LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Oct. 19
By:
A daughter shares her memories
To the editor:
My name is Jessica Fox and I am 13 years old. Myself and my family are victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy. I have lost my father in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. I have written a poem in his honor and would like to share it with the world.
A Place Of Memories
The gleaming towers stood in the sky,
Majestic looking and up so high.
The sun shines down on towers so great,
No one knowing about their awful fate.
Without a warning a plane hit hard.
New York would be forever scarred.
Minutes later, another plane crashed,
Leaving the second tower extremely smashed.
The towers crumbled down to Earth
Because two planes crashed in their berth.
People beneath the towers ran.
Now the towers no longer stand.
Jessica Fox
Kinglet Drive North
Plainsboro
A ‘just’ war
is an oxymoron
To the editor:
An oxymoron is a compound expression that contains its own moronic opposite: military music, criminal justice, business ethics, central intelligence, Rutgers football, just war.
The Packet (Oct. 12) reports that a group of professors here held a discussion about the current war and decided, with one dissent, that it was a just war, based on certain criteria advanced by a former peacenik that are realistically unrealizable: "with damage to civilians … being incidental … force must not be greater than needed," etc. etc. (as he writes in The Nation, Oct. 29).
Dear colleagues, get this through your intellectual noodles: There are no just wars. Sometimes, rarely, there are wars that are lesser evils. But even then the aftermath (assuming the "good guys" win) almost always results in vast unforeseen tragedies: the dislocation of millions of people from their homelands, economic devastation, the rise of brutal dictatorships and the sowing of the seeds of the next war.
As far as the present conflict is concerned, it is important to remember that aerial bombardment has never been just, and therefore usually generates more, not less, loyalty to a nation’s leaders, no matter how bad, and undermines what dissent there might once have been. What’s true here is no less true elsewhere.
Martin Oppenheimer
Shady Brook Drive
Princeton
Prejudice offers
illusory security
To the editor:
Since the horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, some of our fellow Americans have been unfairly held responsible for these tragic events, based solely on their ethnic origin, ancestry or religion. Americans of Arab or Middle Eastern origin or descent, or of the Muslim or Sikh faiths, have been the targets of hatred, threats and even physical violence.
We of Congregation P’nai Or, Princeton a Jewish spiritual fellowship in the Jewish Renewal network feel we cannot remain silent in the face of these acts of ethnic and religious prejudice. We denounce these attacks, and the hatred and bigotry which motivate them, and we call upon all Americans to do the same. It is right to demand justice for the victims and their families. It is right to seek protection against another attack. But it is wrong and futile to seek an illusory security and satisfaction by collectively blaming Arab, Muslim or any other Americans for crimes in which they played no part.
This sort of scapegoating flourishes at times of national trauma. As Jews, we know all too well from our history the terror and injustice of being blamed for society’s misfortunes a legacy of hate which found its fruition in the horrors of the Holocaust. And with sadness we recall how fear and war hysteria led to the imprisonment of over 100,000 Japanese-Americans in remote camps during World War II. The prejudices and unfair accusations which led to these crimes must not be allowed to happen again to anyone.
In our Torah (the part of the Hebrew Bible most sacred to the Jews), the Ninth Commandment states: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." The Torah further teaches us: "Thou shalt not utter a false report; put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness … keep thee far from a false matter." The abhorrent attacks of Sept. 11 are the fault only of the specific individuals who committed them and their accomplices, not of any national, ethnic or religious group. We are outraged at the loss of innocent lives; let us not retaliate by harming yet other innocent lives. Let us show that in America, people of differing religions and ethnicities can live together in harmony, thereby reaffirming the best in our traditions and making America an example to the world.
David Henry
David Stone
Mary Ellen Curtin
Congregation P’Nai Or
Princeton
Nothing justifies
mass murder
To the editor:
Like people around the world, I am outraged by the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. There is no justification for mass murder. I am equally outraged by the bombing of Afghanistan that is killing innocent civilians. There is no justification for more killing. Violence will lead to more violence. Bombing civilians will inspire more hatred of the United States and will not make the United States safer. The path to peace and safety is not the path of war.
President Bush says this war is not against the Afghan people. I am glad he is saying that, but he needs to back up his words with action if he wants the world to believe him. In Friday’s USA Today, an Afghan refugee said, "Every day, Bush the liar shouts through our radios, ‘We are fighting the terrorists, not the Afghan people.’ We see only our mothers and our children dying. Why do you kill us? What have we civilians done to you?"
How do we Americans respond? Reports of civilian deaths and destruction of infrastructure, homes and mosques are mounting. In the village of Karam, at least 53 are dead, livestock killed and homes reduced to rubble. This has been done by our bombs and only increases hatred toward us. In The New York Times, a local villager said about Karam, "These people don’t support the Taliban. They always say the Taliban are doing this or that and they don’t like it. But now they will all fight the Americans." Our government expressed regret at the loss of civilian lives, but this is far from an adequate response. Likewise, dropping 37,000 food packets a day when millions face starvation will not convince Afghans that we mean them no harm.
We must show the world that we want peace, and that we will not use tactics of terror and violence. Instead, we should use diplomacy and nonviolent means to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with international law. By immediately rejecting the Taliban’s offer to turn over Bin Laden if the United States would stop bombing and show them the evidence against him, Bush has squandered another opportunity to show the world that the United States wants peace. Demands that the Taliban "cough them up" and similar demeaning language only polarize the situation further.
We should demonstrate that we sincerely want to spread our ideals of freedom and democracy. In the Middle East, our government supports repressive dictators and monarchies. Our new ally in this war, the Northern Alliance, has a long history of human rights abuses. If we are serious about ending terror, we need to stop supporting all who inflict it on the innocent.
As an American and a Christian, I feel compelled to speak out against the policies of my government when I believe they are immoral and ill-conceived. I encourage people of all faiths who believe that killing is wrong to contact our representatives in Congress and urge them to stop the bombing.
Diane Paulsell
Hickory Court
Princeton
Even the best schools
can make a mistake
To the editor:
I have been admiring the way our children are being taught at the West Windsor-Plainsboro schools. But the other day the schools missed one great opportunity to let their students experience independence and citizenship first-hand.
The President of the United States set the stage for a national civics lesson when he suggested that each schoolchild mail $1 to the White House to help Afghan children. It was heartwarming to imagine every American child in every classroom in the land, addressing an envelope to the White House and participating directly, as an individual and a citizen, in a noble national cause.
Instead of being allowed direct action, student in the WW-P schools were instructed to hand their dollars in. Had they been allowed to write and address their own individual envelopes, they would have had an experience for a lifetime. They did do the right thing, but were denied to do it on their own.
Even the best schools can make a mistake.
Jasha M. Levi
Marion Drive
Plainsboro
In township, elect
Bonotto, Willis
To the editor:
On Nov. 6, Princeton Township voters will go to the polls to elect candidates for the Township Committee. There are some critical issues facing our community. The most critical and glaring example of mismanagement and lack of concern for community input in the development of the new municipal building has had a deleterious and confiscatory effect on the ability of our taxpayers to support municipal community projects.
Our township can no longer afford the continuous escalation of expenditures and ever-increasing taxes. People on fixed incomes are suffering, the needs of senior citizens are totally disregarded and our beautiful community feels detached and helpless to deal with the myriad problems that dysfunctional government has created.
We need public servants who are willing to challenge the status quo and who have above all the interest of the community-at-large and who by their temperament, experience, background and commitment are best qualified to lead us for the next three years.
I have known both Robert Willis and Michael Bonotto and they are both exceptional candidates with very impressive backgrounds and terrific leadership capabilities, which without a doubt are needed at this critical juncture. We need Bob and Michael to represent us on the Township Committee and I strongly urge you to endorse and vote for Bob Willis and Michael Bonotto on Nov. 6.
Jack Marrero
Cherry Hill Road
Princeton
Time for a change
on Township Committee
To the editor:
As a former elected member of Princeton Township Committee, I am in a unique position to evaluate the candidacy of Phyllis Marchand, with whom I served for three years. The facts are very clear: it is not in the interest of township citizens to return Ms. Marchand to office. To do so would put her in power for an unprecedented 18 years an amount of time worthy of a Bourbon dynasty. In her 15-year tenure, she has ignored the issues that citizens of this community care deeply about.
In my opinion, based on personal observation, Ms. Marchand simply does not do the work. Rather than address the key issues facing this community lowering taxes, providing housing for the elderly, preserving open space, relieving traffic congestion and stopping truck traffic Ms. Marchand’s priorities have revolved around lengthy meeting on the minutiae of the Township Building and the deer program. While on Township Committee, I attempted to get the mayor to focus on these more pressing issues and she declined.
All the deer killed, at taxpayer expense, has not improved the traffic accident situation one iota. The Taj Mahal township building has taken over eight years to build, is over budget costing the taxpayers millions and is now shuttered due to mold, which poses both health and environmental problems. Now we learn that the total time to build the building will likely be 10 years. The Empire State building took 13 months to build.
When I was first elected in 1994 the first call that I received the next day was from Phyllis Marchand demanding that I attend a meeting that week to review architectural plans for the new building. I declined, citing the fact that I opposed the building and was not yet in office. In my personal observation, Ms. Marchand has been involved in every detail of the municipal building for over eight years; the fact that it is way over budget and has taken so much time to build suggests that she has not done her homework.
The majority of registered voters in town are Democrats but many Democrats are voting against Ms. Marchand this fall because she has abandoned the bedrock principles of the party. Those principles are pro-environment, pro-gun control and pro-civil liberties. Ms. Marchand rejects all these stalwart Democratic positions. She voted to bring dangerous high-powered military weapons into the community, showing her disregard for gun control. She advocated helicopters flying overhead and peering into people’s private yards to determine if they are violating an ordinance that she championed criminalizing the feeding of deer, even by children. This ordinance is so blatantly unconstitutional and anti-civil liberties that summonses issued against Princeton citizens were summarily dismissed. Finally, her disregard for the environment is evident by her willingness to yield to real estate developers rather than protect open space. On Township Committee, I sat through numerous meetings where the mayor sided with the developers who, according to documents on file with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, are the top funders of gubernatorial candidate Jim McGreevey and other Democrats around the state.
If voters want to change the direction of Princeton Township for the better, they should vote for Emily Cook and Jeff Gorman for Princeton Township Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Cook and Gorman are two young, dynamic leaders who offer vision and commitment to this community.
Carl J. Mayer
Battle Road
Princeton
Candidates care
about public schools
To the editor:
I am writing in support of the Plumeri, Greenstein and Guear candidacies for state senator and state assemblypersons respectively. All three candidates have held public office, work extremely hard and effectively for the average citizen and hold the same values that most people of New Jersey live by. I would like to mention one issue that is very important to myself and my family and that is our public school system.
Our public schools, especially in the 14th Legislative District, are of the highest quality in comparison to the rest of the country and world. People have moved to central New Jersey because school districts like West Windsor-Plainsboro, Cranbury and South Brunswick are top-notch. I do not want to destroy any of these fine school districts through privatization of our educational system. If anyone has a child in these school districts, it is my hope that they realize what harm can and will be done to your individual schools.
I am proud of our public schools and I will fight hard to make them even better, but I certainly will not discard them. I believe Jim McGreevey thinks the same way as I. I also believe most people who live in our area feel the same. If there is any reason to vote this year, it is to vote for people like Sam Plumeri, Linda Greenstein and Gary Guear, people who look to implement positive changes that will, in turn, be positive for all our children.
Scott A. Lee
Franklin Drive
Plainsboro
Democrats focused
on key issues
To the editor:
It remains exceedingly important this year for Montgomery residents to elect officials with the leadership, experience, and commitment to deal with our most important local issues. Of this year’s six candidates for Montgomery Township Committee, only three have demonstrated a strong commitment to issues related to controlling development, preserving open space and environmental concerns.
Louise Wilson, Jennifer Wall and Karen Wintress are more than campaign-season "talk" about these issues. They have shown, through their actions and focus, their commitment to protecting our community.
Louise Wilson is a consultant who worked for years at Rutgers Cook College on agricultural issues and policy, and has otherwise studied and participated in land-use policy decisions in New Jersey. She is a volunteer with the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. Because of her accomplishments in this area, Ms. Wilson was appointed in 1999 to serve on the 12th Congressional District Land Use Advisory Committee.
Most importantly, as a member of the Montgomery Township Committee, Ms. Wilson has championed important steps to protect our local environment and control sprawl. Ms. Wilson took the lead in introducing important water-protection legislation, which passed the committee unanimously, as well as additional open-space preservation measures.
Karen Wintress, who holds an M.B.A., has a stellar record of commitment to New Jersey’s environment. She is outgoing president of the N.J. Alliance of Environmental Educators. She founded the national environmental education organization, BEES. In 1996, she was recognized by then-Gov. Christine Whitman and appointed to the New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education.
Ms. Wintress has worked for open-space preservation, stopping sprawl and environmental preservation at the regional, state and national levels for years. She is a thinker, conciliator and leader, and she has the commitment needed to safeguard Montgomery’s future as a member of the Township Committee.
Jennifer Wall has an excellent record of local advocacy. She led efforts to deal with traffic issues in her neighborhood and has organized neighborhood meetings with township leaders, pressing them to be responsive to residents’ concerns. She also successfully pushed township officials to demand that local developers fulfill obligations to the community. Ms. Wall’s professionalism, intelligence, determination and understanding of community concerns are all qualities that will serve Montgomery very well.
None of these three candidates has depended on political favors for her accomplishments all have worked hard to fight sprawl and traffic, and to preserve open space and the environment, simply because they care. This is the kind of commitment Montgomery needs from our elected leaders. Please join me in supporting these three experienced, accomplished, dynamic leaders for Montgomery Township Committee.
Terri Bookman
Danby Court
Montgomery
Wintress backed
in Montgomery
To the editor:
I met Karen Wintress in 1997, when my family and I began attending the Harlingen Reformed Church. Upon meeting, we found we had something else in common: we both worked for American Re-Insurance.
Early in our acquaintance, it was apparent that Karen was an energetic "doer" who was not only busy with her job at American Re, directing the "BEES" (Building Environmental Education Solutions) program, but was also raising two very nice children, teaching Sunday school and getting involved in missions work (charitable fund-raising). And that was just what I knew about.
Since that time, Karen’s role at American Re has changed she is now a vice president in our corporate communications division, where she is in charge of our corporate insurance program. Her role has changed, but her devotion to her work, her family and her community has not changed. Karen has always struck me as someone who’s committed to whatever she does, no matter how busy her schedule may be. I have no doubt she will bring that sense ofcommitment to our township government if she is elected this November.
Patricia Hendrickson
Knickerbocker Drive
Montgomery
Wilson lauded as
independent thinker
To the editor:
My husband and I have always made a point of actively engaging our local politicians at election time and throughout the year. We moved to Montgomery Township six years ago, and I can tell you that I have never met a more intelligent, articulate, informed and committed person in local public office than Louise Wilson.
On open space and suburban sprawl in particular issues that have affected us personally Louise has been quite active and vocal. She has a long-range vision and long-term thinking filled with fresh, insightful ideas that will guide the township toward the future not just the same old empty promises and "sound bites."
Most importantly, Louise pays attention to details spending time with people to discuss and truly understand their concerns, researching applicable legal precedents from other towns and states, and investigating our own existing laws to find new solutions to ongoing problems.
As the only Democratic member of the Township Committee, she has demonstrated time and again that she is her own person never compromising what she believes in, but always working as a team player in the best interest of the community.
Come Nov. 6, I will be proud to cast my vote for the candidate who shares my first name Louise Wilson. I will also vote for her running mates, Jennifer Wall and Karen Wintress. This is a team of independent thinkers with common goals and good common sense. Montgomery needs leaders like these.
Louise Reilly
Barrington Road
Montgomery
Open-space dollars
shouldn’t fund roads
To the editor:
Plainsboro Township has signed a tentative deal to purchase 90 acres of land from a developer as an addition to the Plainsboro Preserve. This sounds like a wonderful thing; who could be against open space? But the ugly truth is that about 30 acres of this site, which would be purchased in part with state Green Acres funds, is expected to be used for the proposed alignment of Route 92.
The state Green Acres program and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority seem like strange bedfellows, and yet The Packet article (Oct. 5) states that the Plainsboro Township administrator expects to receive up to $2 million in Green Acres funds to fund the purchase. The Turnpike Authority has also said it would partially fund the purchase if the proposed Route 92 alignment is approved. To show everyone what nice guys they are, they’ve even offered to throw in some pathways to connect the Plainsboro Preserve to the property (probably necessary because Route 92 won’t have crosswalks).
Does anyone else smell a rat here? Is it possible that some of our decision-makers can’t tell the difference between open space and a superhighway?
Every time the state or county has asked me to check a box or approve funding for open space, I have said yes. So have many others who understand that the little bit of open space that is left in this state is a treasure worth preserving. But I never intended for my open-space tax dollars to be used to purchase a highway right-of-way. I doubt whether anyone else did either. I encourage everyone who cares about open space to contact their elected representatives and ask them what the heck is going on here.
Jeanette LaRosa
Church Street
Kingston
Forrestal plans must
respect residents
To the editor:
As a resident of Princeton Landing, I am extremely concerned about the application to the Plainsboro Township Planning Board recently filed by Princeton Forrestal Center, which is owned by Princeton University. The application requests approval of an amendment to the general development plan that will allow Sayre Drive to function as a major artery for traffic that will be generated by the five office buildings to be built on the east side of Route 1. The plan calls for parking for 3,200 cars.
Specifically, the application proposes construction of an enlarged interchange of Sayre Drive to Route 1 at the entry to Princeton Landing. The proposed new travel lanes would bring approximately 500 cars into the access road during morning peak hours.
Princeton Landing is a community of 650 families. Our only access road is Route 1 via Sayre Drive. That means that school buses, commuters, service personnel, emergency vehicles, all must use Sayre Drive. There is no other way out or in.
If Princeton Landing were planned today, an alternate access road would surely be required. It’s too late for that. But we must not compromise the safety of the 650 families who live here now by this Johnny-come-lately change to the general development plan in order to expedite yet another ill-conceived building program for Route 1.
Irene Tedeschi
Sayre Drive
Plainsboro
Will PU remain
true to its mission?
To the editor:
With the announcement of Princeton University’s offer to purchase 90 acres of the Sarnoff property, one can only hope that the university will remain true to its mission "to be in the nation’s service" and to respect civil society and the common good.
I hope that Princeton University does not use its extraordinary wealth and privilege to build itself a road such as the Millstone Bypass on its own land and thus avoid the National Environmental Policy Act/Environmental Impact Statement process that is required if New Jersey Department of Transportation builds a road using federal transportation money.
The NEPA process sets forth a procedure to consider air and water quality as well as historic and cultural resources, such as the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, the Washington Road elms, the Millstone River, Little Bear Brook and the Princeton Baptist Church of Penns Neck.
Peggy Killmer
Princeton-Kingston Road
Princeton
Farm thanked for
generous donation
To the editor:
On behalf of the faculty and staff at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, we would like to recognize the community spirit of Wayne Kalinowski and Paul Keris, the owners of the Windsor Farm. They were very generous in their donation of fall mums to beautify our school for Back to School Night on Oct. 11.
It is responsible citizens like Wayne Kalinowski and Paul Keris who make us proud that we have such a great community.
Michael P. Carr
Principal
West Windsor-Plainsboro
High School South Campus
West Windsor

