Letters to the Editor, Jan. 25

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Jan. 25

Lying down is hardly a march
To the editor:
   
This past week, we celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was one of the strongest advocates of freedom and peace this generation has ever seen. Just the other day, we heard President Bush speak at his inauguration about freedom for peace within this world. On that same day, here in Princeton Borough, a group of teens held a protest to remind us that we must continue to seek peace and to address the ravages of war and of AIDS.
   This demonstration consisted of a small handful of students either standing or lying prone on the pavement around Palmer Square — in complete silence, as they were acting as if they were dead with placards around their necks — reminding all who walked by that each day people are dying of war and of AIDS.
   I was there to witness this, as my son was one who was participating in the event. I was impressed that these students went to extremes to ensure that no sidewalk was being blocked, no one was stopped and no one was spoken to — this was a protest for peace. My son was one of those lying on the ground, off to the side on the edge of Palmer Square — others were lying on the curb.
   Thirty minutes into the demonstration, three police officers broke it all up, supposedly telling the students they could not hold posters or try to hand out leaflets without a permit. The next morning’s newspaper quotes police Capt. Anthony Federico as supporting this decision to disperse the students since sidewalks were being blocked and the "demonstration they were putting on was a march, parade type thing." Remember: The students were miming those who are dead, so I find it hard to see how they could have called this a march since they were all standing or lying still.
   Perhaps what the students were guilty of was making those around them, those walking by and perhaps even the police uncomfortable. But isn’t that what quiet protesting is all about — to remind us of something we would rather not think about? My guess is Rosa Parks made those on the bus very uncomfortable. Gandhi, in his hunger strikes, made many feel uncomfortable. President Reagan’s challenge to tear down the Berlin Wall made many feel uncomfortable. Remember: It is in feeling uncomfortable that changes often occur.
   I hope that, before a final decision is made with regard to selecting a new police chief, a thorough review is performed regarding the procedures and rationale of shutting the students down so quickly.
   So congratulations to my son and all those who were out there on a cold afternoon. Thank you for making us feel uncomfortable and reminding us that we all have much to do in bringing peace to those around us.
Jim Knipper
Lafayette Road
Princeton
Cartoon, events show grim political realities
To the editor:
   
I hope this snowy entombment has not blinded people to grim political realities, this week of all weeks.
   Friday’s (Jan. 21) Packet published Mike Thompson’s cartoon of an armed camp, an all-too-believable "Achtung!" affixed to its front wall. Barbed wire and sensors and helicopters loom. The officious armed guard announces to befuddled tourists, "They’re swearing in the leader of the free world."
   In the same issue, a headline reads, "Palmer Square protest cut short." Princeton students and residents and members of the clergy were "dispersed" on Inauguration Day. Our own police were turned against our own people. As Packet staff writer Rachel Silverman wrote, "Police broke up the gathering around 4:30 p.m. and forced the crowd to leave. The demonstration (organized by Students for Peace and the Coalition for Peace Action) was planned to end at 6 p.m."
   So, now we exist in a police state.
   Ironically, this is the week we are meant to rededicate ourselves to ideals and goals of Martin Luther King. Perhaps for the first time, I feel to the core what blacks endured within my own lifetime: Forces meant to protect, turned against us. Voicelessness.
   I’d already had my dose of irony on Inauguration Day. I needed to reach an organization in Washington, D.C., for one of my clients — a psychology association, scholarly. Nothing prepared me for its recorded announcement: "Due to increased security for the inauguration, our offices are not open." The image this brought to mind was almost exactly that which I discovered on Friday in The Packet’s sinister barbed-wire cartoon fortress.
   And the president we re-installed claims to be spreading liberty throughout the world. We must lose ours that they may gain theirs? Next thing you know, he’ll emblazon "Arbeit Macht Frei" in digital lights across our superhighways, alternating with the already incredible, "Report Suspicious Behavior."
Carolyn Foote Edelmann
Salem Court
West Windsor
Eden gala reflects community generosity
To the editor:
   
On behalf of the Eden Family of Services, and the children and adults with autism whom Eden serves, I want to extend heartfelt thanks for the generosity of our community. On Jan. 15, Dreams of Kokopelli — the 17th annual Eden Dreams gala — raised nearly $200,000 in support of Eden’s lifespan services for individuals with autism. Additionally, thanks to the coverage provided by The Packet, Dreams of Kokopelli raised much more than dollars; it increased public awareness of autism and the challenges it presents for the thousands of New Jersey families whose lives it impacts.
   A special thanks to the law firm Taylor, Colicchio & Silverman, who served as this year’s primary corporate sponsor, and Paul Taylor, managing partner, who helped provide support in numerous ways and is truly a credit to the community. Twenty-nine additional companies and individuals also provided major sponsorship support of the gala, and we thank them as well.
   We are deeply grateful for the tireless, dedicated, year-round work of the Eden Dreams Steering Committee, led by co-chairs Rob Robinson from Janssen Pharmaceutica and Regina Massad.
   We must also recognize the outstanding staff at the Hyatt Regency Princeton and Executive Chef Anthony Perrotti for his outstanding cuisine; Mike Cerelli, Jen Angelo and the staff of Big Events, who provided the magnificent décor for the evening; and everyone else who helped make Dreams of Kokopelli come to life in such elegant, entertaining and dramatic fashion. Also, special thanks to the many individuals and businesses who generously donated prizes for our silent auction.
   Finally, please know how much we appreciate the individual donations of so many of our Princeton-area friends and neighbors, who attended and supported Dreams of Kokopelli. Their generosity is making it possible for Eden to realize its dream — of individuals with autism learning, growing, working and leading productive lives in their communities.
William J. Noonan
Acting President and Executive Director
Eden Family of Services
Eden Way
West Windsor
Group gearing up for Einstein tribute
To the editor:
   
Einstein will be returning to Princeton.
   On April 18 at 10 a.m., the Einstein Fund Committee of Princeton will officially install a bronze bust of Professor Einstein on the grounds of Borough Hall Walk.
   As part of the celebration we are asking anyone who knew or met Einstein to participate in the event — marking the 50th anniversary of his death, the 100th anniversary of his special theory of relativity, and the Wold Year of Physics.
   Please contact Dana Lichtstrahl at (609) 252-9230 for more information.
Melvin A. Benarde
Thorngate Court
West Windsor
Bush’s plan neither social nor secure
To the editor:
   
The path that President Bush seems to be following in dealing with a supposed Social Security "crisis" is alarmingly familiar. It’s the same modus operandi that led the nation into the current mess in Iraq.
   First, there is the continual hyping of a potential but manageable problem into a sound-all-the-alarm-bells crisis. Second, there is the distortion of the known facts and disregard of the views of even the most well qualified experts when they do not conform to the president’s dogmatic preconceptions. Finally, there is the bold but half-baked plan that not only doesn’t fix the problem but compounds it.
   According to the best estimates of nonpartisan auditors, Social Security will be able to meet all its payout obligations for decades. That hardly represents an imminent crisis. Furthermore, all that is required to fully fund it beyond that are relatively minor fixes such as raising the retirement age or raising the maximum income cutoff for collecting Social Security taxes above the current $90,000.
   On the other hand, allowing the diversion of Social Security payments into private investments in the stock market, as part of President Bush’s so-called "ownership society," will turn Social Security into a system that is neither social nor secure.
Russ Weiss
Wittmer Circle
Princeton
Kingston’s existence should be recognized
To the editor:
   
Once again, The Packet has found itself unable, or unwilling, to mention the "K word."
   The "K word" is a state-designated Village Center of about 2,000 people to the immediate north of Princeton Township on Route 27 (also known as the "Princeton-K-word Road.") The "K-word" lies near the center of The Packet’s coverage area, according to The Packet’s own maps.
   Last week, a large new piece of open space along the Delaware & Raritan Canal was dedicated in the "K word." The Packet reported this, but skillfully dodged any mention of the "K word" by name.
   Last year, the Rockingham House was moved to a new location on Laurel Avenue, on the outskirts of "the K word." The Packet reported its location as vaguely "near Montgomery."
   And the last time I wrote a letter to the editor of The Packet, the editor relegated me to some nondescript location in Franklin Township rather than the definite boundaries of "the K word." If you dare to print it, the "K-word" will be in my signature again this time.
   The Packet operates two vending machines along Main Street in the "K word" and also sells newspapers in other storefronts there. This leads me to believe that your truck drivers, at least, know where the "K-word" is. If you don’t know, ask them. And please don’t think that the other 1,999 citizens of the "K word" haven’t noticed The Packet’s speech problem. (Or is it bias?)
Steve Masticola
Church Street
Franklin Township
EDITOR’S NOTE: It is The Packet’s longstanding policy to use municipalities, rather than postal addresses, as datelines for our news stories and addresses for letters to the editor. We do this primarily to avoid confusion that may arise over the Princeton postal address, which extends to several municipalities beyond Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. For consistency, we apply this same policy to all place names. Thus, stories occurring or letters originating in Skillman, Blawenburg or the southern portion of Belle Mead are identified as Montgomery; Princeton Junction as West Windsor; and Kingston as Franklin or South Brunswick, depending on which part of the "village" (as it exists on maps, not as a formal entity) the event occurs in or the letter writer inhabits.