have forgotten how America became a Christian country. It was not the peaceful process that American historians have portrayed. America became a Christian country through atrocities such as the Trail of Tears; blankets given to American Indians, impregnated with smallpox, influenza, and syphilis; and the slaughter of those who chose to speak their native language or to worship in their own religion.
It must also be said that whenever we react violently to provocative statements, we play right into the hands of those who seek to dehumanize us. As a black male in this country, I've learned that the best way to respond to verbal assaults is to provide a logical verbal response. Violent responses to racist comments only help to reinforce negative stereotypes and justify anti-Arab or anti-Muslim sentiment as well as the calculated and deliberate demonization of Islam by our news media.
Timothy Stinson
Miami Lakes
And don't forget these verses: I would like to draw John Warchol's attention to the following verses of the Holy Qur'an that contradict his accusation about intolerance in Islam: (6:108) "And do not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest exceeding the limits they should abuse Allah out of ignorance. Thus have We made fair seeming to every people their deeds; then to their Lord shall be their return, so He will inform them of what they did." (60:008) "Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of [your] religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice."
It is correct that there are several places in the Qur'an whereby it was made allowable for Muslims to fight if they were attacked. Building an army was part of the Islamic state, but most European countries today have a military draft (forced recruitment) without being called warriors.
By the mere actions of a few, you cannot brand the whole religion as violent, out-of-control, and based on killing. Also, by misunderstanding certain verses of the Qur'an cut totally out of context and trying to form a general opinion is an absolute path of misleading. If you try the same analogy, then all Germans will be branded as Adolf Hitler's followers.
Shakeel Hye
Davie
Marya's Word Choice
Without a net or a thesaurus: That article "Night Rider" was so much fun to read ("Dwarf Storm," Marya Summers, September 21). You're a terrific wordsmith and painter of images.
Jeff Burnside
WTVJ-NBC 6
Miami
Lining up to get in: I enjoyed your story about the Dirty Dwarf. I can't wait to try those exotic beers — one problem — where in the hell is it? It sounds like it's in Lake Worth, but there was no address or phone number provided either in your byline or in the bar and club listings, so where is this cute little place anyhow?
Name withheld by request
Editor's note: 806 Lake Ave. Lake Worth, 561-540-4024. You can Google it, like we did.
